5 Must-Visit Vermont Bars for Craft Beer Connoisseurs

Across the state, there are ample opportunities to try local craft beer at beer bars, pubs and restaurants—not to mention at the 50+ breweries in Vermont. Nearly every town, even in the ruralest of locations, features impressive tap lists. So where can you find the most diverse selection of craft beers on tap, along with great food, service, and an authentic Vermont experience? Check out these 5 must-visit Vermont bars for craft beer connoisseurs for your next visit to Vermont or a road trip to another part of the state.

Blackback Pub, Waterbury, Vermont

In the town nicknamed “Waterbeery,” no one goes thirsty. Waterbury is home to ample beer bars, including The Reservoir, Prohibition Pig and Blackback Pub. Blackback is a locals’ favorite. Their tap list features 30 beers on tap from Vermont and Hampshire and others available by the can in varying styles. You won’t find just IPAs; Blackback’s tap list is always diverse and well-represented. Don’t miss the Pub Nachos (complete with blue cheese and bacon) that pair well with stouts and sours.

Mule Bar, Winooski, Vermont

Craft beer meets craft food at Mule Bar on the Winooski Circle. The craft beer bar has become a gathering space for locals and a favorite for visitors to trendy Winooski, since the bar opened in 2013. Their draught list is ever-evolving with unique Vermont beers and others from afar not typically found on tap in Vermont bars. Whether you’re stopping for lunch or a late-night bite, Mule Bar always delivers quality beer and food in an inviting, feel-good atmosphere.

Three Penny Taproom, Montpelier, Vermont

In Vermont’s capital city, Three Penny Taproom is an institution. Touted as as a “destination for craft beer, craft food, and well-crafted good times,” the popular Vermont beer bar has been serving well-known beers from the greats like The Alchemist and Hill Farmstead, as well as start-up breweries, since 2009. Visit Three Penny Taproom is you’re looking for the combination of warm service and camaraderie among locals with a wide selection of craft beer choices and locally crafted food.

Parker Pie, West Glover, Vermont

Located in close proximity to Hill Farmstead in Greensboro, Parker Pie—a general store, pizza place and bar—has one of the best tap lists in the state and surely in the Northeast Kingdom. Diverse Hill Farmstead beers appear on the draught list frequently. Often in coordination with Hill Farmstead events, Parker Pie offers bottles of Cantillon on site and features tap-takeovers and unique brews from some of the best breweries around the country that are not commonly found in Vermont.

Worthy Burger, South Royalton, Vermont

The original Worthy Burger in South Royalton is the best place in Vermont for a burger and a beer, hands down. The tap list features nearly 20 craft beers, most of which are local Vermont beers from all over the state. The rustic, Vermonty setting in an old freight station paired with the diverse beer offerings, open-flame burgers and beef tallow fries makes Worthy Burger, or its sister restaurants in Woodstock and Waitsfield, worth a visit for “good people who drink good beer and eat worthy food.”

By Erin McCormick

Erin is a Vermont and craft beer enthusiast who runs the popular blog Travel Like a Local: Vermont. When she’s not sampling new brews, road tripping across the state or boating in Lake Champlain, she is a Vermont marketer and Realtor and manages the popular Vermont band The Grift.