Burlington Signature Guided Brewery Tour

Burlington’s craft beer scene is best explored with someone else driving. This small-group brewery tour takes you to three local producers, with up to 12 beers included, rather than leaving you to order one pint at a time and guess what to try next.

I like the range of brewing styles, from traditional ales and lagers to Queen City’s unusual hot-rock Steinbeer. I also like the access to brewing equipment, owners, and behind-the-scenes details, plus the simple comfort of round-trip transport.

The main drawback is that the exact breweries and order can change. Your guide also matters: names such as Nick, Kianna, Soren, and Matt have been associated with especially strong tours, while one recent experience had a less energetic guide. The beer remains the focus, but the commentary can vary.

Key points to know before booking

• Up to 12 beers are included: Tastings are part of the tour cost, so you can sample widely without paying separately at each stop.
• Three breweries in about three and a half hours: Each brewery visit is planned for roughly 50 minutes, with travel time between stops.
• Queen City offers a rare beer style: Its Steinbeer uses hot rocks during brewing, creating smoky and caramel notes.
• Small groups keep the pace personal: The bus holds no more than 14 people, with a guide leading the group.
• A snack is included: Daytime and evening departures both include food at one brewery stop.
• Closed-toe shoes and valid ID are required: You must be at least 21, arrive 10 minutes early, and avoid drinking before the tour.

Why this Burlington beer tour works well

The appeal here is not simply the amount of beer. Burlington has several breweries with different backstories, methods, and personalities, and the tour links them in one afternoon or evening. You get a better sense of the local beer scene than you would from staying in one taproom.

The brewery bus matters, too. You can taste without worrying about driving, navigating, or limiting yourself to one sample. You still need to drink responsibly, of course, but the transportation removes the most awkward part of a brewery crawl.

The group size is capped at 14 people. That is small enough for a guide to speak with everyone and answer questions, yet large enough that the outing does not feel like a private tasting. The strongest guide reports name Nick, Kianna, Soren, and Matt, with praise for their beer knowledge, friendliness, and ability to include the whole group.

The experience is offered in English. You meet at one of two downtown Burlington locations, then return to your original departure point at the end. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so plan your route to the meeting place before the start time.

A look inside the three brewery stops

The published route uses three stops, each with about 50 minutes scheduled. The exact lineup can change, so consider these breweries a sample route rather than a promise. That flexibility is normal for a working brewery tour, where production schedules and operating conditions can affect access.

1st Republic Brewing Co: veteran-owned beer and a relaxed taproom

1st Republic Brewing was founded by Shawn Trout and Mike Drake, both military veterans who served overseas before returning to Vermont. The brewery was named Vermont’s Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year in 2018.

That background gives this stop a clear identity, but the visit is not only about the founders. The taproom is built around beer, conversation, games, local food, and time with friends and family. You can expect a welcoming setting where the guide explains the brewery’s story while you taste its beers.

The 50-minute visit should give you enough time to try several samples without rushing through the stop. Since up to 12 beers are included across the full tour, the number poured here can vary according to the route and the current selection.

This is a useful first stop because it introduces the local, independent side of Burlington brewing. You are not just checking off a taproom. You are hearing how a small operation connects beer with its owners, community, and history.

Queen City Brewery: traditional styles with a strange twist

Queen City Brewery was founded in 2014 by longtime friends and brewers Paul Hale, Paul Held, Phil Kaszuba, and Maarten van Ryckevorsel. The brewery makes traditional ales and lagers, along with specialty beers built around aging, fermentation, and unexpected flavor combinations.

The standout detail is Steinbeer, a rare style brewed with hot rocks. The process gives the brewer less temperature control and can bring smoky and caramel flavors into the beer. It is the kind of detail that makes a guided visit worthwhile, since you can taste the result while hearing how the method affects the finished drink.

I would pay close attention here if you enjoy unusual brewing methods. Even if you prefer familiar lagers or ales, Queen City gives the tour a point of contrast. You are not tasting three versions of the same beer. You are seeing how different choices in temperature, fermentation, and ingredients shape the glass in front of you.

The stop can also include a look at brewing operations and discussion of the process. Access varies, but the tour may give you the chance to speak with brewery owners or staff. That personal contact is one of the better reasons to choose a guided outing instead of simply visiting taprooms on your own.

Zero Gravity Craft Brewery: from brewpub to production facility

Zero Gravity Brewing began in 2004 inside American Flatbread Burlington Hearth. Flatbread head brewer Destiny Saxon and Zero Gravity brewmaster Paul Sayler created the brewing program there, where the beer was made for the restaurant.

As demand grew, Zero Gravity began distributing its beer for off-premise sales in 2012. Production eventually outgrew the brewpub, and the operation moved to a 30-barrel facility in Burlington’s South End Arts District. Pine Street Brewery opened there in spring 2015.

That story gives you a useful look at how a local brewery can grow. The visit is not just about sampling a finished product. You can follow the beer’s path from grain to glass and see how a brewpub operation developed into a larger production facility.

The South End setting also adds variety to the route. Each brewery has a different origin story, and Zero Gravity helps explain the business side of making beer at a bigger scale. If you are interested in equipment, production, and distribution, this stop may be especially rewarding.

The tasting format and what is included

The tour includes up to 12 locally brewed beers. That is a generous tasting allowance, especially because you do not pay separately for each sample. It also lets you compare styles instead of committing to a full pour you may not enjoy.

The tastings are guided, which gives them more purpose. You learn what you are drinking, how it was made, and why a beer may taste smoky, caramel-like, bitter, crisp, or fermented in a particular way. The guide can also point out differences between the three breweries.

Do not expect every tour to offer the exact same beers. Brewery taps change, and the order of the stops may change as well. Think of the 12-beer figure as the upper limit of the tasting experience, not a fixed promise of 12 named pours.

A snack is included at one of the brewery stops on both daytime and evening tours. The supplied information does not specify the snack, so do not book this as a full meal. If you need a vegetarian option, mention it when booking.

Why the small bus and group size matter

A brewery crawl can become inconvenient when you are responsible for driving between locations. Here, round-trip transportation is included, and the guide manages the route. You can focus on the tasting and conversation instead of parking or finding the next address.

The maximum group size is 14 people. That does not guarantee a quiet outing, but it should feel more personal than a large coach tour. The guide has a reasonable chance to talk with each person, and the group can ask questions without turning the visit into a formal lecture.

The social side is part of the fun. One of the strongest experiences came from enjoying the company of the other couple on the tour, which shows how much the group mix can affect the evening. If you prefer complete privacy, this is not the right format. If you enjoy meeting people over a shared interest, the small group is a plus.

Guide quality can shape the entire outing

The best comments focus on the guides as much as the beer. Nick was praised for being personable and well informed. Kianna was noted for making an effort to speak with everyone, while Soren and Matt were both described as friendly and strong on beer knowledge.

The tour can also include lively commentary from more than one person, such as a guide handling the main explanation while another adds humor and side remarks. That kind of back-and-forth can make the ride between breweries as enjoyable as the stops.

Still, the quality is not perfectly consistent. One experience had a guide who seemed less energetic, possibly because he was recovering from illness. That is a fair reminder that no guided tour is entirely predictable. The breweries and included tastings provide the structure, but the guide sets much of the tone.

Value: what you are really paying for

No tour price is provided here, so I cannot give you a precise cost comparison. The better way to judge value is to look at what is bundled together: round-trip transportation, up to 12 beers, three brewery visits, a snack, and a local beer guide.

If you visited three breweries independently, you would still need to arrange transportation and decide what to order. You might spend less by choosing one beer at each stop, but you would lose the guided explanations and the convenience of having the route handled for you.

The value is strongest for visitors who want to sample broadly. If you only want one pint at a favorite brewery, the tour may feel excessive. If you want to compare styles, learn how the beer is made, and avoid driving after several tastings, the package makes more sense.

Group discounts are available, which may improve the value for friends or family traveling together. The experience is recommended by 95 percent of customers and carries a 4.8 rating from 133 reviews, useful signals that the format generally works well.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend this tour to beer fans who want more than a list of taprooms. It suits you if you enjoy hearing how breweries began, asking questions about fermentation, and trying styles you might not order on your own.

It is also a good fit for couples, small groups of friends, and visitors without a car. The included transport is a practical advantage, especially when the route covers three separate breweries.

You must be at least 21, with no exceptions. US citizens need a current state ID, and international visitors need a passport. You also need closed-toe shoes, since open-toed footwear is not allowed in the brewery settings.

The tour operates in all weather, so dress for the conditions. It may be canceled if poor weather makes the experience unsafe, or if too few people book. In those cases, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Arrive at least 10 minutes early. Pre-gaming is strictly prohibited, and anyone visibly intoxicated before departure can be refused without a refund. That rule is sensible in a tour built around multiple tastings, and you should treat the first sample as the start of the experience, not a continuation of your own drinking plans.

Should you book the Burlington brewery bus?

Book it if you want a guided look at Burlington’s beer makers, appreciate variety, and value safe transportation. The strongest reasons are the three distinct brewery stories, the unusual Steinbeer at Queen City, the possible access to owners and equipment, and the chance to taste up to 12 beers without arranging the route yourself.

Skip it if you dislike group outings, want to choose every brewery independently, or prefer a single relaxed pint over several guided tastings. Also keep in mind that the route can change and the guide’s energy may vary.

For most beer-focused visitors, this is a practical way to meet Burlington’s brewing scene in one outing. Go with closed-toe shoes, a valid ID, an open mind about beer styles, and enough time to enjoy the stops without rushing.

FAQ

How long does the Burlington Signature Guided Brewery Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.

How many breweries does the tour visit?

The tour visits three breweries. The sample route includes 1st Republic Brewing Co, Queen City Brewery, and Zero Gravity Craft Brewery, but the schedule can change.

How many beers are included?

Up to 12 locally brewed craft beers are included in the tour.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Round-trip transportation between the meeting point and the breweries is included. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Where does the tour begin and end?

You meet at one of two convenient locations in downtown Burlington. The tour returns to the original departure point.

What is the maximum group size?

The tour has a maximum of 14 people.

What ID do I need to bring?

US citizens must bring a non-expired state ID. Visitors from outside the United States must bring a passport.

Are there footwear or age requirements?

You must be at least 21 years old. Open-toed shoes are not allowed, so you need to wear closed-toe footwear.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund. If the tour is canceled because of poor weather or too few bookings, you are offered another date or a full refund.