Shelburne/Burlington Bars

Are you joking about BWW? Don't do that to yourself

For sports bars, go to Manhattans. They have TVs and killer tap list.
VPB is a relic of the past with wholly unremarkable beers.

There are endless threads about Burlington, do a search for more

 

Well fiddlehead brewery is in shelbourne with good pizza place in other side of the building. Burlington grin options include foam brewery, farmhouse tap hit the beer garden out back manhattan is a good choice for sports and wings with good tap list, skinny pancake is a decent option. Most places in Burlington have fiddlehead IPA on tap and heady&focal cans.

 

If you're talking about Vermont Pub and Brewery, well, that's about your least interesting downtown Burlington option. It's the best place for a cheap and tasty burger but the beer is a straight up disappointment. Trust me on this, I've tried everything they make and it hasn't been any good in like a decade. Instead, the Zero Gravity American Flatbread bar is a good but crowded choice. They've got a nice variety and usually something tasty on cask. Foam is great too. So much better than the Pub, it's not even fair to compare.

Like others have said, Fiddlehead is pretty much everywhere. I'm surprised when I DON'T see it on draft. Also, that particular BWW is a hot mess- like a weird casino without any of the fun. Worst of the chain that I've seen. Try the Barnyard pizza place instead- it won't leave you with a headache and the draft list is generally very good.

 

Anywhere thats halfway decent should have Fiddlehead IPA on tap. I wouldnt worry about not finding it too much.

Farmhouse is usually our regular spot in Burlington. Folino's has excellent pizza if you're willing to go that far, plus its BYOB and right next to Fiddlehead. VPB isnt the most exciting location, as others have mentioned, but its one of the original vermont breweries and its a nice casual place to grab lunch. Most of their beer is average, but sometimes they put out random stuff thats decent.

 

I would echo the Farmhouse. Very religious about offering good Vermont brews.

 

The Vermont Pub and Brewery does have a ton of TVs so I would keep that on your list since you said you are looking for that. They do flights so you can try a bunch of stuff.

 

I go there a few times a year, and I was there a month ago. They had pallets of Second Fiddle stacked to the ceiling, which was more than I was used to seeing. This may be due to their other brewing facility. They offer tastings of a few beers that they offer for growler fills. No crowlers. There's no seating, just a tiny area to stand while sampling. You can bring your own growlers (standard) for fills, or you can buy their growlers as well. Once filled, you can bring the growlers to enjoy next door (same building) at Folino's - excellent pizzas.

 

Absolutely, I think it's fantastic. I give it an ever so slight edge over the majority of famous VT DIPAs. It does have a tiny bit of a maltier base, but it's not a malt bomb by any stretch. Very well done DIPA that flies under the radar in other parts of New England (in terms of in conversation). I cant say enough good things about Fiddlehead. It's my favorite spot in that area. River Roost down in White River Junction is starting to win me over, however.

 

If you're in Burlington and you don't go to Foam, you're doing it wrong!

 

Do not go to the sugarhouse. Not sure how it is since change in ownership but used to be a crack house and from what I can tell when driving by the clientel looks the same. seriously just head to downtown Burlington.

 

Shelburne Tap House is do-able, that's if you can't get into Burlington for some odd reason. But like everyone else said - Foam Brewers, Farmhouse Tap & Grill and what some people have missed - What Ales You? I've always enjoyed all of the places I just mentioned.

 

Sugarhouse had closed when I drove by on Saturday. Farmhouse food (and beer to an extent) is overpriced. Try zipping downstairs into the parlor (unmarked wood door before the hostess stand) if all you care about is beer. No TVs but hell of a taplist. Archives is awesome, like Barcade in Brooklyn (taps + old school arcade games). Finnegan's has an underrated tap list but maintains the dive bar vibe. Best Sports bar IMO is McGillicuddy's Williston. Awesome taps. Huge pours. Giant TVs. Was there yesterday. They had Hill Farmstead & Foley Bros available for 23 ounce pours.

 

Apologies for threadjacking this thread and possibly turning it towards the Rutland location but only hoping to answer "Pro45's" question.

Not sure what's in Diamond Run Mall, I haven't been down that way in a little bit, but there's a Vermont Tap House second location in Rutland, last time I was in there, they didn't have HF or Lawson's yet but the one here in the Williston area gets those, figured it's only a matter of time until Vermont Tap House Rutland gets those. Good luck.

The brewpub Hop n' Moose 's darker beers are pretty good, but their lighter beers seem to leave a little bit to be desired (to me, at least). Cool atmosphere if you're into hockey, the owner at Hop n' Moose played for UVM Catamounts a while ago so as a hockey fan, I liked that brewpub. And they're canning and bottling now.

Beer King and Terrill Street Beverage are your main bottle shops in Rutland and they're both basically the same distro as most places in Vermont. Terrill Street is right along RT 7 and Beer King is a 5 minute drive west on Crescent Street.

That's all I know for that area but I am looking forward to hearing what you found in Diamond Run Mall, if worthy, add that in the Beer Advocate database, would be a help to all who venture into the Rutland area.