Prohibition Pig

I don't mind Pro Pig but it certainly hasn't sustained in the hierarchy of Waterbury bars/restaurants. Maybe the food wasn't as good as I thought it was when I first went. I've certainly had more BBQ since my first time going there. It was the place we all recommended most when trying to tell people about Waterbury. I don't want to attribute the crowds as the reason it doesn't feel the same, but it certainly has killed some of the vibe. The addition of the brewery is really where I think the problem is. The Pro Pig beers are hit or miss and the fact that they take up so much of the menu makes it less appealing. The food on the brewery side is just okay. Like I'd rather drive 15 minutes to Mad Taco is Waitsfield, but it's also not inedible or anything. It's fine.

Good place to stop for a taco and a few beers. Right next to giant beer store. Give it a try.

After we got done shopping at the Craft Beer Cellar, we sauntered across the street and realized Pro Pig was just about to open. While standing in the sprinkling rain behind a couple waiting families for a few minutes, we got seated and served at a high top just beside the bar fairly quickly. However, after that first interaction, there were huge gaps in service. That said, the Pig's got a cool vibe, like an old wooden tavern that really fits the small Vermont town motif, but with some subtle modern flourishes.

We ordered shredded pork, wings, and poutine. The poutine was a letdown, as the sauce didn't really taste that smoky, and the dish was cold overall. It also turned out that we really didn't need it, considering how many wings they gave us, and how big they were to boot. Not only that, but they were absolutely deliciously crispy with an excellent house rub. What's just mind-blowing is that they could serve such a huge portion in the first place, while at the same time other places are taking wings off their menu due to supply issues. I was expecting 4 wings and I think they gave us 8?!

However, my biggest surprise after sitting down was seeing the beer list. I can't tell you how many people have told me to come here over the years, primarily based upon the uncanny draft and bottle list they curated, only to finally land and be met with some just okay in-house brews. And that's it. No guest drafts, bottles or cans. At all. That was my biggest disappointment, far moreso than the poutine, particularly with all the hype surrounding the place.

Still, it worked out as a fine stand-in with some nice grub, as we had initially planned to go to Blackback, which was closed for renovation, as well as Parker Pie, which was closed for a COVID-19 incident. That last part is particularly sad considering how much we were craving pizza after our Hill visit the next day, and how far out of our way it turned out to be since we had no service and no idea they were closed. While none of this is very pertinent to Pro Pig, someone might find it valuable to know that, for us, Three Penny was our standout pub of the trip.

 

What I had: Hopfenstark Greg American Foreign Harvest Stout, Hill Farmstead What Is Enlightenment?, Schlitz Gusto Classic 1960s Formula, and Lawson’s Finest Liquids Chinooker’d IPA on tap, Chopped Pork BBQ plate with collard greens and maple baked beans, Pit Smoked Chicken plate and multiple glasses of Evolucio Furmint for my better half.

What I liked: Redwood walls, dark ambiance, and candle-lit tables give the bar a cozy, cabin-like atmosphere, incredible draft list with many of Vermont’s best beers on offer, top notch barbecue (perfectly seasoned, huge smoke flavour, delicious sides), ample space between tables provides plenty of privacy, waiter and bartender were engaging, efficient, and made great recommendations, well laid-out beer menu, gorgeous towering bar, patrons were friendly.

What I disliked: Nothing, really.

Would I go back? Without question. We had a very memorable experience here and will return any time we find ourselves in Vermont. I wish I could transplant this place to Toronto.

Overall Rating: 100

Visited one day into the Brewery portion, which serves a nice variety of beer and modest food (Tacos, salads and sandwiches). You order at the counter, get a number and it is delivered to your seat. Our food was well prepared and delicious. Wide variety of beers on tap, both in-house and guest (Hill farmstead was available our day). Enjoyable stay, we will go again!

This place is totally worth stopping in at if you are in Waterbury or the surrounding area. The food is delicious and the serving sizes are huge (the kids meals could feed an adult). The staff are also really friendly and helpful. The beer selection is great. They have a really impressive variety of beers on tap from other brewers along with their own list of house made beers. The only suggestion is if you are going for lunch, go early since both times I was there it got busy really fast.

 

Very low key service. Order a drink and or food, sit yourself, get forgotten about for 10 minutes. Get your drink, try to get back up the bar for another and then if you're lucky get someone's attention. Beers were o. K, totally drinkable but the area is saturated with great breweries, bars and restaurants... So it certainly didn't stand up the rest within the Stowe/Waterbury/Burlington area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As my understanding goes this was a bar and restaurant that turned into a brewpub and restaurant. The food isn’t bad, styling itself a barbecue place it’s pretty good. I only had two of their beers and Octoberfest which was pretty solid, and an English Mild with pumpkin spices that I did not care for. The place was busy and loud for a Thursday, service was good and the guest taps were very nice. Had a couple of Hill’s Farmstead Annas on tap.

 

Vibe was mixed between Parisian style brasserie with tiled everything and a western styled saloon with ceiling high liquor wall complete with rolling ladder. There were larged family groups mixed in with the more zealous beer drinkers per se. Dining room itself split by chest high divider. Straight line bar seating for 15 with 4 high tables on the good side. Just a bunch of tables on the other. I went at 1130, and it felt like the evening. Moody lighting, dark and dim. Maybe if this was just trying to be a bar. Service was friendly but slow; they were understaffed. Wide food selection. Overpriced...all the sandwiches come a la carte and start at $9; it's $5 to add a side. Went with pulled pork sandwich, and it was dimunitive by any standard. The bun was maybe 3" in diameter, and still accounted for the majority of the flavor. Yes, the pile of meat was as thin as a McDonald's burger. On the positive, their bbq sauce was ++. Onto the beer, good selection of about 10, and more than just your standard hop bombs: maltier porters, English pales and a dubbel. Reasonably priced, $6 average here, but the two I sampled were just above average. An OK stop of you're in the area but not worth the headache otherwise.

 

 

 

Our first stop on our Vermont Beercation. Busy, noisy and friendly. A clean and inviting place with a good décor. Service was friendly and efficient. Very good selection of their own beers as well as some others. Excellent pub fare.

 

Killer beer, cocktails, food, & staff!

Awesome place with awesome food,service and vibes. Also have some good beers on tap but my favorite part is that they offer other local beer on draft from places like lawns, hill farmstead and alchemist. I always make a trip here overtime I visit vermont.

 

 

Where the Alchemist grew up, right in downtown Waterbury. They added a back building that is open during the day, and is right across Elm street from "that fancy beer store".

Was there in Sept 2016. Just now getting around to it...

Fun to go to, but there's always a wait. Food is good but portions are small and pricey. Beer list on the hand - is extensive! From in-house to VT's best!