WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Cup of cheer

Rutland, Vermont - December 17, 2010

Many people refer to this time of year as the holiday season, but at Thomas Dairy in Rutland Town it's eggnog season.

"We start the second week in November and run through the end of December," Richard Thomas said.

The third-generation dairy farm began brewing their brand of eggnog in the 1950s

"Today we did 400 gallons of eggnog," Thomas said.

At their peak they were making over 2,800 gallons per season, but now that number has dropped to 2,000 gallons annually.

"I guess we hit a high back in the early 1980s and since then it has tapered off a little," Thomas said.

While the quantity had diminished the quality has not.

"It is 75 percent milk and 10 percent cream," Thomas said.

Add a little sugar, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg spice along with an egg concentrate and you have got yourself a traditional holiday treat.

"It takes about a half hour to mix it all up," Thomas said. "We keep it stirring until it is time to pasteurize it."

Once the mix is complete they load up the bottles.

"The bottles come to us all labeled, and they are going on the conveyor line," Thomas said.

The containers travel about 10 yards down the conveyor line. They are then separated and swung around to be loaded onto the filler. A quick spin around while they fill-- then they are capped, sealed and loaded up.

"We are a small outfit. We do everything by hand; putting them on, taking them off, putting them in cases by hand," Thomas said.

A holiday specialty Thomas says he still enjoys.

"In moderation," he laughed.

Thomas Dairy eggnog can be purchased at local and chain retailers across the southern part of Vermont for under $5, but some families continue the tradition of buying it right here at the farm. A seasonal specialty that's made in Vermont. The eggnog will be available for just 2 more weeks, but Thomas Dairy products are available year round.

Molly Smith - WCAX News