Vermont Humanities

Bill Mares

Man giving a talk in a bike shop
Speakers Bureau

Image of Bill MaresBill Mares has been a reporter-photographer, state legislator and high school teacher. Raised in Texas and educated at Harvard, he has authored or co-authored 17 books on subjects ranging from the Marine Corps to desert travel, from war memorials to Vermont humor.

With Ross Conrad and others, he has just published a history of beekeeping in Vermont, The Land of Milk and Honey. He lives in Burlington with his wife of 48 years, Chris Hadsel. They have two sons.

Contact Information

  • Phone: (802) 863-4938

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Talks by Bill Mares

Image of beekeeper with hive

Bees Besieged: A History of Beekeeping

Bill Mares, writer, and a beekeeper for 45 years, tells of the origins and evolution of beekeeping, with a particular emphasis on his research in Vermont. 

Bill Mares and friend with beer

From Homebrew to the House of Fermentology

Bill Mares began making his own beer 45 years ago, when homebrewing was illegal and there were no microbreweries in America. Today there are over 7,000 such breweries nationwide, and Vermont has the highest percentage of breweries per capita in the country. In this presentation, Mares will discuss the American beer revolution, Vermont’s small but significant contribution, and his co-ownership of a brewery.

Vermont Humanities*** December 22, 2017