Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Freak Folk Bier

    4.3 (12 reviews)
    Closed 2:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    Freak Folk Bier Photos

    Business Info

    You might also consider

    More like Freak Folk Bier

    Recommended Reviews - Freak Folk Bier

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    "None The Wiser: Mosaic & Nelson" (IPA)
    Matthew L.

    Freak Folk Bier is a craft brewery that opened in Waterbury, Vermont in February 2022. It was founded by couple Lillian MacNamara and Ryan Miller. Both MacNamara and Miller had a decade of brewing experience before they deciding to become brewing partners. MacNamara brewed for Magic Hat and Otter Creek before becoming the head brewer at Queen City Brewing in Burlington. Miller brewed for breweries in Vermont, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Connecticut before becoming the head brewer at Aqua ViTea Kombucha in Middlebury. The duo had a dream to open their own brewery where they could escape the monotony of the typical brewery lifestyle and mentality and have complete creative control. They especially wanted to focus on mixed-culture fermentation. Freak Folk Bier initially launched in 2018 as an alternating proprietorship brewery. The couple rented equipment and wooden barrels for aging from Queen City and set up shop in an extra room at the brewery. After a number of successful bottle releases, they acquired the ground floor of a new multi-use property (dubbed "Bell's Block") in Waterbury to open their own brick-and-morter brewery and taproom. I recently visited Freak Folk Bier for the first time while I was on a Vermont craft beer road trip. I actually never heard of the small brewery until I started making my itinerary for the trip. When I saw that they had a 4.33/5 average rating on Untappd (after being open for only two years in a state with an already impressive roster of breweries), I knew that I had to make a stop. I was actually spending the night at the historic Old Stagecoach Inn and Freak Folk Bier is just a 3-minute walk from the inn. I arrived at Freak Folk's taproom not long after they opened for the afternoon. The place was small, cozy and super chill. I grabbed a seat at the bar and looked over the draught selection. I enjoyed some short pours of "Dark Harvest" (American Porter), "None The Wiser: Mosaic & Nelson" (IPA), and "Double Fantasy: Strata & Strata CGX" (IPA). These were all impressive brews. A customer sitting next to me asked if I wanted to split a bottle of "Penumbra" (Oak-Aged Saison) with him. I happily accepted and I'm glad that I did because it was simply fantastic! I purchased some cans-to-go before I left. I was VERY impressed with my visit to Freak Folk Bier and I look forward to seeing what they brew in the future!

    Mix tape and Puppet Shadow IPAs
    Nathan N.

    Small micro in Waterbury. A tad bit on the pretentious side for me but but the two IPAs we had were some of the best Ive ever had and Ive had quite a few. If youre a Crafthead its a must.

    the inside of a winery
    Hong L.

    Shocked I'm the first to check out the new brewery in Waterbury. This place has been on my radar for a few years now. Still a nano brewery who has been doing small releases out of Queen City brewery outside of Burlington. Great to try some of their beers that aren't mixed fermentation. The Hellespont lager is pretty great (Prong Horn). Their saisons are always a hit with us. Hope they continue to pump out great beers and are successful. Definitely visiting when nearby, which is often

    Freak Folk Bier

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris E.
    1
    174
    24

    1 year ago

    Nice little spot. Service was quick and friendly. Their ipas are great but the lagers were just as good.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nathan N.
    11
    319
    23

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Tina B.
    0
    16
    23

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    Ask the Community - Freak Folk Bier

    Review Highlights - Freak Folk Bier

    A tad bit on the pretentious side for me but but the two IPAs we had were some of the best Ive ever had and Ive had quite a few.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Breweries 561 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Craft Beer Cellar Waterbury

    Craft Beer Cellar Waterbury

    4.6
    (40 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Vermont Beer Collective is a craft beer specialty store that opened in Waterbury, Vermont in…read moreFebruary 2024. It was founded by husband and wife Nate and Liz Dunbar. The shop on 3 Elm Street had originally opened under the name 'Craft Beer Cellar' in December 2013. It was part of the 'Craft Beer Cellar' chain of specialty beer stores that was founded by Suzanne Schalow and Kate Baker in 2010 with the opening of their flagship store in Belmont (MA). Two years later, they began franchising and at the chain's peak they had 33 locations in 15 states. Mark Drutman was the original owner of the Waterbury location. By 2019, CBC locations began to close (including the flagship location which closed in 2023). After the Dunbars made their home in Vermont, they decided to switch craft beer from their hobby into their livelihood. Drutman sold the Waterbury CBC to the Dunbars in May 2023. They slowly began to make the shop their own and by the following year they left the franchise and unveiled a new logo and a new name. The Vermont Beer Collective now has one of the best craft beer selections that can be found in the state. The Dunbars even added a bar in the store where customers can sample beer from 8 taps as well as a three-tap LUKR faucet from the Czech Republic. The couple also have a love for hiking, skiing and cycling and hope to make their shop a venue for the outdoor sports community to gather. I recently visited the Vermont Beer Collective while I was on a Vermont craft beer road trip. It's conveniently located right across the street from the popular Prohibition Pig Restaurant & Brewery. After enjoying some delicious smoked meat and a pint there, I headed across the street to check out the shop. I was really impressed by their selection! They had offerings from the best breweries in Vermont, around the country, and even breweries from the international scene. We're talking the best of the best! The bar was also really cool! The place is not just a shop where you can buy beer but also a place where you can hang out. I spoke for a few minutes with owner Nate Dunbar. He was really friendly and he told me that he's originally from my home state of Connecticut. He explained that the store had about $25,000 of flood damage in their basement just weeks after they bought it, but they pressed on. He told me about the future plans that he has for the shop and seemed very optimistic. Before leaving, I purchased a coveted bottle by Belgian-based Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen to take home. I'm happy to have discovered the shop and I wish them all the best!

    Best place I've ever found for buying great beer. They have a large selection of excellent beers,…read morebut most importantly their staff is remarkably helpful. Just tell them what style of beer you like, or which beers you usually drink, and they can provide numerous recommendations. They were also very knowledgeable about beer in general, proving to be an invaluable resource to help you find some good beers to try. In particular I wanted to sample some local beers, and I loved all of the options they recommended based on my flavor preference. If you're anywhere near Waterbury, VT, and enjoy good beer, do yourself a favor and stop by the Craft Beer Cellar for some great beer recommendations.

    Photos
    The stock of beers.
    The stock of beers.
    Craft Beer Cellar Waterbury
    Interior

    See all

    Interior
    Stowe Cider

    Stowe Cider

    4.5
    (148 reviews)
    9.8 mi
    $$

    I had my Bachelorette party here and it was awesome! I was able to rent a private and HUGE space,…read morethat included a fire pit, fire wood, and our own designated servers and bartender all for an affordable price which I might add is rare for Stowe. I paid under 800 dollars! The coordinator Molly was an absolute doll. She even had me make my own playlist in advance before the event. I shared it with her via Spotify and I got to have it playing during the event through a professional sound system. I was able to bring decorations in advance and the staff set them up for me and did an amazing job. The place was clean even in the bathrooms. Please note the food is bar food which is great if you want to also play games and party like I did! The drinks are great with seasonal options as well! See photos attached

    I love exploring new cider places, and on my trip to Stowe, I was excited to see Stowe Cider…read morevisible from the road with plenty of parking. We went just for drinks. We elected to sit outside on the deck under an umbrella. We could hear the band from the Japanese restaurant next door. I ordered a flight which consisted of four ciders that I could choose. The server wrote the initials of my choices on a board and told me what they were. I ordered less sweet, more dry kinds. There were subtle differences between them based on the fruit notes. I did miss getting a Huckleberry flavor like I do when I go to Washington state. Our server was upbeat and friendly even though we only ordered drinks. Tip: To enter, use the doors that say "use other door," I thought the arrow was saying go to an entrance around the building but that was an employee only door.

    Photos
    Join The Golden Apple Club!
    Join The Golden Apple Club!
    Tasters!
    Tasters!
    Dry ciders tasting flight

    See all

    Dry ciders tasting flight
    The Alchemist

    The Alchemist

    4.4
    (346 reviews)
    9.7 mi
    $$

    Beautiful views of the Stowe countryside while having a great beer. What's there not to love?…read more The Alchemist specializes in dank hop character, but they also have a wide range of beers you can choose from. All come in cans except Heady Topper, which you can grab on draft from a refrigerated beer engine. I have to say, having it on draft is a magical experience. Their aluminum cups are quite cute and you can take them home. Food is from a truck. Jamaican food that can be quite overwhelming with salt and spice if you're not careful. The potatoes were especially good. They hold events on their website including Boogie Bingo which we attended on Thursday night. Great host with a very dry sense of humor. We come up to Vermont every year, and this will definitely become a regular spot for us. Cheers!

    mmmmm...beer. The…read moreAlchemist brews one of my favorite beers - Heady Topper. So recently when my wife and I happened to be in Stowe, I knew I had to visit the brewery! The brewery is on the outskirts of town. It is an attractive facility situated on a large property with picturesque views. It was a beautiful day and they have lots of outdoor activities (corn hole, frisbee golf, etc) so there were people everywhere! This is a family friendly brewery and there were lots of kids running around. What a great vibe! I had a hand pulled Heady Topper. The brewery is the only place on the planet you can get Heady Topper hand pulled. It was worth the trip. My wife had a can of Light. I should note that other than Heady Topper everything comes in a can. No draft options which also means no tasting flights. I found that odd, but I get it. Not a big deal and it won't impact my rating. If you are in the area you might want to check this place out.

    Photos
    Heady Topper off the tap!
    Heady Topper off the tap!
    Highly recommend this wine
    Highly recommend this wine
    The Alchemist

    See all

    Freak Folk Bier - breweries - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...