Harpoon Brewery

Probably the most well-known to the general public, Harpoon Brewery actually started in Boston where it is still produced. However, the company bought the former Catamount Brewery in Windsor in 2000, so now we can lay claim to this popular beer brand. They still produce Catamount beers from time to time.

Tours are available Friday through Sunday, and you can enjoy a glass straight from the brewery at the Harpoon Riverbend Taps and Beer Garden, located in the brewery building at 336 Ruth Carney Drive in Windsor. For more information, call them at (802) 674-5491, or visit online at www.harpoonbrewery.com/breweries/windsor.

The Alchemist

The Alchemist Stowe brewing company makes what many people think is the best beer in the world, IPA Heady Topper, and it isn’t uncommon to find a line of beer lovers waiting for the doors of this Stowe brewery to open so they can purchase their favorites (Their Waterbury brewery isn’t open to the public). Heady Topper and Focal Banger are the two brews made year-round, but they offer seasonal selections as well. Visit them at 100 Cottage Club Road in Stowe and online at alchemistbeer.com.

Switchback

In 2017, Switchback Brewing Co. became 100 percent employee-owned through an employee stock ownership plan—the only one of its kind in New England. They bottle their beers in both 12-ounce longnecks and short necks (known as stubbies). Try their signature Switchback Ale, Citra-Pils Keller Bier, and Connector IPA or one of their limited-time brews. They’re located at 160 Flynn Avenue in Burlington or check them out online eat switchbackvt.com.

Long Trail

At the start of the craft-beer movement, the first batch of Long Trail Ale was produced in 1989. What started in the basement of an old woolen mill has become a brewery that produces eight year-round beers and a number of seasonal and limited options. Try their flagship Long Trail Brewing Company Ale or the new VT IPA. You’ll find them at 5520 US Rt. 4 in Bridgewater Corners; call them at (802) 672-5011 or pay them a virtual visit at longtrail.com.

Burlington Beer Company

These are the beers with the unusual names and the funky-looking cans. Burlington Beer Company (BBCO) brews a wide range of hazy, hop-forward pale ales, as well as single, double, and triple IPAs. They also brew fruit and dark beers. In total, they can more than 50 different kinds of beer each year. They’re located at 25 Omega Drive, Suite 150, in Williston, or you can call them at (802) 863-BEER and visit online at burlingtonbeercompany.com.

Foley Brothers Brewing

Founded by brothers Patrick and Daniel Foley, who also sought the help of their sister Christine, Foley Brothers Brewing company named their flagship double IPA Fair Maiden in her honor. They brew small batches, which allows them to always be experimenting with new recipes. Their website says, “Hard work. Dedication. Quality. Three key words that sum up everything about our beer. We select the finest ingredients and operate with diligent brewing techniques and excruciating attention to detail.” They’re located at 79 Stone Mill Dam Road in Brandon, (802) 456-8413, and online at foleybrothersbrewing.com.

Four Quarters

This is a 10-barrel brewery specializing in sours, stouts, and hoppy beers. Try their Phaze, an American IPA; Morning Star, an imperial breakfast stout brewed with lactose, maple syrup, and coffee; or Five Horizons, a pale ale brewed with five grains and five hop varieties. Four Quarters Brewing is located at 150 West Canal Street in Winooski, and online at www.fourquartersbrewing.com.

Hills Farmstead Brewery

In the early 1800's, Aaron Hill ran a tavern up the hill from the current brewery. Keeping the family tradition going, the logo is based on that original tavern sign. Hill Farmstead Brewery even features an Ancestral Series of beers, with each one named after a family member. Currently on tap, you can enjoy Edward, Marie, Harlan, Susan, Everett, Abner, and Shirley Mae, along with non-family names such as Mutual Admiration and Society & Solitude #6. Check it out at 403 Hill Road in Greensboro and at hillfarmstead.com.