The Quest for the Holy Grain - Best Brew Pubs
Vermont

 

 

Three Needs Taproom & Brewery
207 College St
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 658-0889

The Three Needs brewpub is just a few steps from the main shopping area of Burlington. 
In a small store front, the approximately 40 seats is all bar.  The brewing operation is not evident. 
The very young college crowd swarms in at 4:00 when the place opens. 
The Happy Hour feature is a keg of their own "Duff"  which is $2.00 a pint until gone. 
They have six of their own beers on tap and six guest local beers.
If you don't like the food here, you can go to the Sadie Katz Deli...it's owned by the same guy.

 

 

American Flatbread/Zero Gravity Brewpub
115 St. Paul St.
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 861-2999

There is no indication from the outside that the American Flatbread is a brewpub. 
But at the bar, all of the signs point to the fact that they make their own beer. 
Indeed, American Flatbread is the home of the Zero Gravity Brewing Company.
The brewing operation is not visible but is accessible from the bar. 
The bar serves nine of their own and nine guest beers.  
The beers are true to style and tasty.  The only food they serve is thin crust pizza.  It is very good, but very pricey. 

 

 

The Vermont Pub and Brewery
144 College Street
Burlington, Vermont 05401
802-065-0500

The Vermont Pub and Brewery is just across from the town square in an imposing brick building.  They have an outside patio and a two-segment bar, part of which is in an enclosed porch.  The interior is not that spacious, but has an English pub decor with dark woods and cozy booths.  They have eight beers on tap plus two casks.  The beers were true to style...good, but not wonderful.  The service and food were both good, and all prices were quite reasonable.