Heading up with the family to southern Vermont next month and am interested in any suggestions for breweries or restaurants. We're going to be close to both Bennington and Manchester. Is it worth the 60 mile drive to Brandon to check out Foley Bros. and Red Clover? This is our first stay in southern Vermont as we are generally Northeast Kingdom-area visitors. Any help is appreciated!
Not the exact answer you’re looking for, but Deerfield Tree House is just over 50 miles from Bennington. I like Foley Bros. but I’m not sure I’d drive 60 miles. Their brews are pretty available in retail options.
These are our go to spots for the Manchester area. Crooked Ram for a drink and snacks. Nice selection, great people. H.N. Williams Store in Dorset for breakfast sandwiches and beer to go. Bonus farmers market next door on the weekends during the season (in the off-season, the farmers market is indoors just down the road at the JK Adams Kitchen Store). Dorset Union Store for more breakfast sandwiches and other food to go. Depot Street Burgers Al Ducci's Italian Pantry - best Italian deli I've found in VT. I'll be honest, we've eaten a bunch of meals out around there and I've never been that impressed by anything but maybe we just haven't been to the right places. No local breweries as you noticed. Can't comment on Red Clover or Foley as I've not been to either. I'll throw a shout out to Merck Forest & Farmland if you want to take the family on a hike.
Yes to both of these. If you're willing to drive, Treehouse should be at the top of the list - it's 50+ miles and an hour plus drive. I also agree on Foley Bros - good beer, but not worth the drive alone. Red Clover, on the other hand, would be worth the drive in my opinion. Keep in mind Red Clover has very limited hours on Thurs/Fri/Sat. And if you're going to Red Clover, you might as well hit Foley which is 1.5 miles away. Being able to hit both might make the 2+ hour round-trip drive more palatable.
Red Clover is for sure worth the drive. Gorgeous and unique taproom, great beers. Foley being two miles away is a nice bonus. Farm Road in Bennington is a real cool spot with very solid beer. Madison Brewing is an eh taproom with solid beer. Avoid Harvest at all costs.
Meuleman’s Craft Drafts near Stratton is a great store. Tiny but has a really good selection of VT beer. Across the street is Honeypie. I haven’t been but have heard good things. Seesaw’s Lodge next to Bromley is a cool place to get a meal. Especially in the cooler months when they have the giant circular fireplace going.
Agreed on Farm Road, my wife and I will usually pop in while we're walking around Bennington. Nothing insane, but absolutely solid, like you said.
If you're into sour beers, Hermit Thrush in Brattleboro is pretty cool. They only offered tasting flights when I was there a few years ago, but my wife really enjoyed their stuff. The Brattleboro food co-op had a lot of local cans too.
Thank you. Definitely considered Brattleboro but we only plan on making one out-of-the-way drive while we're there. Foley Brothers just announced their 10th Anniversary party to be held the weekend we're there so that definitely increases the odds we'll make the trek to Brandon.
Believe or not you can get a fresh cheap Fiddlehead at Ramuntos. The Browns Brewing Company tap room and the Man Of Kent are just over the border in NY. Some good beer is to be found in Keene, NH and great beer in Western MA.
Any of the breweries near Wilmington worth visiting? Beer Naked (looks like a good view), Valley Craft Ales, Snow Republic.
Beer Naked does have a good view and is also on the most dangerous curve I've ever driven. You've got tons of people parked along the guard rail taking in the view and for a restaurant / museum backing into traffic blindly combined with people staring off at the mountains / valley as they do 55 mph around the curve. I've heard the beers are pretty meh but that is all secondhand. Can't comment on the others. Just want to update these few things for anyone doing some research about the Manchester Area. Crooked Ram has really taken a dive for the beer loving crowd. They've transitioned into more of an upscale restaurant and no longer have beer to go or a casual tap room atmosphere. The tap list is still decent, but it's no longer a beer destination in my opinion. Pizza out back is decent. As far as restaurants, we've eaten at The Restaurant at Hill Farm in Sunderland twice in the last year and both have been the best meals we've eaten in Vermont and it's not close. Maybe top 5 all time meals for us.
Not sure the route you take, but if it's rt 7 through Mass into VT, then Head to Dwyers in Pownal Vt right over the border on your way to Bennington. Great beer shop with a lot of VT brews all kept cold.
Agreed, Dwyer's is a great spot. Especially if you still want to buy 2022 Pumpking for $3.99 a 4/pack. hah.
