The Ultimate Vermont Brewery Trail: A Weekend Itinerary

Stop 1: Hill Farmstead Brewery — Greensboro Bend

Hill Farmstead sits at the end of a dirt road in the Northeast Kingdom and somehow manages to be one of the most talked-about breweries in the world. The beers (wild ales, saisons, refined IPAs like Edward) are genuinely worth the drive.^[2]

No reservations. Walk in, order a glass, fill a growler, grab cans to go. The retail shop opens its online ordering portal at 7:00 a.m. on operating days, and for highly limited releases they push that to 8:00 a.m., so if there’s something specific you’re after, have your phone ready early.^[3]

Stop 2: The Alchemist — Stowe

Heady Topper is the beer that put Vermont on the map for hazy IPAs. John Kimmich brewed the first batch at The Alchemist’s Waterbury brewpub in early 2004: an unfiltered, 8% ABV double IPA built for aroma and tropical fruit flavor rather than bitterness, at a time when clarity was considered a basic sign of quality brewing.^[11] It’s widely credited with pioneering the New England IPA style, which the Brewers Association officially recognized as a category in 2018.^[12] The hazy, juicy, low-bitterness IPA you see on tap everywhere now traces a direct line back to that Waterbury taproom.

That original pub is gone. Tropical Storm Irene flooded downtown Waterbury in August 2011, causing catastrophic damage to the brewpub’s basement brewery, plus uninsured losses that made rebuilding impossible. The Kimmiches pivoted to canning full-time, and in 2016 opened the current brewery and visitor center in Stowe.^[13] (Older guides may still list Waterbury as the destination; it’s Stowe now.)

Pick up cans at the counter or pull into the dedicated curbside lane if you’re stocking the cooler. The visitor center gives you a look at their brewing philosophy without requiring a formal tour.

Stop 3: Lawson’s Finest Liquids — Waitsfield

Sip of Sunshine is the flagship, a hop-forward IPA that earns its reputation, but Lawson’s also does maple-infused beers that lean into Vermont’s agricultural identity in a way that doesn’t feel gimmicky.^[5] The taproom in Waitsfield has a beer garden, indoor seating, and a retail store. You can even peek into the brewery from a designated viewing area to watch the brewing and packaging operation in action.^[5]

It’s family-friendly; kids are welcome with adults. First-come, first-served, like most places on this list.^[6]

Stop 4: Fiddlehead Brewing — Shelburne

Closer to Burlington, Fiddlehead is the easiest stop on this list to slot in. Fiddlehead IPA is their well-distributed flagship; Second Fiddle is the double IPA for when you want to push it a little.^[7] The tasting room has indoor and outdoor seating, and hours shift seasonally; in summer they’ve typically run noon to 9:00 p.m. daily, but that changes, so confirm before you go.^[7]

Stop 5: Foam Brewers — Burlington

End the day in Burlington on the Lake Champlain waterfront. Foam Brewers does small-batch experimental beers (mixed-fermentation sours, hazy IPAs, one-off collaborations) and the taproom sits right on the lake.^[8] When the weather cooperates, the outdoor patio bar opens up and the view is hard to beat. (The patio bar is seasonal, so don’t count on it in winter.)^[8]

Order at the bar, no reservations needed. Hours vary pretty widely: weeknight closing times can differ from weekends, and the schedule shifts by season, so check their site the day of.^[9]

A few things to know before you go

• None of these places take reservations. Hill Farmstead, Fiddlehead, Foam, and Lawson’s are all first-come, first-served.^[6] On a summer Saturday, that matters. Get moving early.
• Hill Farmstead is the wildcard on hours. Every other stop on this list is relatively predictable. Greensboro Bend is not. Check their calendar the morning of.
• Waterbury is worth a detour. Prohibition Pig in Waterbury runs a separate restaurant and brewery space with different hours for each; if you want to eat there, the restaurant side typically opens later than the brewery.^[10] Worth a stop between Stowe and Waitsfield if you’re hungry.
• Pets: Fiddlehead is a hard no on dogs. Pet policies at the other stops weren’t conclusively confirmed at the time of writing, so call ahead if that matters to your crew.