Vermont. Land of Ben & Jerry’s, maple syrup and the beautiful outdoors. Also home to The Shed Brewery, one of the first brewpubs in Vermont that has been a state favorite for almost 50 years.
History of the brewery: The original building was a blacksmith shop in 1830 that was later served as a cider mill and local gathering spot for farmers. In 1965 it officially became The Shed Restaurant after quickly becoming a local variety store. Local legend has it that when the restaurant burned to the ground and reopened a year later, word spilled out of a new addition of a seven-barrel brewery. This news quickly swept the roads and mountains that English-style, handcrafted ale was going to be produced. Production moved to Middlebury in 2011, and for the first time in the brewery’s history, people outside of Vermont are able to enjoy Shed’s brews. The legacy and history of the original Shed live on in every batch of Mountain Ale and IPA.
The Shed Brewery offers two year-round brews and three seasonal ones.
- Their first year-round brew is Mountain Ale-a medium to full-bodied ale, with pronounced caramel and toffee notes, followed by a roasted finish.
- Their second brew is Mountain IPA- it has handfuls of Simcoe, Centennial and Chinook hops that deliver big notes of pine, resin, and citrus.
- Their first seasonal brew is Hellbrook Pilsner. It is named for the rugged trail that climbs Mt. Mansfield and features a straight-up hop spiciness with a crisp finish. Next is Baltic Porter, a deliciously dark lager that is clean, robust and full of dark chocolate notes with subtle hints of caramel.
- Lastly, they have their Pumpkin Ale, a bold, balanced and mildly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Brewed with organic Vermont pumpkins from the Golden Russet Farm in Shoreham.
Visit their tasting room in Middlebury, VT (seasonal only). They also have a great pub onsite, so stay and grab some grub with your tasty beer. Guests can learn more about its history and local natives who used to fill the original mill to drink a good cider and spirited conversation.
Live too far from the Green Mountain State? Don’t worry, stop in Mystic Wine Shoppe and pick-up some delicious Shed Beer…. with a little taste of the countryside and history of its Ale, you can drink like a local.
