1st Republic Brewing Co

1st Republic Brewing Co. is a veteran-owned brewery in Essex, founded in 2016 with a straightforward mission to brew great beer, work hard and build something the community could be proud of. The owners credit dedication, perseverance and a focus on quality for the business’s path. In 2018 a new brewhouse and canning line doubled production, and the same year the brewery was named Vermont’s SBA Veteran-Owned Business of the Year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it kept distributing beer around Vermont and turned its former homebrew retail space into a room for live music and community events, which became one of the owners’ favorite parts of the brewery. It now brings in live bands on Friday and Saturday nights, hosts local food trucks and holds weekly events such as a Monday run night. Its tagline is Veteran-Owned, Vermont Brewed, Community Driven, and it credits the Essex community’s support.