Lodging at an inn in Vermont in the wintertime has a certain magic about it. The Norwich Inn in Norwich, Vermont, fits the cozy description perfectly. And visiting in late February is the perfect way to end the snowy season.
Norwich is a small town with postcard-perfect beauty. The center of town includes the inn, a general store, church, school, book store, and not much else, but that’s just fine for this Green Mountain gem. (Actually, there’s more to the town on modern Route 5 such as King Arthur Baking and the Montshire Museum.) It is also located right across the Connecticut River from Hanover, New Hampshire home of Dartmouth College and also a jewel of a town.
Norwich Inn
The Norwich Inn does not resemble a traditional colonial inn by any means. For one, it is larger. Colonel Jasper Murdock (which the in-house brewery is named for) built the original inn way back in 1797. Unfortunately, a fire in 1889 ruined the inn, but it was rebuilt in its current form a year later. This is why the architecture looks much more Victorian than Colonial.
In addition to the main inn building, there are two lodgings behind it, the Walker House and Ivy Lodge. These are modern but architecturally fit into the Norwich Inn complex seamlessly. We stayed in the Walker Lodge. With two king beds, this was certainly not a small inn room. It also had amenities including a television and a fitness center on-site, which is also different from many smaller inns.
Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse
There are two dining options at the Norwich Inn and both are excellent. One choice is the more formal dining area located on the first level of the inn. On my latest visit, dinner was served in a room with large picture windows looking out onto the snowy street, with a blazing hearth at one end.
The other is in the brewpub. It is tiny with just a small number of tables and a few chairs at the bar. Talk about quaint, it is like stepping into an Old World tavern. Both restaurant and brewpub are offering the same menu currently. This may be not a groundbreaking choice but my favorite dish is the burger. It’s made with many local ingredients and served on a King Arthur bun. I order mine medium rare and it’s simply one of the finest burgers I’ve had. (It should definitely be added to this post)
Bring on the Beers!
Under the Jasper Murdock moniker, the Norwich Inn brews its own beer. Their flagship, and my favorite, is their Whistling Pig red ale. Typically this is not a style I drift toward but for some reason, they knock it out of the park. They also brew a wide selection of other beers from IPAs to stouts. I always order a flight of the house-made brews and take one or two home with me in large bomber bottles.
Wandering around the bottom floor of the main building, enjoy sitting by the fire in a living area or simply marveling at the decor in the lobby. The Norwich Inn is located at 325 Main Street in Norwich, Vermont.
Dan and Whit’s
Right next door is Dan and Whit’s, an old-fashioned general store that simply has everything! Upon first glance, it seems like a very thorough grocery store/deli/liquor store. Just like Transformers, there is much more than meets the eye! Customers can explore the whole large store which consists of literally any or every item one would ever need. From clothes to snow globes, ant traps to Heady Topper, Dan and Whit’s actual motto is the old adage that my grandmother used for Benny’s home and auto stores, “if they don’t sell it, you don’t need it.” Incredibly so, this store has even more than Benny’s did, I never remember buying cheese at Benny’s!
Given the snowstorm on the second day, we trudged the few steps through the snow to Dan and Whit’s to pick up some provisions to last us through the visit.
Visiting the Inn
Staying at the Norwich Inn is the perfect jumping-off point to explore the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire. Towns including the superb Woodstock, the tourist-friendly Quechee, the collegiate Hanover, the funky White River Junction, and utilitarian Lebanon are all close by. Conversely, staying in and exploring the inn, enjoying dinner and a brew and the quaint center of Norwich is just as fine an option as a jaunt through the nearby towns.
For more Vermont backyard road trips: The Capital Region, The Upper Valley and Eleven Vermont Breweries.
