For this New England brewery road trip, we’re heading to each of the six New England states. From Vermont to Rhode Island, no state is left unturned.
Brick And Feather
The brewery is located at the corner of Avenue A and 11th Street in an industrial building in Turners Falls, MA. Eleventh Street crosses an impressive steel bridge over the Montague Power Canal. There’s a bike path that follows the canal too. With folks enjoying themselves on two wheels, the whole scenario looks tempting. At the brewery, I took home Letters from Zelda, their flagship IPA; Ignore Alien Orders, a double IPA; and In Absentia, another IPA; Nature Loves to Hide, a Franconian Lager. What’s nice is you can order by the can, and not be locked into four packs.
Fox Farm Brewery
Since my first visit in June of 2017, whenever I’m back in Connecticut, I make it a point to visit Fox Farm Brewery in Salem. Not only is their beer top-notch, but the barn the brewery is housed in and the surroundings are welcoming. For IPA lovers try libations such as Verdant, Burst, and Alta. Taste the freshness in these unfiltered beauties; they are certainly easy to drink. Their Ashlawn Coffee Stout and Freckled Fields Farmhouse Ale are just as tasty, although at opposite ends of the palate from each other.
Hill Farmstead Brewery
Hill Farmstead is a world-class brewery located a world away from almost everywhere else. Its Greensboro Bend address is still over an hour from most “nearby” Vermont locations but so worth the trip! They are known for their farmhouse beers along with a selection of other artisan beers including IPAs, pale ales, and porters. Most beers are named after owner Shaun Hill’s ancestors. At the brewery stay for a few pours, and hang out in the truly scenic yard.
Bissell Brothers
The Portland area of Maine is all about craft beer. One of the stalwarts is Bissell Brothers. From their flagship Substance, to the highly coveted Swish to everything in between, the brewery is a lively spot at Thompson’s Point that also includes food and a merch shop.
Maine Beer Company
The Maine Beer Company experience in Freeport is like visiting a museum of beer. From the high ceiling to the well-lit space to the large glass fountain, it is certainly a little different from your neighborhood brewery. Come for the crisp and oh-so-fresh tasting beers including Lunch, Dinner, and Peeper. Make sure to try a wood-fired pizza and a salad to boot.
Von Trapp Bierhall
A dinner destination for the whole family in Stowe has to be the Von Trapp Bierhall. Feast on a bit of the old country with pretzels, sausages, and schnitzel galore while sipping on this brewery’s famous lagers. The food is authentic, the views are stunning, and the vibe is jovial (and no one cares too much if one of the kids decides to be loud). Dine outside or in, either way, it’s a treat. This is owned by the Trapp Family of The Sound of Music fame who also operate their namesake lodge just down the road. Visit year-round. We visit Stowe on average two or three times a year.
Schilling Beer Co
Hungry after hiking? Check out Schilling Beer Company located in the industrial Littleton, New Hampshire. Schilling makes excellent beer, like Von Trapp, and specializes in lagers (although their sister brand, Resilience, has the ales covered). Their brewery area is sprawling, with a restaurant, tap room, and outdoor dining, all in the same complex that looks over the Ammonoosuc River. Try a salad, a pizza, and a flight of beer. Afterward, walk over the adjoining covered bridge for a true New England experience. Visit any time! The White Mountains trip has become an annual adventure.
Untold Brewing Co
For a tasty beer in Scituate, Massachusetts, check out Untold Brewing. Untold makes truly excellent beer. On my latest visit, I chose a coffee stout and a black IPA, both of which were delish. With the kids in tow, there is plenty of room to spread out at the communal tables of the converted circa 1852 schoolhouse. The taproom has limited seating as well.
Blaze Brewing Company
Excellent BBQ? Tasty beer? You can have it all at Blaze Brewing Company in Biddeford, Maine. With a superb selection of in-house craft beers and delicious BBQ, the outpost of this Maine joint is the place for food and drink in this mill city.
Mayflower Brewing Company
In addition to history, Plymouth has its share of craft libations. The most well-known is Mayflower Brewery, located on Resnik Road in the Plymouth Industrial Park. Mayflower simply does beer well. Although in recent years they have branched into some more adventurous styles, Mayflower’s stalwarts include their IPA, the New World, a New England-style IPA, and Porter. Their branding ties into local history. Mayflower’s tap room is nicely arranged, with a large bar, tables to sit at, a dartboard, and a food truck on certain days.
Half Full Brewing
This is the second outpost of Stamford’s Half Full Brewing. Located close to downtown, it is much more than a brewery. With a large bar, local art, coffee, and even a workspace, this community gathering spot is uber-popular on the weekends. Don’t plan on using it for studying on Saturday!
Half Full is a subterranean brewery close to the downtown but in a nondescript warehouse-esque building. The taproom is comfortable with a nice selection of house-made brews, including IPAs, blonde ale, and sours. The brewery is located at 43 Homestead Avenue with a second location on Pacific Street known as Third Place.
Jasper Murdock’s at the Norwich Inn
Under the Jasper Murdock moniker, the Norwich Inn, located in Norwich, Vermont, 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 in large bomber bottles.
Kent Falls Brewing
As the state’s first farm brewery, Kent Falls Brewing Company set the trend for others that have come after, including Fox Farm. Arriving on the rural Camps Road, the brewery is closer to Washington, Warren, and New Preston than to the falls it’s named for. Located in Kent, the aforementioned falls are the town’s most well-known natural attraction.
Arriving at the brewery, I was surprised to see how embedded in the countryside it is. The picturesque spot overlooks a pond. There are a few brewery buildings on site, with the first where the brewing takes place. The second is the taproom, and the third is a small farm store selling beer, merch, and farm goods.
The taproom is spacious, with seating inside and out, overlooking fields. Jackie chose a sour which she thoroughly enjoyed. I went with an IPA and the Field Beer, their version of a Saison.
Harpoon Brewery (VT)
Harpoon has been a favorite lunch stop for me over the last few years. From poutine to pretzel bites, I’ve been quite happy with my food choices. Throw in a flight of beer and I find it a perfect way to ease into my Vermont vacation. On this day, the brewery was packed! Luckily we found a picnic table outside which gave us access to the wood-fired pizza oven outside. Splitting a cheese pizza was a perfect lunch. I ordered a Catamount IPA (before Harpoon arrived in Vermont, this was the location of the former Catamount Brew Pub), while my wife chose a Berliner Weiss.
Long Live Beerworks
Head to Providence, Rhode Island, for Long Live Beerworks. During my visit to this post-industrial complex, there were a few beers available. One was a quintuple IPA which, quite honestly, at over 12% ABV I was a bit intimidated by. There was also a pastry stout at 10%. I opted for the DDH (Double Dry Hopped) Black Cat Double IPA. The beer pours a juicy hue of orange. The taste is nicely balanced and citrusy with a dry hop finish. Quite honestly, this dry-hopped DIPA is one of the best I’ve had in this style.
Wherever in the six-state region you’re going this year, make sure to check out these breweries along the way. From Maine to Connecticut, this New England brewery road trip is sure to satisfy you.
