Waterbury, Vt., a craft brew haven

Waterbury, Vermont offers a wealth of craft breweries and pubs serving hard-to-find brews. Pictured: Kegs in a field behind Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro.

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Heady Topper, produced at The Alchemist Cannery in Waterbury, has become somewhat of a legend among beer-drinkers, who ofren make pilgrimages to Waterbury in order to secure it.

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Jim Conroy, head brewer at the Alchemist Cannery. The Alchemist brewpub closed in 2011 following damage from Tropical Storm Irene, but Heady Topper is still brewed – and sold in cans – just up Route 100.

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Prohibition Pig opened in March in the former site of The Alchemist.

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A bartender retrieved top shelf liquor at Prohibition Pig.

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Taps at Prohibition Pig.

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The draft menu at Blackback Pub in Waterbury, a hangout spot for both fly fishermen and beer lovers.

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Taps at Blackback Pub.

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The exterior of The Reservoir Restaurant & Tap Room in Waterbury.

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A small selection of what’s on tap for the evening at The Reservoir.

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Sean Lawson outside his home-based microbrewery, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, in Warren.

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Dried hops at Lawson’s Finest Liquids.

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Beer for sale at Hill Farmstead Brewery.

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A tap at Hill Farmstead Brewery.

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