Skip to main content

Your Guide to a Craft Beer Road Trip Around Vermont

Virginia is for lovers. Florida is the Sunshine State. Vermont is … not for the lactose intolerant?

Vermont has the nation’s highest ratio of dairy cows to people — a good fit if you’re road-tripping to the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory, which is located in Waterbury in the northern part of the state (or if you want to pick up some Cabot cheese). But if you prefer a glass of brew to a glass of milk, there are plenty of reasons why Vermont should be on your list of craft beer destinations.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Just like cows to people, Vermont has a disproportionately high number of excellent breweries. If that’s news to you, you’re probably not alone. Many of these breweries are hidden gems known only to a small number of devotees. With limited distribution areas and little desire to become international powerhouses, these small-batch brewers make amazing beer oftentimes just for the immediate area. Thanks to the explosion of craft beer and hop heads searching high and low for the next big thing, the secret is out: Vermont is beer country.

Recommended Videos

Whether you’re headed to Vermont to kayak Lake Champlain, walk hand-in-hand under the famous covered bridges of Stowe, or slather your food in Vermont maple syrup, take some time to visit the state’s true attraction: its stellar craft beer scene.

Hill Farmstead Brewery

Hill Farmstead Brewery/Facebook

With an impressive 22 beers represented in BeerAdvocate’s Top 250 Beers list (9 of those ranking in the top 100), the Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro is a must-visit. Standout offerings include Abner, Double Citra or honestly, any other New England style IPA you can get your hands on (When in New England, right?). Brewer Shaun Hill is often on site, greeting visitors and even pouring beers. Be sure to bring empty growlers, coolers, a positive attitude, and plenty of patience. Even with the brewery’s visitor center expansion, expect to wait in line for your turn. While they officially open at noon, plan to be there by 11AM or earlier.

Lawson’s Finest Liquids

Lawson's Finest Liquids

In addition to having a fantastic name for a brewery, Lawson’s Finest Liquids also has a stand-out Taproom location in Waitsfield, VT. This is the place to grab Lawson’s three appearances on the Beer Advocate Top 250 list: the IPAs Sip of Sunshine (#70), Double Sunshine (#20), and Triple Sunshine (#35). All based on a tropical, juicy India Pale Ale recipe, the double and triple make everything bigger, from the alcohol percentage to the bursts of bright pineapple and grapefruit flavors.

The Alchemist

Alchemist Beer

Stowe, Vermont is home to The Alchemist’s brewery and visitor center. Famous for brewing the intense Double IPA Heady Topper (an impressive #6 in the Beer Advocate top 250 list), The Alchemist has expanded to include a second year-round IPA, Focal Banger, and a new series of small batch and one-off brews. Lines start early to pick up cans fresh from the source, so plan accordingly.

Prohibition Pig

Prohibition Pig/Facebook

After all of this beer hunting, you may be ready for something to eat, and maybe another beer or two. Head to the Prohibition Pig Brewery in Waterbury, VT for its Bantam IPA, Vanilla Bean Porter, or Downtown Piggy Brown. The brewery also features guest taps from fellow Vermonters like Foley Brothers and Four Quarters. The Mexican-inspired menu offers revved up versions of tacos and burritos with wallet-friendly prices.

The Reservoir

The Reservoir

If you’re short on time but want to sample a large variety of Vermont beer, The Reservoir is a Waterbury restaurant that flaunts 36 taps that heavily feature Vermont breweries like 14th Star and Zero Gravity. While you drink your beer, enjoy the flat iron steak, blackened trout, or short ribs. Vegetarians have plenty of options as well, like the vegetable curry and pad Thai spaghetti squash.

Lee Heidel
Lee Heidel is the managing editor of Brew/Drink/Run, a website and podcast that promotes brewing your own beer, consuming the…
This Brewery is Turning To An App to Keep Your Thirst Quenched During Quarantine
great notion brewing app for quarantine flight skeleton

It was only a matter of time until we began to see more companies move their business models into the digital world, and the coronavirus pandemic has surely expedited the process. Smartphone apps give companies in every market the ability to reach customers in a more direct and intimate fashion, and that’s a win-win for both the seller and the buyer. Sometimes, though, the customer ends up the big winner in that relationship and that’s the case with the Great Notion Brewing App.

The Portland-based brewery takes its name from an eclectic Ken Kesey novel, Sometimes a Great Notion, and it does an incredible job with taking inspiration from the book's poetic yet polarizing nature, and applying similar methods to its beer production. You’ll find the widely available hazy IPAs, sour ales, and stouts amongst the brewery's offerings, but it’s the added culinary, artistic touch that give these beers their mystery. 

Read more
Enjoy a Campfire Beer with Your Pup with the New Busch Dog Brew
Busch Dog Brew

Ben Franklin famously said, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Well, technically, he said that about wine, but let’s not get hung up on history and facts. It’s so profound that it’s definitely something he could have said. We would argue that dogs and campfires are even further proof. Thankfully, Anheuser-Busch just announced the perfect way to enjoy all three together.

Billed as “the nectar of the DOGS,” Busch’s all-new Dog Brew is the healthiest way for your dog to enjoy a cold one with you by the campfire. Since both beer and hops are toxic to dogs, the non-alcoholic brew is actually a bone broth made from just a few all-natural ingredients, including pork butt, corn, basil, celery, mint, turmeric, ginger, and water. Not only is it safe for dogs, but it’s healthy in promoting their digestive system. Plus, if your pup struggles with eating solid foods, it’s a more accessible way to get the nutrients they need. But, let’s be honest, it’s really just a clever marketing ploy that we’re happy to buy into. Who doesn’t love the idea of drinking a campfire beer with their pooch? You too can drink Dog Brew with your dog, although it tastes nothing like beer, and Busch admits it’s pretty bland by human standards.

Read more
Oskar Blues Brewery Releases French’s Mustard Beer
oskar blues frenchs mustard beer pr select 2

Mustard and beer is a great combination, but usually we're talking mustard used as a condiment on a sausage or pretzel alongside a pint. Colorado's Oskar Blues Brewery has taken this pairing to a whole new level with a new collaboration with French's Mustard, appropriately called French’s Mustard Beer. It's a tropical wheat beer that is literally brewed with French’s Classic Yellow Mustard, along with an infusion of fruit and citrus flavors including key lime, lemon, tangerine, and passion fruit. “We’re stoked on bold flavors at Oskar Blues Brewery and we never shy away from a challenge,” said Oskar Blues head brewer, Juice Drapeau, in a prepared statement. “With French’s Mustard Beer we elevated the Classic Yellow Mustard flavor with tangy lemon and lime to create a tropical wheat ale I’d pair with a loaded hot dog on the hottest day of the year.”

This isn't the first food crossover for French's, known for its bright yellow mustard that is ubiquitous at backyard barbecues around the country. Last year, the brand collaborated with Coolhaus to release a mustard ice cream that was available in New York and California for a limited time alongside a pretzel cookie. And Oskar Blues is no stranger to brewing uniquely flavored beer, as indicated by its "Death By" series of brews with such flavors as king cake, coconut, and even affogato.

Read more