Woodstock Hops N' Barley

If you're new to Woodstock and love beer, you'll want to know about two establishments: Woodstock Hops N' Barley is one of them. [The Worthy Kitchen is the other. Woodstock Hops N' Barley offers one of the best selections of craft beers in the Upper Valley, with a large selection of bottled and canned beers. They also fill growlers: the selection on tap varies, giving you the option of tasting different craft beers. And the staff is great: Matt, the owner, knows his stuff and can offer an informed perspective on his stock. But the store doesn't just offer great beers. There's also a really good selection of wines. The wine selection isn't large, but it's well curated, featuring many terrific European wines, including some fine Austrian producers and varietals that are hard to find in many stores. Many of the wines are from Artisanal Cellars in White River Junction, which imports very good wines, focusing on small, high quality wines. There's also a good selection of Vermont and imported ciders and meads and usually a cider on tap for growler fills. [The cider selection itself is probably the best in the Upper Valley. Woodstock Hops N' Barley also features beer making supplies, from yeasts to carboys. And in an interesting twist, the store also rents DVDs. In an era where many video rental shops have closed, this will be a surprise to many people. But if you spend any time in Vermont, you'll realize why it's necessary. Internet service here is sporadic and slow for many of us, which makes streaming video impractical or impossible. So DVDs are necessary, if a seeming throwback.

Good beer store 4 stars. Forget it for brewing supplies 2 stars. Stopped in because my usual brewing ingredients supplier is getting out of the business. He suggested I come here. Grain selection so so and hop selection abysmal. Nice dog greeting customers. Beer selection typically good VT beerstore selections. Seems overpriced compared to other places in VT, but, it's in tourist area.

Everything about Hops N' Barley is awesome. Matt, the owner, has a great palate for beers, and as such brings in a great selection of droughts and bottles/cans. The price point is completely solid, and the vibe is a relaxed but informed spot for beer discourse. On top of that, he has a great selection of home brew supplies, ranging from hardware to perishables. Additionally, there's a great selection of brews: the drought list is extensive and diverse, and never locks you down in a seasonal or stylistic bind. Worth knowing: the droughts are exclusively for growler fills, and also feature multiple kombucha options, and a drought coffee. If all that isn't enough for you, Franklin the dog is often in attendance, and his affections rival the awesome beer selection available to you on site. Just go already! HNB is great!

I visited this place to pick up a bottle of wine to celebrate our engagement before heading to Cloudland Farms. The owner was incredibly kind and friendly, chatting with us about the restaurant and its fantastic food selection. When we shared the news of our engagement, he generously gave us a complimentary bottle of wine to celebrate. We were truly honored and moved by his kindness, and it’s something we will never forget. We even had our airline package it for us so we can celebrate with it in the future. I highly recommend this store!

The variety of local craft beers here is fantastic, and the staff’s helpfulness and expertise truly stood out as they guided me in choosing the perfect brews to fall in love with! It was a wonderful experience, and even another customer joined in to share their recommendations.