“How many tokens should I get?” is my first thought as I walk into Burlington, Vermont’s The Archives. The bar is a time machine of sorts: the warm, yellow-ish glow of the lights; the bells and whistles bouncing around the room from the vintage arcade games; and the murmur of the crowds gathered around their friends striving for a new high score.
I spot a woman in a wedding dress toasting her party, a couple of men in their 60s playing Ms. Pac-Man, and a group of young people who’ve just ordered a round of shots. My mind spins. What to play first? But I’m reminded that we really came here for beer.
The tap list boasts a hefty roster of Vermont craft beer staples, including a selection of Hill Farmstead. But it’s Russian River’s STS Pils that captures my attention. It’s been too long since I’ve enjoyed this beer, and it’s while sipping it that I realize this place is a cure for nostalgia. Wandering off with my pint and $10 of tokens in my pocket, I take to a dimly lit corner and travel back to my youth.
