Brewing in Vermont

On November 2, 1798, Vermont passed a law which began restricting sales of strong beer, ale, and cider. This law was eventually overturned on November 10, 1814. However, the temperance movement remained very strong in Vermont.

In 1840, tax statistics published by Zadock Thompson show there were one brewery in Vermont producing 12,800 gallons of beer.[4] This brewery was operated in Burlington and went by the name of Burlington Brewery. In 1840, the brewery was completely destroyed when an arson set fire to numerous downtown buildings.[5] The Burlington Brewery was rebuilt and fully operational by late 1841.[6]

In 1844, a law was passed which set brewing license fees and appointed county commissioners to approve each license. In 1846, a provision was passed by the legislature to allow a "local option" to whether grant or deny these licenses. This meant the citizens of the towns could vote on whether to allow or disallow these establishments. In 1850, town selectmen became authorized to approve business license to sell small beer or cider, but not strong beer.[7] In 1852, several more laws were passed which started Vermont's prohibition era.[8] In 1853, the legislature passed the Vermont Prevention of Traffic in Intoxicating Liquors for the Purpose of Drinking law.

Licenses published in the Burlington Free Press of January 1863 show only one licensed brewer within Vermont.[9]

In 1877, Internal Revenue records show two breweries, one liquor establishment, and 433 saloons.[10] In 1887, the Boston Journal reported that "Vermont seems to be the nearest place to paradise for prohibitionists. There is not a brewery in the state."[11]

Vermont hop production took off around 1840 and peaked in 1860. In 1840, Vermont produced 48,137 pounds of hops, 292,023 pounds in 1850, 638,657 pounds in 1860, and 527,927 pounds in 1870. Around 1900, there were around 4,400 pounds produced. By 1910, hops production had been reduced to near zero.

On January 16, 1919, the 18th Amendment (Federal Prohibition) which outlawed the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol was passed by 3/4 of US states and became law.

On December 5, 1933 Federal Prohibition came to an end. In 1935, two alcoholics from Vermont, Bill Wilson, from East Dorset, and Bob Smith, from St. Johnsbury, started Alcoholics Anonymous with a twelve-step program.

In 1988, after spending three years lobbying the Vermont legislature to legalize brewpubs, Greg Noonan opened the first brewpub in Vermont, the Vermont Pub & Brewery. On the 25th anniversary of the Vermont Pub & Brewery, the city of Burlington dedicated a plaque commemorating Noonan at the front of the pub.[12]

In 1997 Wolaver's Fine Organic Ales became the first certified organic brewery in the United States.[13] In 2014, Wolaver's (now owned by Otter Creek Brewing Company) became the first non-GMO certified brewery in Vermont.[14]

Due to proximity, distribution, and availability of beer produced by these three brewers, the town of Waterbury was named the Best Beer Town in New England by the Boston Globe in 2012.[15]

Greg Noonan, owner and head brewer of The Vermont Pub & Brewery, and Glenn Walter, then an assistant brewer, are cited with creating the Black IPA (AKA Cascadian Dark Ale, India Black Ale, or Vermont Porter) with the initial brewing of Blackwatch IPA on December 4, 1994.[20] The Blackwatch IPA second brewing was November 25, 1995, where Noonan was assisted by John Kimmich, who is now the owner and brewer of The Alchemist.[20] This beer inspired John Kimmich's (The Alchemist) El Jefe Black IPA (2003) and Shaun Hill's (then Shed Restaurant & Brewery) Darkside Black IPA and later Hill Farmstead's James.[20] Mitch Steele, head brewer of Stone Brewing Co., states the Darkside Black IPA was the inspiration for Stone's Sublimely Self Righteous Ale.[20]

The Alchemist, Hill Farmstead Brewery, and Lawson's Finest Liquids have created a loosely named beer India Pale Ale (IPA) category called "East Coast IPAs" or "New England IPAs".[21]

In 2012, Jeff Baker wrote "The Case for the Vermont IPA."[22] In 2013, Gary Dzen of the Boston Globe called the style "East Coast IPAs", but noted that Vermont "brewers have started something of their own IPA revolution, helping to loosely create the category of 'East Coast IPAs'. While these beers can be as bitter as their counterparts out west, they're generally less so, focusing on aromatics and perceived bitterness rather than actual pucker-factor. These brews are heavily dry-hopped and lighter on the palate, forgoing malt sweetness for levity in the quest for balance."[23] In 2014, Jeff Baker restated his case, saying Vermont IPAs are "bright golden and hazy (unfiltered typically) in appearance, soft in mouthfeel, dense with hop flavor and aroma, yet restrained in bitterness allowing for balance to occur between the hops and the malt."[24]

According to the Vermont Brewers Association, as of May 2019, there were 56 breweries operating in Vermont that could be described as craft breweries.

• 14th Star Brewery – St. Albans[37]
• 1st Republic Brewing Co[38] – Essex
• Alchemist Brewery – Waterbury
• Backacre Beermakers – Weston[39]
• Covered Bridge Brewing – Lyndonville[40]
• Drop-In Brewing Company – Middlebury[41]
• Fiddlehead Brewing – Shelburne[42]
• Foley Brothers Brewing – Brandon[43]
• Grateful Hands Brewing – Cabot[44][45]
• Harpoon Brewery – headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, largest plant in Windsor
• Hill Farmstead Brewery – Greensboro Bend
• Kingdom Brewing – Newport Center (new brewery as of 2012, independent of the old Kingdom Brewers)[46]
• Lawson's Finest Liquids – Warren[47]
• Long Trail Brewing Company – Bridgewater Corners
• Lost Nation Brewing – Morrisville (May 2013)[48][49]
• Magic Hat Brewing Company – South Burlington – owned by North American Breweries, Rochester, New York
• McNeill's Brewery – Brattleboro[50][51]
• Northshire Brewery – Bennington[52]
• Otter Creek Brewing – Middlebury, Bridgewater (also produces Wolaver's Certified Organic Ales brand and the Shed brand)
• Rock Art Brewery – Morrisville
• Switchback Brewery[53] – Burlington[54][55][56]
• von Trapp Brewing – Stowe
• Trout River Brewing – Springfield