Replying for a Vermont question. Likely heading to Burlington in a few months. Lots of good brews to be had, what's realistic as far as travel? I know some good ones are a good drive away from Burlington.
Good question. I'll start with Burlington and surrounding area and work my way out. These are the ones I'd make the trip for.
Burlington:
- Foam - Second favorite brewery in VT right now - lots and lots of Double IPAs - have their own restaurant right next door
- Burlington Beer Co. - wide variety of beers including doubles, etc but their new digs in the south end are the real attraction here
- Zero Gravity - good selection here as well and their tasting room is nice, but you'll likely end up sitting outside under heat lamps as they are being very covid cautious
- Queen City Brewing - not my favorite as they are much English and German styles but I know the owners so have to include them
- Switchback - more generic tasting at this point. Small tasting room - wouldn't bother - you can get this everywhere
Just outside of town:
- Four Quarters Brewing - Winooski - decent selection again but new tasting room is nice. Winooski has some really great restaurants as well, especially Sneakers for brunch
- Weird Window Brewing - Colchester/South Burlington - have only had a few selections, but their DIPA is nice
- Fiddlehead Brewing - Shelburne - some classics here that you've likely had before. Nice tasting room that has expanded with decent pizza next door
- Black Flannel - Essex - I'm not a fan of their beers - taste a bit bland to me like they are trying to not offend anyone, but their tasting room/restaurant is really nice. And their distillery attached is doing some really nice things with whisky.
- 1st Republic - Essex - Honestly haven't really tried their stuff much. Can't help with this one.
- Goodwater - Williston - Decent, but not worth going here over others.
- Frost - Hinesburg - Really underrated brewery that turns out consistently great beer for decent prices. Not much of a tasting room. Not far from Foams off-site pickup place either.
Stowe Area:
- Ten Bends Beer - Hyde Park - Truly some of the best beer going in VT right now. Love all of their stuff. Very small tasting room, but worth rolling by here to just get the good stuff.
- Lost Nation - Rock Art - Morrisville - Decent but not my style again. Would bypass unless you're a big German style fan
- Soulmate Brewing - Morrisville - haven't had anything from here yet.
- The Alchemist - Stowe - The original and still worth the trip. You can get Heady and Focal Banger pretty much anywhere, but the other styples they have there, like Skadoosh, Luscious, etc., are difficult to find elsewhere.
- von Trapp Bierhall - Stowe - German styles for sure, but the bierhall is beautiful for sure. Good food too. Tough to get into on a weekend with all the skiers and cross country folks.
Warren Area:
- Lawson's Finest Liquids - Warren - really nice place, but I'm just over their beers. Remind me so much of what happened to Magic Hat - not keeping up with new styles.
- Collaborative Brewing - small joint, but I've had some decent beers from here.
For what it's worth, I'm not a Hill Farmstead fan. I've never been, but I've been told it's beautiful. They use a yeast that causes a slight reaction in my throat that I don't care for.
Let me know if you have other questions and I'll find out what I can. As always, call ahead to all these places to see what their Covid restrictions might be.