Prohibition Pig Brewery - Waterbury

I was meeting a friend in Waterbury and, OF COURSE, I made it a lunch date. I hadn 't been in Waterbury in actual YEARS. I mean, sure, I live just an hour south (an hour 's drive is nothing when you live in Vermont we don 't have what you would call density here...in population or businesses , but there 's really no reason for me to go to Waterbury. But it was a Wednesday and I was going to Waterbury and looking for a lunch spot that: (1 served alcohol; and (2 stayed open past 2 or 3 in case we were there a while. Anyway, I wasn 't going to get there until 1pm. When I got out for a meal on a day off I do NOT want to rush. I want to ENJOY my time and go at whatever pace I feel (which is, invariably: steadily eating everything on the menu . Turns out this (end of April is the time of year that restaurants in Waterbury close for their seasonal Time Out. I did, initially, find this confusing. Since I 'm in Hartland and this is when we 're finally starting to ramp back up from the DEAD TIME of March and the beginning of April. And then it occurred to me that they 're more tied to the whole ski economy and those winter visitors/tourists. My spot is not. When the skiers come is when we 're DEAD. So it was looking pretty freaking bleak for a decent lunch spot. But! Then I somehow figured out that Prohibition Pig (semi locally famous dinner spot has a brewery located directly behind it that serves lunch and, more importantly, margaritas (I don 't drink beer although we do have EXCELLENT beer here in Vermont!! . I say somehow figured out because there is no separate Google or Yelp or anything listing for Prohibition Pig Brewery. Really the only actual info you can find is on The Prohibition Pig website. Which, let 's face it, is a fail. In this day and age?? They NEED to create separate listings for the brewery. I will only HELP business. Now, let 's be clear from the start that this is an order at the register and either pay or keep a tab open and they bring your food to your table. Water is self service out of an Igloo cooler (this seems to be ALL THE CRAZE in Vermont at the moment. Wtf. . I will say they give you an actual, like plastic diner glass for your water. Instead of a Dixie Cup. You can MISS ME with that disposable cup BS. This is NOT a full service restaurant. Adjust your expectations. They 're brewing the beer right in front of you. Which is cool. I 'm sure it 's good. We know how to make beer here in Vermont! There is outdoor seating on a porch and it is aggressively dog friendly. The dogs seemed psyched. I don 't eat beef, pork or poultry. So I worry about eating at a brewery. However the menu had PLENTY of veg and pescatarian options! I started with the seasonal pickles (pickle anything and I 'm IN! and smoked trout spread (also a sucker for the smoked fish spreads . Pickles were in a good sized bowl and a variety of veggies and I ate all of them. Delicious. Lots of crunch and snap. The trout spread was served with Trout Roe over top and Townhouse Crackers. WINNING!! I. Love. BOTH. I considered ordering a second helping. But decided that would be exceptionally weird. Plus there were other things I wanted to try. Like nachos!! I love nachos. If there are nachos on a menu I 'm going to try them. And! These had a vegetarian option: smoked Portabella Mushrooms. I was excited! They 're served right on a baking tray. Which is LEGIT. But I can 't give full marks. First, the mushrooms were HUGE wedges and, IMO, were way too smoky. Like overwhelming. Second, pickled jalapenos. No. Use fresh or please just don 't. Problematically there was pretty much nothing else to the nachos (pickled onions were good , other than the chips and the cheese. HOWEVER! Those chips and that cheese? DELICIOUS. Then I got the New England Shrimp Roll. Which is their take on a Lobster Roll and I am HERE FOR IT! SO GOOD. Shrimp, Old Bay aioli, pickled onions, cilantro, parsley in a buttered and grilled bun. AND. The Margaritas?? Look. Many, Many, MANY places serve Margaritas. They 're mostly trash. And served in stupid glasses like a Pint. The Margs here are actual perfection. I had THREE. And I had them spicy! (It 's a choice get the spicy salted rim!! They 're served in a rocks glass with a wedge of lime. Because someone here is a drinks genius. I don 't know who needs to here this but! The ONLY beverage that should ever be served to you in a pint glass is a beer. NOT YOUR MARGARITA. Oh! I can 't give 5 stars low key because of the nachos but also? Because of the bathroom. Snaps for gender inclusive. Taking those snaps away for the fact that someone need to HIT that bad boy with some BLEACH to kill the whole urinal smell. Also? Paint/stain/something the upper half of the walls. The bathroom is giving college bars in the '80s. I was there. I know...

Love the Pig! Great Beer and Great Food. Eat on the porch if it is too crowded inside!

Brewery side had just as good of service and a lovely menu. Nice to have indoor/outdoor seating options.

We stopped on our way to Burlington after a friend recommended it. We are so glad we stopped! The Beer was really good- I tried a couple of IPAs and they were all good. My husband tried a variety and really enjoyed them all. The bbq was delicious- tried the pulled pork- Smokey and sweet. Tried the brisket- very tender and flavorful. The staff was helpful. It was one of our favorite restaurants on our weekend getaway to Burlington. We will be back!

Food: excellent smoked bbq. Great presentation Service: staff is friendly and welcoming Ambiance: Excellent ! This place is our go to when in the area. Great food, great beer and great experiences.