16 Best Burlington VT Breweries and Bars

If you’re a fan of craft beer or consider yourself to be a beerologist, then you’ll want to add these breweries in Burlington, VT, to your New England itinerary.

Offering a wide array of local flavors, interesting concoctions, and one-of-a-kind microbrews, Burlington is a mecca for all things beer.

From hoppy IPAs to creamy stouts, bold pale ales, and crisp lagers, the city is home to some of the state’s best and most notable breweries.

But it isn’t just the beer that draws consumers in; it’s the ambiance and atmosphere as well.

With lively settings, friendly service, and colorful decor, Burlington’s breweries promise an experience unlike any other.

To help you plan your own bar hopping adventures in the Green Mountain State, we’ve compiled below a list of the best bars and breweries near Burlington, VT–the largest city in the state.

A visit to even one of these locations is, undoubtedly, one of the most fun things you can do in the city!

16 Best Burlington VT Breweries and Bars

Here are the best of the best bars and breweries in Burlington, VT. Regardless of your preferences, you’re bound to find a pint (or two!) that satisfies and delights your tastebuds in this craft beer mecca!

Best Breweries in Burlington VT

Switchback Brewery

A staple among many Vermonters, Switchback was one of the first craft breweries to really take off in the Green Mountain State.

Its original brew, the Switchback Ale, brought fame and recognition to the brewery, allowing it to flourish and grow into the prominent establishment it is today.

While its flagship drink continues to be a popular favorite, the brewery has expanded its offering to include the likes of IPAs, DIPAs or double IPAs, lagers, barrel-aged ales, and smoked craft beer.

They are also known for releasing limited editions, rotating specialties of various beer types.

In addition to this, the brewery is a popular spot for special events such as music nights, community fundraisers, and stretch and sip yoga classes.

Address: 160 Flynn Ave., Burlington, VT 05401

Burlington Beer Company

Brewing upwards of 75 different beers each year, Burlington Beer Company is one of the most diverse breweries in Burlington, VT.

Here you’ll find a wide variety of brew selections, such as IPAs, double and triple IPAs, pale ales, brown ales, porters, stouts, double stouts, and barrel-aged stouts, among others.

The brewery also offers quite an extensive food menu, including appetizers, sandwiches, salads, sides, desserts, as well as larger plates of Mexican, Korean, and seafood.

And if that isn’t enough to peak your interest, the brewery is even known for hosting several events, such as yoga and beer classes, annual anniversary parties (for the founding of the brewery), and seasonal gatherings.

Address: 180 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT 05401

Foam Brewers

Located close to the waterfront in downtown Burlington, Foam Brewers offers lake views, live music, and tantalizing menus.

Celebrated for crafting creative, fun, and tasteful brews, the brewery offers a rotating menu that features the likes of hoppy IPAs, fruity pale ales, sweet-sour ales, and a variety of unique stouts and lagers.

While it’s hard to say what you’ll find on any given day here, as they are constantly updating their brews, we promise it’ll be nothing short of delicious!

And the same can be said for their food menu, which also changes regularly and has been known to feature offerings from local Burlington food trucks.  

Address: 112 Lake St, Burlington, VT 05401

Simple Roots Brewing

Don’t let the small, unassuming appearance of this brewery fool you. It may be located in a strip mall, but it’s still worth the visit, as it’s one of the best breweries in Burlington, VT – especially for those that love classic beer.

Here at Simple Roots, you’ll find everything you know and love: pale ales, stouts, pilsners, and IPAs, as well as a few experimental drinks such as sours made with local raspberries.

However, excellent beer isn’t the only reason to visit this brewery.

It’s also celebrated for its unique culinary events, which feature local chefs and their signature dishes – think, homemade mini pies and Chili Colorado Burritos.

Address: 1127 North Ave #8, Burlington, VT 05408

Zero Gravity Craft Brewery

There aren’t many Vermont breweries that can say they were established inside a restaurant, but that’s the case for Zero Gravity Craft Brewery.

Founded in 2004, Zero Gravity got its start inside Burlington’s American Flatbread restaurant.

Since then, the brewery has expanded in size and popularity and now resides in its own building in Burlington’s South End.

Don’t worry, though; you can still have a beer with your pizza, as cans of Zero Gravity continue to be sold at the restaurant.

Its unique history aside, the brewery is well known for its brews, which combine traditional classic beer styles with the unique flair of Vermont.

Two flagship beers that exemplify this are the Green State Lager and the Conehead IPA.

Address: 716 Pine St, Burlington, VT 05401

Weird Window Brewing

Named after the unique slanted windows that are found on many old Vermont farmhouses, Weird Window Brewing is a relatively new establishment that offers a wide selection of classic craft beers.

Founded in 2020, the brewery’s menu includes a mix of lagers, pale ales, stouts, IPAs, as well as double IPAs.

With a regularly rotating schedule, you’re likely to find something new to try with each visit to this South Burlington brewery.

In addition to its craft brews, the brewery also offers a small food menu that features a variety of favorite beer-time snacks such as popcorn, nuts, and chips and salsa.

Address: 82 Ethan Allen Dr suite a, South Burlington, VT 05403

Queen City Brewery

Offering an outdoor beer garden, weekly open mic nights, bottomless popcorn, and a variety of craft brews, Queen City Brewery is one of the liveliest breweries in Burlington, VT.

Known most fondly for hosting various events, including live music nights, community fundraisers, and sports-viewing gatherings, the brewery is a favorite among locals.

Of course, the craft beer here is also highly popular!

Specializing in German and English-style beers, the brewery provides several types of brews that are difficult to find elsewhere.

From hefeweizens to saisons, scotch ales, and bocks, you can enjoy all the flavors of Europe here without the challenges of jet lag!

Address: 703 Pine Street, Burlington, VT 05401

Vermont Pub & Brewery

Founded in 1988, Vermont Pub and Brewery is the oldest currently operating brewery and the first brewpub to ever open in the Green Mountain State.

Since then, it has become a staple within the community and is, without a doubt, one of the most popular breweries in Burlington, VT.

Here you’ll find a wide variety of craft brews, including IPAs, pilsners, stouts, and dark lagers.

They even have a popular fruit beer called the Forbidden Fruit, which is fermented with over 500 pounds of raspberries – it’s quite potent from what we hear!

And we certainly can’t forget about their extensive food menu, which features several pub grub favorites, such as brew fries, chicken wings, fish and chips, maple burgers, and more.

Address: 144 College St, Burlington, VT 05401

Halyard Brewing Company

This wouldn’t be a proper list of Vermont breweries if we didn’t include at least one organic establishment, and lucky for us, we’ve got that covered with the Halyard Brewing Company.

Located in South Burlington, Halyard specializes in alcoholic craft ginger beer made from only the finest organic and fair-trade ingredients.

All of their brews are gluten-free and taste great alone or in a cocktail.

The brewery currently offers three different flavors of ginger beer: The Breeze, which is more of a traditional tart beer; Nicole’s Extra, a Caribbean-style beer; and Volcano Juice, a mix of ginger beer and lemonade.

No matter which you choose, we have no doubt that you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Address: 80 Ethan Allen Dr #2, South Burlington, VT 05403

Citizen Cider

Citizen Cider is, without a doubt, one of the most popular cider breweries in Burlington, VT.

Offering five core flavors and a variety of seasonal specialties (including hard seltzer), all of the brews here are made with locally-sourced ingredients.

What you get as a result of this are flavors that are as uniquely Vermont as they are delicious.

Of course, we also can’t forget about their delectable food menu, which is so well-known that it was even featured on Food Network’s tv show, “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.”

From cider glazed bahn mi to grilled cheese sandwiches stuffed with apples, and cider-infused sausages, the food here is unlike anything else you’ve encountered.

Address: 316 Pine St #114, Burlington, VT 05401

Four Quarters Brewing

Located in Winooski, Four Quarters Brewing has got to be one of the most unique and experimental breweries near Burlington, VT.

Offering brews that feature everything from maple syrup to chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, honey, chai tea, and toasted coconut, this brewery is certainly one-of-a-kind.

Of course, you’ll also find more traditional offerings of classic beers, such as American IPAs, double IPAs, pilsners, and stouts.

So don’t be too scared away if the thought of chocolate marshmallow beer sounds unappealing – they have a bit of something for everyone!

In addition to this, you’ll find a sizable food menu that features a variety of pub fares, such as burgers, fries, chicken tenders, and pretzels.

Address: 70 Main St, Winooski, VT 05404

Rescue Club Brewing Company

Founded under the umbrella of Zero Gravity Craft Brewery, Rescue Club Brewing Company is Vermont’s only non-alcoholic beer establishment.

Offering both IPA and pilsner beers, the brewery’s mission is to provide alcohol-free beer that still tastes like beer.

In order to do this, they brew all of their products with alcohol in them, to begin with, and then they use a complex extraction process to remove the alcohol without impacting the flavor.

So far, they appear to be pretty successful in their attempts, as they’ve received rave reviews from their customers.

Address: 716 Pine St, Burlington, VT 05401

Best Burlington VT Bars

Farmhouse Tap & Grill

The Farmhouse Tap and Grill is not only one of the best bars, but it’s also one of the best restaurants in Burlington.

Located in the heart of the city, the Farmhouse offers a wide selection of Vermont beers and craft brews, including Hill Farmstead, Frost Beer, von Trapp, Harpoon, Simple Roots, Citizen Cider, and Four Quarters.

Their food menu is just as extensive with a variety of options, including burgers, charcuterie boards, cheese plates, as well as seasonal dishes featuring locally-sourced ingredients.

In fact, the restaurant prides itself on embracing the local food movement and aims to offer a farm-to-table experience with every meal.

Address: 160 Bank St, Burlington, VT 05401

Mule Bar

Situated on the outskirts of Burlington, in the nearby city of Winooski, Mule Bar offers local craft beer, house-made cocktails, delectable bites, and a friendly atmosphere.

Here you’ll find a very sizable list of beer on tap, including offerings from Hill Farmstead Brewery, Zero Gravity, Halyard Brewing, Rescue Club, The Alchemist, and Shacksbury Cider.

Meanwhile, their food menu features favorites such as the Mule Smash Burger, steak tips, Philly cheesesteak, spicy southern chicken, and chicken wings.

They even offer daily specials like Caprese Bruschetta, Irish Egg Rolls, and Coconut Curry Shrimp Salad.

Address: 38 Main St, Winooski, VT 05404

Juniper at Hotel Vermont

Located inside the elegant Hotel Vermont, Juniper offers incredible lake views, an extensive drink menu, and delectable food offerings.

On tap, you’ll discover local picks like Hill Farmstead, Outer Limits, Foam Brewers, and Zero Gravity.

They even offer a variety of local wines, such as Fable Farm Fermentory, La Garagista, and Iapetus.

Meanwhile, their food menu features a variety of locally-inspired, seasonal meals, including a variety of Vermont cheese platters, Montreal spiced brisket poutine, and red flannel hash – a New England favorite made of corned beef hash and beets.

Address: 41 Cherry St, Burlington, VT 05401

The Gryphon

Open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, The Gryphon is an elegant yet laid-back restaurant that offers American food, specialty cocktails, and local craft beers.

Set in a 19th-century brick building in the heart of Burlington, the restaurant is quickly becoming a favorite for its classy decor and eclectic dishes.

From sweet potato nachos to duck quesadillas, vineyard chowder, and wine country burgers, the menu here is quite creative!

And, of course, we can’t forget about the restaurant’s beer offerings, which include Vermont favorites such as 14th Star Brewing, von Trapp, Fiddlehead, the Burlington Beer Co., and Zero Gravity.

Address: 131 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401

Final Thoughts on Burlington, VT Breweries

It goes without saying, but these Burlington, VT breweries are certainly worth visiting!

While it’s likely you won’t have time to visit them all, we highly suggest you add as many of them to your itinerary as you can.

Or, you could always plan your trip to line up with Vermont’s annual Brewers Festival.

Held every year at the end of July, this festival gathers the most popular brewers on the waterfront of Lake Champlain in Burlington, allowing you the opportunity to sample them all in one go.

Needless to say, it’s one of the best things to do in Vermont during the summer.

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