Three Penny Taproom

4ster

Quebec (Canada)

4.6/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | $$

Stopped in for drinks after dinner on a Tuesday night with three others (not pennies)

On a Tuesday evening Montpelier seemed pretty dead, but the people that were out where at the Three Penny Taproom enjoying a bevy, chatting, or watching the hockey games that were on (though this isn't a sports bar by any means, thankfully)

For such a small town there is a great vibe in here, where people are very friendly (like most of Vermont), enjoy just hanging out and chatting, enjoy a good beer and small town life. This bar seems to get a wide mix of people from early 20 somethings to older business/government men and women, which makes for a nice mix.

Service was very good considering on a Tuesday night there was just one guy tending the entire bar...I don't think he stood still for more than 30 secs the entire time we were there...

Was only slightly disappointed that they didn't have all the beers I was hoping to try from Lawsons and HF, but I guess these are hit and miss and go very quickly, though I can't complain having the opportunity to try a few of them, and they have a pretty good selection of other Vermont, East Coast, West Coast and the occasional Quebec Beer too (being from Montreal I wasn't that excited by it, but good to see it as an option!) Prices seemed reasonable ranging from 5-8$ on average for a pint (or smaller, depending on what you ordered...)

If you're passing through the area, or looking for a town to spend the night in Vermont I highly recommend checking out this place, and Montpelier is a great little town as well.

05-18-2013 20:32:40 | More by 4ster

MThiele360

New Hampshire

4.88/5  rDev +8.9%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

I often make the trip to Three Penny Taproom as it's the closest place I can go for my Hill Farmstead and Lawson's fix coming from southern New Hampshire.

The atmosphere here can depend on when you visit. If you walk in on a Friday or Saturday night, you might find the bar area packed like sardines which isn't the ideal situation for enjoying the high quality beers they serve. There's probably 25-30 seats in the bar area but not much space otherwise. They've also expanded in the past year and there is now a proper restaurant setup in the adjoining room. If you have the chance to sit down at the bar here and enjoy a beer, it might be my favorite beer bar in Vermont.

Service is great. Even when I've been in there on a packed weekend night, I've had no trouble getting a beer. Bartenders and staff are very friendly and accommodating. I once ordered a HF Ephraim which kicked just as the bartender was finishing off the pour - she gave it to me for free.

Selection is obviously amazing. You'll almost always find Hill Farmstead and Lawson's, as well as Zero Gravity and other Vermont breweries. Other regional crafts like Allagash, Southern Tier and Smuttynose as well as some imports usually round out the list. The draft list might be the best in Vermont, even better than anywhere in Burlington or Waterbury.

Food is very good but be wary of the portions. The "single" hamburger is not a regular sized single-patty hamburger, it's essentially a mini-burger. If you're looking for a meal, order the double. They also offer brunch on weekends now.

04-16-2013 16:30:24 | More by MThiele360

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.25 | $$$

Decided to stop in here for lunch before heading up to Hill Farmstead for the night. Atmosphere was very laid back, a few people at the bar watching TV and talking amongst themselves about all things beer. Quality seemed to be pretty high across the board. My beers were all served in the correct glasses and my burger was made with top notch ingredients. My bartender was awesome. We talked about beer and my impending trip to Hill Farmstead and he even gave me some stickers when I was getting ready to leave.

The selection was great. All kinds of local beers to go along with a few national offerings. Plenty of Hill Farmstead and Lawson's on which is always welcome in my book. Since I went here for lunch I decided to go with the single burger, which I added bacon to. While my burger tasted great and was cooked to perfection I was a little dissapointed in its size. For $9 + $3! for bacon I was expecting to get my moneys worth. I can get a half pound bacon cheese burger that tastes just as good for $7 around here, a capital city just like Montpelier...Overall a really awesome beer bar that I will definitely return to when I am in the area.

10-24-2012 18:00:02 | More by orangesol

JohnD

Vermont

4.68/5  rDev +4.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$$

TPT simply has the best beer selection in Vermont . The staff is knowledgeable, friendly yet unobtrusive. A list of great local brews of all styles is frequently updated, making a strong case for Vermont being one of the leading beer destinations in the US. A wide selection of quality out-of-state and international beers are always available. Saison Dupont on tap - it doesn't get any better than this! Also noteworthy is a delicious and inventive menu using fresh meats, cheeses, vegetables and bread that are exquisitely matched to drinking beer. If you're headed north through Vermont, don't miss TPT in Montpelier, the State's capital.

09-25-2012 03:56:13 | More by JohnD

vonnegut21

New York

4.68/5  rDev +4.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

Well, I guess I'm going to have to be the good guy.

The atmosphere is the least impressive aspect of the Three Penny Taproom. There's pretty much your standard collection of beer memorabilia on the walls, 15 person bar, and a wall-mounted table on the opposite wall to rest your beer on. Nothing too impressive as far as decor, but decor isn't why I go to a bar. If you choose your beer bars by decor... well, stop.

The tap selection was excellent. Hill Farmstead: Edward, What is Enlightenment, Birth of Tragedy, Florence and one other that escapes me. KBS was on tap. Wheat is the New Hops was on tap. JP Madrugada Obscura and Oro de Calabaza. And many more. No complaints here. Only that it was too hard to make up my mind.

The prices are high, but you get what you pay for. The service was prompt and friendly. The bartenders were not super knowledgeable about beer, but were helpful and so were the fellow patrons.

Overall, and excellent stop if you're in Montpelier. Also seemed to be the unofficial post-Hill Farmstead release gathering spot, so if you're making the pilgrimage up to see Shaun, be sure to stop in here afterward.

In summary, I wish I lived closer to this place.

05-08-2012 17:33:58 | More by vonnegut21

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -30.1%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 1.5 | $$

Well, I guess I'm going to have to be the bad guy.

I see this place advertised in beer magazines and on beer sites everywhere, so I figured it either has to be really good, or profitable enough to be able to afford all the advertising. My first impression: the first statement is not true, and the second is seemingly and strangely probably not true either.

I like to visit VT about once a year, but on my last visit, I decided to really start getting out there, so to speak, going beyond the normal places I'm accustomed to, and stop limiting myself to Burlington--a fine city that I love, of course. But now that I've visited Montpelier, I really think I have to say, it has nothing to offer, and that includes the Three Penny Taproom.

The place is small, and that's fine, I like intimacy. The bar seats about 10-15 and there's a few seats along the wall. Decor is simple, layout is non-flashy, with general breweriana on the walls, and the bar itself nestled in a line of old rowhome-type shops, giving it an antique feel. Really I just get an overall cheap and generic vibe from the place, like it's the "little beer bar that couldn't." On the plus side, the tap list was decent. A good number of beers to choose from, with local favorites Lawson's and Hill Farmstead making appearances, and typical craft selections like Stone, etc. The bartender was definitely friendly, and prices were not bad. Maybe if the place had good kitchen capabilities, my opinion would change, but the food menu was tiny, overpriced, and pretty awful. Word to the wise: when it comes to having lots of craft beer on tap, the wary consumer/critic such as myself--if expected to stick around and give the establishment business--will require some alcohol-diluting nosh, or else he will take said business elsewhere. I did get a drink out of courtesy, but after a minute or so, my wife started giving me the "let's get the flying @#*& out of here now" look, and I knew it was time to chug the beer and go.

Again, maybe I'm not being totally fair; looking at it from a local viewpoint, you really can't beat the selection. But as a visitor / beer-bar-seeker-outer, I just have to say, I was not impressed. And for the amount this place is advertised, I can safely say, it is not worth going out of the way for. So essentially, in summation, this place may be good for a local joint, but a beer destination it is surely not. Once was more than enough: I'll never go back to this place.

04-24-2012 08:33:31 | More by Rifugium

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev -4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Was in Montpelier for a weekday afternoon back in mid-July 2011, and decided to stop in after hearing good things.

Long and narrow room with an equally long bar that reminded me of an old barbershop for whatever reason. Pretty packed for a weekday afternoon but we managed to find two free stools against the wall. Atmosphere gave out a pretty good vibe with a relaxed and laid back feel. Bartenders were pleasant and efficient from what I remember.

Impressive tap list with quality local VT selections, popular and more rarer american offerings, and great belgian selections. Definitely had more harder-to-find offerings, especially for the area, which really made this place stand out for me. Prices seemed in-line with a more rarer product line for the area.

If I lived in Montpelier I would be at this place frequently - Great little gem in central Vermont.

11-06-2011 20:27:34 | More by Digimaika2

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

4.36/5  rDev -2.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Went to Montpelier recently to visit some friends and grabbed a couple of beers at the Three Penny Taproom.

The night we were there wasn't too crowded and we found some stools on the back wall. The bar is a long rectangular room with the stools along the wall and bar. Plenty of standing room and no loud music or TV drowning out conversations.

Near the front of the bar is a large chalkboard with the various tap offerings. It took a couple minutes to read all they had and make a decision on one of the delicious beers. The night I was there they had some Hill Farmstead Edward and James, Stone 15th Anniversary and a Belgian Sour (forget which one) on tap. Three Penny also has an IPA specially brewed for the bar at the Shed in Stowe.

Prices were fair for what we got. We were buying rounds so it was hard to tell if some pints cost more than others. Overall though we felt prices were similar to other locations.

The service was great. The bartender knew his beer and offered us additional pints when our glass started to run low.

We didn't get any food, but our friends say Three Penny only has some snack items on the menu.

Overall, we had a great time at Three Penny. They have an incredible tap selection with clean lines and properly poured beers in the correct serving glass. Unfortunately their bottle collection was destroyed in hurricane Irene. I'm looking forward to my next visit to Montpelier and a stop at Three Penny.

10-12-2011 01:15:43 | More by WanderingFool

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev -3.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$$

Lunchtime on a Tuesday strolling around a relatively quiet capital city waiting for the bar to open. Around 1pm, we enter with only 2 other customers at the bar. The old storefront and interior make it feel like an old time lunch counter, but the beer decor and taps tell a different story.

Each of the 24 selections are written on a chalkboard and range from great locals like Hill Farmstead and the Shed, to more known American and European crafts. Bottle list is no more after they lost a bunch of stock in a basement flood.

Food menu is minimalist but features great local sourced meat, cheese and produce. We had their fancied up grilled cheese with fried cheddar and an awesome pork belly sandwich. Service was friendly and welcoming like no other place I have visited recently.

This place is a gem of an establishment on all fronts and should not be missed when visiting Vermont.

10-10-2011 02:52:02 | More by rfgetz

Chincino

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

I had been very excited to visit the Three Penny Taproom in Montpelier, Vermont after all the good things I'd heard about it and I was not disappointed. This place is a hidden gem in Montpelier. It is located in a little strip next to a bookstore and I wonder if you'd notice it if you weren't looking for it.

The place is small and cozy and has a very welcoming atmosphere. It was filled with tourists such as ourselves and locals alike and was busy even at noontime on a Thursday afternoon. The place's decor included several bottles of rare beer and German Steins went across the top shelf by the door so there was plenty to look at. The place had games to offer if you feel like playing a game with your companions while having some beers.

The service was excellent and our bartender was very helpful and knowledgable about the beers.

The beer selection was very good and there were some rare beers on tap. I was able to try some Hill Farmstead beers including Abner and Edward and I also had a Saison from Sierra Nevada. This bar had Saison Dupont on tap as well.

We split a couple of appetizers and they were good. Everything was reasonably priced.

Great beer bar and I hope to go back again someday!

10-03-2011 10:46:02 | More by Chincino