Watch City Brewing Co.

Watch City Brewing Co.Watch City Brewing Co.
Watch City Brewing Co.Watch City Brewing Co.
Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

256 Moody St
Waltham, Massachusetts, 02453
United States

// CLOSED //
BEER STATS
Average:
3.69
Beers:
64
Ratings:
431
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.81
Reviews:
84
Ratings:
95
pDev:
10.5%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Davepoolesque:
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Rated by Davepoolesque from Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -27.8%

May 23, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.25 by mbonugli from Maine

Jun 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by portia99 from Massachusetts

May 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by pfhanlon from Massachusetts

Apr 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by coombski from Maine

Mar 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by HattedClassic from Virginia

Mar 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by jwps214 from Massachusetts

Mar 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by williahd from Maine

Feb 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by cellardwellersbrew from Arizona

Jan 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Plissken from Massachusetts

Nov 10, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by Campello_IPA from Massachusetts

Nov 01, 2013
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Reviewed by ExtraStout from Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -15.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Very disappointed in the beer selection available. Didn't even have their flagship beers??? Website not updated with offerings. Service was a little better than average but it was pretty dead in there. I had the steak and cheese and my wife had a cheeseburger, both were very good. We went for the beer, not the food, and were surprised by both.
Jul 28, 2013
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Reviewed by koopa from New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Visited here on the way home from Portsmouth New Hampshire last month.

Atmosphere: Place looks like an old movie theater on the outside. Corner location where I can just visualize matinee signage adorning it's facade. Inside the ceilings are fairly high, lots of table seating, a fairly good sized bar, and a couple of small tv's off to the side. Not the most intimate set up but very conducive to a fun Fri/Sat night crowd I'm sure.

Quality: Beers were good but not great. The IPA which the server raved about was a far cry from rave worthy. Had a nice cask conditioned DIPA though.

Service: Obnoxiously commanding but friendly at the same time. Highly opinionated server kept trying to tell me what to order and what order to drink my flight samples in. I'm glad that she was making recommendations but she was barking them like orders and picking the wrong patron to do so to. Still she was attentive and friendly so I'll give her a 4.0

Selection: Not too many choices on the beer menu or on the brunch menu.

Food: I enjoyed my monte cristo on the Sunday Beer Brunch menu. Not world class by any means but mighty tasty.

Value: Prices were reasonable.
Sep 23, 2012
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Reviewed by GarthDanielson from Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Stumbled upon this place after a weekend south of Boston. We were heading north, punched up some options into a Beer-finding app on the phone, and this popped up on our route home. The place is in a neat little downtown area; very old school feel in the neighborhood. As you walk in, you walk past some brewing equipment that is likely for display only...didn't look attached to anything significant. You also walk past some of the recent medals the brewery has received in different competitions. You enter right up to the end of the center bar, which loops around in two different sides, opening up to two different open seating areas. Plenty of swag for sale as you walk in, as well asbombers, grolwers (64 oz), and growlettes (32 oz) for beer to go. Once seated, there is a decent menu of pub fare, with a ton of lunch and happy hour specials offered throughout the week. The food was tasty and very well portioned, allowing for a good balance to go with all the tasty brews. The beer list was decent, with 8 brews on tap. They rotate fairly often, depending on when the kegs run dry, and they have posted what is currently brewing so that people who frequent the establishment can plan accordingly. Sampler paddles come with 4 brews, so by ordering 2 you can try everything the brewery is currently pouring. The staff was very nice and very helpful, and our waitress was actually pretty knowledgable about the beer Watch City had available, as well as the beer scene in Boston, in general. We were pretty impressed on our visit. Overall, the prices were pretty reasonable, and we left with meals, a growler, and bomber, and a couple of very full, satiated bellies. We will definitely swing by this place again when in the area.
Sep 16, 2012
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Reviewed by rinypa from Rhode Island

2.78/5  rDev -27%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3.5 | service: 1 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
beer and food were good. some interesting belgians and a very good "northwest style" brown ale. the space was nice, two high-ceilinged rooms divided by a double-sided bar.

I made the mistake of sitting at that bar. the bartender was terrible. He focused on doing everything but serving the people sitting right in front of him. He never smiled, barely looked at his customers and only spoke to them if you asked him something. I had to get his attention to request my samplers, food order, and pint. He left my empty pint glass sitting on the bar for 10 minutes, then cleared it away without asking if I wanted another. It's like he didn't want to sell beer!

The other people sitting at the bar got the same passive-agressive treatment so no one stuck around too long. Just bizzare... If I happened to be out in Waltham again (a pretty scruffy place) I would go back, but make sure to sit at a table. It's unfortunate since with a decent bartender the atmosphere could have been great.

**

went back a second time. different 'tender, same indifferent service at the bar. This is a brewpub! you sell beer! people who drink beer tend to sit at bars! please don't be so indifferent toward them!

All I can think is that the people who own this place are making $ and don't care. I would imagine there's a steady flow of visitors from people going to Brandeis so they don't have to work to hard.

I was less impressed the second time around with the beer itself. Summer Ale - blech, like most. Saison is passable but a bit heavy, not much floral character. I did not try Green Tea IPA because my well-honed intuition told me it was not going to be a happy pint... oh yeah, and because the bartender was too busy trying to find something besides the Olympics to watch.

By the way, i would be shocked if the first review in this thread was not from the place itself ("Be sure to try the pumpikin ale in the fall!" is not a thing that most paying customers would write).
Aug 04, 2012
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Reviewed by CavePainter from Massachusetts

2.65/5  rDev -30.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 3 | food: 2
I was super excited to visit my neighborhood brewpub for the first time. Alas, I've been subsequently disappointed each time I visit. My complaints revolve around two points.

Beer: This is a brewpub. The reason people go to a brewpub is for the beer. While I've had a decent pint at Watch City, I've never had a beer that's really impressed me. Furthermore, I've had some real clunkers; beer that I wouldn't even serve as a homebrewer. They also seem to have some line issues and problems with keeping their growlers fresh.

Service: Service here can be downright terrible. For Example -Early on, I purchased a mug for the mug-club. I then lost the number of my mug. On two separate occasions I've been told that I am SOL by my server. Not what I wanted to hear after paying good money to join.

Staff is standoffish, can be rude, impatient, etc. Food is decent, but nothing to rave about either. Again, it is a consistency thing.

I really want Watch City to get its act together so I can love them. I'll still pop in now and again.
Jul 08, 2011
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Reviewed by BeTheBall from Florida

3.23/5  rDev -15.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Had dinner with a friend last night, first time in a long time. Food consists of mainly sandwiches, burgers, salads, and a few pricey entrees ($17 for fish & chips?). We split Nachos w/ Turkey chili. Chips came plain in one bowl, chili and melted cheese in a blob on another plate. Have not really seen this presentation befoer, but once combined it was pretty tasty. I ate the IPA Lamb Burger which had some sort of Blue Cheese spread on the top, in a nice roll. It was tasty, and the accompanying fries were good.
Well, I went really to try their beer. In general, I would say good, but not great. I started with Black Twig, a black IPA. It was advertised as a big hop bomb, but honestly, I was wondering where the hops were. It was smooth, but not what I expected. Next a nitro Irish Red Ale. Again, smooth and easy to drink, but nothing stellar. finished with Titan Ale, a smoooth and tasty brown ale. It was good with food, and also easy to drink.
There were 3 cask beers, all with bacon, plus other ingredients. I tried a sample of one with ginger and coriander (I think). All I got was salty bacon. It wasn't bad, but I don't know if I could do a whole pint.
We sat at the bar, as I often do. Servie at bars is usually awesome, and some good converstations are usually had. Our bartender, while nice, was always distracted. Took ages to clear dirty stuff, and basically we had to interrupt whatever he was supposedly busy with to order anything. Not once did he come to us and ask if we needed anything. A big turn-off.
In summary, there wasn't any beer that was memorable for me, none that will have me wanting to rush back there, but they were all decent, and certainly way better than your usual BMC offerings at many other local spots.
Apr 22, 2011
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Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -7.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Visited Watch City yesterday for the first time in years. The bar is open and airy with plenty of tvs. We sat at a table for two in near a window in the front of the restaurant. The atmosphere was laid back with a combination of locals and college students. For a football Sunday, the place was far from overpacked. They had about seven beers on tap. Most were very creative with a spearmint ipa and a very chocolaty porter being the highlights. Most pints were about $5.50, except specialty pints for about $7. The food was slightly expensive as well. I had an Asaigo cheese skirt steak sandwich with sweet potato fries which was very good. Service was a bit absent. They were quick to get us samples of a couple beers, but after taking our order they were hard to track down despite the sparse crowd. i was never asked if I wanted a second round. Overall, I would go back for the creativity of the beers. However, the service has never been great here and it is a bit pricier for the value of what is purchased than most micro-brews.
Jan 17, 2011
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Reviewed by hudsonvalleyslim from Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -27.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 2.5 | selection: 2.5 | food: 3
Just returned from the Watch City Brewery, a place I've been visiting for many years. This afternoon I had a bowl of turkey chili ($7) a Titan Brown, and a Hops Explosion ($5.50 a pop). No worries.

I've often gone back and forth on my experience in Watch City. That I return several times a year over maybe a decade tells me that there is something good going on here. And yet, as seems to be the case with many customers here, there seem to be some issues that don't go away. The service is generally iffy at the bar, even in slow times. The least a bartender can do is keep yer glass full, c'mon folks!

Some of the brews, especially the couple I had this afternoon, are excellent. Titan Brown is a full-bodied malt, a fine ale. The Hops Explosion has been changed from the in-your-face variety to a more pedestrian IPA. But oftentimes I don't find much that really interests me here. The brewer is very experimental, which I like, and tending towards Belgian yeast it seems. Which is not my cup of tea.

And so, a nice place for fresh beer on Moody Street in Waltham. Bison County across the street has a nice selection of brews and BBQ as well.
Nov 28, 2010
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Reviewed by deafcat from Washington

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I've been here a few times now; it's a nice place. Large, open restaurant. First time I came here it was mid-day and the place was empty. Had a burger and what was to be a Belgian pale ale. Good burger, good brew, nice pairing. Waitress didn't seem to know too much about what beers went with which meals but it was the middle of the day and the place was mostly empty.

Second time I came here, sat in the "bar" area which has more of a sports bar than a brewpub feel, with much of the focus on the TVs (might have been because the Pats were playing and most of the patrons were watching). Tried the pumpkin ale and some fries; both were solid choices. This time, the waiter had a little bit more insight to offer about the brews.

Definitely a nice place if you're in the area. Not sure it's worth it to drive out from the city as someplace like CBC or John Harvard's could give a similar experience. Still, a nice place for dinner and some solid brews.

One little thing - one of the beers was described as having a "pacific northwest attitude." Having grown up in the PNW I'm not totally sure what this means. Weirdly, I tried the brew - tasted like home. So bonus points for interesting beer descriptions.
Nov 06, 2010
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Reviewed by FrankLloydMike from Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +15.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I wasn't even aware of the existence of this place until trying a Watch City beer on tap at the Flatbread in Somerville a few months ago. I was impressed and interested in checking out another brewpub in metro Boston, so I made the way out here after work in late August for a beer and dinner with my father, who was passing through.

I got here early, so I walked up to the bar and a had a beer solo before dinner and a second pint. The place is very attractive--an old, understated Art Deco building inside and out with a nice, it faces the corner with large windows and high ceilings inside. The interior has a sort of casual elegance that reminds me of some sort of mix between the Flat Street Pub in Brattleboro and Toad in Cambridge. It's a very nice space with seating on either side around a central bar, and is a big departure from the layout of the CBC. I really enjoyed flipping through Yankee Brew News while enjoying the excellent Hops Expolsion IPA, and taking in the surroundings.

Once my dad showed up, we had a couple delicious sandwiches with stellar sweet potato fries and a nice round of well-made, fresh ales. The prices and service were both very agreeable. If I could change anything about this place, I'd extend the Green Line out to it or something. This is a place I've been eager to return to since visiting, but have yet to trek out to again. Next time I go, though, I'll definitely be picking up a bomber on the way out.
Nov 02, 2010
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Reviewed by harsley from Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -13.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
I have to admit I was not super impressed with this place. The atmosphere was alright and we determined it would be a good place to have a beer and watch a game or something but not the best for hanging at night.

Service was slow. The food wasn't bad. Wings were good, onions rings sucked, can't remember what we had for dinner but it was okay. Nothing special but not bad by any means.

They didn't have the best beer selection. One thing I will give them credit for is they seem to rotate all their taps nicely, but they should really have some main-stays on at all times. Their only IPA had mint in it and we weren't too impressed with the other beers we had. Again, they were good but nothing was great. They were all served too warm too. I know beer geeks will give me shit for this since they shouldn't be ice cold, but the tap beers came at cellar temp and the cask was room temp, which for this guy was just too warm. It was a warm night and a colder beer would've been appreciated.

Anyway...I'll go back eventually because it's close to me and has fresh beer so I'll give it another shot. Hopefully they have some better beers on tap.
Oct 21, 2010
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Reviewed by MichaelinFishers from Indiana

3.65/5  rDev -4.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Visited on Wed 8/25/2010 at around 8:30pm for just beers. Comments on the food are based on a previous visit, date forgotten.

Atmosphere is nothing special. The bar sits in the middle of the place with two ample seating areas on either side. Lighting is fairly dim, noise level is moderately high, but mostly conversation.

They have a good selection, but just their own stuff. Guest taps would have bumped this to a 4.5 or 5. A very wide range of their own brews though, from a Vanilla Creme Ale up through an Imperial Stout. Certainly something for everyone.

Unfortunately, the beers didn't quite hold up tonight. Everything seemed a little flat. In order to get a decent head on anything, the bartender had to let the beer fall eight inches into the glass below for all or part of the pour.

Prices for the beer are a bit steep ($5.50 for pints of the regulars, $6.50 for 14oz snifters of the imperials), but the food was quite reasonable. Food was good, not great, but above average bar food.

Finally, I didn't catch the bartender's name, but he was very responsive to paid orders and requests for samples. Once again, not spectacular, but solid.

I'm out here on business frequently and would come back.
Aug 26, 2010
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Reviewed by BogleHill from Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Easily my favorite brewpub in Eastern Massachusetts. They have a solid selection of regular brews, but area always willing to try something new and interesting. Sometimes it works, and sometimes, oh well. The atmosphere is always vibrant with the wraparound bar and lots of seating for groups of friends. The food is above average pub fare. The beer battered fries melt in your mouth! Unlike the places in and around Boston, the crowd at Watch City always tends to be a mix of peoples. This is not really a tourist destination or a college geek hangout. Be sure not to miss the Pumpkin Ale in the fall! After beers and dinner, I usually pop over to Lizzy's Ice Cream up the street for a great homemade frozen treat.
Jul 27, 2010
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Reviewed by DrJay from Texas

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
I've stopped in here a few times now since moving to the Boston area. They always seem to have 7-8 beers available, often a cask offering as one of those. Styles vary enough to keep things interesting, particularly if you like hops and/or hearty ales. Beer quality is above average overall, but individual beers range from being merely okay to being quite good. Service has been solid and the waitstaff that I've encountered have been able to help others at my table with appropriate beer choices. The food is solid, but nothing has really stood out as a must-have on the next visit. Definitely worth stopping in for a pint and a bite to eat, particularly if you're in the area.
Jun 12, 2010
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Reviewed by jneiswender from Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
My wife and I attended this place while in Waltham. Public parking (pay) is around the corner in a parking garage. Seating has options at the bar, in the dining area or in a small alcove that gets quite a bit of sun. The food was decent. The slider burgers were quite good. I had the fish and chips were good. The special dipping sauce was particularly good. The service was attentive and knowledgeable. The beers were ranged from okay to quite good. Growlers are available. Prices are around under $10 for lunch and $15 and over for dinner.
May 10, 2010
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Reviewed by SevaTse from New Hampshire

4.45/5  rDev +16.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Stopped by on the way to Foxboro on a Saturday afternoon. The staff was pretty friendly. The selection of beer was pretty decent. It was written out on signs that stood at every table, complete with descriptions, alcohol content, serving size, type of glass, and price- very nice move, as many places feel that this information would not be of interest to their clients! The food menu was pretty impressive, to me- standard bar fare plus stuff like lamb burger, kobe beef meatloaf, etc. the fries were pretty good, too. the waiter was friendly, and when he took a small break, another gentleman made sure that we weren't left without any beer. one other major plus for me was that they said they would fill a growler that is not from there!

I haven't heard about this place before, so I'm glad that I found it and will def. stop by on the way to other NE Revolution games later on, esp. given that I can get my growler filled for tailgating!
Apr 26, 2010
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Reviewed by youbrewidrink from Vermont

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
I stopped by here for lunch on my way to NotF. The beer selection was 6-7 beers of very differing varieties. I had a plum whit and the pumpkin. Both were very drinkable, but nothing remarkable.

I had the Cuban Pannini which was very tasty. If the rest of the food is like this the food wins out over the beer. The resturant side of things was very busy, not so much at the bar.

The bartender was pleasant and efficient, but there was not a whole lot of dialouge, even with the regulars.

If in town, stop by. I would not go very far out of my way to drink the beer, the food maybe.
Oct 20, 2009
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Reviewed by j37geogaddi from Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
They churn out some awesome beers here and typically have a nice variety to choose from. No they don't have the most extensive list of beers to choose from anywhere, but the styles are well-represented.

The atmosphere is very comfortable and though the place can be slow at times, it also can get pretty packed.

Food is very unpredictable. I've tried some damn tasty dishes there and then been totally let down by some incredibly dissapointing offerings...

Either way- its an awesome brewpub that is most definitely worth a visit or 2 or 3...
Aug 19, 2009
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Reviewed by bilyboy65 from Colorado

3.83/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I visited this establishment for dinner around 6-7pm on a Tuesday. It was pretty empty and relaxing. The decor is made up of a neutral color on the wall with pieces of art hanging on them. The tables were standard bar tables and booths. The bar is in the middle of the place with decent amount of tvs for watching. The bar tender was very nice and pretty much on top of things. Didn't seem to keen on elaborating on questions asked. They offer a full lineup of beer styles, plus some seasonals. Food was tastey and came out pretty quick. Overall I'd say the experience was pretty good with a reasonable price.
Aug 15, 2009
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Reviewed by BeerSox from Virginia

4/5  rDev +5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Located in the "downtown" area of a Boston suburb, relatively close to a major highway and several businesses. The place is about medium-sized but doesn't stick out too much. Parking can be found on the street or at a close-by parking garage (about $.50 per hour) on Pine St.

There is a good list of beers on tap, maybe 6 or 7 from what I recall, ranging from lighter styles to dark stouts. I ordered the IPA which was well done. Prices are fair. The service was quick and attentive and the food came out quickly.

The seating is restaurant-style with a large bar in the middle, equipped with TVs. There are a lot of seats available. There are also fans on the ceiling, which when running at high speed tend to blow the paper menus around.

The food was decent with the standard pub fair, nothing too pricey. There are appetizers, burgers, and salads.

Not a bad place, and I can imagine this being a staple for my future visits to the Waltham area.
Aug 08, 2009
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Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev +5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Solid brewpub, away from Boston and near a major highway. Attractive medium sized place, staff knowledge of the beers was passable. I would not call this a friendly place, but people were relaxed and staff was on top of it. In a word, good beer is the reason to be here. Nothing floored me, but it was a solid lineup between the stout, scotch, and IPA, and a totally different stout was on cask. It is also a short drive to two Gordon Liquor locations, another plus if you are just passing through, like us. Must stop if you are in the area.
Jul 15, 2009
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Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Stopped in last night to meet up with a couple friends, one in the area for work that I had not seen for a long time. Got the address from web, mapped it, easy to find, parking not quite so much, but probably because I'm more a country mouse. I was early though, and drove around eventually finding how to get into the parking area I could see behind the brewpub.

Initially sat at the bar, bartender was reasonably attentive, within reach when hailed for sure. Had a couple brews and apps, plenty of napkins provided with the wings without having to ask for more was a nice touch. Beers were presented in pint glasses, and were reasonable representations of the style.

Food reviews were mixed at our table once our last member joined us and we moved to a table. (Wings and bar fries at bar were great!) Had to flag someone down to order after having menus for 10+ minutes. Chicken Parm entree got rave reviews. Chips and salsa found the chips plentiful and tasty, salsa all chunk, not much sauce. Salad was good, clam chowder was extra thick, and was noted as having been overspiced with an odd flavor that didn't work for him and was not eaten, which was not addressed by the wait staff.

Overall to me, this falls into the standard brewpub, and I would visit again if in the area. Relatively easy to get to from MA Pike. Some bottle and growler options in cooler for take home, although somewhat of a hassle because hostess has to take money, pay bartender, who has to make change, which finally gets delivered with product. Nonetheless, good time was had by all.

Parting thought - the brewing tanks an equipment in the glassed in area at front looked dusty and in disuse (empty disposable cocktail glass on one tank), do they still brew on-premise?
Jun 18, 2009
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Reviewed by tmitch75 from Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Stopped in for a pint and a bite on Wednesday afternoon (5/6/09) while in town on a business trip. I'm glad I did. Pretty typical pub atmosphere with a nice layout (I'm a big fan of the two-sided bar).

It must've been happy hour, the bartender told me right off that appetizers were half off. $4.50 for the Herb Sirloin Asiago Sliders was a good deal, great for a snack or light meal. The rest of the menu looked pretty good, decent selection of pub grub with what I assume to be decent prices for the area.

I had two beers, neither of which are listed on here. Unfortunately I didn't take notes of the specific names, but they aren't listed on Watch City's website either. One was Rye Rye Captain Ale (or something to that affect), a rye beer brewed with caraway seeds. Lighter color and body than I expected but quite tasty and drinkable. The other was an ESB with a name I can't quite remember, a passable version of the style but not particularly memorable.

Service was great, bartender was very attentive without hovering and food came pretty quick. Bartender was working hard too, the place wasn't packed but he was always washing glasses or doing something to keep ahead of the game.

They also offered growlers to go as well as bombers of their special Barleywine in addition to t-shirts, glassware, and a few other items for nerds like myself.

Overall it was a cool place and I'm very happy to have had the opportunity to check it out. I'd recommend it to anyone who has the chance.
May 10, 2009
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Reviewed by LHuoppi from Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I have been to Watch City many times. I like the atmosphere, they play pretty good music and usually have sports playing on the TV. Its a decent sized place. They have artwork on the walls created by local artists.

They have a good selection of beers. Some regular brews and some seasonal selections. My favorites are the Hops Explosion IPA and the FNA Double IPA. They are reasonably priced and they sell bombers and growlers if you want to take some brews home.

They have good food, a little on the pricey side for entrees. The mac n cheese is good but expensive, around $15. They make a good burger, and have awesome french fries. The herb sirloin and asiago cheese sandwich is good too.

I went to their 13th anniversary party where they had the usual suspects on tap, plus a rotating keg line up. Every hour a new beer would be tapped. I really liked the Drop Dead Red, which was a limited edition imperial red ale.

Their new brew, Hell Hammer stout was pretty tasty.
Apr 15, 2009
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Reviewed by Reagan1984 from Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -0.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
Over the past number of year's I've been to Watch City a few times. This is the first time I made a bit of an effort to consider what I think of the place and the beers. The service was very helpful and the person working the bar was quite nice and helpful. About 10 of us then moved to a table and they did keep the beers coming as quickly as we ordered them.

I enjoyed their Hops Explosion IPA and the Titan Brown Ale. Both were very good. Had an order of boneless buffalo wings that were very good. Also at the larger table we split an order of nachos. A bit strange in that they had all the fixings melted into one bowl and a separate bowl of chips. More of a dip. Tasted good though. A buddy of ours got a burger and the thing was huge. I didn't try it but he said it was very good.

I did sample their Barleywine (Burleywine) and it was o.k.

Definitely a good place to stop for a beer when in Waltham. Truth be told, I think the food is superior at Bison County across the street. Stop here for a beer and go there for food. (they have a good beer selection as well)
Mar 15, 2009
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Reviewed by Reiksguard from Rhode Island

3.48/5  rDev -8.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
Stopped in to Watch City for a bite to eat while in Waltham for business. Overall, the place was a little dead, but it was a Tuesday night, so I can't expect too much. Their selection was not as wide as I would have liked to have seen - nothing outside the normal (brown ales, blondes, IPA), with the exception of their Uber-October beir. The Uber-Marzen was actually very good. High alcohol (~9%) but you would not know it - very smooth and had a lot of malt character.

I would certainly give this place a try. I have always been a fan of brewpubs, as they can give you a more risky selections than traditional beer bars can.
Feb 25, 2009
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Reviewed by tittymcj from Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev +8.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
This is a nice little restaurant on Moody Street, in Waltham. Just off Main Street, not a lot of parking, but easy to get to.

The layout is a little strange, there are a bunch of tables ringing around the bar, so that the bar area is the center of the entire place. Very little seating at the actual bar, which is slightly inconvenient.

They only serve beers that they brew, so there isn't a great variety available, but I think they do their best to brew different styles so nobody feels discriminated against. All the beers I've tried so far have been delicious, and none seem to be far behind the leaders in their category. The servers are friendly, the place is not intimidating, and it's fairly well priced for a brewpub.
Feb 01, 2009
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Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
First of all, I'm shocked that I've never written a review of this place. I've visited it several times over the last few years. Bar and restaurant areas are large and spacious. I'm normally there in the late afternoon when it's a little slow, but it's a good atmosphere that is relaxed amidst the busy downtown section of the city. Service is usually friendly and knows the brewpub's beers well. They only serve their beers, which is fine with me and there's typically a diverse selection as far as styles go. Beer prices and growler fill price are reasonable, especially for the area. The last time I was there on 8/26/08, my friend and I each got one of the last two bombers of Kingpin that had been bottled back in Feb '08. Overall, this is a great place to chill out and drink some good beer. I try to stop by whenever I'm in the vicinity.
Jan 21, 2009
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
I've been going to Watch City for a couple of years now and only just realized that I hadn't rated it. One would not expect a brew pub in the area; it isn't a big city nor does it have a college campus nearby. There are rarely crowds there and I worry that it will go away, which would be a shame as they have made some remarkably good beers.

Watch City isn't very different from all of the other brew pubs you have been to. The menu is typical American bar food--prepared well. The atmosphere is also like most places you've been to. In fact, it's fairly indistinguishable from any standard pub except for the beer, which can be fair to superb. I highly recommend the drawn tap offerings.

If you are visiting Boston, you'll need a car (or cab) to get to this place (parking in the back).
Nov 29, 2008
Watch City Brewing Co. in Waltham, MA
Brewery rating: 3.69 out of 5 with 431 ratings