OnTap Magazine

Particularly when I could have been hanging out in the bar at the Hotel Vermont. Open since 2013, the boutique-y Hotel Vermont is one of two recommended options for downtown accommodations, the other being the immediately adjacent, albeit more corporate Hilton Burlington. Whichever you choose, however, the former’s Juniper Bar and Restaurant is the place to hang out. Which is in no way to suggest that Juniper is the sine qua non of Burlington beer bars. at it is not. Instead, what it is, with its locally-driven draught and spirits selection, imaginative cocktails and tasty “small plates” snacks, is a relaxing spot in which to rejuvenate after biking or hiking or shopping, or before heading out for some more serious beer exploration. BEER BARS AND TAP ROOMS And on that ‘beer hunting’ front, there are plenty of walkable multi- tap options in Burlington, many of which boast beers by familiar Vermont names like Lawson’s Finest, Von Trapp, Fiddlehead, Prohibition Pig and, of course, Hill Farmstead and Alchemist. ese include the arcade-themed e Archives, the Growler Garage – far more a bar than a growler lling station – and the somewhat bizarre Sidebar, which at about 8pm morphs from a fairly reserved beer bar into a live music nightclub, with most patrons ignoring the taps in favour of shots and cocktails. Neither will those with a preference for brewery taprooms be disappointed, although they will need to walk or taxi further. Best of the downtown taprooms is that of Foam Brewers, an IPA obsessive out t that paradoxically does some of its best work in more obscure styles such as oatmeal stout, while a modest Uber ride will bring you to the trio of Switchback, Queen City and Zero Gravity, the last to my mind the stand-out among the three. Amid all this plenty, however, Heady Topper Photo by: walknboston - https://www.flickr.com/photos/walkn/8689342481 ontapmag.co.za | Autumn 2019 | 35