Not Popular Vermont Beers

There are reasons you don't hear people talking about trout river or mcniels. Trust me you don't want to try everything. As for good places that are not mentioned often, check out the Bobcat cafe, trapp lodge, and fiddlehead.

 

I would recommend Fiddlehead IPA. You can pick up growlers at the their brewery in Shelburne as well as a number of bars/restaurants in Burlington.

 

Zero Gravity / American Flatbread is awesome and they always have a large variety Of their beers on tap. The pizza is tasty too.
Rock art, trout river, mcneils....MEH.

I'll third fiddlehead ipa, very enjoyable.

 

Check out the website for the Vermont Brewers Association

http://brewersvt.com/index.php

I realize you were looking for specific suggestions but this site lists all the breweries with links to there websites. Might be helpful if you were interested in some lesser known places. Happy hunting! Cheers!

 

You may want to seek out Switchback, 2nd for Trapp.
Zero Gravity is a treat as well.
Cheers

 

I'm a sucker for some Switchback. They're finally bottling now too.

 

Definitely hit Bobcat if you're anywhere nearby. Wonderful lagers and Belgian inspired beers, great food. Bobcat would be as well known as the big 3 if it wasn't so off the beaten path. Really wish I lived closer. Trapps has been good in the past; haven't had anything from them in a year or so but still sounds good. Trout River beers have never traveled well and seem to have taken a nosedive in the last 3 years or so. Still, if you find yourself in Lyndonville, stop by the brewery and check out the drafts; they were always much better and more varied than the available bottles and draft pours elsewhere. There are a couple of other things worth looking for, like Long Trail Triple Bag and some of Otter Creek's seasonal releases but certainly nothing worth a detour. Hit Beverage Warehouse in Winooski for some other New England and Quebec beers. Flatbread/Zero Gravity and VT Pub & Brewery are worth a visit if you spend much time in Burlington.

Are you bringing some Saison Brett with you?

 

Im not sure of its availability but Rock Art Black Moon Ipa is arguably the best Black IPA I have ever had.

 

Timely thread for me. I'm leaving for VT early tomorrow morning. I haven't really "nailed down" an agenda, but I'm heading for Burlington first. Zero Gravity is literally at the top of my list. Everything I've had from them at fests, or from people bringing back growlers, has been nothing short of outstanding. Really just can't wait to get there. I'm also planning on Vermont Pub and Brewery. Just seems like the kind of place you gotta check out. And the Farmhouse is also on my to-do list. But here's the rub...I gotta be in Middlebury by 6:00 so I can finish up my studies with the American Brewers Guild at Drop-In. So I've got limited time in Burlington...hoping I can make it all work! I was thinking maybe a beer and a snack at VPB, then lunch at Flatbread. Then bop around town for a bit and hit Farmhouse for an early dinner/snack and a beer or two. Then drive to Middlebury. Doable?

So I'll be in Middlebury Sunday night through Wednesday. Not sure what the nights will hold, but for sure, The Bobcat has also been high on my list for a long time. So I'll either make it out there one of the nights for dinner, or stop for lunch on my way home.

Looking forward to my first VT trip!!

 

Mamouche tapping Weds. night at Prohibition Pig. Had quite a bit over Zwanze Day today, but if it's on your bucket list, head over there for some, and leftovers of the 6 excellent Portland OR kegs that were put up Thur. night (but poor driving conditions put a damper on attendance.) Chad said likely they will still be on Sun. , and the 3 of 6 I had on Fri. were worth the trip. Save gas? Give 'em a call to see what's on. And yes - the Bobcat is a dinner & beer destination for sure.

 

Long Trail, Otter Creek, Switchback, & Magic Hat are immensely more popular in VT than the phantom brands talked about here on BA. Maybe try some of these readily available beers & enjoy your trip to VT rather than chasing limited beer? Maybe just leave the artisinal stuff to the locals?

 

Do you know if its a 5 gal keg or larger?

I'm in FL but would jump through the roof if it's still on when I get back to VT on Friday. Mamouche is fantastic and one of my favorite Cantillons I've gotten to try to date. Actually, last time I had it was a bottle at the Pro Pig

 

I forgot about that... and the Vermonster barley wine is pretty good too.

 

Black Moon is good. They also have another thats just called "Black IPA" that I thought was very tasty. It's also very fresh, as they just bottled it and I think it's the debut. I'm also partial to RidgeRunner, their "light" barleywine.

 

Say what you will about their beer, but Magic Hat is a fun visit. It's like walking into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, but for beer.

 

my favorite restaurant

 

Bobcat is great. I try to get something from them whenever I'm bar hopping around VT and can't actually make it to the cafe. The food is absolutely out of this world, too. The entree menu changes regularly so you're always in for something new when you stop by, too. I posted a few pics of my visit there over the summer here.

 

Posting this from out Hotel in Burlington -

Went to HFS and Alchemist this weekend both were great. Also went to Vermont Pub & Brewery which we were not impressed with at all. Had dinner and one beer then left for Farmhouse which was much better. The downstairs area is a great addition. If you have to choose skip Vermont pub & brewery and do farmhouse instead!