BENNINGTON, VERMONT

Just thirty miles outside Albany in the center of Bennington, MADISON BREWING boasted rustic Old World charm, November ’06. Small right side L-shaped bar with cool beer can collection and comfy waiting couches opposed wooden table-chair dining section. Rear brew tanks were across from antique piano/ stage area.

Along with good pub grub, sucked down dehydrated fig-date-spiced Fuggle-hopped red-fruited nut-bottomed Crowtown Pale Ale, bittersweet tea-like pumpernickel-breaded quince-pinched Willoughby’s Scottish Ale, and dankly metallic prune-dried fig-spiced fungi-wafted Old 76 Strong…

BRISTOL, VERMONT

Amongst old red brick buildings in the heart of rural Bristol (thirty miles Southeast of Burlington) lies THE BOBCAT CAFE, a quaint upscale pub with creaky wood floors-tables, cozy right side dining, and tucked-in left side bar.

Visited November ’06, glass-enclosed rear brew tanks served decent fare such as diacetyl maize-dried perfume-wafted floral-hopped Pocock Pilsner, saltine apricot-soured cornbread-bottomed Cat Paw Kolsch, sweet herbal tea-like Bristol Pride ESB, corn-sweet yellow-orange-fruited Witches Brew Octoberfest, and daintily red-orange-fruited woody-hopped floral-dried bitter…

WATERBURY, VERMONT

In the valley eleven miles south of Stowe lies the pastoral village of Waterbury, home of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, and since Thanksgiving 2003, top-notch midtown brewpub, THE ALCHEMIST, visited November ‘06. A cheery abbot figurine sits atop tap handles at right side bar across dining area and fronting billiards table, serving as a cool mascot.

Unfortunately, a flood hit The Alchemist in 2011 and shut the pub down permanently. Thankfully, the owners were able to secure…

STOWE, VERMONT

In a Moroccan red barn-like lodge along the mountaintop of ski-bound haven Stowe, rustic green-walled hillside depot, THE SHED RESTAURANT & BREWERY, became a brewpub in 1994.

Visited November ’06, its right side bar area served brewer Jim Conroy’s swell tapped beer samplers (in old wooden ski trays) as well as frozen daiquiris, West Indian rum drinks, and sandwiches-burgers-appetizers. Exquisite left side Gardenroom Greenhouse dining area and huge back patio satisfied quieter patrons.

Quaffed dry white-breaded, maize-husked, spice-tingled,…

BURLINGTON, VERMONT

For a cool ghoulishly bewitched tour, check out South Burlington’s renowned MAGIC HAT BREWERY, where Halloween and Mardis Gras are celebrated daily. February ’04, bought limited edition Braggot Honey Ale and newly introduced Mother Lager. November ’06, caught up with marketing director Shawn Rice and brought home seven growlers of familiar bottled fare for High Times crew.

On tap at site, sampled Magic Hat Blind Nine Ale. Blending #9 Not Quite Pale Ale with Blind Faith IPA, its candied…

BURLINGTON, VERMONT

Opened 1995, grungy stoner-biker dive, THREE NEEDS BREWERY, is located just off Burlington’s Church Street promenade -within walking distance of American Flatbread and Vermont Pub. Before noon, I popped in with wife and kids to sample a few, November ’06.

Old wood floors match oaken bar covered with Simpsons paraphernalia, sundry books, and liquor bottles. Rear billiards table leads to low ceiling basement where rustic Grundy serving tanks offered respectable ever-changing selection of brewer Glenn Walter’s fare.

Quaffed…

BURLINGTON, VERMONT

November ’06, revisited Burlington for a few nights. First stop, loud and crowded AMERICAN FLATBREAD (opened around ‘04) made awesome organic wood-fired pizzas in a brick cauldron to go with 30-plus quality bottled beers and several finely handcrafted ‘Zero Gravity’ tap brews. Its right side wood bar had a beautiful oak mantle, exposed ductwork lined the ceilings, and brew tanks were located in the rear.

Alongside delicious Punctuated Equilibrium (wheat-based pizza with olives, red peppers, goat cheese, onions),…

BURLINGTON, VERMONT

Traveling West on Route 89 during snowy February ’04 New England excursion, stayed two nights in renowned bohemian haunt, Burlington. First stop was  VERMONT PUB AND BREWERY, a large edifice with redeeming values I appreciated more the second time around five years hence.

As the second oldest brewpub on the East Coast (opened 1988), Vermont Pub spreads a large dining space behind windowed porch bar area. Spacious downtown eatery served good American cuisine. Ate hearty Angus Brewburger while tapping…

NORWICH, VERMONT

Heading North on Route 91, bought Harpoon’s Munich Dark Lager and Abbey Style Ale at Windsor warehouse (formerly Catamount Brewery), then 10 miles hence purchased Jasper Murdock’s Old Slipperyskin IPA and Whistling Pig Red Ale (reviewed in Beer Index) at colonial-styled relic, NORWICH INN, December ‘05.

A tiny English-styled brewpub-ensconced restaurant since ’93, the short dining room bar had samplers of hazelnut-chocolate-spiced maple-malted anodyne, Jasper Murdock’s Private Stock, and chocolate-roasted coffee-embittered fruit-soured Stackpole Porter during initial sojourn.

On…

WILMINGTON, VERMONT

Twenty miles west of Brattleboro through snow-capped mountains, found Wilmington’s terrific pint-size venue, MAPLE LEAF BREWERY, New Year’s Day ‘06. Though by summer ’08, brewery closed and only bar remained.

Located in the quaint Mount Snow valley near the corner of Main Street, brewer Darren Fehring’s pub had outgrown its constricting boundaries and a second floor bar was built post-haste. Small dining area to left fronts brew tanks while tucked-in low-ceilinged bar takes up the right.

Burgers and…

BRATTLEBORO,VERMONT

The Maple State takes tremendous pride in microbrew mastery! And one of its best brewpubs, MC NEILL’S, provides great beer to this rustic riverfront town. On a snowy February ’04 trip, I first stayed at Brattleboro’s historic Latchis Inn, quaffing light-bodied malt-spiced chocolate-nutty Leaf Trapper Lager, caramel-hopped Altbier, mocha-accented IPA, cocoa-embittered Coffee Porter, and mildly chocolate-y cherry-teased wood-burnt Oatmeal Stout at now-defunct basement-level Latchis Grill.

In its stead, street level pub, Flat Street Brewpub, served Berkshire Brewery’s excellent bottled…

TUCSON, ARIZONA

Culturally diverse Southwest valley metropolis offered three disparate brewpubs, January ‘05. Outside main district, mall-based THUNDER CANYON BREWERY’S velvety purple terra cotta stucco exterior cloaked centralized bar extending to patio, leftward glass encased brew tanks, and menu of wraps, sandwiches, brewhouse burgers, and recommended wood-fired pizza.

Casual fare such as fizzy wheat-husked dry-bodied lightweight Sandstone Cream Ale, malt-sinewy nectar-honeyed mainstreamer Deep Canyon Amber, and polite citrus-barren corrosive Windstorm Wheat were OK.

Surprisingly soft-bodied darker brews included gently hop-spiced red-orange-fruited…