Local Craft Breweries
Vermont’s craft breweries create economic vitality in the local community through beer tourism and by providing rewarding careers within a vibrant company culture. Throughout the state, craft beer connoisseurs will find different styles, different tastes and a community created through generations of passionate innovators who have fostered the state into one of the world’s most respected beer destinations. 
Zero Gravity – Burlington – 716 Pine St - Situated in heart of the budding arts district of Burlington. Zero Gravity has rapidly become an institution for craft beer aficionados. The taproom is a beautifully constructed space that is a great hangout year-round. The outdoor deck is one of best patios on sunny summer days in Burlington. Since reopening the taproom this spring, their outdoor space for plenty of seating;
A selection of Zero Gravity’s tap list have become premier examples of local craft beers. The brewery also offers a rotating collection of specialty brews that are sporadically available throughout the year. Always evolving and experimenting, the rotating taps creates a need to try as many different beers as possible, because some may disappear forever. Zero Gravity is located directly next to The Great Northern, which offer an inviting collection of New American fare, along with craft cocktails and coffee.
Switchback – Burlington – 160 Flynn Ave – The first 100% employee-owned brewery in New England. Opened in 2014 as Switchback continued is meteoric rise in the craft beer community, the taproom was created as an outlet to showcase experimental brews and limited release batches that can’t be found anywhere else. Created inside a renovated food processing space, the modern offers a gorgeous interior as well as a batch of outdoor tables and is the perfect space for entertaining large tour groups or the occasional beer enthusiast.
Built on the ideals of maximizing complexity and flavor, the flagship Switchback Ale was the launchpad for a brand that prides itself on defying easy description and existing style guidelines. Switchback’s lineup has grown to over twenty-year round offerings, rotating specials and limited releases. Switchback began as a Vermont craft beer brewed for Vermonters, and unrelentingly authentic to the vision individualistic brand that vows to forever be made locally by real brewers.
Fiddlehead – Shelburne – 6305 Shelburne Rd – Ascending into the Vermont craft beer scene at a breakneck pace. Fiddlehead opened the doors to their Shelburne brewery in 2011 with only a thirty-barrel capacity, and a completely manual brewing process. Less than a month after opening for business, their flagship Ale, Fiddlehead IPA, was on tap at over fifty bars and restaurants throughout Vermont.
Necessitating an expansion, and some massive upgrades, in 2017 a new 10,000 sq foot brewery opened for production behind the freshly renovated tasting room with indoor and outdoor seating. Offering pints, flights, and 32oz and 64oz growlers, the taproom offers all of their preeminent multidimensional beers along with a guest list of other local and imported brews, wines, and ciders. Folino’s Pizza in Shelburne opened in the same building as the taphouse, uniting great woodfire pizza with local craft beer in a delectable union.
The Alchemist – Stowe – 100 Cottage Club Rd – Foregoing the stale title of “taproom” The Alchemist in Stowe boasts a beer garden on the front lawn of the brewery while their tasting room undergoes renovations for a future reopening. The Beer Garden was opened on July 1st and has operated all summer long between Thursday and Sunday, and The Alchemist plans on keeping this fun outdoor space operational through the fall season, when they will resume serving beer inside.
Widely known for its hoppy Heady Topper New England style IPA, The Alchemist has been on the front line of Vermont craft beer craze that has become the foremost brewery achieving distinguished status outside of the state. The beer garden is a sophisticated solution to continue serving patrons during COVID and an extensive remodeling of The Alchemist’s taproom, which they plan to reopen in 2022. If you are in the Stowe area this summer, be sure to support some of the great local restaurants in the area, pack a picnic and kick back some fresh and unfiltered craft beers.
Lawson’s Finest Liquids – Waitsfield – 155 Carol Rd - Nestled in the picturesque Mad River Valley, Lawson’s Finest Liquids has become a valued leader in the craft beer culture. Equipped with a taproom and outdoor beer garden, Lawson’s brewery has become a beacon for craft beer enthusiasts traveling through the sleepy town of Waitsfield. Continually focused on producing widely appreciated styles of beer with outstanding freshness, Lawson’s has quenched the thirsts of beer lovers near and far.
The brewery has also become host to weekly concerts with local musicians and bands, as well as live music events throughout the state. In addition to weekly concerts, Lawson’s Finest Liquids also hosts a monthly disc golf tournament in Jeffersonville culminating in the State Championship event in October. While every brewery host events, and integrate live music into the culture of their company, Lawson’s events set them apart from their competitors, and has become a hallmark of their company and the sense of community that has been an integral piece of their brand.
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