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Brewing in Vermont

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Vermont ranks 1st nationally in craft breweries per capita

The U.S. state of Vermont is home to several breweries, microbreweries, nanobreweries, and brewpubs that produce a wide variety of beer.

In 2011 and 2012, the Brewers Association ranked Vermont as the state with the greatest number of breweries per capita. Using the 2010 US Census population estimate of 62,741 and 26 breweries, there are one brewery for every 24,067 people.

The 2012 Brewers Association Economic Impact Report shows Vermont with a total economic impact of beer brewed by craft brewers at $196,287,000. The data places Vermont as third in the category of craft beer industry output per adult (21+) with $418.57 per person. The report states that there are 2,200 full time employees with an average wage of $30,176.

When using the economic impact of beer as a percentage of GDP, Vermont ranks fourth with a percentage of 2.40% for 2012.


History

The history of beer in Vermont is similar to its history in the rest of the United States - no local breweries existed from Prohibition until the microbrewery explosion of the 1980s and 1990s. Since then a number of strong breweries have developed despite Vermont's small population.

Beer Styles

Greg Noonan, owner and head brewer of The Vermont Pub & Brewery, and Glenn Walter, then an assistant brewer, are cited with creating the Black IPA (AKA Cascadian Dark Ale or India Black Ale) with the initial brewing of Blackwatch IPA on December 4, 1994. The Blackwatch IPA second brewing was November 25, 1995, where Noonan was assisted by John Kimmich, who is now the owner and brewer of The Alchemist. This beer inspired John Kimmich's (The Alchemist) El Jefe Black IPA (2003) and Shawn Hill's (then Shed Restaurant & Brewery) Darkside Black IPA and later Hill Farmstead's James. Mitch Steele, head brewer of Stone Brewing Company, states the Darkside Black IPA was the inspiration for Stone's Sublimely Self Righteous Ale.


The Alchemist, Hill Farmstead, and Lawson's Finest Liquids have become so popular that the route that leads between the three breweries is called the IPA Highway and is a popular destination for beer enthusiasts. These three brewers have also helped create a loosely named beer India Pale Ale (IPA) category called "East Coast IPAs" or "New England IPAs". Due to proximity, distribution, and availability of beer produced by these three brewers, the town of Waterbury was named the Best Beer Town in New England by the Boston Globe.

Beers

One of the most widely known beers from Vermont is #9 from Magic Hat Brewing Company. It is an apricot-flavored fruit beer based on a traditional pale ale. Heady Topper from The Alchemist is only sold in Vermont as of November, 2011 but is one of the highest rated beers on both BeerAdvocate and RateBeer. Other breweries such as Hill Farmstead and Lawson's Finest Liquids have gained a great deal of national acclaim.

Breweries

National breweries

As of November 2011, no national or international brewing company, such as Anheuser-Busch, Molson Coors, or SABMiller, operated breweries in Vermont.

Craft breweries

As of March 2013, there were 29 breweries operating in Vermont that could be described as craft breweries. In 2013, ratebeer.com named Hill Farmstead Brewery the best brewery in the world.

Brewpubs

Brewpubs on Hiatus

Defunct breweries and brewpubs

Homebrew clubs

Beer festivals

References

  1. Craft Brewing Industry Statistics
  2. Brewers Association Capita Per Brewery
  3. Brewers Association Economic Impact Data
  4. Brewers Association Economic Impact Data
  5. Brewers Association Economic Impact Data
  6. The 10 States Making the Most on Beer
  7. Black and Bitter, True Origins of Black IPA
  8. Black and Bitter, True Origins of Black IPA
  9. Black and Bitter, True Origins of Black IPA
  10. Black and Bitter,’ True Origins of Black IPA
  11. Vermont's IPA Highway
  12. Sam Adams Rebel IPA Part of East Coast Revolution
  13. best beer town in New England
  14. ratebeer best 2013 - best brewers in the world

External links

List of breweries in the United States
States
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