Best of Vermont
America's per-capita brewery leader and ground zero for the modern hazy IPA. From The Alchemist's first cans of Heady Topper to Hill Farmstead's mixed-culture pilgrimage destination, Vermont punches absurdly above its weight. Plan around brewery hours — many close early.
Covers: Burlington, Stowe, Waterbury, Greensboro Bend, Hinesburg
Brewery
Bottle shop
Beer bar / brewpub
Tap a marker to see the spot
One day
Hill Farmstead (book early). Drive to Stowe for Alchemist and Lawson's. End in Burlington at Foam Brewers.
A weekend
Day 1: Foam + Zero Gravity in Burlington. Day 2: drive the Stowe-Waterbury-Greensboro Bend triangle (Alchemist, Lawson's, Hill Farmstead). Day 3: detour to Frost Beer Works or Burlington Beer Co.
Greensboro Bend
Brewery
Northeast Kingdom · 403 Hill Rd, Greensboro Bend, VT 05842
Multiple-time #1-rated brewery in the world. Shaun Hill's family farm brewery turning out reference-quality saisons, mixed-culture beers, and pale ales. Pilgrimage destination — make the drive.
Known for: Edward, Anna, mixed-culture program
Stowe
Brewery
Northern Vermont · 100 Cottage Club Rd, Stowe, VT 05672
Heady Topper. The single beer that arguably created the New England IPA category. Focus is narrow — DIPAs and a few related styles — but those few styles are world-class.
Known for: Heady Topper, Focal Banger, Crusher
Waitsfield
Brewery
Mad River Valley · 155 Carroll Rd, Waitsfield, VT 05673
Sip of Sunshine is one of the great session-strength IPAs of the modern era. Sean Lawson's beer hall in Waitsfield is a destination in its own right.
Known for: Sip of Sunshine, Super Session, Maple Tripple
Burlington
Brewery
Lakefront · 112 Lake St, Burlington, VT 05401
Burlington's most celebrated post-2015 brewery. Lakefront location, ambitious hop-forward program, and a constantly-rotating tap list.
Hinesburg
Brewery
Outside Burlington · 171 Commerce St, Hinesburg, VT 05461
Garth Frost's quietly excellent operation. Hazy IPAs that hold their own against any in the state, with limited distribution that makes the taproom visit worthwhile.
Williston
Brewery
Greater Burlington · 180 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT 05401
Strong DIPA program and a bigger production footprint than most VT breweries — more reliable to find in stock.
Winooski
Beverage Warehouse
Bottle Shop
Across the river from Burlington · 1 Industrial Ave, Winooski, VT 05404
Best beer retail in northern New England. Massive selection, careful date management, and a staff that knows the local releases. Make this your first stop for stocking up before driving home.