A Boozy Whirlwind Weekend in Vermont
But Brig, you're saying, you do that every day.
Oh right.
Whatever, I'm calling it a vacation b/c it was my birthday. Bam. Birthday = instant vacation.
We've had our eye on the Stowe/Burlington area for a while now, based on nothing more than the fact that there are a dozen or more breweries in the area that we want to try. Not even two full days in Vermont and we made it to nine of them. We'll definitely be back to round out our list. In the meantime, here's a very brief itinerary if you find yourself thirsty with about 36 hours in Vermont.
Stowe
Von Trapp Brewing - super touristy, but still worth a visit. Either make a reservation, or plan on getting there super early. It was cold and rainy so the patio was out of commission and the bar only has like 16 seats. Show up early to snag one, since you can order the full menu from the bar.
The Alchemist - the taproom was closed for renovations, so we picked up a 4-pack of Heady Topper to drown our sorrows. Truth be told, we haven't cracked those yet and judging from the amount we drink at home, won't be for some time. But it's classic Vermont, so we didn't have a choice.
Waterbury
Ben & Jerry's - a MUST if you love ice cream or whimsy or any kind of fun. If you don't like these things, why are you even reading my blog? They're not open for factory tours at this time (fall 2021), but we still stopped b/c hello, it's Ben & Jerry's and you're in Vermont. Check out the flavor graveyard, where they pay tribute to old flavors, and order a few scoops b/c it's always ice cream weather.
Burlington(ish)
Switchback - small taproom, but a nice outdoor space and solid beer
Zero Gravity - loved the Hef and the heated outdoor space (would have loved it more if we found a seat, this place was poppin)
Foam Brewers - right on Lake Champlain; even with crappy weather, this place is a vibe
Citizen Cider - such a cozy spot, and their cider was all really good (I don't know much about cider, but sure, take my word on it)
Fiddlehead - traditional taproom experience, just wish they'd had more varieties of beer
Frost - small taproom that gives away some of its already limited seating to a pool table. An odd choice, but it's free, so of course you should play some pool.
Burlington Beer Company - this place exceeded all our expectations (variety of beer, chips and IPA-infused queso, great music) and it's one we can't wait to go back to b/c the day we went was their last day in that space. They're moving to a new taproom that is even closer to downtown Burlington.
If you're looking for the best spots to leaf peep, I can't help you. If you're looking for the best spots to have a beer, I got you.
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