von Trapp Brewing was born out of a dream and a legacy. Founded in 2010 by Johannes von Trapp (youngest child of Maria and Captain von Trapp of The Sound of Music) at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, the brewery blends Austrian tradition with Vermont craft, making beer that’s meant to refresh without overwhelming, think beers “you can have at lunch but won’t need a nap after.”
From its early days as “Trapp Lager,” where production was modest (about 2,000 barrels a year) in the Lodge’s Kaffehaus basement, the brewery has grown considerably. In 2015, they moved into a 30,000-square-foot facility with a Rolec Brew House, bringing capacity up to roughly 36,000 barrels annually. They specialize in Austrian-style lagers and related beers: crisp, clean, balanced lagers that feel rooted in heritage. Core year-round offerings include Helles Golden Lager, Bohemian Style Pilsner, Vienna Austrian Style Lager, Pilsner Bohemian Style Lager, Dunkel Dark Lager, and Kölsch Blonde Ale. Their seasonal and specialty beers, like their Radler, Oktoberfest Lager, Weißbier, Trösten, and other collaborative or limited brews, add variety and depth.
What makes von Trapp Brewing stand out is the combination of heritage, quality, and recognition. They use pure Vermont spring water, Austrian and German brewing techniques, and take the time lagers demand. In 2024, von Trapp won a Gold Medal for their Helles Golden Lager and was crowned “Brewery & Brewer of the Year” in the 15,001-100,000 barrel category at the Great American Beer Festival. The brewery also racked up awards across regional and international competitions, especially in lager categories, Helles, Pilsner, Vienna, and Dunkel, proving that their commitment to the classics and precision pays off.
The brewery is more than its beer: it’s deeply connected to place and community. Located at the Trapp Family Lodge on a 2,600-acre property in the Green Mountains, the brewery is part of the guest experience, with a Bierhall, tours, and a strong presence in Vermont and several states across the Northeast and beyond. Their beers are distributed in many states (Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Oregon, etc.), inviting beer lovers to taste a piece of the Lodge, the mountains, and the von Trapp family story.
In every pour, von Trapp Brewing connects you with a sense of simplicity and care: beers that respect the slow craftsmanship of lagers, flavored by mountain air and pure water, built on legacy but brewed for today. Whether it’s a quiet afternoon on the patio, a dinner with friends, or a walk in the Green Mountains, their brews are made to accompany moments, not overwhelm them.
