our Story

Weird Window Brewing opened its doors on July 18, 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The brewery closed its doors to in-person service in November 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions, but continued to offer order pickups and started to distribute throughout the state of Vermont. Weird Window Brewing reopened its doors to in-person service in May 2021 following the loosening of restrictions for the COVID-19 Pandemic. In June 2021, Weird Window Brewing finally started to operate without restrictions for the first time since their opening. Weird Window Brewing will be celebrating it's 3 Year Anniversary in the summer of 2023! The brewery is owned and operated by Jack and Emily Droppa, residents of South Burlington, VT.  Jack manages the brewing operation and Emily manages the taproom, merchandise and events.

The team at Weird Window Brewing strives to deliver an approachable and diverse selection of beers. Instead of just focusing on one style of beer, the hope of Weird Window Brewing is to have a beer for everyone. The taproom holds up to forty nine guests with up to ten beers on tap, including a rotating selection of Lagers, Pale Ales, IPAs, Brown Ales and Stouts.

Weird Window Brewing has a three barrel pilot system and a fifteen barrel production system. The brewhouse is customized so that both of the systems are on the same brew deck. In addition to the three barrel and the fifteen barrel fermenters, Weird Window Brewing also has a seven barrel lagering tank, which makes it possible to brew and age lagers in the traditional way. All of the brewing and cellaring equipment was purchased from Alpha Brewing Operations in Lincoln, NE.

Why Weird Window Brewing?  The name of the brewery comes from the crooked windows located throughout New England, including Vermont. The windows are commonly found on old farmhouses in rural Vermont.  The windows are called “Crooked Windows," “Vermont Windows” and “Witch Windows," and even “Coffin Windows." Jack and Emily started to call the windows “Weird Windows"and, well, it just stuck.  Jack and Emily like the story behind the windows and the connection to Vermont, so, why not Weird Window Brewing! 

Meet the Team

Photo of Jack

Jack Droppa - Owner, brewer

Jack is originally from Ellicott City, MD. Jack has lived and brewed in at least four different states, including his home brewing experience in college at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. Upon graduating from St. Lawrence University with a Bachelor’s in History and a Minor in Educational Studies in 2011, Jack moved to Utah to work as a Ski Patroller at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort in Snowbird, UT. Jack, of course, continued with his home brewing hobby during this time! Jack worked as a Ski Patroller for just over three seasons before deciding to move to Vermont to be with his girlfriend at the time, Emily, in 2015. Jack knew he wanted to work for a brewery instead of at a ski resort in Vermont, but without any “official” experience, Jack decided to do an internship at Anacapa Brewing Co. in Ventura, CA before he moved to Vermont. Jack moved to Vermont once he completed his internship, and Jack was quickly hired on the Packaging Line at Otter Creek Brewing in 2015. While at Otter Creek Brewing, Jack worked his way up to be Lead Brewer in just over three years. In 2018, while working at Otter Creek Brewing, Jack heard of an opening for a Brewer at Frost Beer Works in Hinesburg, VT. Jack was offered the position and worked at Frost Beer Works from 2018 - 2019. It was during this time that Jack thought about what it would be like to, one day, own his own brewery. In 2019, while still working at Frost Beer Works, Jack took a fall skiing and blew out his knee, which resulted in some needed time off from brewing. It was during this time off that Jack learned Canadian Brewery, Farnham Ale and Lager, was looking to sell their South Burlington location.  Jack put in an offer, and, after some back and forth, the offer was accepted and Weird Window Brewing was a reality! 



Photo of Emily

Emily Droppa - owner, taproom, merchandise and events

Originally from Ogdensburg, NY, Emily met Jack in college at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY in 2007. Emily and Jack dated throughout college, and Emily even bought Jack his first home brewing kit as a Christmas present in 2010! Upon graduating from St. Lawrence University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology, a Minor in Educational Studies and a Masters in Counseling and Human Development (and some school counseling AND bartending experience!) in 2011, Emily moved to Utah with Jack. Emily worked as a Middle School Counselor in Herriman, UT for two and a half years before deciding to move to Vermont to be closer to family and friends in 2014. Emily worked as an Elementary School Counselor in West Pawlett, VT for six short months before deciding to move closer to some friends in South Burlington, VT. It was around this time that Jack moved to South Burlington, VT, too. Emily and Jack soon closed on a house in South Burlington, VT, and were married at Stowe Mountain Resort with some of their chosen craft beer on tap in 2017! Recently, Emily worked as the Elementary School Counselor in Vergennes, VT for five years, at which point Emily decided to leave her position at her school to help Jack pursue his dream of owning a brewery in 2019. Emily manages the taproom, merchandise and events at Weird Window Brewing, and helps Jack keep everything clean, organized and running smoothly! 

Photo of Emily

Alice Droppa - future assistant to the brewer and future assistant to the taproom manager 

Emily, Jack, and Citra welcomed Alice to the Weird Window Brewing Team in March of 2022! Jack even brewed Alice her own beer when he returned from paternity leave shortly after she was born. A is for Alice is an annual beer which is released every March for Alice's birthday. It is brewed using the Yakama Chief Pink Boots Society hop blend and a portion of the proceeds from the beer go to the Pink Boots Society, which celebrates and supports women and / or non-binary individuals in the fermented alcoholic beverage industry. Emily and Jack are excited to introduce Alice to the world of brewing and can't wait to see Alice helping Jack on the brewdeck and Emily in the taproom in the years to come! 

Photo of Citra

citra the brewdog

Citra is a three year old Apricot Standard Poodle. Emily and Jack adopted Citra from a breeder in Colebrook, NH in 2018. Even before Citra was officially adopted, Emily and Jack knew they would name their dog Citra, obviously after one of their favorite hops. Citra even has her own beer! We Named the Dog Citra is our 6.0% New England IPA. Brewed with 100% Citra hops, this clean, juicy, citrusy IPA is sure to be your new best friend. Citra loves to play, run around like crazy, say hi to everyone, give hugs and kisses and visit craft breweries. #citrathebrewdog

FAQs

are you open?

Yes! We reopened our taproom on May 1, 2021!

Do you do call-ahead seating or reservations?

No. We are currently seating guests on a first come, first served basis. We allow reservations for parties of six or more people with the exception of special events. We do not allow reservations for parties of more than 12 people.

Do you do flights?

Yes! Flights include four 4 oz. tasters of your choice! 

Do offer drinks other than beer?

Yes! We offer cider from Citizen Cider, ginger beer from Halyard Brewing Co. and wine from Shelburne Vineyard. Visit our Menu Page  to view our current selections!

Do offer food?

Yes! We offer popcorn, mixed nuts, pickled veggies, chips and salsa and chips and queso. Visit our Menu Page to view our current selections!

Can i bring my own food or order food to the brewery?

Yes! We love to see our guests supporting other local businesses! 

Do you allow dogs or children?

Yes! We are a pet and family friendly brewery! We allow well-behaved dogs in our outside space when our outside space is open. We simply request you please respect our other guests and please keep your dog leashed.

Do you have outdoor seating?

Yes! We have outdoor seating from April - November, weather permitting. 

Do you have free parking?

Yes! There is plenty of space in our parking lot, or you're welcome to park anywhere on the street.

Do offer beer to-go?

Yes! We sell 4 packs and mixed cases of a variety of our beers. We also fill growlers of our beers that we do not have available in cans. We only fill our own growlers so we do not fill growlers from other breweries. Visit our Menu Page to view our current selections for beer to-go. We also sell kegs of a limited number of our beers. If you’re interested in purchasing a keg please email info@weirdwindowbrewing.com.

Do you offer pickup, delivery or shipping?

We offer pickup and shipping for merch. Visit our Online Store to place an order for order pickup. Orders placed online can be picked up from our taproom during our regular business hours. We do not offer beer in our Online Store, but beer can also be easily be picked up from the taproom during our regular business hours. We do not offer delivery for beer or merch.

do you distribute your beer?

Yes! We started to distribute to stores and restaurants in January 2021! Check your local craft beer bar or craft beer store to see if they currently have our beer. If not, ask them to order our beer through our distributor, Vermont Beer Shepherd. We also partner with The Daily Planet in downtown Burlington, VT. Check out their menu to see which of our beers they currently have on their beer list! 

do you reuse or recycle your can carriers?

Yes! We participate in the Vermont Can Carrier Reuse and Recycle Initiative. Simply bring your can carriers back to a participating brewery or retailer, and they will either reuse them, donate them to another brewery that reuses them, or send them to Casella for proper recycling. We are only one of many breweries in Chittenden County participating in the program, so find a brewery near you and get recycling! 

Do you do private events?

Yes! If you’re interested in doing a private event please email info@weirdwindowbrewing.com.

why "werid window brewing?"

The name of the brewery comes from the slanted windows located throughout the Vermont and the New England areas.  The windows are called “Vermont Windows," “Crooked Windows," “Witch Windows," and even “Coffin Windows."  The windows are commonly found on old farmhouses in rural Vermont.  Jack and Emily started to call the windows “Weird Windows"and, well, it just stuck.  Jack and Emily like the story behind the windows and the connection to Vermont, so, why not Weird Window Brewing!

in the Press

Photo of Emily

Interview with all beer inside podcast 

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vermont brewers use honey to make sweet beer - seven days

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vt inches towards goal with weekend blitz of vax clinics - wcax

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Weird WIndow approaches one-year anniversary - woodstock farmers' market

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An ale nice by the fire - browsville butcher & patry

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A perfect winter pair - browsville butcher & pantry

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the practical magic of vermont's witch windows - and why every house could use one - Apartment therapy

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pandemic woes lead to the thrill of a new business - brewview vermont 

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THEse new vermont breweries made 2020 a little better - BURLINGTON FREE PRESS 

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The window is open - weird window brewing in south burlington, that is - burlington free press 

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Three new vermont breweries work to open during the pandemic - Seven days 

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keeping vermont weird - the other paper

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weird window brewing to open in south burlington in Early 2020, with 'a beer for everyone' on tap - burlington free press

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Weird window brewing is here! - brewview vermont

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FIND US

Location

82 Ethan Allen Drive

Suite A

South Burlington, VT 05403

Hours

Thursday       12pm - 8pm
Friday             12pm - 8pm
Saturday        12pm - 8pm
Sunday           12pm - 6pm

Take a Peek Inside

Tour The Taproom