Brewing in Vermont
| Company type | Various (microbreweries, nanobreweries, brewpubs) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 1798 (first brewing laws), modern microbrewery movement 1980s-1990s |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Vermont |
| Products | Beer (various styles including Black IPA, Vermont IPA) |
Number of employees | 2200 (craft beer sector, 2012) |
The U.S. state of Vermont is home to more than 100 breweries, including microbreweries, nanobreweries, and brewpubs that produce a wide range of beer styles.
In the years 2011, 2012, and 2014, Vermont was recognized by the Brewers Association as having the greatest number of breweries per capita among all states. With a population of 625,741 in 2010 and 26 breweries operating at that time, the ratio was one brewery for every 24,067 residents.
According to the Brewers Association's Economic Impact Report from 2012, Vermont’s craft beer sector was valued at $196 million, ranking third nationally in craft beer production per adult ($418.57). The industry supported 2,200 full-time jobs with an average salary of $30,176. In that year, beer production contributed 2.40% to Vermont’s GDP, placing it fourth in the nation for economic impact from brewing.
History
The evolution of beer production in Vermont reflects broader American trends—local breweries disappeared following prohibition laws enacted in the late 19th century and reemerged with the microbrewery movement during the 1980s and 1990s. Despite its relatively small population, Vermont has produced several prominent breweries.
Pre-Prohibition
On November 2, 1798, Vermont passed laws restricting the sale of strong beer; these were repealed in 1814 though temperance ideals continued to influence legislation.
By 1840, only one brewery operated in Vermont—the Burlington Brewery—which produced approximately 12,800 gallons before it was destroyed by fire and subsequently rebuilt by late 1841.
Mid-19th-century legislation introduced licensing fees for brewers and allowed local authorities to vote on issuing licenses. By 1850, town officials could grant licenses for selling small beer or cider but not for stronger beers. These laws marked the beginning of Vermont’s prohibition period starting in 1852.
By January 1863, just one licensed brewery remained active. Records from the Internal Revenue Service in 1877 documented two breweries alongside numerous saloons. However, by 1887, strong prohibitionist pressure had resulted in Vermont having no operating breweries.
Hop cultivation in Vermont peaked during the mid-1800s—production increased from 48,137 pounds in 1840 to a high of 638,657 pounds by 1860—before sharply declining after 1900 and nearly disappearing by 1910.
Federal Prohibition commenced on January 16, 1919, banning alcohol production and sales across the United States.
Post-Prohibition
The nationwide ban on alcohol ended on December 5, 1933. In 1935, Bill Wilson from East Dorset and Bob Smith from St. Johnsbury established Alcoholics Anonymous, introducing their influential twelve-step recovery program.
After three years of advocacy to legalize brewpubs in Vermont, Greg Noonan launched the state’s first brewpub—Vermont Pub & Brewery—in 1988. To commemorate its twenty-fifth anniversary, Burlington installed a plaque honoring Noonan at the establishment.
In 1997, Wolaver's Fine Organic Ales became the first brewery in the United States to receive organic certification. By 2014, under Otter Creek Brewing Company ownership, Wolaver's achieved Vermont’s inaugural non-GMO certification for a brewery.
Due to effective distribution and product availability from these brewers, Waterbury earned recognition as New England’s Best Beer Town by the Boston Globe in 2012.
Beer regulations and laws
Under Vermont statutes, beer is defined as a malt beverage containing between 1% and 16% alcohol by volume measured at 60°F. Beverages exceeding 6% alcohol with a terminal specific gravity below 1.009 are categorized as spirits rather than malt beverages.
The term "specialty beer" applies to malt beverages with alcohol content ranging from 8% to 16% by volume at 60°F.
Licensees are permitted to sell malt beverages during designated hours: first and third class licenses authorize sales between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m., while second class licenses allow sales from 6:00 a.m. until midnight.
Individuals may import or transport up to six gallons of malt or vinous beverages solely for personal consumption; resale is prohibited.
Serving quantities exceeding 32 ounces of beer at one time is not allowed, effectively banning typical sales of pitchers sized at 64 ounces.
Black IPA
The Black IPA, also referred to as Cascadian Dark Ale or Vermont Porter, was pioneered by Greg Noonan, the owner and lead brewer of The Vermont Pub & Brewery, along with Glenn Walter, who was the assistant brewer at that time. Their first batch, named Blackwatch IPA, was brewed on December 4, 1994. The subsequent brew on November 25, 1995, included the participation of John Kimmich, who later became the owner and brewer of The Alchemist. This creation served as an inspiration for Kimmich’s El Jefe Black IPA (2003), Shaun Hill’s Darkside Black IPA, and eventually Hill Farmstead’s James. Mitch Steele, head brewer at Stone Brewing Co., credits the Darkside Black IPA as a motivating factor behind Stone’s Sublimely Self Righteous Ale.
Vermont IPA
The loosely defined category known as "East Coast IPAs" or "New England IPAs" was shaped significantly by The Alchemist, Hill Farmstead Brewery, and Lawson's Finest Liquids. In 2012, Jeff Baker championed the Vermont IPA style. By 2013, Gary Dzen from the Boston Globe observed that Vermont brewers had ignited an IPA movement prioritizing aromatic hop qualities and a balanced bitterness rather than overwhelming bitterness. These beers are characterized by heavy dry hopping, a lighter mouthfeel, and a focus on balance over malt sweetness. In 2014, Baker described Vermont IPAs as bright golden in color, typically hazy due to being unfiltered, with a soft texture and dense hop aroma and flavor while maintaining moderate bitterness to preserve harmony between hops and malt.
Beers
Among Vermont’s most iconic brews is #9 from Magic Hat Brewing Company, a fruit beer flavored with apricot that is based on a traditional pale ale.
Heady Topper from The Alchemist is a double India Pale Ale available exclusively in Vermont as of January 2014 and consistently ranks among the top-rated beers on both BeerAdvocate and RateBeer.
Other beers with national acclaim include Edward and Abner from Hill Farmstead and Double Sunshine IPA from Lawson's Finest Liquids.
Breweries
By July 2019, Vermont was home to 104 production breweries and brewpubs.
Two brewers from Vermont have been honored with the Brewers Association Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing: Steve Parkes (American Brewers Guild and Drop-In Brewery) in 2009 and Greg Noonan (Vermont Pub & Brewery) in 2005.
In 1996, Liz Trott and Janice Moran founded Jigger Hill Brewery under the "Tunbridge Quality Ales" label. Trott holds the distinction of being Vermont’s first female head brewer and was instrumental in advancing bottle-conditioned beer distribution. The brewery was also notable for being Vermont’s first woman- and lesbian-owned brewing company. Additionally, it played a role in reformulating Gay Pride Beer for J. Lewis Company before closing in 2002 due to health concerns.
Hill Farmstead Brewery has achieved international recognition, earning RateBeer’s Best New Brewer award in 2011, Best Brewery worldwide titles in 2013 and 2015, as well as multiple Best Brewery awards within Vermont and New England. The Alchemist’s Heady Topper was named Best Beer in Vermont in both 2012 and 2014. Lost Nation Brewery received the accolade of Best New Brewery in Vermont in 2014.
The Alchemist, Hill Farmstead, and Lawson's Finest Liquids have significantly influenced market demand; the route linking these breweries has been dubbed the "IPA Highway," making it a prominent destination for craft beer aficionados.
Craft Breweries
By July 2024, the Vermont Brewers Association identified 56 operational craft breweries across Vermont.
- 14th Star Brewery – St. Albans
- 1st Republic Brewing Co – Essex
- Alchemist Brewery – Waterbury
- Bent Hill Brewery – Braintree Hill
- Black Flannel Brewing Co. – Essex Junction
- Bobcat Cafe and Brewery – Bristol
- Brocklebank Craft Brewing – Tunbridge
- Burlington Beer Company – Burlington
- Dirt Church Brewing Co. – East Haven
- Drop-In Brewing Company – Middlebury
- Farm Road Brewing – Bennington
- Foam Brewers – Burlington
- Fiddlehead Brewing – Shelburne
- Foley Brothers Brewing – Brandon
- Four Quarters Brewing – Winooski
- Freak Folk Bier – Waterbury
- Frost Beer Works – Hinesburg
- Good Measure Pub and Brewery – Northfield
- GoodWater Brewery – Williston
- Harpoon Brewery – Boston-based, with its largest facility located in Windsor, Vermont
- Hill Farmstead Brewery – Greensboro Bend
- Hired Hand Brewing Company – Vergennes
- Hogback Mountain Brewing – Starksboro
- House of Fermentology – Burlington
- Idletyme Brewing Company – Stowe
- Jasper Murdock's Alehouse – Norwich
- Kickback Brewery – Westford
- Kingdom Brewing – Newport Center (founded in 2012, distinct from the original Kingdom Brewers)
- Kraemer and Kin – Alburgh
- Lawson's Finest Liquids – Warren
- Long Trail Brewing Company – Bridgewater Corners
- Lost Nation Brewing – Morrisville (operating since May 2013)
- Lucy and Howe Brewing Company – Jericho
- Madison Brewing Company – Bennington
- Mill River Brewing – St. Albans
- Outer Limits Brewing – Proctorsville
- Prohibition Pig – Waterbury
- Queen City Brewing – Burlington
- Red Barn Brewing – Danville
- Red Clover Ale Co. – Brandon
- River Roost Brewery – White River Junction
- Rock Art Brewery – Morrisville
- Rutland Beer Works – Rutland
- Simple Roots Brewing – Burlington
- Soulmate Brewing Company – Morrisville
- Stone Corral Brewery – Richmond
- Switchback Brewery – Burlington
- Ten Bends Beer – Hyde Park
- Tropic Brewing – Waterbury
- Two Heroes – South Hero
- Upper Pass Beer Company – South Royalton
- Vermont Beer Makers – Bennington
- Vermont Pub and Brewery – Burlington
- von Trapp Brewing – Stowe
- Weird Window Brewing – South Burlington
- Whetstone Beer Co. – Brattleboro
- Whirlgig Brewing – St. Johnsbury
- Wunderkammer Bier. – Wolcott
- Zero Gravity Craft Brewery – Burlington
Former Breweries
- Backacre Beermakers – Weston
- Covered Bridge Brewing – Lyndonville
- Grateful Hands Brewing – Cabot
- [Magic Hat Brewing Company]] – South Burlington; previously owned by North American Breweries, based in Rochester, New York; the brewing facility is now operated by Zero Gravity.
- McNeill's Brewery – Brattleboro
- Northshire Brewery – Bennington
- [Otter Creek Brewing]] - Middlebury and Bridgewater locations; formerly brewed Wolaver's Certified Organic Ales (discontinued in 2015) and the Shed brand; brewery closed, with production transferred to Harpoon’s employee-owned Mass. Bay Brewing Company.
- Ammi F. Stone Brewery (active prior to Prohibition)
- Black River Brewing
- Bennington Brewers
- Burlington Brewery (pre-Prohibition era)
- Catamount Brewing
- Franklin County Brewery
- Gallagher’s Tavern & Brewery
- Golden Dome Brewing
- Hart’s Bend Brewery
- Hermit Thrush Brewing
- Jigger Hill Brewery (also known as Tunbridge Quality Ales)
- Kross Brewing (Kingdom Brewers)
- Maple Leaf Malt & Brewing
- Rattlesnake Cafe
- Ruben James Restaurant & Brewery (restaurant remains open but no longer brews beer)
- Saint J Brewery
- Salt Ash Inn (bed & breakfast still operating; brewing ceased)
- Shed Restaurant & Brewery (beer production continues under Harpoon)
- Stonecutters Brewhouse
- Thirsty Bull Brewpub
- Three Needs Brewery & Taproom (taproom remains open but brewing has stopped)
- [Trout River Brewing]] - Bennington; currently brewed by Vermont Beer Makers
- Vermont Beer Company
- West Mountain
- Windham Brewery
Brewers Association
Established in May 1995, the Vermont Brewers Association is dedicated to advancing Vermont's beer industry by engaging in promotional activities, organizing festivals, advocating for favorable legislation, and encouraging cooperation among local brewers.
See also
External links
- Vermont Brewers Association – official organization representing the state's brewing sector
- State directory provided by RateBeer.com
- State directory archived from BeerMe.com
- State directory, news, and events archived from vtbeer.org