Vermont beer and breweries

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History

The history of beer in Vermont is similar to its history in the rest of the United States - no local breweries existed from Prohibition until the microbrewery explosion of the 1980s and 1990s. Since then a number of strong breweries have developed despite Vermont's small population.

In 2006, MSNBC listed Burlington, VT as the fourth best city in the world for beer lovers behind Amsterdam, Berlin, and Brugge.Fact|date=August 2008 This would make it the best in The United States.

Beer styles

Brewing in Vermont has not taken place long enough for any local beer styles to emerge. Breweries in Vermont produce mostly traditional ales and lagers, along with American interpretations of those older styles.

Beers

One of the most widely known beers from Vermont is [http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/magic-hat-9/1314/ #9] from Magic Hat Brewing Company. It is an apricot-flavored fruit beer based on a traditional pale ale.

Breweries

National breweries

As of February 2007, no national or international brewing company, such as Anheuser-Busch, Molsen Coors, or SABMiller, operated breweries in Vermont.

Craft breweries

As of February 2007, there were 7 breweries operating in Vermont that could be described as craft breweries. Several produced too much beer to qualify as true microbreweries.

*Harpoon Brewery - Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, largest plant in Windsor, Vermont
*Long Trail Brewing Company - Bridgewater, Vermont
*Magic Hat Brewing Company - South Burlington, Vermont (Also produces Orlio Organic Beers)
*Otter Creek Brewing - Middlebury, Vermont (also produces Wolaver's Certified Organic Ales brand)
*Rock Art Brewery - Morrisville, Vermont
*Switchback Brewery - Burlington, Vermont
*Trout River Brewing - Lyndonville, Vermont

Brewpubs

* [http://www.alchemistbeer.com/ The Alchemist Pub & Brewery] - Waterbury, Vermont
* [http://www.bobcatcafe.com/ Bobcat Café & Brewery] - Bristol, Vermont
* [http://www.norwichinn.com/ Jasper Murdock's Ale House at The Norwich Inn] - Norwich, Vermont
*Madison Brewing Company Pub and Restaurant - Bennington, Vermont
*Maple Leaf Malt and Brewing - Wilmington, Vermont
*McNeill's Brewery - Brattleboro, Vermont
*The Shed Restaurant and Brewery - Stowe, Vermont
* [http://www.peavinerestaurant.com/microbrew.html Thirsty Bull Brew Pub at Peavine Restaurant] - Stockbridge, Vermont
*Three Needs Brewery and Taproom - Burlington, Vermont
* [http://www.vermontbrewery.com/ Vermont Pub and Brewery] - Burlington, Vermont
* [http://www.flatbreadhearth.com/ Zero Gravity Brewing at American Flatbread] - Burlington, Vermont

Defunct breweries and brewpubs

*Bennington Brewers - Bennington, Vermont
*Black River Brewing Company - Cavendish, Vermont
*Catamount Brewing - White River Junction, Vermont (plant now owned by Harpoon Brewery)
*Franklin County Brewery - St. Albans, Vermont
*Golden Dome Brewing Company - Montpelier, Vermont
*Hornpout Brewing - Lyndonville, Vermont
*Kingdom Brewers - Burke, Vermont
*Kross Brewing Company of Vermont - Morrisville, Vermont
*Latchis Grille and Windham Brewery - Brattleboro, Vermont
*Tunbridge Quality Ales/Jigger Hill Brewery - Royalton, Vermont

Homebrew clubs

* [http://www.mashers.org/ The Green Mountain Mashers Homebrew Club of Vermont] - Burlington and Montpelier areas

Beer festivals

* [http://www.mashers.org/comp_2007/comp_page1.html Green Mountain Homebrew Competition] - May 5, 2007 in South Burlington, Vermont
* [http://www.vermontbrewers.com/festival.html Vermont Brewers Festival] - July 20 & 21, 2007 in Burlington, Vermont

Cider, perry, and mead

Vermont is also home to several cideries and one meadery.

*Flag Hill Farm - Vershire, Vermont (cider, distilled cider)
*Grand View Winery - Calais, Vermont (cider, wine, fruit wine)
*Green Mountain Beverage - Middlebury, Vermont - (perry, cider - including Woodchuck Draft Cider)
*Honey Gardens Apiaries - Ferrisburgh, Vermont (mead)
*North River Winery - Jacksonville, Vermont (cider, wine, fruit wine)

References

External links

* [http://www.vermontbrewers.com/ Vermont Brewers Association] - state brewing industry association
* [http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/breweries/brewers-directory-45-213.htm State directory] from RateBeer.com
* [http://beerme.com/breweries/us/vt/ State directory] from BeerMe.com