The Alchemist Brewery

I haven’t even pulled out of the parking lot and I needed to leave a review. My husband and I booked a last minute tour, drove over an hour to get here and we weren’t disappointed. Fred was so kind, very informative and we loved the information he provided us about the Alchemist. I love how dedicated they are to being as environmentally friendly as possible. I can’t recall any other brewery tour we’ve ever been on that takes into consideration what they do. The beer speaks for itself and probably lead to why I’m writing this currently. The rest of the staff were so friendly and provided us with local recommendations and advice on the holiday weekend. We will definitely be back next time we are in the area.

A great spot to hang out. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, excellent beers. For a brewery, it may strike some as odd that they only have one beer available on tap (you can guess which one it is ;) ), but their excellent can and bottle selection makes up for it. There are food trucks around the property, and I was not disappointed with either of them, and I got to watch the canning machine while I was drinking, which was a very interesting process! Definitely recommend for all craft beer lovers, and especially IPA lovers

Beautiful Grounds!! Take the tour and understand how recycling is their key to success. Relax outside under a tree, place a yard game or sit and listen to band off the patio.

The cathedral of beer, a true pilgrimage. Amazing beer, the heady topper draft is served on an engine. Fresh cans to go, a fourski for like $13. There is not much more I can say.

A really nice brewery that serves very good beers at mostly reasonable prices! We found the beers to be between 6 and 7 dollars, and loved everything we had. Reserve bottles started closer to $30 which is slightly steep, but the weird thing was not getting a glass to drink a nice bottle from. They use a system which I think m is great for the cans where you use an aluminium cup. I wish they offered glasses for the pricier bottles. Happy to come back, an enjoyable place to spend your day especially when it’s sunny

Definitely one of the coolest breweries we’ve been to and we’ve been to about 150, so it takes a lot to stick out but this one definitely does. Only one tap but you can get their other brews in cans. The Heady Topper did not disappoint - a very distinctive and well balanced IPA with a unique pour. You can watch the canning facility from the taproom and the art inside is super cool. The to-go cans are very reasonably priced so I got a bunch to take home with me. Would definitely recommend making a stop here if you’re able.

Very glad I decided to make a visit to Alchemist - although NEIPA's aren't my go-to, I highly enjoyed every style I sampled here. Of course, the beer is definitely a highlight. The care and attention the staff give to their product is definitely noticeable, and shines through in the finished product. The heady topper is obviously a highlight - was so much more than I expected it to be. Fantastic. I'll also mention the incredible interior - tough not to enjoy just being there. These guys put a ton of attention to detail in all aspects of their product and would highly recommend a visit.

WOW! Step inside and it smells like you're sniffing a fresh cracked can of Crusher. No joke. This is the only place where you can get Heady on tap. So fresh and frothy. Branded aluminum cups instead of plastic for outdoor drinking. Take it home and reuse. So many beers available to drink on premise, but only select beers available to go :( All good though. All tips are donated to local nonprofits. Plenty of outdoor seating with cornhole and other chill areas. The gift shop is loaded with plenty of fun merch and the to-go four packs are only $13. Big thanks to Alchemist for keeping the beer prices super cheap compared to other craft beer that pales in comparison. On one of our visits Jazz Fest was going on. Bonus.

Place is amazing. Great atmosphere and good people. Only beer on tap is Heady Toper on draft, all else is served in cans. You can get beers to go, overall Best IPA in New England is the Focal Banger!!! Got multi Focal 6-packs to go! Absolutely a must stop at brewery to check out if you are in Stowe. Only recommendation is fire pits in yard/outdoors. Overall, great space to socialize and drink tasty beer.

Every year friends and I make a trip to Stowe/Burlington to check out all of the breweries and have a great time. The Alchemist is one spot that we stop at, and the venue is spacious with a huge area for outdoor seating. I would say that the venue in itself is 5 stars, as it definitely has a relaxing, chill vibe. Obviously, the beer speaks for itself, as they are primarily known for their Heady Topper IPA, which is their only beer on tap. I just wish they had more options on tap. If you do not get Heady Topper, every other option is in cans. Which in the grand scheme of things, is not a big deal, as they have a wide variety of options when it comes to their can selections ranging from IPAs, sours, lagers, etc. Overall, The Alchemist is a great spot when you are in the Stowe area with an expansive venue and flavorful beers to enjoy!

Hands down best brewery I've visited in a long time. We were in town and decided to take their brewery tour, which I highly recommend. All the proceeds go towards helping the community with scholarships which is awesome. Our tour guy Fred was knowledgeable and friendly. The brewery inside is so cool! You can see their tanks, their beer moving around, cool murals and cool merch. Outside there is a beer garden and tasty food truck. The beer is great! So many options. All tasty. Please do come visit this brewery, you'll love it. Can't wait to come back!

This place was awesome. The decor is fun, colorful, eccentric. There is a huge outdoor area for people to grab chairs and sit wherever, and they're also dog friendly. They only have one beer on tap, everything else is served from cans. The food truck on site was awesome! Highly recommend the smashed potatoes!!

Alchemist is always a must-visit destination whenever we're in VT. The beers are excellent and the vibe is fun. They also offer a brewery tour a few times a day for $25 where they walk you through back-of-house to see their brewing equipment and learn more about them. They are super environmentally-conscious and involved in the community. Unique spot for a high-quality beer near Stowe.

First of all, is the heady topper worth it? Hell yes!! Kudos to Fred for the outstanding welcome here! It's big and obviously has a cult following, yet maintains a welcoming real atmosphere (again, credit to Fred for setting the stage). The beer is outstanding. I could gush more, but seriously, quit reading and just go and have some beer here. Wow. Brewery #23 or so in 6 days, and it's one of the best. I'm a fan!!!

Must stop for every time I'm in Stowe. Great beer, fun atmosphere, amazing people. Also love their cheese!

Out of all the VT breweries, we were most looking forward to the Alchemist - it was recommended on so many lists. The property is expansive with plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. With lawn games, it has a casual, family friendly atmosphere. However, we were surprised they don't have any high chairs (in fact, the only restaurant and brewery on our visit that didn't offer them). What was even more disappointing is that they only had one beer on tap - their famous heady topper. The beer was good but I still find it very odd to go to a brewery to drink their cans/bottles, especially for such a massive property. They also did not have any personal sized bottles of the speciality brews. For food, they had two food truck options which were good.

I was in town and figured why not cross another brewery off my list. They have a large patio and outdoor space, and when I was there, there was live music. Great spot to grab a drink, enjoy the views, and work or catch up with friends.

### Review: The Alchemist Brewery in Stowe, Vermont We had the pleasure of attending the Alchemist Brewery's 40th-anniversary celebration in Stowe, Vermont, and it was a day to remember! The festivities lasted all day, featuring a lively array of outdoor vendors, each adding to the festive atmosphere. The highlight for us was undoubtedly the delicious grilled cheese sandwiches made with Cheddy Topper cheese - they were simply irresistible. The combination of great beer, mouthwatering food, live band and a vibrant, celebratory environment made for an unforgettable experience. Kudos to the Alchemist Brewery for hosting such a fantastic event!

We had a wonderful time at this place. The beers were delicious, and the live music added to the experience. The venue is beautiful, with perfect colors and decor. The service was very friendly.

This brewery was super cool and fun! I loved how the inside was decorated, a super vibey place. There were tons of different beers and seltzers to try and the food, while a small menu, was really good!! I recommend the pulled pork and Mac and cheese if they have it, it was amazing! When I was there they had a band going outside which was perfect for me as I was looking for some live music- I would come back here again!

First time coming in and I loved the artwork and vibe of this brewery. We were able to get a table right away and ordered a few beers. They have a food truck serving outside but we did not order anything, from the people around us eating it smelled and looked delicious. Prices are very reasonable here food included. The staff are friendly and helpful. They do close at 6pm which isn't too early. They have a separate area for retail purchases which was great and we ordered a ton to go because we can't find a lot of the beers by alchemist out of state near us. Parking was easy and organized. So happy we stayed in the area and were able to stop by!

Consistently good brews throughout the years. Groovy place where tips go to local foundations. Food trucks parked outside if you want to get a bite to eat. Merch and inviting seating area inside (with games to play). Outside there is a beautiful lawn, perfect for enjoying a beer or playing games. Friendly service, a talented team that gets you what you need quickly. Happy 20th Anniversary, Heady Topper! Grab a few special edition cans while you can!

The is a must-visit for beer lovers! The beer is top-notch, and the tour was a great experience. I enjoyed learning about the company's environmentally friendly practices while sipping on a glass of beer. The vibe here is great--relaxed and welcoming. We stayed for a while after the tour and the free snacks were a thoughtful touch! Highly recommend for anyone in the area.

The Alchemist is a craft brewery that opened in Waterbury, Vermont in 2003. It was founded by husband and wife John and Jen Kimmich. The couple originally opened the brewery as a 60 seat brewpub dubbed "The Alchemist Pub & Brewery" at 23 South Main Street. The success and popularity slowly grew over the course of 8 years. The couple opened a small production brewery and cannery nearby at 35 Crossroad in 2011. Unfortunately, Tropical Storm Irene hit a few months later and caused massive flood damage to the brewpub. The Kimmichs decided to close their pub doors and focus their energy on the cannery. The brewpub location is now home to Prohibition Pig Restaurant & Brewery. One beer that put The Alchemist on the map was "Heady Topper" (Unfiltered Double IPA). First brewed in 2004 and released occasionally since then, it was now the most commonly brewed beer at the cannery and it soon attracted larger craft beer audiences from beyond Vermont's borders. In 2016, after a few more years of increased sales, popularity and long lines at the brewery, the Kimmichs opened a much larger facility in nearby Stowe which was dubbed "The Alchemist Brewery and Visitor's Center". The Waterbury cannery continues to produce beer but is now closed to the public. Today The Alchemist is viewed as not just one of the best breweries in Vermont but in the entire country. I recently visited The Alchemist while I was on a Vermont craft beer road trip. Although it was my first visit to the brewery, I've wanted to visit since I first became serious about craft beer in 2013. Occasionally canned four-packs of "Heady Topper" or "Focal Banger" would pop up around my home in Connecticut, but not often. Everyone told me that I needed to go to the source. Out of all of the spots I was visiting on this trip, The Alchemist was what I was most excited to visit. The brewery and the grounds were so impressive; even better than I could've imagined. The Jamaican food truck Warren's Kitchen & Catering is parked at the brewery on most days. I ordered their "Kitchen Burger" (lettuce, tomatoes, crispy onions, bacon, cheddar cheese, avocado, fried egg on plantain buns with plantain chips) and took it into the Beer Cafe when it was ready. Inside the cafe, only one beer is available on draught: Hand-Pulled Heady Topper! It was probably the best Heady I've ever enjoyed! It went great with my burger, which was delicious but king of messy; I had to finish it with a knife and fork. Aside from Heady, you can get a can or bottle pour of anything else that's available. I decided to get a can of "Luscious" (British-style Imperial Stout) and I enjoyed it outside in the beer garden. Before leaving, I purchased a four-pack, a t-shirt, Heady Topper mustard, and Local Banger hot sauce. I had a fantastic experience at The Alchemist and can't wait to go back!

Came here on a Thursday on a beautiful summer day with my family. We were excited to see the beautiful patio and outdoor area with Adirondack chairs. My husband and I ordered from the tent outside. Great service. So friendly. Really enjoyed their Dark beer. My brother and his wife ordered inside. Totally different experience. They grabbed beers for my nephews, as I think it is pretty normal to do- have parents pay for their kids' beers. We saw the guy inside staring at us outside for about 10 minutes. Waiting to see if they drank. It was honestly so uncomfortable and ruining our time there. If he had concerns, just come ask for their IDs. Which he never did. Instead he called the guy running the tent on the phone and made him come over and check IDs. Which they had and showed him. No problem. It was the stare down that absolutely ruined our time there. That, the terrible smell inside, and the $20 burgers. No thanks. We won't be back.

Cool vibes inside the brewery and lots of space outdoors for seating too! I just was hoping there would be non-alcoholic beer options, as well. Still enjoyed my time at The Alchemist during my first visit to Stowe!

I have had The Alchemist brewery on my list to try for a few years now. Good timing finally came into play for me in which I finally got to try a beer from this brewery. The Heady Topper was the beer that I had and I liked it fairly well. This beer is a Double IPA and has a great complexity to it. You can pick up traces of orange, grapefruit, tropical fruit, spice and a bit of pine. The various flavor aspects are well handled and have a smooth and bold overall mouthfeel. I am very glad that I finally got to try this brewery and of course it wouldn't be a completely satisfying experience without purchasing a t shirt so I went ahead and followed through with that purchase as well!

Great place! Staff was super friendly, nice that there was inside, patio, and lawn seating with corn hole! Loved the option of the bar on the lawn as well. Beers 10/10 as always, stopping here on the way back through to pick beer up to take home!

It's a great place! First, they have a very nice selection of their own beer. I had the Heady Hopper which was delicious. And they have many others as well. It's a large place with a huge outdoor area. The outdoor area has a beer station with canned brews to make things even easier for you to enjoy the beers. They don't have their own kitchen to offer food items, but there was a food truck (we didn't try it) right there with mostly sandwiches, I believe. The outdoor area is huge and dotted with trees, Adirondack chairs, tables, corn hole boards, etc, etc. It's a great place to spend time relaxing.

Great space and customer service is kind and informative. The price value for on premise pours, as well as to go, is the best in craft beer, and there's no second place that's even trying to compete. Super admirable. That said - over the past few years, Heady has become a shell of the beer it was when it made this place famous. Fortunately, they make several diff beers/styles that shouldn't wow you but generally hit their mark/intention. Overall - must visit if enjoy a super affordable beer buzz that day or in life

We travelled from California to ski with friends and Sugarbush in February. Even though Warren, VT is 45 minutes north of Sugarbush, I have long heard that making the pilgrimage to The Alchemist was totally worth it. My friends under sold it - The Alchemist is my new church. I will not go back to Vermont without returning to The Alchemist. I've been drinking the Focal Banger for a few years. It's safe to say, that this is their entry level stuff. The line up that they had on tap was amazing. I won't talk about the beer here - I'll save those stars for Untappd. I do want to warn folks that if you are looking for refined styles, this place may not be your cup of tea. For you, I'm sure that VT has some lovely tea rooms that warm your souls. These guys here are unapologetic about their beer. I personally love meeting folks who state, "this is who we are". And not that I need another reason to gush about this place, but here we go - I off handedly asked if they offered a Veteran discount, which not only they did, it lead to story swapping and sticking around for another 30 minutes longer that we should've of stuck around. 2 weeks later, I'm editing this overdue and unpublished review because of what came in the mail today: The Alchemist sent me a personalized hand-written note and a "Thank you for your service" glass. Mel and Ella - I see you. The Alchemist - Damn!!

I had an amazing experience at The Alchemist Brewery during my visit in October 2023. The tour offered by the brewery allowed me to explore their facility and taste a wide variety of their exceptional beers. The relaxed atmosphere and versatile music made it an enjoyable experience for everyone. Despite not being a local, I can envision myself becoming a frequent visitor to this fantastic brewery.

The Alchemist is a must see if you are visiting Stowe or just passing through. An amazing brewery that has stayed true to their values & delivers an amazing product. Their Heady Topper is a necessity. Available on draft & multiple seasonal cans as well. Staff is kind & loves to share history of the brewery, make recommendations, & chat. We loved this aspect which made it a special and unique experience. Food menu but did not check it out. Be sure to stop by the store on your way out for unique merch & some cans to-go! Large parking lot !

Growing, growing, growing! Every trip here comes with a new wonder. The beer garden is growing, as is the beer selection. The staff is always friendly and you can't get a hand pulled Heady anywhere else.

This place was not at all what I was expecting. I was expecting a chill, laid-back brewery with lots of beers on tap...many of them that would only be available at the brewery. What I hoy was a stuffy can-selling factory littered with weird rules found at no other brewery. There is one beer on tap, a nitro-edition of Heady Topper, it's fantastic. But you can't drink it outside on their enormous lawn area though, so you have to stay inside with your pint and watch other people, with cans, play cornhole. I just don't see the point of coming this brewery. Almost all the beer is in cans. Cans you wouldn't need to visit a brewery for. The only way to drink beer outside is if you're drinking cans. But you could drink cans outside without coming here? At your house? On the trail? You can't drink Alchemist beer on tap at your house (most of us can't, anyway)...but you can drink it here...but you can't go outside with it? I just don't see the point. What an odd system. This is before we even start talking about the fact that late-hopped IPAs, like the ones brewed here, have their flavor degraded by oxygen...and there is more oxygen pickup during canning than during kegging. I just don't get it.

So artsy inside. Total vibe. Heady Topper on tap 10/10. The only thing is that certain beer is not available for purchase. So if you want to try something new that you can't take home...ask what's only available at the brewery.

Cool vibe and a good selection of lagers and IPAs. Service was friendly and helpful while picking a brew. However, they automatically cash you out after ordering a beer so we just decided not to continue drinking so we didn't have to check out again. I would recommend finding a way to keep a tab open or if that's an option offering that first.

Writing this on behalf of my boyfriend who's a beer lover and was very excited to try this: Beautiful facility with great artwork. They had creative and cool merchandise to purchase. Beer that lives up to all its hype, and they conveniently sell their beer to go if Stowe isn't home for you. Worth the hype!

We all know their beer is the best but also their Fred is the best. A very warm and hospitable host who makes you feel like your best friends. Get a gold star for Fred. Great merch too and over all just the best. But especially Fred.

Friendly and helpful staff. We pulled in with our short motor home, Parking lot was full, but staff directed us to park in their lot with plenty of room! We are not big IpA fans, but the heady topper was very good! Also tried farmer's daughter also . Definitely worth a stop when your in the area

The beer is clearly five stars alone. I don't think anyone here is going to dispute that. But can we talk about the ambience? We were there on a beautiful spring day with our family of five. The kids had a blast running around the beer meadow, playing cornhole, and making friends with every dog that had been brought by other families. My wife and I got to drink our beers while sitting in Adirondack chairs and watching our children frolic around in a small mountain meadow. You honestly cannot beat that.

Only great things to say! Fresh beer, great music out in the Biergarten. Great place to visit and enjoy with friends. Bartenders are so helpful and knowledgeable. Definitely should check it out.

It's been a loooooong time since I last partook in a brewery tour. It's been even longer since I walked away from one thinking, "Wow, that was fantastic; I learned something new!" Enter: The Alchemist. At the recommendation of both a coworker and our local hosts, we rolled over to The Alchemist, primarily to try their vaunted Heady Topper DIPA, which is impossible to come by at home. I wasn't anticipating we'd take a tour, but I spotted the offering on a sign and the facilities were enticing enough to convince me. I liked their beer, but I'm even more enamored with the brand after learning about their operations. Perhaps it's common practice now, but did you know that they capture the carbon dioxide that's released during brewing to add back into the finished product, thus reducing carbon emissions (both from their own operations, and from having to purchase and cart in CO2 from elsewhere)? Also, they scrub their waste water before it goes back into the local water supply. They're even testing out replacing the plastic rings for four-packs with compostable ones! After our tour, we enjoyed a few samples out on the lawn, soaking up the last afternoon rays of autumn sunshine. Many other folks were out on the grounds, picnicking, playing cornhole, or lazing around on lawn blankets. We caught some cooler weather; I can only imagine this must be a hopping destination during the warmer months (however few that Vermont gets each year). If you're big into hoppy beers, the Heady Topper and Focal Banger are both fantastic. We took home some of the Sterk Wit Belgian and Luscious stout, both of which we enjoyed even more than their IPAs. In short, you seemingly can't go wrong with any of the brews produced by The Alchemist, so go wild!

When we go on trips we tend to pick several breweries to visit. So when going to Stowe we had to include alchemists brewery. The campus is quite impressive, with covered parking outside, well manicured grounds, and the inside was very well kept. Upon entering there is a lot of rules, we had our dog with us and unfortunately they do not allow dogs inside or outside. They also only allow you to have two beers each. This is definitely a get in, get out operation. You could tell by the rules and the interactions by the staff. We decided to have two quick beers. My husband got their famous heady topper and really enjoyed it and got several to take home. I can't remember what I got but I don't enjoy very hoppy beers so it was just alright. We also ordered the pretzel and cheese dip which was regular pretzels with a very good cheese dip and paired well with the beer. Worth a stop if your in the area. Just remember that dogs are not allowed which on several sites like bring Fido they are listed, so you don't accidentally make the trip all the way here with your fur friend.

If Willy Wonka was passionate about beer, he'd have a similar establishment to The Alchemist where pie-eyed adults played among a massive brewing operation and wondered what intoxicating adventures lay before them. At one point, several smallish orange men serenaded us with a rhyme about drinking too much, but possibly I just finished my entire allotment of heady topper IPAs, as well as my fiancées beverages. In all seriousness, what a great spot ti hang out & I would highly recommend going on the beer tour. Check out my photos - amazing, fun, informational,

As a huge beer nerd heady topper was a holy grail beer for me. To be able to drink it on draft was such an incredible experience, and it's only compounded by the fact that the brewery itself is so freaking cool. The decor inside, with the wall art and view of the brewery is really cool. There is also a huge outdoor area with disc golf and other activities, which is a great side activity to enjoy while you sip on some of the best beers you are ever going to find. The alchemist is super hyped and absolutely delivers. You cannot make a trip to Vermont and not make your way here.

Really cool brewery with a unique interior. It felt very homey. Someone greets you at the door and helps you to where you want to go. Takeout counter is on the right, otherwise bar is on the left. 2 drink limit per person. Heady Topper: Delicious IPA. I'm not sure which is better between this and Treehouse's Emperor Julius, but they're both incredible. They are great IPAs even for people who don't like IPAs Luscious: An amazing stout. I enjoy stouts more than IPAs so I liked this even more than the Heady. It was full of flavor - truly lives up to its name Prices are super affordable for both drink in and take out! $6 for a heady topper, $5 for anything else. For takeout, it's $13 for a 4-pack!

BEAUTIFUL outdoor space and architecture on the inside. I loved the canned wine (Pinot Grigio)! Having the food truck there is a great touch. I had some beef sandwich that was good. Overall, I had a very good time here. It's a nice, lively atmosphere. I'm taking away one star because the bathroom situation is a nightmare for anyone who has any medical needs or urgency. Lines, lots of bathroom lines!

I give a four because at my time of visit in September, only cans were available. I would have loved draft to be able to try more. The brewery has a beautiful interior. Just like their amazing can art, there is art all over the walls and ceiling. The inside is a little small as half is selling cans and merch, and the other half is for selling beer on site. I would have loved to have a flight of different beers but only cans were available. I only knew their flagships so tried those, plus one more that looked good. The outside had huge grounds for walking, but it was a little too cold. I would love to come back when draft is available so I can try more of their beer. Overall, beautiful place and hope to try more soon.

One of the nicest breweries you will go to. This place has super great prices (heady topper on draft for $5 and 4 packs of all of their 16oz cans for $13). The ambience and art is fantastic and all of the staff are great too! They have space for games and even have an outdoor beer garden and disc golf too

Was lucky enough to sit outside on a beautiful day. 5 bucks for their cask poured Heavy Topper IPA. Came out smooth and creamy. Wonderful place to sit and have a beer or two. Or four. Close to everything in Stowe and a convenient place for after ski drinks.

Great atmosphere, especially in the warmer months!! Great staff, scenery, and beer 100% recommend.

A fun place to hang out and relax enjoy the beer, have so great food truck food. The people who work there love there jobs OUTSIDE inside seating is unfair seems to take the regulars over visitors

I love their beer, but the setup of the brewery has changed. Instead of offering samples of their wonderful beer, they now only have full pours in the "cafe" area. Limited seating, no tastings, but the food options looked ok. I used the purchase line this day just to get my Heady Topper and Focal Banger cans to go. The prices are also higher than they were, which makes sense, but they were much higher than I expected, $165 for two cases of beer!! I'd like to get back when it's not as busy to sit and enjoy a beer and try their food, but they'll probably change things up again before I get back...

Beer is world class and as fresh as you can get it - straight from the source. The taproom itself is quite small and was filled to capacity so we were directed to their enclosed patio room. They should put some heat lamps in there to warm it up - was pretty cold as it's December! I've seen that done elsewhere such as Obercreek Brewery. Would try and visit on a weekday to avoid the crowds in the future.

Heady Topper is the OG of NEIPA and you can get one (or a few) "hand pulled" here along with other great beers. Find a shady spot on an Adirondack chair. My dog loved it, too!

Great visit to The Alchemist thanks to Fred and Mel. We heard so much about your famous Heady Topper and it lives up to its reputation. Glenn loved talking disc golf and had the birthday at your store