Off-the-Beaten Path Breweries to Visit in Vermont

 

With over 50 breweries scattered in every nook and cranny of Vermont, a road trip to some of Vermont’s best breweries is a great way to explore the state for visitors and locals alike. Whereas Burlington and Stowe are epicenters of Vermont’s ever-growing craft beer industry, there are certain breweries, like Hill Farmstead Brewery, Bent Hill Brewery, and Foley Brothers Brewing, that are tucked away and worthy of being their own destinations. Read on for Vermont breweries to discover off-the-beaten path for back-roads Vermont beer trip.

 

Hill Farmstead Brewery, Greensboro, Vermont

Hill Farmstead Brewery, ranked year after year as the best brewery in the world by Rate Beer, is the mecca of craft breweries in Vermont. Located in Greensboro, Vermont, the brewery is one of the most rural breweries that’s worthy of a visit in any season. Grab bottles and cans before sharing a rare bottle on site, along with a cheese board or food truck fare. In the winter and mud season, ensure you have four-wheel drive as the back dirt roads can get slick with ice and mud. Stop at Willey’s General Store on the way for a quintessential general store experience and head to Parker Pie in West Glover afterwards for some of the best pizza and beers on tap in the state.

 

Foley Brothers Brewing, Brandon, Vermont

Located a few miles outside of Brandon, Vermont, Foley Brothers Brewing abuts a golf course, an inn, and a winery. The tiny, family-owned brewery is on a dirt road and in a classic Vermont setting. Inside the tasting room, which is an oversized red Vermont barn positioned across from through seven-and-a-half barrel brewery, you’ll find beer for sampling, growler fills and 16-ounce cans and 22-ounce bottles to go, along with wine from Neshobe River Winery. While in Brandon, visit Cafe Provence for a tasty French-inspired Vermont meal or Gourmet Provence for the best sticky bun you’ll ever have.

 

Bent Hill Brewery, Braintree Hill, Vermont

Drive up the dirt road to Bent Hill Brewery in Braintree, Vermont, and you’ll be greeted by three of their brew dogs who roam the 16 acres in the Braintree mountain range that house the three-barrel brewery. Tobin, Gidget, and Barley roam the property freely and welcome visitors upon arrival at the tiny, off-the-beaten path brewery, adding to its rural charm. In addition to brewing, they also grow their own hops, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and currants on site. Braintree, located south of Montpelier in the center of the state, is a quintessential small, Vermont town with beautiful views and little cell reception.

 

 

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.

Photos provided by Erin McCormick