Being from Vermont and having visited most of the breweries in the state I would say...
Alchemist - Good food and good beers. Its a brew pub with no take out beer. In Waterbury which is about 30 minutes from Burlington.
American Flatbread - Great food and great beers. They have specialty pizzas baked in a wood fired oven. They always have great beers they brewed and a selection of other craft brews on tap. Right in downtown Burlington. No take out beer.
Bobcat Cafe - Great food and good beers. Food is a little fancier then most brew pubs I have been to. Bristol is a hole in the wall town about 45 minutes from Burlington. No take out beer.
Harpoon - One of the ones I haven't been to. 1 hour 45 minutes from Burlington.
Hill Farmstead Brewery - I know nothing about this one as they just opened a couple of weeks ago. About and hour and 40 minutes from Burlington and your could see the state capital of Vermont on the way...Yippe...Big gold dome and the only state capital in the country without a McDonald's.
Larson's Liquids - I don't know how the beer is I haven't had any yet, but it is a very small brewery that sells their beer at one general store in Warren and at a farmers market in Waitsfield (I believe). Warren and Waitsfield are about an hour and 15 mintues from Burlington.
Long Trail - Good beer and good food. One of my favorite Vermont breweries but it might just be because its one that I have been drinking forever. Nice brewery and brew pub. Overhead walkway lets you look down on the brew floor with wall descriptions of the brew process. Approximately 2 hours from Burlington. (Fairly close to Harpoon so you could catch both together.) Growlers, bottles and kegs available.
Madison Brewing Co. - Great beer and great food. I was just there this past weekend. We had a great dinner and enjoyed their beer sampler...7 4oz samples for $8. Talked with someone (maybe the owner) and he was very nice and willing to talk about their brewing process. One of the best breweries in the state. 3 hours from Burlington. Growlers available.
Magic Hat - So so Beer and no food. I used to like Magic Hat but they have gone downhill in my and a lot of my beer drinking friends' opinions. They are a Vermont staple brewery so its worth a trip but they currently have very few beers I enjoy. 10 minutes from Burlington. Growlers and bottles available.
McNeils Brewery - Very Good Beer basically no food. Based on what I saw this weekend they are a hole in the wall brewery. Had a bar that was very low key. To appetizers for food which I believe both just got thrown in the microwave. Deadhorse IPA and Amarillo Brillo were both very good beers. 3 hours from Burlington (about and hour from Madison which can make a 7 hours loop back to Burlington). No take out beer I am aware of available at the brewery but bottles are available at local grocery stores.
Norwich Inn Brewery - Good beer and good food. Small inn in a small town. About and hour and 45 minutes from Burlington (Somewhat near Long Trail and Harpoon) Bottles available as I recall.
Otter Creek Brewing - Very good beer and no food. Very nice brewery although not a whole lot to do/see. About 45 minutes from Burlington. Bottles, growlers and kegs available.
Rock Art Brewery - So so beer and no food. In all fairness to Rock Art they have some really good "Extreme" series beers but I am not a fan of their regular beer. Owners/workers are VERY friendly and willing to chat. Not a whole lot to see. About an hour from Burlington. Bottles, growlers and kegs available.
The Shed Brewery - Great beers and good food. The bar area is your typical brew pub type area. In a ski town although it may not feel as touristy in July. Near Mt Mansfield, Vermont's tallest mountain. Driving through "Smuggler's Notch" is a nice drive. About an hour from Burlington. Growlers available.
Switchback Brewery - Good beer and no food. I haven't been there yet. I believe they do tours are 1:00 on Saturday afternoons and that is it. I have read good things about the tours. Right in Burlington. No take out beer available to the best of my knowledge.
Three Needs - Very good beer not sure if they have any food. Somewhat of a dive bar in Burlington. I was not expecting anything good when I went there however they had an excellent nitrogen porter on tap. I haven't been back to see what else they have because it is not my type of hang out place. Right in Burlington. No take out beer available.
Trapp Family Lodge Brewery - Just opened so I have no information. Trapp Family Lodge is a very well known lodge in Vermont related to the Von Trapp family (think Sound of Music). About and hours from Burlington. Its in Stowe about 5 minutes from The Shed.
Trout River - Poor beer and so so food. In my opinion this is the bottom of Vermont's breweries and is not worth the trip. Small brewery with a pizza joint attached that is only open on Friday & Saturday nights. 1 hour 45 minutes from Burlington (about 45 past Rock Art). No take out beer I recall but you can buy bottle in the local grocery stores.
Vermont Pub & Brewery - Good Beer and Good Food. Standard brew pub with pub fare. ESB was quite good as I recall. Right in Burlington (200 yds from Flatbread). Growlers to go I believe.
Well I believe that is all of brewery options in Vermont. Hope you enjoy your visit. Let me know if you have any other questions.
