Cousins Brewing Company

A sample menu of Cousins Brewing libations. try ’em all!

There are a few corners in the Mad River Valley that hold stories in the walls — and the crossroads of Routes 100 and 17 might top the list.

For generations of skiers, leaf-peepers, and road-trippers, this has been the gateway to the Valley. The first business here was the Gateway Motel, and depending on when you first rolled into town, you might remember it as High & Dry, Mosselips, Mad Mountain Tavern, or Localfolk Smokehouse. The names have changed, but the spirit of gathering has always remained.

Longtime owner, John Morris has owned the thing since purchasing Mooselips in the early 1990’s. After a hiatus, he has brought the lights back on and the taps back to life as Cousin’s Brewing Company. Downstairs is his no-nonsense, three-barrel brewery — small batch, hands-on, and brewed right where you’re sitting. After years in the restaurant business, John’s leaning into what he loves most: crafting good beer and keeping things simple.

On the food side, Cousins has teamed up with Savitri Bhagavati of Silk Road — a collaboration that adds a fresh twist to this well-loved space.  The ever-evolving menu draws inspiration from Californian, Turkish, and Lebanese kitchens, with offerings like fish tacos, vegan broccoli bowls, flatbreads with falafel and hummus, chicken shawarma, and a little baklava that flakes onto your shirt like edible confetti. Silk Road is street food with a passport. Not the fare many might expect but things change and the modern audience will appreciate the creative, spicy, aromatic and healthy options.

Scan the QR code to see the latest Silk Road menu options.

It’s a new chapter in a legendary location — and like any good Vermont venture, it may come with a few surprises along the way. Come on down, pull up a stool, and see what’s brewing.

Cousins Brewing Company is open on Friday & Saturday nights starting at 5 pm