Switchback Brewing Company

Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

160 Flynn Ave
Burlington, Vermont, 05401-5400
United States

(802) 651-4114 | map
switchbackvt.com
BEER STATS
Average:
3.97
Beers:
41
Ratings:
2,088
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.86
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
81
pDev:
14.77%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Ekish58:
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Rated by Ekish58 from New York

3.89/5  rDev +0.8%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4.25 | selection: 3.75

Nov 27, 2017
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.14 by craigbelly from Iowa

Sep 26, 2023
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.64/5  rDev -5.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75
Medium sized taproom more of a to-go brewery. Average brews. Somewhat more interesting craft beers nearby unless you are here a few days to try them all.
May 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.01 by KC_beerman from Missouri

Jan 02, 2023
 
Rated: 3.6 by O-Meg from New York

Dec 20, 2021
 
Rated: 3.34 by Arg914 from New York

Dec 20, 2021
 
Rated: 4.5 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Nov 24, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by slasich from Pennsylvania

May 16, 2020
Photo of timmy2b
Reviewed by timmy2b from New York

4.16/5  rDev +7.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 3.75 | service: 5 | selection: 3.75
Very friendly staff, dog friendly and very bright with lots of windows and a patio front and side. Staff very helpful and quick with service. Not a large variety of styles and several smoked beers.
Jan 17, 2020
Photo of hozersr
Reviewed by hozersr from Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 3.75
Came here with my wife, my pups, Bob and Walter in the fall of 2019. This place is a must go to brewery. They have nailed the smoked beer concept. I am a IPA lover and was very pleased to go out of my realm and try their Flynn on Fire Smoked Beer Initiative. Their staff is friendly and loved our dogs. Totally pet friendly
Oct 29, 2019
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.11/5  rDev +6.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4
these guys have been around with their flagship beer for what seems like forever, and i must have driven more or less right past this place a hundred times over the years, and never stopped in for whatever reason. it was really cool to finally check it out, and its amazing to see how far they have come since that beer that put them on the map, which still tastes delicious by the way. the have a really cool space, just right off the beaten path there. some neat outside seating, but it was way too hot for that when we were in, and a modest taproom inside a much larger production facility, its quiet and mellow here, and there is a view to the tanks and equipment in the back. about half of it is set up as a little shop with all kinds of gear and beer to go, the rest of it is the bar with some high top tables and a lot of windows. they didnt have a huge selection when we were in, but it sure was diverse. they are doing a series of smoked beers called flynn on fire, and we loved all of them that we tried. also impressive was the citra pils and the extra pale, i dont think they make a bad beer here. the service was young but friendly and prompt enough, and we had a nice time just mellowing out here over a couple of really solid and interesting beers. it seems like some of the attention their original beer got them has died down a little bit, but this is a vastly better brewery overall than i ever knew. i left really impressed, stoked on the quality and innovation, and eager to return when i am back in this part of the world next summer! dont sleep on these guys, they made some of the best beers we had in burlington...
Aug 13, 2019
 
Rated: 5 by VTabs2 from Vermont

Jul 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4.1 by Griffith from Connecticut

Mar 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.93 by TigerSoul from New Jersey

Mar 03, 2019
Photo of Elise22
Reviewed by Elise22 from Vermont

5/5  rDev +29.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
This is the brewery you go to when you want to be treated like a neighbor. Staff is so friendly and it's clear the employees really love this company. 100% employee-owned and you can tell. Beautiful tap room, amazing beer, really can't ask for more.
Dec 21, 2018
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Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

4.18/5  rDev +8.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.75
What an awesome tap room. They may only have some beer brats and hot dogs, but I wasn't there for that. Because their killer Berliner weisse and new IPA hopped with Bravo absolutely impressed me. Service was very good. I'll definitely be back.
Aug 06, 2018
Photo of BubbleBobble
Reviewed by BubbleBobble from New York

4.22/5  rDev +9.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
I don't visit as much as I should given its proximity to BBCO, Zero Gravity, and Queen City, but Switchback offers a nice change of pace and delivers solid beers without the flash and additives of its closest neighbor. The area is getting more and more expanded in recent years, so hopefully they're able to keep pace.
Feb 18, 2018
Photo of Crackblind
Reviewed by Crackblind from New York

4.2/5  rDev +8.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25
I've been enjoying the beers from Switchback for a while as I've been visiting Vermont fairly often over the past few years. I'm glad I finally was able to make it to the taproom. Pretty crowded with a good selection of beers I've only been able to get in cans (I do wish they were available near me) plus a nice limited release. Staff was friendly and have me plenty of info on the special beer. Pretty crowded on a chilly Saturday afternoon. If you are in Burlington, definitely give it a visit.
Feb 17, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by KMcGrath from Massachusetts

Feb 14, 2018
 
Rated: 3.9 by RickyBfromCT from Connecticut

Jan 26, 2018
 
Rated: 3.7 by Rifugium from North Dakota

Dec 21, 2017
 
Rated: 4.11 by benjaminsa from Vermont

Nov 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.97 by ADKbeerguy from New York

Nov 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4.56 by bigcountrylutz from Florida

Oct 16, 2017
 
Rated: 4.49 by Max8787 from Canada (QC)

Aug 10, 2017
 
Rated: 4.46 by bwilso79 from New York

Jul 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4.47 by HurryItsJacob from Massachusetts

Jun 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.72 by NextJen from Massachusetts

Jun 13, 2017
 
Rated: 4.4 by SpAiReArGsEonNE from New Jersey

Apr 11, 2017
Photo of shelbs1202
Rated by shelbs1202 from Indiana

4.04/5  rDev +4.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Visited on the last couple legs of Burlington Brewtours. Taproom's not huge, but the tasters were a fare, good size.
Mar 04, 2017
Photo of Mattybuchs
Rated by Mattybuchs from Vermont

4.06/5  rDev +5.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Nice, spacious taproom which often features live music. Usually 3-4 offerings on tap with bottles available to-go. Saturday tours offered.
Feb 22, 2017
 
Rated: 4.14 by sbuchert from Massachusetts

Feb 15, 2017
 
Rated: 4.39 by oriolesfan4 from Maryland

Feb 06, 2017
 
Rated: 4.32 by costanzo_mike from Massachusetts

Jan 27, 2017
Photo of mdfb79
Reviewed by mdfb79 from New York

3.92/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Nice little spot, had some interesting beers on like a gose and sour. beers were above average, better than Queens, but not as good as Zero Gravity of Foam. Worth checking out but third of the four we visited.
Nov 17, 2016
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Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +7.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4
There's something about Vermont that's just cool, and I can't really describe that without writing far more than is needed here, but Switchback fits the bill. You have the brewery itself, and then the tasting room, and then the people and it's just "chill"... if I'm not too old to use that word. It's just relaxed. You've got a nice friendly brewery dog (or maybe he's an office dog, I don't know) running around, and everyone's just having a good time, even the employees - and you don't see that too often.

There's limited food (I think just it's just hot dogs), but you can bring something it in or have it delivered, and there are eight beers on tap as well as the option to buy and drink their seasonals there. The eight taps cover the regulars and a fair amount of specialties. And it's a good looking place. It's nicely polished, and comfortable; and they have live music on Fridays and an open mic night on Wednesdays.

There can't possibly be anything that I've said here that hasn't been said before so I'll just wrap it up: worth a stop.
Sep 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.04 by nater919 from New York

Aug 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.07 by DoubleMalt from New York

Jul 31, 2016
 
Rated: 3.78 by qcbrewer from North Carolina

Jun 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by AirBob from Massachusetts

May 30, 2016
Switchback Brewing Company in Burlington, VT
Brewery rating: 3.97 out of 5 with 2088 ratings