The Vermont Pub and Brewery on College Street is a Burlington institution. Founded in 1988 by Greg Noonan, who famously lobbied the Vermont Legislature to overturn Prohibition-era laws against brewpubs, it was the first of its kind in the state and set the template for Vermont's now-flourishing craft beer culture. The outdoor patio on College Street is among the most coveted seats in the city on a warm afternoon.
The beer is brewed on-site and changes seasonally, with a core range of ales and stouts supplemented by rotating specials. The pub food — burgers, sandwiches, house-smoked meats — is solid. It is a loud, convivial place on weekend evenings, but quieter and more pleasant on weekday afternoons when the UVM crowd is in class.