Specialty Craft Beer Stores

Not everyone has the time to make a road trip to visit the breweries found in our Southern Vermont beer tour article. Not to worry—many of the various beers that these breweries are producing can be found at some of the finer beer stores located throughout the region.

Meulemans’ Craft Draughts, just down the road from Stratton Mountain in Rawsonville was one of the first specialty beer stores in the state. While they do offer a selection of cider, mead, and wine, when you walk in the front door there is no mistake that their focus is on beer. With a worldwide selection of highly sought-after beers along with a full lineup of local and regional beers, Meulemans’ helped establish a new standard for a beer-specific retail store. Bring a growler if you visit, because proprietors Greg and Pat Meulemans always have a great selection of draft beers as well.

 

Meulemans’ Craft Draughts store vermontMeulemans’ Craft Draughts

 

The Crooked Ram, located on Main Street in Manchester Village near the Taconic and Equinox hotels, just opened this summer. They offer a curated selection of well-regarded beers, and a crowler filling station greets customers. Don’t know what a crowler is? Don’t worry, you’re definitely not alone. A crowler is a 32 fl. oz. (2-pint) can filled on demand and sealed right in front of you.

 

crowlers at the crooked ram beer store manchester vermontThe Crooked Ram

 

Pay a visit to the longest continuously running general store in Vermont, J.J. Hapgood General Store & Eatery. Taste top-of-the-line craft beers from some of Vermont’s most sought-after brewers including limited products from Hill Farmstead Brewery. In addition to Hill Farmstead products, J.J. Hapgood sells a wide range of Vermont beers including products from Von Trapp, Rock Hard, Zero Gravity, and Citizen Cider breweries.

If these locations can’t fill your coffers, keep your eyes out for the Brattleboro Co-op, Bennington Beverage Den & Smoke Shop, Manchester Discount Beverage, Brewfest Beverage Co. of Ludlow, and Terrill St. Discount Beverage of Rutland as these are some of the more highly acclaimed in the area. Vermont beer has a loyal following and there are a lot of retail locations looking
to help you find exactly what you are looking for.