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Craft beer lovers and beer experts alike should include a visit to Burlington, Vermont’s breweries on their beer tour itinerary. Burlington is home to the best breweries, cideries, and distilleries in the state of Vermont, and this is the greatest place to start your beer getaway.
Not only do they offer fantastic beer blends, but they also serve the best cheese in the state that goes well with almost any beer. So what are you waiting for? Come and taste some of the best beers brewed by the most outstanding breweries in Burlington!
1. Foam Brewers
Foam Brewers is a microbrewery in Burlington founded by five industry professionals who share the same passion for brewing, culture, and music. The founders have a mission of crafting beers with originality and resourcefulness that are suitable for every palate.
Foam Brewers offer a laid-back vibe and a friendly environment. The brewery features around 10 beers on tap and a Charcuterie Slate with a selection of tasty cured meat. You can also purchase some cans or bottles to bring home some goodies.
- Crowd Favorite: Built To Spill. A citrusy and fruity Imperial IPA with 8% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Pavement
- Hop-py note: Dog-friendly. Covered outdoor seating. Live music. Wheelchair accessible. Bike, street, and private lot parking.
- Fun Fact: Foam Brewers host a Canvas Contest where they let contestants draw or paint on a canvas can. The winner receives $200 and a Foam gift basket.
Hours: Open Mon – Thur 12pm – 10pm, Fri & Sat 12pm – 12:30am, Sun 12pm – 10pm.
Address: 112 Lake St, Burlington, VT 05401
Contact: (802) 399-2511 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
2. Burlington Beer Company
The Burlington Beer Company, which you can find in the city’s South End neighborhood, is responsible for producing some of the region’s finest and most original beer styles. Burlington Beer is an independent craft brewery that aims to strike a happy medium between innovation and respect for traditional brews.
Burlington Beer’s taproom and beer garden is at 180 Flynn Avenue. The place offers a rotating list of flagship and seasonal beers on tap and a food menu that comforts the soul. Burlington Beer is open seven days a week, so you can always plan your visit on any date and won’t be disappointed.
- Crowd Favorite: It’s Complicated Being A Wizard. An orange Double IPA with a bold hop flavor contains 8% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Elaborate Metaphor
- Hop-py note: Dog-friendly. Kid-friendly. Bike and private lot parking. Wheelchair accessible. Offers vegetarian options.
- Fun Fact: Burlington Beer Company won three Gold Crushies in the 2022 Craft Beer Marketing Awards.
Hours: Open Daily 12pm – 9pm.
Address: 180 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT 05401
Contact: (802) 863-2337 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
3. Zero Gravity Brewery
Zero Gravity is one of Pine Street’s favorites. The brewery is recognized for its commitment to the best features of traditional beer styles. They use the finest malt and hops in their brews, aged to perfection.
Zero Gravity delivers a great beer-focused experience at its taproom and beer hall. They offer a great selection of beers, from their flagships to their collaboration with other breweries. The place also serves its customers with food items that are deliciously mouth-watering, perfect for their irresistible beers.
- Crowd Favorite: Conehead. A Citra hopped American IPA with 5.7% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Madonna
- Hop-py note: Dog-friendly patio. Indoor and outdoor seating. Indoor activities. Street and private lot parking.
- Fun Fact: Zero Gravity donates $1 for every Green State Lager they sell to CRAG Vermont, an organization for climbers protecting the climbing environment of Vermont.
Hours: Open Sun – Thur 8am – 9pm, Fri & Sat 8am – 10pm.
Address: 716 Pine St, Burlington, VT 05401
Contact: (802) 497-0054 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
4. Switchback Brewing Co.
Switchback Brewing is an excellent choice if you’re searching for a one-of-a-kind brewery to enjoy a drink. Bill Cherry and Jeff Neiblum opened Switchback in Burlington in 2002 and became one of the best beer suppliers in Vermont. And by 2017, Bill made a big move of making the brewery 100% employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Switchback is the very first brewery to have this structure in town.
Today, the brewery has Cheese and Beer Pairings and Stretch & Sip Yoga classes, so there’s always something exciting to do there. On Saturdays, you can tour the brewery, and if you can’t decide what to drink, you can have an affordable beer flight. The brewery offers three beers available all year round and several seasonal options.
- Crowd Favorite: Switchback Ale. A balanced, clean, and smooth Amber Ale with 5% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Citra-Pils Keller Bier
- Hop-py note: Live music. Open to all. Dog-friendly. Wheelchair accessible. Covered outdoor seating. Private lot parking.
- Fun Fact: Katie’s Love Poem from Switchback won a gold medal in the Historical beer style category in the 2022 World Beer Cup awards.
Hours: Open Mon – Thur 1pm – 8pm, Fri & Sat 12pm – 9pm, Sun 12pm – 7pm.
Address: 160 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT 05401
Contact: (802) 651-4114 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
5. Four Quarters Brewing
Check out one of Vermont’s finest breweries, Four Quarters Brewing in Winooski. The brewery is only around 6 minutes from Burlington, so it will be a waste if you won’t drop by for a drink.
Four Quarters is known for its unique Vermont takes on classic Belgian styles. Those who are adventurous and want to try something new can have a fantastic beer experience in their sour room. Visitors interested in learning more about the brewery’s brewing process can take a tour and try some of their fresh brews. In addition, there are unique activities like yoga and brewery bike tours for customers to enjoy.
- Crowd Favorite: Phaze. A solid, clean, and hoppy American IPA with 6.5% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Ghosts In the Sky
- Hop-py note: Dog-friendly.
Hours: Open Mon – Wed 12pm – 9pm, Thur – Sat 12pm – 10pm, Sun 11am – 8pm
Address: 70 Main St, Winooski, VT 05404
Contact: (802) 391-9120 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
6. Citizen Cider
If you wish to try something other than beers, why not try a good old cider from Citizen Cider? They have distinct styles when crafting their ciders and hard seltzers. Their signature crafts and seasonal ciders use five core flavors and local ingredients. The result is a set of flavors that are as distinctively Vermont as they are unique.
The best thing about this cidery is they never use concentrated apple extracts; instead, they press fresh apples and use their juices to make the most incredible cider in town. Additionally, their tasting room is full of friendly staff that welcomes each customer with a smile and helps them choose what they want and need.
- Crowd Favorite: Unified Press. A crisp and refreshing gluten-free cider with 5.2% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: The Dirty Mayor
- Hop-py note: Dog-friendly patio. Street parking. Live music.
- Fun Fact: Citizen Cider was featured in The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives for their excellent food and ciders.
Hours: Open Mon 12pm – 7pm, Tues – Thur 12pm – 9pm, Fri & Sat 11am – 10pm, Sun 11am – 7pm.
Address: 316 Pine St #114, Burlington, VT 05401
Contact: (802)497-1987 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
7. Vermont Pub & Brewery
In 1988, the birth of the very first brewery in Burlington named Vermont Pub & Brewery took place. Greg Noonan, an author and the founder of the brewery, has a massive contribution to the microbrewing industry in the United States. Today, Vermont Pub is the oldest and longest-running brewery in the city, with thousands of local and tourist fans.
Vermont Pub offers a great selection of rich-flavored and tasty beers that anyone can enjoy. They also serve a variety of food items and non-alcoholic beverages, making family meal time possible. Customers can also enjoy weekly live music at the brewery’s outdoor patio while enjoying a good glass of beer with a savory meal.
- Crowd Favorite: Bombay Grab IPA. Bitter India Pale Ale with heavy hop character and 5.5% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Forbidden Fruit
- Hop-py note: Dog-friendly. Kid-friendly. Indoor and outdoor seating. Vegan and vegetarian options. Garage and street parking.
- Fun Fact: Greg published a book in 1986 called Brewing Lager Beer, a nationwide book used by brewers as a definitive guide for crafting lager beer.
Hours: Open Wed – Sun 11:30am – 9pm, Mon & Tues Closed.
Address: 144 College St, Burlington, VT 05401
Contact: (802) 865-0500 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
8. Queen City Brewery
As one of the best microbreweries in Burlington, you can find Queen City in the city’s exciting South End neighborhood. Founded in 2003, the brewery has been creating innovative beer recipes throughout its 15 years in the industry.
Queen City’s taproom is a cozy tavern housed in a converted warehouse and serves traditional lagers and brews. You can also try brews like American ales, German lagers, and Scottish ales as they feature over 30 beers on tap that are constantly rotating.
- Crowd Favorite: Yorkshire Porter. A dark, toasty, and nutty English porter with 5% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Hefeweizen
- Hop-py note: Live music. Food trucks on-site. Bike and private lot parking. Occasional events. Board games.
- Fun Fact: Queen City’s taproom offers free unlimited popcorns to its customers.
Hours: Open Sun – Thur 1pm – 8pm, Fri & Sat 12pm – 9pm.
Address: 703 Pine St, Burlington, VT 05401
Contact: (802) 540-0280 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
9. Weird Window Brewing
Weird Window is a microbrewery in South Burlington owned by married couple Jack and Emily Droppa. The brewery focuses on crafting beers that are diverse and approachable for everyone. They offer a selection of different styles of lagers, ales, and stouts.
Weird Window’s taproom has a clean and modern style theme that makes it a nice, cozy place to chill. You can bring food from nearby restaurants or get in-house mixed nuts, chips, and popcorn to partner with your beer. Finally, when visiting the place, you will be greeted by the brewery’s furry friend, Citra the BrewDog, who is in charge of giving the visitors a warm welcome.
- Crowd Favorite: Cersei’s Wildfire. A spicy and refreshing cream ale with 6.5% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: We Named the Dog Citra
- Hop-py note: Kid-friendly. Dog-friendly. Indoor and outdoor seating. Private lot parking. Offers delivery.
- Fun Fact: Vermont has a lot of farmhouses and buildings with crooked windows, and Jack and Emily call them weird windows, hence the brewery’s name.
Hours: Open Wed 4pm – 8pm, Thur – Sat 12pm – 8pm, Sun 12pm – 6pm, Mon & Tues Closed.
Address: 82 Ethan Allen Dr suite a, South Burlington, VT 05403
Contact: (802)-489-5279 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
10. Simple Roots Brewing
If you’re searching for a fun spot to grab a pint, a flight, or a growler of beer, you should head to Simple Roots Brewing. Kara and Dan founded the brewery in their garage in 2014, but by 2016 they were so famous that they had to move to a larger space. Today, you can find the brewery’s beers in many stores within a 50-mile radius in and around Burlington.
Simple Roots Brewing’s taproom is at 1127 North Ave, Burlington. The place hosts an event where beer fans may sample different beers and tasty snacks every week. Furthermore, they try out novel flavors using different hop varieties and wild yeast.
- Crowd Favorite: Good Neighbor IPA. A Mosaic and Citra hopped American IPA with 6.5% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: New North End IPA
- Hop-py note: Food stands on-site. Indoor seating. Kid-friendly. Indoor activities.
- Fun Fact: Simple Roots has been on hiatus for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic and has just returned to business recently.
Hours: Open Thur 4pm – 8pm, Fri & Sat 3pm – 9pm, Sun 1pm – 7pm, Mon – Wed Closed.
Address: 1127 North Ave #8, Burlington, VT 05408
Contact: (802) 399-2658 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
