Tour #5: Harpoon Brewery

We all know and love Harpoon Brewery! What many folks don’t know about Harpoon is that they are en employee-owned business with a commitment to staying local. Their employees are invested in the success of the business and the business is invested in the success of its neighbors. Vermont Bike & Brew is proud to parter with Harpoon!

Ask any cyclist in the Upper Valley where to find the best gravel biking, they’re likely to point you to the back roads of West Windsor. Luckily for us, Harpoon Brewery isn’t far from those roads.

After a few miles of pedaling on Route 5, a roll through historic downtown Windsor, and a visit to the Cornish-Windsor covered bridge, the route takes off to the West and climbs out of the Connecticut River Valley. Views of Mount Ascutney are up close and personal the entire way to Brownsville Butcher & Pantry. BBP is this tour’s only mid-ride pit stop but with everything they have to offer, nothing else is needed. They serve fried chicken sandwiches and other deli delights, beer on tap, and maple creemees. There’s even a spot to get in the river behind the building! What more could you want in the middle of your ride? Nothing. The answer is nothing.

After fueling up, you’ll choose if you’re doing the Harpoon Short (23 miles) or Harpoon Long (29 miles) route. Either way there is plenty of scenic farmland to soak up on your way back to the brewery.