Breweries and Cideries Near Enfield Shaker Museum
Craft beer and hard cider have gained in popularity in recent years around the Upper Valley. Not far from the Museum, you’ll find breweries, cider mills, distilleries, and tasting rooms.
Breweries
Bright Side Brewing is 12.2 miles (18 minutes) from the Museum at 5 Airpark Road, West Lebanon, NH. The Bright Side is a family owned and operated establishment dedicated to creating world class Ales, India Pale Ales, Stouts, and many more variations of great beer. Their pub, located at the Lebanon Airport, provides a comfortable atmosphere for people to enjoy finely crafted beer and watch the planes.
Protectword Brewing, is located 12 miles (21 minutes) from the Museum at 117 Cemetery Road, Springfield, NH. Typical of the smaller breweries in Upper Valley, they do a Seasonal Saison Series, many IPA’s including a Wicked Dark and Double IPA’s, Pale Ale’s, Porter’s, and a special Rhubarb Wheat beer they brew when rhubarb is in season. Their tasting room is open on “random Saturdays” or by booking a private tasting (5+ people).
River Roost Brewery is 14 miles (20 minutes) from the Museum at 230 South Main Street, Hartford, VT. Established in 2016 in the heart of downtown White River Junction, Vermont River Roost Brewery offers a rotating and ever-evolving list of beers. They sell draft and bottle pours on tap (small standing area and picnic tables outside), as well as cans and bottles to go. No food; just great beer. A great experience and well worth a visit.
Harpoon Breweries is a nationally-known brewery only 23.2 miles (27 minutes) from the Museum at 336 Ruth Carney Drive, Windsor, VT. At their state-of-the-art brewery in Windsor, they produce a regular line and a seaonal line, as well as a limited edition line of beers. Their tap room and beer garden are open seven days a week, often with live music on Sunday afternoon.
Polyculture Brewing is located 24.3 miles (30 minutes) from the Museum at 3 Camel Hump Road, Croydon, NH. A family-owned and solar powered brewery, they brew their beer with clear, crisp mineral water from their own well; New England sourced and malted grains; a mix of microbes; and other natural ingredients that are grown seasonally in their area. Their tap room and beer garden in open spring through fall. Picnicers welcome.
Flying Goose Pub is located 29.4 miles (30 minutes) from the Museum at 40 Andover Road, New London, NH. The brewmaster at Flying Goose Brew Pub crafts 16 English-style ales offered on draft for your enjoyment in their casual American pub, or to take out in bottles, cans or 1/2 gallon growlers. Their pub is locally known for its extensive menu and friendly service in a rustic country setting and for its sweeping views of the Kearsarge Mountain valley.
Cideries
Farnum Hill Ciders are produced at Poverty Lane Orchards, 10.4 miles (15 minutes) from the Museum at 98 Poverty Lane,
Lebanon, NH. On site, Farnum Hill produces four varieties of dry, aromatic, fermented ciders (sparkly or still, extra dry and off dry) crafted from a specially grown selection of unique apple varieties that produce radically distinctive tastes. Most of the year, their only retail days are Growler Days-one or two days a month when locals come to taste and buy Farnum Hill Ciders. Anyone can join their Growler Notification List by emailing or calling.
Poverty Lane Orchards one of the biggest (and oldest) orchards in New Hampshire is 10.4 miles (15 minutes) from the Museum at 98 Poverty Lane, Lebanon, NH. Each week in the fall at their retail stand, there are more apple varieties to choose from than most folks have ever heard of. Many are also available in bulk for pies, apple sauce, and canning. In September through early October, small amounts of about 65 different apple varieties growing in their old trial orchard are available. A great place for fruit explorers to see and taste all kinds of apples. Their fresh-pressed sweet cider comes in when the apples sweeten up a little. Impossible to describe how great this place is.
Patch Orchards is a farm owned by the same family since 1775, located only 7.8 miles (15 minutes) from the Museum at 40 Patch Road, Lebanon, NH. They offer a diverse selection of apple varieties, including Gala, Honeycrisp, Honey Gold, Fuji, Kindercrisp, Mcintosh, Cortlands, Paulareds, Empires, Macouns and Idareds. Sweet cider is squeezed fresh every year and pasteurized through an ultraviolet (UV) light process to kill any harmful bacteria. Their hard cider is available at restaurants and delis in the Upper Valley, including Salt Hill Pub in Lebanon and Jake’s Market & Deli here in Enfield.
Flying Goose Pub is 29.4 miles (30 minutes) from the Museum at 40 Andover Road, New London, NH. They do one hard cider, Patience And Perseverance (4.6% ABV), brewed with apple juice from Patch Orchards; an 8th generation family farm located in Lebanon, NH. Crisp and lively with a prominent apple bouquet and semi-dry finish. Available at The Flying Goose Brew Pub, offering casual American fare in a rustic country setting with sweeping views of the Kearsarge Mountain valley.
Distilleries
Vermont Spirits is located 18.1 miles (23 minutes) from the Museum at 5573 Woodstock Road (Route 4), Quechee, VT. Vermont Spirits operates five custom-built stills, including a glass column still–the only one like it in the world. Using the purest local ingredients, sourced from the local community, they produce award-wining bourbon, vodka, and gin. Open every day; complimentary tastings. Distillery tours available by appointment.
SILO Distillery is 23.2 miles (27 minutes) from the Museum at 3 Artisans Way, Windsor, VT. SILO Distillery uses 100% local Vermont grains and ingredients in a custom still to create their award winning array of spirits. They produce vodka, gin, and whiskey, as well as two varieties of hard cider. SILO Distillery’s barn distillery is uniquely designed to support sustainable production and also offer the public a full tasting, tour, and cocktail experience.
Haunting Whisper Winery & Distillery is 21.7 miles (32 minutes) from the Museum on Oak Ridge Road, Danbury, NH. Located on a family-owned 75-acre property in Danbury, NH with lake and mountain views. They have been producing dry & sweet, red, white, fruit wines as well as rum, whiskey & brandy since 2005 and serving the public since 2009. Products can currently be purchased via curbside pickup. Reservations (up to four persons) for a one-hour tasting tour are also available.