Our Brewery

“Fiddlehead Brewing Company is a brewer owned business. Crafting approachable, multidimensional beers, while growing responsibly with a focus on the arts and positively impacting those in our communities – one beer at a time.”

Original Brewery and Tasting Room

Fiddlehead Brewing Company opened its doors in Shelburne, Vermont on New Years Eve, 2011. Originally operating on a 15-barrel (BBL) system, the goal was to develop a consistent and approachable draft IPA. With over 15 years of experience in the brewing industry, owner, Matt “Matty O” Cohen did just that. 

Thanks to strong word of mouth, Fiddlehead and business partner, Farrell Distributing, had lined up over 50 accounts by day one. In 2012, the brewery started canning small batches of popular favorites and exclusively selling them out of the tasting room. On a typical can-release day you could find a line around the brewery, and we’d consistently sell out within the first hour of opening.

Production Brewery

By 2016, Fiddlehead IPA was the best-selling draft beer in Vermont. As a result of this public support, the brewery expanded to meet increasing demand. A new production facility was constructed, located behind the current tasting room featuring a 30 BBL system.  

The brewery was now able to double its output and begin distributing outside of Vermont. During this period of growth, consistency was top of mind. A quality control (QC) team was established to monitor brewing processes and diligently test each batch of beer to catch any inconsistencies. In addition, Fiddlehead’s “Always Cold” cold storage policy ensured that the company could distribute to a wider network without sacrificing quality.  

Brewery Expansion

In 2021, Fiddlehead expanded its brewhouse yet again to a 60-barrel system. They increased fermentation space and purchased a state-of-the-art canning line. This increased production from 150 barrels to 600 barrels per day. By 2024, Fiddlehead Brewing Company had grown to be the 23^rd largest craft brewery in the U.S. and the largest Vermont owned brewery.  

Today, an entire run on the old brewing system would only supply one account for half a year. Now the brewery operates around the clock with nearly 100 employees keeping production moving. Suffice it to say, there has been a lot of change, but a few things have remained the same. Fiddlehead is still here in Shelburne, Vermont, brewing beer with the same great taste. 

Thanks to buzz around sought after Double IPAs: Second Fiddle and Mastermind (for which 25% of sales go to Team Mastermind, which provides charitable grants to organizations that support pediatric health and broad community wellness). Fiddlehead continued to grow in popularity increasing its footprint into other Northeastern states. In 2021, Fiddlehead Brewing Company expanded again with the purchase of a 60 barrel brewhouse, increased fermentation space and a state-of-the-art canning line.