The Brewmaster's Tavern

Bar, Eatery

4 Main St
Williamsburg, Massachusetts, 01096-9428
United States

(413) 268-7741 | map
brewmasterstavern.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.84
Reviews:
5
Ratings:
5
pDev:
8.85%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews.
Photo of Okisailor
Reviewed by Okisailor from Massachusetts

3.41/5  rDev -11.2%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.25 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.25 | food: 3.75
Tryed a flight of brews with dinner. Of the eight on the flight only 2 stood on their own. Most tasted like average homebrew. The dining and bar areas are large and can accomodate many. The food is basic american fare and is average in quality. I live nearby and rarely go anymore as the beer selections in Northampton are much better.
Jul 02, 2013
Photo of scotorum
Reviewed by scotorum from Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev +9.1%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
My wife and I have been going here to eat since we moved into the area in the early 1970s. In those days it was an enormously popular restaurant known as the Williamsburg Inn. Later it was known as the Christmas Inn, before it was acquired by a restauranteur who had already opened a brewery/restaurant/bar in another town. Evidently the Williamsburg property was bought to provide a spot for expanded brewing as well as serve as a retail outlet for the beer produced there.

We now go there religiously every two weeks or so to have one of the incredible $5 dinner specials, accompanied by a pint of their beer. I'm especially partial to the King Oak Milk Stout.

Their list of Opa-Opa beers has shrunk to about a dozen, no longer served in chilled dimpled mugs but rather now in standard pint glasses.

Since the tavern has been a restaurant and bar since stagecoach days, a lot of early American character remains. When it became Brewmaster Tavern, the back barroom became a bigger focus, while the three front rooms which serve as the dining area were somewhat transformed. Interesting old pictures of the inn of olden days decorate the walls, the huge old c.1800 fireplace was modernized, reproductions replaced some antiques. But worst of all to some of us old-timers, the gorgeous curved Victorian central bar in the main dining room with its coffered front and wondrous two-inch-thick marble top was turned into a room divider to better separate the kitchen and waitstaff area from the diners. The room probably works better as a restaurant that way, but it was a shame to see that beautiful bar submerged under partitions and put mostly out of use.

It is not unusual to hear live music even on weekdays due to meetings and practice sessions held by various musical groups in the front dining room.

Going outside, there is seating at picnic tables and under a tent in a courtyard area. From the back parking lot you can see the brewery, an old timey-looking multi-story structure with some of the tanks and rigging visible through glass. All in all an outstanding place to visit for a meal and/or a pint or two.
Jun 27, 2013
Photo of indiapaleale
Reviewed by indiapaleale from Maine

3.65/5  rDev -4.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Its sort of hard to review the Brewmaster's Tavern. As an establishment its pretty amazing, its a place thats been a tavern or something to that effect for close to 200 hundred years. Exposed beams and wide plank floors make this place very cozy and very New England.

The food is great if you like more upscale pub fare. Where else can you get a Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner all year round as well as a Thanksgiving Pizza! Awesome!

My biggest complaint is with the beer. I feel that this is more a food destination than a beer destination. We were there this evening and they had 7 different fruit beers (lagers and ales that are simply mixed with fruit syrup is my guess). On a Saturday night they were out of both their brown ale and their stout. Also, they serve all of their beers in traditional dimple beer mugs that are kept freezing cold. This leads to beer that instantly loses its carbonation and is void of much taste. Kind of a let down for a brewpub.

Ok, that being said, I did enjoy their Winter Strong Ale. Most of their beers tend to be rather bland however. Waaay too many fruit beers on offer, but hey, if you like fruit beers this is a mecca for you!

Great place, great food, okay beer.
Feb 01, 2009
Photo of fitzy84
Reviewed by fitzy84 from Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Finally ventured to this place tonight and man was it good. Themed like a classical New England tavern, you felt nicely at home in its cozy atmosphere. A bar area is to your side and the dining area is pretty large with lots of old New England flare lining the walls. Its kind of a restaurant you would find in a place like Sturbridge Village if the village was more of an amusement park than historical site.

Food menu had some basic New England grub. I had a Monte Cristo which was delicious. Me and the misses started out with a Crab and Cream Cheese fondue which was out of this world. And the cookie dessert we had was worth its long baking time. Service was decent but for a quiet Saturday night, they seemed to take awhile in responding to us.

Beer was excellent: I had 2 Opa-Opa beers served in wonderful dimple mugs. Price seemed typical for such a nicely themed atmosphere restuarant. Located in scenic Williamsburg, you can easily take a nice trip in the country visiting this wonderful place.
Jul 13, 2008
Photo of ppoitras
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Hit this place on my way to Cummington, MA on Monday. Owned by the peeps who own Opa Opa, I think they stuck with the old New England motif that the place came with, lots of dark wood, etc. Nice homey atmosphere.

On-tap finds about 30 lines, including pretty much a full Opa line of 10 beers or so, and their Root Beer too. From there they filled out the list with a wide-ranging selection, with some European offerings (Guinness, a couple Spatens), and plenty of American micros from far and wide. Tended towards the light, but tis the season. Did notice that Long Trail Alt and Optimator were working to satisfy the dark aficianados, not to mention Opa Southampton Porter and Warthog were in attendence.

Had a Spaten Maibock and a Opa Porter, both served in short wide dimple pint mugs (no frosting!), and both were enjoyable.

Didn't have much for food, just an app of sliders, but they were excellent, even thought the presentation of two tiny burgers and a lonely pickle on a very large serving dish seemed a bit unusual. Menu seemed to lean towards the overall theme of olde New England style offerings.

Will plan on visiting again for a more in-depth examination of the food area. Worth noting that they do plan on adding a brewery to the site.
Jun 03, 2007
The Brewmaster's Tavern in Williamsburg, MA
Place rating: 3.84 out of 5 with 5 ratings