Base for Vermont Beer Trip

Do not see why some enterprising Vermonter (maybe there aren't many) has not started a beer taxi, tour business. No brainer. Really hard to get a taxi in Waterbury. I would imagine most people walk to the Best Western or the Stagecoach.

 

It's a lot faster with a couple beers in you. The walk there felt a lot longer to me.

 

Not bad at all. Really the last 5 minutes that are uphill rest is pretty flat.

 

does the new traffic circle make it easier or more difficult?

 

Walkers from Best Western should go straight across the intersection at the light at the bottom of Blush Hill, and walk downhill into town, not over the interstate bridge. Way shorter, way safer!

 

To add, Stowe Road has sidewalks. VT 100 does not have sidewalks. There are a lot more cars on VT 100 than Stowe Road. Take Stowe Road. It might be darker, but just use the flashlight on your phone if you really need to.

 

There is tons of great VT beer beyond the headline names. Lost Nation has started occasionally canning, and their Gose in particular is not hard to find and worth picking up in that format. Their cork/cage bottles are also typically excellent: "The Wind" grapefruit/Citra-hopped Gose is one of the best new beers I've tried this year.

14th Star cans are relatively easy to find & very tasty. Their "Tribute" DIPA is my favorite. The Maple Breakfast Stout is a nice take on the a more sessionable stout style.

I took a chance on Hermit Thrush's "Jolly Abbot" as a 13% barleywine in a 16oz can (!!) and wish I'd picked up more. Outstandingly complex sour. If you happen to run across any Backacre, their sours are also amazing.

Too much good stuff to list. The Reservoir in Waterbury always has a dozen+ VT beers on tap. Sample a bunch and bring home your favorites.

 

You'll have a little more to do later in the nights in Burlington, but Waterbury has more centralized options to eats and daytime breweries more centrally located around you.