Best Craft Breweries in Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont — updated August 22, 2026
Burlington's brewing runs from the Pine Street corridor to a Lake Street taproom and one of the oldest brewpubs in the state. Here's where the beer, and the evidence behind it, holds up.
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Burlington packs its breweries into two rough zones: the Pine Street corridor south of downtown, where Zero Gravity, Queen City and Switchback all sit within a short ride of each other, and the blocks near the waterfront and Church Street. The city also holds one of Vermont's longest-running brewpubs, open since the late 1980s. The list below is ordered by how convincingly each place answers the question, with review counts noted so you can tell a settled rating from a promising one.
1. Foam Brewers - Burlington
The strongest brewery-first pick in the city, and the closest one to the lake at 112 Lake St. Foam holds a 4.7 across more than 1,200 reviews, which is a well-tested figure rather than an early impression. The taproom pours a rotating beer list and keeps cheese and charcuterie on the menu, so it works as a stop before dinner rather than a full meal. Hours run from noon on Monday and Tuesday with a 10 PM close, later on other nights, and Saturday opens early at 10 AM. Weekend afternoons on the waterfront are the busiest window.
2. American Flatbread Burlington & Mothership Brewery
The most reviewed place on this list by a wide margin: 4.7 from more than 2,400 reviews, which makes it the safest bet for a group that wants beer and a real meal in one room. The Mothership Brewery shares the building at 115 St Paul St with the wood-fired flatbread operation. The menu lists the Dancing Heart at $12 small and $16 large, Cheese & Herb at $13 and $17, and the Medicine Wheel at $14 and $18. Open 11:30 AM to 10 PM Sunday through Thursday, until 11 PM Friday and Saturday.
3. Zero Gravity Brewery
The most flexible schedule of any brewery here: the Pine Street beer hall opens at 8 AM daily, with coffee, beer and waffles served from 8 AM to 2 PM. The full food menu starts at 11:30 AM and runs to 9 PM Sunday through Thursday, 10 PM Friday and Saturday. That makes 716 Pine St one of the few places in the city that works for breakfast and for a late pint on the same day. The 4.6 rating rests on more than 750 reviews, enough to call it consistent rather than lucky.
4. Switchback Brewing Co.
Worth the trip to 160 Flynn Ave for weekday pint pricing: $5 E-Z pints on Tuesdays, $5 Switchback Ale pints on Wednesdays, and $5 Citra Vista pints on Sundays. The kitchen turns out Southern-style barbecue and closes at 8 PM, ahead of the taproom, so plan to eat first. The brewery also makes spirits alongside the beer. Note that Mondays are closed and Tuesday service starts at 5 PM. At 4.6 from 391 reviews, the rating is reasonably well established, though on a smaller sample than Foam or Zero Gravity.
5. Queen City Brewery
The pick for anyone tired of hazy IPAs. Queen City's tasting room at 703 Pine St focuses on classic styles, with more than 16 taps and a lineup reviewers describe as traditional plus some newer brews, including styles that are hard to find elsewhere in the area. It carries a 4.7, but from 266 reviews, so treat it as promising and well liked rather than proven at the scale of the bigger names. Taproom hours are 1 PM to 8 PM Sunday through Thursday and noon to 9 PM Friday and Saturday.
6. The Vermont Pub & Brewery
The historical anchor, celebrating over 35 years of brewing at 144 College St, a block off Church Street. The 4.3 rating is the lowest here, but it comes from nearly 1,200 reviews, meaning it is a settled and honest average rather than a bad night or two. The restaurant menu is straightforward and sourced locally where possible. Doors open at 11:30 AM most days, which makes it one of the earlier downtown options for lunch and a house-brewed pint. Expect a mix of visitors and regulars given the central location.
7. Stone Corral Brewery
Outside Burlington proper: this one is at 83 Huntington Rd in Richmond, about a drive east, so include it only if you have a car. It earns the spot on a 4.5 from more than 700 reviews, a solid record, with a brewing range that covers traditional styles and newer flavors, plus a full bar and a sizeable food menu. One caveat from reviewers: entree pricing has drawn comment as being on the high side. Hours start at 4 PM on Monday and noon on Tuesday, with a 9 PM close.
What we left off
Frog Hollow Vermont State Craft Center appeared on the earlier version of this list. It is a fine art and craft gallery on Church Street, not a brewery, so it does not belong in a beer guide.