A person pouring beer from the tap into a clear glass in one of the Vermont breweries. A person pouring beer from the tap into a clear glass in one of the Vermont breweries.

Crafting Excellence: 10 Breweries in Vermont

Vermont breweries are well known for starting the trend of hazy IPA since the New England IPA is frequently credited with having originated in Vermont. That alone ought to promote this state as a beer destination. 

Along with some well-acknowledged and award-winning breweries such as Hill Farmstead, Alchemist, Magic Hat, and Otter Creek. Vermont is home to more than 60 breweries.

A person holding the handle of the faucet to pour the beer into the glass in a brewery.
Photo by Louis Hansel on Unsplash

About Vermont Breweries

Vermont not only has a thriving craft beer industry but also a wide selection of excellent whisky and gin that may be found at distilleries like Whistlepig and Caledonia.

And the cideries in Vermont are some of the best as well. Shacksbury continues to make magnificent wild-fermented cider in addition to innovative taste experiments.

The co-ferments and skillfully made ciders from Fable Farm are unparalleled, and you could spend hours relaxing under an apple tree at Windfall Orchard.

Not to mention the Co-Carars project they collaborated on with Shacksbury and the natural wine magic happening at ZAFA.

Beer has always been the life of every party. It’s something you can serve on almost any special occasion or can be enjoyed daily, but it’s more fun to enjoy them at their source.

Since the food and beverage industry in Vermont is thriving, here are some of the best breweries in Vermont you shouldn’t miss when you plan your beer-cation for this Green Mountain State.

List of the 10 Best Vermont Breweries

1. Hill Farmstead Brewery

Location: 403 Hill Rd, Greensboro Bend, VT | (802) 533-7450

No beer lover’s visit is complete without tasting the award-winning brew of this Vermont brewery.

Shaun Hill of Hill Farmstead Brewery | Vermont Craft Beer

Awarded as the World’s Best Vermont Breweries for five years in a row by RateBeer – the leading rating & reviewing beer online site.

Founder, Owner, and Brewer Shaun E. Hill officially opened the Hill Farmstead Brewery on Memorial Day in 2010 on the farmland, which has been in the family for eight generations!

Hill Farmstead is also included under “Top 50 Most Rated Breweries on BeerAdvocate for 2020“.

Hill Farmstead upholds the farmhouse tradition by crafting tasteful saisons, grisettes, and bière de gardes that conjure up a particular era and location.

Shaun Hill, the company’s founder, has named many of his beers after forebears who worked the family farm; Anna, Arthur, Florence, etc., are a result.

Hill Farmstead Brewery is unique, as seen by its alumni list, which includes Suarez Family Brewery, Casita, The Veil, and the Wunderkammer.

Hill Farmstead draws skilled brewers who are as driven to improve their craft as Shaun Hill is.

If it’s your first time, don’t forget to taste Edward – their flagship American Pale Ale beer and their finest vintage bottles. It will give you a peek into what they do besides the experimental ones.

Their three main categories are Kale Hoppy Beers, Dark Stouts, and Thick Rich Stouts.

Even if it’s not located in some industrial areas or between the hustle & bustle of town, people come here from different parts of the world and get arrested by beautiful slopes of mountains.

The pilgrimage word has been used by most of them to describe this world-famous Vermont brewery.

Check out their website to know more about their brews: https://hillfarmstead.com/

2. The Alchemist

Location: 100 Cottage Club Rd, Stowe, VT | (802) 882-8165

The creator of The Alchemist, John Kimmich, is a virtuoso at what he does, much like Shaun Hill at Hill Farmstead.

This world-famous brewery first started as a brewpub in 2003, then a canning line, and now they’re in their new building in Stowe, Vermont – world-famous for their trendsetter flagship brew, Heady Topper, which set the wheel to the launch of thousands of New England IPAs.

The Alchemist pioneered the present movement for highly sought-after, fresh beer and is frequently credited with inventing the standard hazy IPA.

Enjoy their best brew, such as Focal Banger – an American IPA for its Malty goodness, for hoppy heads.

Also, there is Crusher-AmericanFindingArt Double IPA with oozing hoppy flavor & aroma and a very dry finish at their Stowe brewery and visitor center.

3. Foam Brewers

Location: 112 Lake St, Burlington, VT | (802) 399-2511

Foam Brewers: finding the art in IPA | The Craft Beer Channel

Famous for its ever-creative beer lines among Vermont Breweries, this Vermont brewery has earned 7th rank in the top 10 breweries of 2017.

Founded by five team members from different industries in 2016, it is well known for brewing many beers. This brewery represents the new school for hazy IPAs.

The founding members gained experience in the field at New England institutions, including Switchback and Magic Hat. In light of this, Foam stands for the rising generation of craft breweries in Vermont.

The fair and approachable philosophy set Foam Brewers apart from the other modern New England IPA companies. The beer from Foam never felt difficult or overwhelming. Rather, a warm invitation.

Located at the mesmerizing riverfront of River Champlain, this well-known brewery creates beers for every imaginable palate.

Some of their best brews are – their double IPA – A Head with WingsThe Sun Leaves You – with lots of fruity flavors, full-bodied New England IPA, Like Clockwork – New England IPA with a tropical fruit palate, and much more.

Check out their website to know more about their brews: www.foambrewers.com

4. Lawson’s Finest Liquid

Location: 155 Carroll Rd, Waitsfield, VT | (802) 496-4677

Here is a trailer for you:

Lawson's Finest Kingdom Trails IPA

Located in Waitsfield, this Vermont brewery is world-famous for its high-quality beer and is known for giving back to the community.

They are involved in many philanthropic organizations such as – VBSR (Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility) and The Sparks Centre.

Also, they use earth-friendly products and reuse & recycle their materials.

Lawson’s Finest Liquid has been included under “Top 50 Most Rated Breweries on BeerAdvocate for 2020” amongst all Vermont breweries. Their core produces the finest IPAs and unique maple brews, such as:

  • A sip of Sunshine – Lupulin-laden IPA with tropical fruit flavor and bright floral aroma (scored 100 BeerAdvocate points.)
  • Double Sunshine IPA Imperial – a tropical juicy flavored brew with a dank herbal aroma (scored 100 BeerAdvocate points)
  • Triple Sunshine, a double IPA Imperial – a fruity concoction of grapefruit, pineapple, and lychee with a heady herbal & floral aroma (scored 100 BeerAdvocate points.)
  • Fayston Maple – Imperial Stout, brewed with lots of roasted and black malts and a substantial dose of home-grown maple syrup (scored 93 BeerAdvocate points.)

Check out their website to know more about their brews: www.lawsonsfinest.com

5. Four Quarters Brewing

Location: 70 Main St, Winooski, VT 05404 | (802) 391-9120

Located in Winooski, this 10-barrel Vermont brewery was founded in 2016. With a lengthy draft menu, this brewery specializes in sour, stout, and hoppy beers. 

The 10BBL Brewhouse, which opened in 2014, might be the pinnacle of the Vermont drinking experience.

Set yourself up at one of the hardwood tables, drink a Winooski Centennial Ale (an IPA produced with Centennial hops from Champlain Valley to mark Winooski’s 100 years as a city), and enjoy a cheese and meat plate served on a slate board with all the fixings.

Known for offering a quite interesting assortment of beers such as:

  • Morning Star – an imperial milk stout with lots of lactose Sout and a hint of maple syrup that finishes with a coffee flavor.
  • Pumpkin Spice Latte Stout – pumpkin flavored stands out most with a balanced taste of vanilla bean, dark chocolate, nutmeg, cinnamon, and roast coffee.

Seriously, you must visit Four Quarters if you’re seeking the best cuisine and beer in Vermont.

Check out their website to know more about their brews: www.4qbc.com

6. Von Trapp Brewery

Location: 1333 LUCE HILL ROAD, STOWE, VT 05672

Who we are - von Trapp Brewing

That’s right—those Von Trapps, the musical family that served as the model for Julie Andrews’ The Sound of Music.

They relocated to Stowe after arriving in the country, where they started a summer camp that eventually became a lodge and, in 2010, a brewery.

Located in Stowe, this Austrian-style brewery’s featured brew is Lagers beers, which very few Vermont breweries produce because they are challenging to brew and take longer to mature.

Currently stationed at a large beer hall across the street from the hotel, Von Trapp offers some award-winning beers:

  • Bohemian Pilsner – Gold medal in 2018 at N.Y. International Beer Competition Pilsner Brewery of the Year.
  • Kölsch Style – Gold medal at U.S. Open Beer Championship in 2018.
  • Bock beer – Bronze medal at U.S. Open Beer Championship in 2018.
  • Dunkel Lager – Silver medal at International Beer, Cider, Mead & Sake Competition in the category “Amber & Dark Lager.” But there are more.

All of their beers go well with the assortment of American and Bavarian dishes on the menu, including hamburgers made with beef from cattle grazing on the von Trapp property nearby.

It’s worthwhile to make the short trip up to the main lodge once you’ve filled up on wursts and weissbier. From the hilltop, it appears as though the hills could very well be alive.

Check out their website to know more about their brews: www.vontrappbrewing.com

7. Lost Nation Brewing

Location: 87 Creamery Rd, Morrisville, VT | (802) 851-8041

Lost Nation Brewing

Another brewery that may not appear in your Instagram feed but is still well-regarded in the Vermont brewing community is Lost Nation, which was established in 2013.

Located in Morrisville, this Vermont brewery specializes in European-style Ales and lagers. Their taproom serves a wide range of IPAs, Black Ale, and Pilsners.

The wooded areas of Lost Nation’s home state are reflected in the beers’ more traditional and traditional styles.

Some of their best brews are almost extinct traditional German-style brews – Gose, brewed with sea salt & coriander and tart, dry finish. Vermont Pilsner – with Saaz hop aroma and grass & sharp grain presence.

The Wind – their classic Gose with sour & tart grapefruit aroma and complexity of Citra dry hops and some more classic & best-quality brew.

Although it may seem obstinate, Lost Nation’s unwavering devotion to European styles has helped it become one of the top breweries in Vermont.

Check out their website to learn more about their brews: https://lostnationbrewing.com/

8. Zero Gravity Craft Brewery

Location: 716 Pine St, Burlington, VT | (802) 497-0054

Zero Gravity Craft Brewery

Famous for its classic, high-quality beer, this Vermont brewery is located in Burlington.

Some of their classic brews you wouldn’t want to miss are their Green State Lager – this pilsner-style lager has a bready, lemony, and grassy aroma with Nobel hop playing a key role, finishing is crisp & dry.

Conehead IPA – brewed with Citra hop, pilsner malt, and American white wheat with a juicy palate and crisp finish.

Each beer from Zero Gravity perfectly encapsulates Vermont’s untamed beauty, and the brewery in Burlington is dedicated to preserving that beauty.

As a 1% for the Planet member, Zero Gravity has created several beers with the specific goal of raising money and awareness for social justice causes.

Following this guiding principle, the brewery debuted Rescue Club in 2021 as a new non-alcoholic brand.

Known for their notable can design, their Double IPA 40 Thieves can art has been mentioned under “The 30 Best-Looking Beer Cans in America—2019.

This beer is delicious, too, brewed with 2 Row Malt and the perfect blend of Citra, Nelson, and Azacca hops.

Check out their website to know more about their brews: www.zerogravitybeer.com

9. Hermit Thrush Brewery

Location: 29 High St #101c, Brattleboro, VT 05301 | (802) 257-2337

The 8-0 BREW - Hermit Thrush

This one of the peaceful Vermont breweries is for the sour beer lover.

The only brewery amongst other Vermont breweries that produces Sour Beer made from 100% wild Brattlleoro mixed culture yeast known for its stone fruit & pecan character and balance.

Hermit Thrush stands out like…well, its titular hermit thrush, a North American songbird, in the literal realm of New England IPAs.

Poetic, given that each of Hermit Thrush’s sour notes both physically and figuratively denotes a certain moment in time and location. The Brattleboro-based brewery has only used wild Brattleboro mixed culture yeast since 2014.

According to the brewery, their brewhouse is “fueled by wood, not fossils,” and that is evident throughout their portfolio.

Some of their best brews are:

  • Rowdy Monk – a unique sour brown Quadrupel ale, aged in red wine barrels & scotch barrels for 12 to 18 months, with notes of maple syrup, cocoa, prunes, and dates.
  • Party Guy – a Parti-gyle styled beer is a kettle-soured session wild ale with lots of fruitiness.
  • Brattlebeer – a sour golden wild ale is a well-balanced apple-flavored, crisp, dry beer with a champaign-like finish.
  • Green Street SIPA – Sour version of hop-centric usual Vermont beer. Very good balance of hop & malt flavor with citric tang.

You would struggle to find beers with more terroir, a sense of location, and a sense of memory than these.

Check out their website to learn more about their brews: www.hermitthrushbrewery.com

10. Bissell Brothers Brewing Company

Look at one of the trailers from the Bissell Brother Company:

Bissell Brothers Bottle Clips | The Route

Founded in 2013, this Vermont brewery was started by Noah and Peter Bissel to provide a unique craft beer experience to the people of Maine.

They brew their great selection of brews in Milo, Maine & Portland, Maine.

They have come way forward from their first but now flagship world-class brew of The Substance Ale in 2013. Now producing various beers such as Stout, Pilsner, Lager, Sour, Porter, and more.

Some of their outstanding brews are:

  • The Substance Ale – flagship brew of Bissell Brothers
  • Baby Genius Ale – a great hoppy, hazy session blonde Ale with a strong touch of apricot and a touch of peach.
  • Reciprocal – a double dry-hopped Australian IPA with a nice balance of fruity & malty presence.
  • Swish – a double IPA with the proper balance of tropical fruitiness & hoppy bitterness.

Check out their website to learn more about their brews: https://bissellbrothers.com/

Ready for Your Beer-cation at Vermont Breweries?

Sipping beer at their source is much more fun than drinking them elsewhere. So, what are you waiting for?

Plan your next beer-cation for Green Mountain State, Vermont, USA, and enjoy the world-class brews of the Vermont Breweries right at your doorstep!

Last Updated on by ayeshayusuf

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