Hill Farmstead is not only one of the best breweries in the country, it’s often considered the best brewery in the world. For good reason. Hill Farmstead takes the farmhouse tradition to heart producing elegant saisons, grisettes, and biere de gardes. Go to this slightly off-the-beaten-path brewery for excellent beers that have a distinct sense of place.

Opened in 2016, Foam Brewers is a true Vermont brewery. The founding members are industry pros cutting their teeth at New England staples like Switchback and Magic Hat. Foam represents the new class of craft breweries in the Green Mountain State, earning acclaim for its new school hazy IPAs, fantastic lagers, saisons, and kettle sours.

The Alchemist Founders John and Jen Kimmich are masters of hops. Often credited with creating the hazy IPA and for leading the modern push for highly-sought-after, fresh beer, The Alchemist earned a cult-like following around beers like Heady Topper and Focal Banger with folks traveling from states far away to track down the scarcely available IPAs.

Another Vermont craft beer staple is Lawson’s Finest Liquids. Founded by husband and wife Sean and Karen Lawson in 2008, Lawson’s Finest Liquids produces a diverse lineup of beer. The brewery has long been praised for its hoppy beers Sip of Sunshine and the Super Session series. Not only does Lawson’s produce excellent beers, but it has also become a significant part of its local community.

Zero Gravity captures the wild beauty of Vermont in each beer - such as the excellent and consistent Green State Lager and Little Wolf. Plus, the Burlington-based brewery is committed to keeping that beauty alive. Zero Gravity is a 1% for the Planet member and has crafted several mission-driven beers raising money and awareness for social justice issues.

Founded in 2013, Lost Nation is a well-respected member of the Vermont brewing scene. Lost Nation’s beers tend to be more rustic and traditional, channeling the tree-filled woods of its home state. An unerring dedication to European styles may feel stubborn, but it’s that commitment that has led Lost Nation to be one of the best breweries in Vermont.

As one of the newer craft breweries in Vermont, Red Clover Ale Co. has quickly made a name for itself as the real deal. Founded by three brothers-in-law, Red Clover Ale Co. excels at gentle, subtle hazy IPAs. Moreover, Red Clover’s founders channel their family history in farming to produce fresh, locally-inspired beers.

With River Roost Brewery, former Magic Hat brewer Mark Babson has brought beautiful barrel-aged stouts and smoked brown ales to the Vermont beer scene. But it's the fantastic IPAs and double IPAs -- like Mo'rilla and Glimpse -- that have kept the crowds coming back again and again.

Sour is the beer of the hour at Hermit Thrush. At the Brattleboro-based brewery you won't find many hop-foward beers, but you will find barrel-aged, sour beers made from 100 percent wild yeast. To get a true taste of Vermont in a glass, from the mountains to the trees to the air itself, journey over to Hermit Thrush.

This ten-barrel brewery just outside of Burlington, VT takes experimentation very seriously. You'll find beers with a cornucopia of ingredients from exotic fruits to pastries and cookies. For instance, the Gingerbread Chocolate Drop imperial milk stout with fresh ginger, vanilla beans, and ginger snap cookies. Or the Buffalo Plaid winter spice ale with sweet and bitter orange peel, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Expect fun beers with a sense of adventure at Four Quarters.