Brewing since 1997, Rock Art is one of the oldest breweries in the state!
Breweries & Distilleries
Situated between some of the oldest and best breweries in the biz- Highland Lodge offers a stellar jumping off point for a week full of brewery tours and tastings. After a full day of brewery hopping, you can enjoy a sampling of the best local selections from the comfort of our House Bar, complete with a roster consisting of Hill Farmstead, Burlington Beer Co., Alchemist, and more. Or if you prefer, taste the region’s best from the comfort of your own cabin.
Hill Farmstead Brewery (Greensboro)
Arguably one of Vermont's best-known breweries, Hill Farmstead's Tasting Room is a stone's throw from Highland Lodge. Located in Greensboro Bend, Hill Farmstead not only offers spectacular brews, but also stunning mountain views and more often than not, a delicious local food truck to help with the drinking process!
Since opening in 2010, the brewery has received widespread acclaim for its beers across a range of styles, most notably American Pale Ale, IPA, Porter and Saison. In 2011, Hill Farmstead was awarded the title of 'Best New Brewery in the World' by consumer review website RateBeer.com. In 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 the RateBeer community named Hill Farmstead the 'Best Brewery in the World' (it finished second in 2013). Their "Society & Solitude" series has us swooning every time they release a fresh batch, and you can always find a keg of Hill Farmstead here in our House Bar if you feel like laying low during your visit.
The Alchemist (Stowe)
The Alchemist is a family run brewery specializing in fresh, unfiltered IPA's. John and Jen Kimmich originally opened The Alchemist as a 60 seat brew pub in the village of Waterbury in 2003. After eight years of success and growing popularity, they decided to open a small production brewery. Today The Alchemist currently operates two breweries in Vermont and distributes Heady Topper and Focal Banger throughout the state.
THE ALCHEMIST – STOWE
Opened in July 2016, this state-of-the-art facility was designed to be as low impact as possible while providing the brewery with enough space to serve the community and the growing number of beer tourists to Vermont. Their second year-round beer, Focal Banger, is brewed in Stowe as well as seasonal beers that rotate throughout the year. The Alchemist Brewery and Visitor’s Center in Stowe provides samples of beer for tasting, retail beer sales, merchandise and a fun, educational experience.
Barr Hill-Caledonia Spirits (Montpelier)
The maker of award-winning Barr Hill Gin and many other fine spirits and honey products, they also have an incredible solar powered tasting and touring facility located in Montpelier, VT.
The original 6,000 square foot distillery was located in Hardwick right up the road from us and the Barr Hill Nature Preserve, the namesake trail that starts at the base of Highland Lodge. Caledonia Spirits uses raw northern honey as an ingredient in all three of its super-premium spirits. Their award winning Barr Hill Gin is distilled with juniper in a custom-built botanical extraction still and is finished with raw honey - the delivery vessel for countless other botanicals and a hint of sweetness - to perfectly balance the juniper. We are happy to offer their signature cocktail, the "Bee's Knee's" here at our House Bar and during certain months of the year they donate a portion of their proceeds back to the bees, so drink up!
Prohibition Pig (Waterbury)
Open seven days a week and just an hour away in the quaint town of Waterbury, you will find local brewery, taproom, and restaurant in the all-encompassing Prohibition Pig. A restaurant in the front with wonderful upscale BBQ etc, and a full-on brewery and tasting room in the back, if it is too crowded you can always grab a seat on their beautiful patio and get those nachos to go. You can enjoy beers on site, purchase cans/ bottles for your collection, or fill up a growler to enjoy after that long hike.
Pro Tip- if you are here for the beer, check out the amazing craft beer shop directly across the street from Pro Pig and indulge in some of Vermont's BEST offerings all in one place. Here, the sky is the limit so be prepared to drop some cash; the selections are impressive and vast.
Von Trapp Brewery & Bierhall (Stowe)
Located on the grounds of Trapp Family Lodge, the von Trapp Brewing Bierhall Restaurant is conveniently situated on the cross-country ski and mountain bike trails. The Bierhall is a gathering place for friends to enjoy “a little of Austria, a lot of Vermont,” serving fresh lager beers and a selection of freshly prepared Austrian lunch and dinner selections. Many of the menu items are prepared on the wood fired Parrilla grill that is the showcase feature of the Bierhall. Their beers are true to style and the food is authentic. We almost always order the apple strudel to start.
Rock Art Brewery
Just a hop, skip, and a leap from us, this Morrisville based brewery is certainly one of the older in the biz, dating back to inception in 1997. Their tasting room offers samples of many of their delicious brews year round and it is only a 30 minute drive door to door!
