Whenever Waterbury, Vermont, comes up in conversation, it’s likely related to 1) finding Heady Topper, 2) live music at the Reservoir, 3) the perfection that is Hen of the Wood or 4) the “hipster glossy” crowd and meaty creations that define the Prohibition Pig. I had never heard anyone—not one person—ever muster a word about Blackback Pub, which is located in a stately brick building on Main Street, directly across from the Res. An out-of-state friend who frequents Vermont and the Waterbury area encouraged me to try it, stressing its extensive (and impressive) tap list, friendly bartenders and home-cooked cuisine that combine to create a homey hangout for both day drinking and dinner alike. Now years later, BlackBack Pub is one of Vermont’s best craft beer destinations and Vermont beer bars.

Visiting Blackback Pub, Waterbury, Vermont

When I walked into the dimly lit den with gorgeous stone walls and wooden beams lowering the ceiling to create a cozy space, I immediately knew that the Blackback Pub is my kind of place. It’s rustic yet warm and the kind of space where you could hang out for hours, especially with so many local beers to try. The circular bar is split into two rooms, which gives the impression of a small, local watering hole with only a few seats, when it fact the pub can serve a good number of guests (there are 20 bar stools to be exact).

I appreciated that I could pull right up to the bar rather than fight for seats at the ProPig, order from their 22 beers, ciders and meads on tap and have a beer in front of me—poured in the proper glassware with the proper amount of head—in under five minutes. There were eight Hill Farmstead beers on tap, as well as other Vermont brews from Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Crop, Grassroots and Zero Gravity—and of course, Heady Topper, in the can, all for reasonable prices. I could have easily hung out all day and worked my way down the list.

There certainly isn’t a shortage of good draught lists in Waterbury, between Prohibition Pig, the Prohibition Pig Brewery, the Reservoir and the Blackback (hell, even Arvad’s has decent beers on tap), but there can be a shortage of attentive, warm service, which I was happy to find at the Blackback. If beer isn’t your thing, Blackback offers a variety of Vermont spirits as well, from Whistlepig to Barr Hill Gin, and local soft drinks for the under 21 crowd.

The Food at the Blackback Pub

The food at Blackback Pub is traditional pub fare, yet most menu items featured local products for arguably the best prices in town. I was surprised to see Neill Farm beef and pork on the menu, and the grass-fed beef sliders were cooked perfectly, a juicy medium rare; I only wished they came with fries (the Res andProPig have some serious fry-game) rather than kettle chips. Thecaprese sandwich was loaded with local fresh mozzarella and tomatoes and served on Elmore Mountain focaccia—fresh and filling—and a great veg option.

Blackback’s menu boasts comfort foods with classy twists from bacon and bleu cheese nachos to mac and cheese with sweet corn and scallions. In all honesty, I had expected the Blackback to be a bit of a dive, but the menu, beer list and ambiance quickly proved otherwise. The food had hints of inventiveness (chicken liver pate, wild boar salami, etc.) and ample vegetarian options, which are less extensive at other eateries in town. Most dishes, whether for lunch or dinner, ranged from $7 to $15, making Blackback a budget-friendly beer pub option in Waterbury.

Tips for Visiting Blackback Pub Like a Local:

• Take the bartenders’ recommendations for beer and food; they were spot on for me and were happy to let me taste a few beers before choosing my pint.
• Check out Blackback Pub’s events calendars; during the week and on weekends, they often have live music.
• Don’t plan on staying all night. Blackback closes their doors at midnight, which is probably a good thing given how many awesome beers there are on tap.

Blackback Pub
1 Stowe Street, Waterbury, Vermont
802.244.0123
12am – 12pm