When it comes to quantity and quality of craft-made beverages, local brewers, vintners, distillers and cider-makers have not just put Vermont on the map, they have blazed the trails.
Vermont has more breweries per capita than any other state in the US and many of the best located are in central Vermont. This makes for a great day trip around the Stowe and Lamoille County area.
The following is a suggestion for a tour of some of the area brewers and distilleries. This list is just a sampling, the area is so ripe with options, to include all would require a full weekend or two. The tour starts in Cambridge (though the Notch in warmer months), heads to Morrisville then down Rt 100 to Waterbury then back up to finish in Stowe. Directions and websites for each outlet are included. Make a day of it or pick a few that peak your interest.
Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits
Tasting Room: 3600 Waterbury Stowe Road, Waterbury Center •
Directions
Experience Vermont’s award-winning Winery, Cider, & Distillery, crafting a variety of wines, ciders, and spirits through sustainable agriculture and supporting local farms. Tastings, Free Tours, and seasonal Gourmet Cheese Plates. Two convenient locations: Cambridge – Winery & Tasting Room and Waterbury - Tasting Room at Cold Hollow Cider Mill.
Lost Nation Brewing
87B Old Creamery Rd, Morrisville, VT 05661
The Lost Nation motto of Honest Small Batch Beer says it. With a list of 8 diverse year round brews and an ever changing choice of limited editions plus a dining/tasting room and seasonal beer garden; Lost Nation is a must visit location on any brewery tour or a great destination on its own.
Green Mountain Distillers
Green Mountain Distillers is a small batch craft distillery dedicated to creating hand-made, organic distilled spirits since 2002. Quality ingredients added to pure Vermont water creates their vibrant organic vodkas and spirits. Their traditional process guarantees premium quality, purity and exceptional taste in every Green Mountain Distillers product.
Smuggler's Notch Distillery
Barrel House Tasting Room: 2657 Waterbury Stowe Road, Waterbury Center •
DirectionsDistillery: 276 Main Street, Jeffersonville •
Directions
Smugglers' Notch Distillery, Vermont Inspired Vodka, Bourbon Barrel aged Rum, Gin, Hopped Gin, Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and Wheat Whiskey, all made with pure Vermont water. Continually garnering medals, commendations, and accolades from the spirits world and fans including a coveted 95 point rating from the Wine Enthusiast for our Vodka.
Prohibition Pig
Prohibition Pig, located on the site of the original Alchemist Brewery, specializes in great food and local beer. The brewery and tasting room is located behind the restaurant and is open for light fare and growler fills. The "Pig" serves their own brews as well as many of the area's favorites.
Idyletyme Brewing Company
Idletyme Brewing Co. brews a variety of mouth-watering beers in its custom copper brew kettle, but perhaps most unique to Idletyme is their water filtration system, which can adjust the well-water’s hardness and mineral content to match that of other water sources around the world. This allows Idletyme Brewing Company to make authentic Belgian wheat ale – for example – with genuine Belgian-accurate water.
Stowe Cider
Stowe Cider is quickly becoming a favorite stop amongst visitors and locals alike. Their cider makers are constantly developing unique recipes that you will not find anywhere else. Ciders range from dry and preservative-free to others that contain local fruits, hops, and even spicy peppers. With a tasting room on the Mountain Rd next to the Farmer's Market in Stowe it is easy to stop in anytime for a taste.
Von Trapp Brewing
The Trapp family history coupled with Johannes von Trapp’s genuine appreciation for Austrian style-beer inspired the mission of Von Trapp Brewing: to create a traditional European lager – clean, light, crisp beer that boasts a robust flavor. The Von Trap Brewing Brewery currently produces several lagers brewed from the finest authentic Austrian ingredients and their own pure Vermont spring water sourced from their private spring located on the grounds of the Trapp Family Lodge.
The Alchemist
The Alchemist Brewery, home of world famous "Heddy Topper" will be open to the public this summer. The new brewery located on the Mountain Road in Stowe will feature brewery tours and tasting room. In the meantime many of the breweries mentioned above also offer Alchemist brews in their dining rooms.
