The Craft Beer Guide to Vermont
Illustration by Sarah Lawrence
To say Vermonters like their beer is something of an understatement. The Green Mountain State has the most craft breweries per capita in the US with more than one garnering international praise. While these breweries are scattered throughout the state, Vermont’s relatively small size means that it’s easy to visit several inside the space of a day or a weekend — provided you have a designated driver. Brew tours are so popular, in fact, the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing even has a whole page devoted to it. Indeed, half the fun of visiting these breweries is getting to explore the great towns in which they are located, and taking in some gorgeous scenery along the way.
With so many great breweries, narrowing it down to a dozen for this list was no easy task. To simplify things, we left off some of the bigger names like Long Trail, Magic Hat, and Harpoon — all great in their own right — in favor of spotlighting some under-the radar breweries you’ve probably never heard of. (You can find a comprehensive list of Vermont breweries here.)
Fiddlehead Brewing Company
Shelburne
Photo credit: Fiddlehead Brewing Company
Located on a stretch of Route 7 that also includes a vineyard, a cookie maker, a museum, and a locally famous purveyor of bacon and other smoked delights, you can get the whole Vermont experience within about 10 miles. While varieties change seasonally, the flagship IPA is always on tap. With citrus and pine notes, this is a hoppy beer that is nonetheless easy to drink. And if you get hungry, there’s a wood-fired pizzeria right in the same building.
Foley Brothers
Brandon
These brothers know their beer. A small-batch operation, located off the beaten path in the small Rutland County town of Brandon, the Foleys turn out unique brews like their smooth Ginger Wheat Ale, subtle Maple Brown Ale, and the big Fair Maiden Imperial double IPA.
Switchback Brewing Co.
Burlington
There’s a reason why Switchback, an unfiltered ale, is on almost every tap in the state. Since 2002, this crisp, smooth, red-amber brew has become a local staple. Only available in kegs until relatively recently, Switchback was probably Vermont’s most buzzed about beer until Heady Topper stole the crown. Now available in 22-ounce bombers and several additional varieties, Switchback remains a popular alternative to the glut of IPAs currently on the local beer scene.
Otter Creek Brewing
Middlebury
Okay, this is one of the bigger guys that did make the cut. The reason is because this place is actually three breweries in one. Located in the industrial neighborhood of the quaint college town on Middlebury, the space is also home to OCB’s organic label Wolaver’s, as well as Shed Brewery. You can sample all three in the tasting room, which also includes a pub menu with some tasty localvore treats. Definitely try OCB’s Black IPA, a malty, hoppy brew born right here in VT. For Wolaver’s, the easy choice is the Alta Gracia Coffee Porter, an organic, GMO-free pour with a chocolaty jolt of caffeine in every glass. Shed’s Mountain ale is always a good bet. An English Strong Ale, the medium hoppiness is balanced by notes of caramel. And if you’re lucky enough to be there when it’s in stock, grab a four-pack of OCB’s Russian Imperial Stout, a dark monster of a beer that’s still incredibly smooth despite the 10% ABV wallop.
Hill Farmstead Brewery
Greensboro
Photo credit: Bob M. Montgomery
Hill Farmstead Brewery is an operation rooted in history and place. The brewery sits on land that’s been in the Hill family for generations. Beers, like the aromatic Edward Pale Ale, honor the Hills’ ancestors — the water used for brewing is even from the family well. That dedication to craftsmanship is evident in their award-winning brews, which has made this small, out-of-the-way brewery such a destination for beer lovers.
