Auror
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Inspired by some other cities' threads, I decided to make a visitation guide for Boston (and port it over here from BA). So, if you plan to visit Boston this fall or beyond and want to drink good beer, this resource is for you. Boston residents, please add comments and suggestions.
General Boston Notes:
Massachusetts stores are not allowed to fill growlers or operate taprooms. Also, breweries are only able to fill their own branded growlers, so keep the cost or deposit of the growler in mind when estimating costs. It is also illegal to have happy hours in Boston, so don't bother searching for the best drink specials (although you can find food specials around).
On the subject of food, check out the Boston Chowhound board for any and all questions regarding that topic.
Parking is generally difficult city-wide, so you may want to plan for this if you do decide to drive into the city. Consider walking or renting bikes from the Hubway bike stations around town. Boston is a beautiful walking city, and is growing more bike friendly by the day (although still a little dangerous in spots).
The MBTA is Boston's public transportation system. By and large, it is decent and many (if not most) locals rely on it in lieu of a car (although we all love to complain about it). Google Maps has the "T", the sometimes above-ground subway, and bus lines integrated into its maps. It's fairly accurate, but for complete schedules go to MBTA.com.
The T shuts down around 1am, so overpriced taxis will be your only way to get home from bars, which mostly close at 2am. Boston city cabs are required to to take credit cards (but will often protest), but the same is not true for Cambridge and other surrounding towns. There are also taxi service apps (such as Uber, Lyft, or Sidecar), but use these at your own risk.
Map
This guide in mapform.
Breweries
Ordered loosely based on community visit preference. Be aware, some breweries have limited visitation or tour times.
MBTA Accessible
Cambridge Brewing Co. - Brewpub and growlers
Night Shift Brewery - Tours, samples, growlers, pints
Mystic Brewery - Tours, samples, growlers
Trillium Brewing Co. - Tours, samples, growlers
Idle Hands Craft Ales - Tours, samples, growlers
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall - Tours, samples, growlers, pints
Boston Beer Co. (Sam Adams) - Tours and samples
Boston Beer Works (Several locations)- Brewpub, tours, growlers
John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House (Several locations) - Brewpub and growlers
Driving
Jack’s Abby Brewing - Tours, samples, growlers, pints
The Tap - Brewpub, tours, growlers
Mayflower Brewing Co. - Tours, samples, growlers
Cape Ann Brewing Co. - Brewpub, tours, growlers
Newburyport Brewing Co. - Tours, samples, growlers
Bars / Restaurants
Ordered loosely based on community preference (but reasonable minds will always differ). Sam Adams and Harpoon have been a mainstay in almost every bar in Boston for a long time, but Boston has seen a tremendous increase over the last few years of craft tap and bottle lists at most restaurants, especially newer ones. You will probably find something decent at most places, however these are some (but definitely not all) restaurants and bars with a heavy craft emphasis. I limited this to Boston/Cambridge area just from sheer volume.
Cambridge / Somerville
Lord Hobo
Redbones
Cambridge Common
Atwood’s Tavern
Olde Magoun’s Saloon
Flatbread Company @ Sacco’s
Green Street Grill
The Asgard
Russell House Tavern
Meadhall
Bukowski Tavern
Allston / Brighton / Brookline
Publick House
Deep Ellum
Sunset Grill & Tap
The Avenue
The Abbey
Hops ‘n Scotch
Back Bay / Kenmore
Salty Pig
Parish Cafe
Eastern Standard
Lower Depths
Island Creek Oyster Bar
Yard House
Bukowski Tavern
Cornwall’s
Downtown / South End
Saus
Row 34
jm Curley
Stoddard’s Fine Food & Ales
Picco
Kinsale
Tip Tap Room
Coda
Local 149
Jacob Wirth
Jamaica Plain/West Roxbury
Canary Square
Brendan Behan Pub
Centre Street Sanctuary
Milky Way Lounge
Galway House
Vee Vee
James's Gate
Eugene O'Neill's
Porter Cafe
Stores
City stores are in alphabetical order, because I couldn't really get a good consensus on order. Each of these will carry a majority of what's available in distribution or have a nicely curated selection. Check the map above for closest to where you will be. Suburb stores are the ones most frequently recommended outside the city. Also note: Due to liquor store chain laws, some locations of large supermarket or convenience chains will carry alcohol and some will not.
Greater City
Ball Square Fine Wines & Liquor
Bauer Wine & Spirits
Bay State Foods
Blanchard's of Allston
Boston Wine Exchange
Charles Street Liquors
DownTown Wine & Spirits
Federal Wine & Spirits
Liquor World
Marty’s Fine Wines
Social Wines
Streetcar Wine & Beer
Urban Grape
Suburbs
Craft Beer Cellar
Julio’s Liquors
Gordon’s Fine Wines & Liquors
Redstone Liquors
Yankee Spirits - Attleboro
Acton Wine & Spirit Co.
Berman’s Wine & Spirits
Granite Liquors - Weymouth
General Boston Notes:
Massachusetts stores are not allowed to fill growlers or operate taprooms. Also, breweries are only able to fill their own branded growlers, so keep the cost or deposit of the growler in mind when estimating costs. It is also illegal to have happy hours in Boston, so don't bother searching for the best drink specials (although you can find food specials around).
On the subject of food, check out the Boston Chowhound board for any and all questions regarding that topic.
Parking is generally difficult city-wide, so you may want to plan for this if you do decide to drive into the city. Consider walking or renting bikes from the Hubway bike stations around town. Boston is a beautiful walking city, and is growing more bike friendly by the day (although still a little dangerous in spots).
The MBTA is Boston's public transportation system. By and large, it is decent and many (if not most) locals rely on it in lieu of a car (although we all love to complain about it). Google Maps has the "T", the sometimes above-ground subway, and bus lines integrated into its maps. It's fairly accurate, but for complete schedules go to MBTA.com.
The T shuts down around 1am, so overpriced taxis will be your only way to get home from bars, which mostly close at 2am. Boston city cabs are required to to take credit cards (but will often protest), but the same is not true for Cambridge and other surrounding towns. There are also taxi service apps (such as Uber, Lyft, or Sidecar), but use these at your own risk.
Map
This guide in mapform.
Breweries
Ordered loosely based on community visit preference. Be aware, some breweries have limited visitation or tour times.
MBTA Accessible
Cambridge Brewing Co. - Brewpub and growlers
Night Shift Brewery - Tours, samples, growlers, pints
Mystic Brewery - Tours, samples, growlers
Trillium Brewing Co. - Tours, samples, growlers
Idle Hands Craft Ales - Tours, samples, growlers
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall - Tours, samples, growlers, pints
Boston Beer Co. (Sam Adams) - Tours and samples
Boston Beer Works (Several locations)- Brewpub, tours, growlers
John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House (Several locations) - Brewpub and growlers
Driving
Jack’s Abby Brewing - Tours, samples, growlers, pints
The Tap - Brewpub, tours, growlers
Mayflower Brewing Co. - Tours, samples, growlers
Cape Ann Brewing Co. - Brewpub, tours, growlers
Newburyport Brewing Co. - Tours, samples, growlers
Bars / Restaurants
Ordered loosely based on community preference (but reasonable minds will always differ). Sam Adams and Harpoon have been a mainstay in almost every bar in Boston for a long time, but Boston has seen a tremendous increase over the last few years of craft tap and bottle lists at most restaurants, especially newer ones. You will probably find something decent at most places, however these are some (but definitely not all) restaurants and bars with a heavy craft emphasis. I limited this to Boston/Cambridge area just from sheer volume.
Cambridge / Somerville
Lord Hobo
Redbones
Cambridge Common
Atwood’s Tavern
Olde Magoun’s Saloon
Flatbread Company @ Sacco’s
Green Street Grill
The Asgard
Russell House Tavern
Meadhall
Bukowski Tavern
Allston / Brighton / Brookline
Publick House
Deep Ellum
Sunset Grill & Tap
The Avenue
The Abbey
Hops ‘n Scotch
Back Bay / Kenmore
Salty Pig
Parish Cafe
Eastern Standard
Lower Depths
Island Creek Oyster Bar
Yard House
Bukowski Tavern
Cornwall’s
Downtown / South End
Saus
Row 34
jm Curley
Stoddard’s Fine Food & Ales
Picco
Kinsale
Tip Tap Room
Coda
Local 149
Jacob Wirth
Jamaica Plain/West Roxbury
Canary Square
Brendan Behan Pub
Centre Street Sanctuary
Milky Way Lounge
Galway House
Vee Vee
James's Gate
Eugene O'Neill's
Porter Cafe
Stores
City stores are in alphabetical order, because I couldn't really get a good consensus on order. Each of these will carry a majority of what's available in distribution or have a nicely curated selection. Check the map above for closest to where you will be. Suburb stores are the ones most frequently recommended outside the city. Also note: Due to liquor store chain laws, some locations of large supermarket or convenience chains will carry alcohol and some will not.
Greater City
Ball Square Fine Wines & Liquor
Bauer Wine & Spirits
Bay State Foods
Blanchard's of Allston
Boston Wine Exchange
Charles Street Liquors
DownTown Wine & Spirits
Federal Wine & Spirits
Liquor World
Marty’s Fine Wines
Social Wines
Streetcar Wine & Beer
Urban Grape
Suburbs
Craft Beer Cellar
Julio’s Liquors
Gordon’s Fine Wines & Liquors
Redstone Liquors
Yankee Spirits - Attleboro
Acton Wine & Spirit Co.
Berman’s Wine & Spirits
Granite Liquors - Weymouth
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