Martha's Exchange

Martha's ExchangeMartha's Exchange
Martha's ExchangeMartha's Exchange
Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

185 Main St
Nashua, New Hampshire, 03060-2701
United States

(603) 883-8781 | map
marthas-exchange.com
BEER STATS
Average:
3.61
Beers:
94
Ratings:
270
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.78
Reviews:
60
Ratings:
78
pDev:
11.38%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jfcaa193:
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Rated by jfcaa193 from Canada (QC)

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

Jul 14, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Aug 22, 2020
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Reviewed by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
Massive rustic (old) restaurant brewery on the main drag in Nashua. Large U-shaped faux stone bar runs perpendicular for the length of the room and seats at least 50. There are numerous tables, and booths, as well as, outdoor sidewalk cafe seating. The brewhouse is laid out along the right hand wall and also runs most of the length of the room. Service was initially very slow, perhaps the shift was just coming on, but as things picked up it was much better. 10 assorted beers on tap - nice mix - and happy hour 2 for 1 deal is great. The 2 I had were good. The calamari was memorably excellent. I look forward to stopping back whenever I'm in the neighborhood.
Jun 01, 2018
 
Rated: 3.74 by KMcGrath from Massachusetts

Feb 14, 2018
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Reviewed by maxlogan from New Hampshire

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
hands down the best happy hour around. 2 for 1 drinks and half-priced appetizers 4pm-6pm. order your first drink by 6:00, enjoy it, and order your second when you are good and ready. add to that martha's is a brewery that makes excellent beer, and this place is a "must" for any beer drinker visiting he area. all beers are good; i especially enjoy their ipas. he only has 8-10 taps for several dozen recipes, so the beers rotate frequently. a cask is tapped every thursday and when it is gone it is gone.
Jan 15, 2018
 
Rated: 3.98 by 2ellas from New Hampshire

May 22, 2017
 
Rated: 3.66 by tmac from New Hampshire

Feb 21, 2016
 
Rated: 4.06 by hop_junkie from New Hampshire

Dec 13, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

Sep 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.43 by jco3 from New Hampshire

Mar 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by terry33 from Virginia

Dec 09, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by amarkow2 from Georgia

Nov 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by stlpatrick from New Hampshire

Oct 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by JKV96 from Massachusetts

Sep 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by mbonugli from Maine

Jun 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by BierBliss from New Hampshire

Apr 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by coombski from Maine

Mar 29, 2014
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Reviewed by bigorange from Massachusetts

2.15/5  rDev -43.1%
vibe: 2 | quality: 1.75 | service: 3 | selection: 2 | food: 1.75
I have been a patron of Martha's Exchange for longer than it has been a brewery/restaurant. Since the 70's if you count from when I was a child. There isn't much to say about the place other than it has potential. The state of the establishment has been downright terrible for decades. The owner obviously doesn't care about the condition of the place.

The restaurant is reasonably clean but not kept up. The same broken fixtures have been in place for decades.

The bathrooms are grotesque. More suitable for a gas station or fraternity. As with the restaurant, the same broken urinal remained for 5+ years and it has never smelled clean.

The food is simply prepared and of a chain restaurant quality. A decent range of choices. For what it is, it's over priced.

Their beer is poor to acceptable at best. I haven't found a solidly balanced standard brew nor a well done creative experimental beer. They offer both but just don't seem to nail either. They don't offer much of an interesting range other than their own. They attract a lot of A-B type patrons.

The service is ok. Kind of friendly dolled up 20 something year old girls meet you and decent wait staff and bartenders.

The atmosphere is poor. The potential is there as the place has a grand history, ornate décor, a beautiful bar and a great location on main street.

The owner should be ashamed he has let the place go as far down as he has. He has always been pleasant to me, remembers me even if it's been years since I have been in but has the reputation as a terrible boss and someone not to do business with.

Potential, lot's of potential.
Mar 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Stoutmeister from Massachusetts

Mar 09, 2014
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Reviewed by hudsonvalleyslim from Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Hadn't been here in a several years, but I gots to give some love to the the bartending staff. They were enthusiastic, obviously having a good time, and never left me with an empty glass. I live in Boston and service like this is a crapshoot. Martha's features solid ales. The IPA and Stout were nice. Rockin' joint at night, if yer in the area, you gots to go.

(Halloween 2022) I like this place. Had the Fresh Hop IPA - on draft excellent, canned product OK.
Feb 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by infuturity83 from Massachusetts

Nov 03, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Rekrule from Massachusetts

Nov 02, 2013
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Reviewed by jbertsch from Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I had been to M.E. a few times years ago. Visited recently and noticed some updates were made.

It's a touch more modern now (think Cheesecake Factory-like touches). But half of the place still has the old-world wood.

It's suitable for everyone. Singles and families, alike. There's a big bar area, as well as a big restaurant/table area. White table cloths are used, but it's not real fancy. There's an in-house desert/candy shop off to the side where you can buy little chocolates as you leave.

They make their own beer here, and it's enjoyable. There were maybe 8 different ones when we were there, plus a cask. I had their marzen/oktoberfest which was spot on (quite surprising, actually), and a red which was solid. The double ipa I got a taste of was aggressive in hops (which I like to see) and read that some of the hops used come form the owner's garden, which were used for dry hopping. Tasty, but seemed the malt backbone was a bit too sweet for my tastes. The pumpkin doppelbock on cask was more easy-drinking than I expected...though I just had a couple sips.

The waitresses were all willing to give you samples of beers. It's easy if you sit at the bar. All the waitresses waited on us, not just one person. They were all friendly and attentive.

My wife and I got the same dinner... a medley of greek food on a platter. It was tasty and we were both satisfied.

We actually really enjoyed our visit. I was impressed by the beers and the food was quite satisfying. The atmosphere mainly seems like locals who may not all know much (or care about) the house made beers. It's all good though. Chill place. I'd definitely go back.
Sep 25, 2012
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Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +5.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I've been to Martha's quite a few times and I'm kind of surprised I haven't rated this before now. So Martha's is a brew pub on the main drag (Main St) through downtown Nashua. They have no off street parking, but the parking garage on high street is free after 6pm and on the weekend if you can't find something on street. The menu has standard pub fare as well as some more exotic dinners, I like the Spicy Caribbean Jerk Chicken for example. There are usually 6 or 7 house brews on tap and once a week they tap a cask. The beer is usually solid and sometimes exceptional. I've always received prompt attention from the staff. Prices seem to be in line with similar establishments and the candy counter is a surefire way to get my wife to come with me. The one downside is at 10 pm on the weekend the place turns into a dance club so its best to avoid unless you are into that sort of thing.
Feb 27, 2012
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Reviewed by GarthDanielson from Virginia

3.65/5  rDev -3.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Beer and candy, what could be better? We stopped in for dessert and beer, and were not disappointed on either front. Tons of candy available when you first walk in. The place has a decent feel to it, with a pretty slick looking bar and a ton of seating throughout. If you walk all the way to the right of the bar, you can see the tanks from the brewery. We went on a Saturday night, and the place was packed. Food was decent and reasonably priced, and there was plenty of it. Very healthy portions. Good selection of beer...I think they had 8 or so on tap. They have a cask every week, and the beers rotate, but they also sell out quick. Our waitress was very helpful and friendly, and very prompt. The prices were not bad at all, and I look forward to visiting again. Decent place to swing by if you find yourself in downtown Nashua.
Nov 13, 2011
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Reviewed by FrankLloydMike from Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I've enjoyed Martha's Exchange on a few visits in the past, and their beers have been among the high points of several recent fests I've been to, but I usually end up driving past Nashua on my way home to Manchester. Not so Friday night, when I stopped into Martha's Exchange on a chilly early November evening for dinner and beers with a couple of Mancunian friends.

Driving along Main Street in Nashua, there are plenty of nice restaurants and the downtown is generally pleasant, but the warm glow from Martha's had me drawn in even before finding a place to park. The bar is deep, dark woods, with the brass-colored brewhouse behind open, red curtains and wooden booths, and the bar top a glowing, amber onyx. It wasn't a fireplace, but the light pouring out of the tall street-facing windows seemed cozy enough for the evening. Overall, the ambiance follows that theme: warm lighting and tones, but everything is old or at least feels so, exuding a sense of comfortable sophistication without a hint of pretension.

We split the sampler, which included all the beers (eight, I believe) for $9. The range was very nice, with plenty of well-made versions of approachable styles alongside more inventive and unusual beers. Particularly interesting was the Double Jeopardy Bock, which had just a hint of smokiness. After the sampler, though, I decided to go for a full pint of the crisp, well-balanced Biscuit City Pale Ale. The beers were all well-made and tasty, and settling on one was a challenge.

The food and service were also quite good--mostly upscale pub fare, but many of the entrees leaned more higher-end and sounded very good. My chipotle chicken sandwich and sweet potato fries did the trick for a reasonable price.

Martha's Exchange is the type of brewpub that I think could do well in just about any New Hampshire city--a prominent, welcoming space downtown that strikes a balance between moderately upscale restaurant and local hangout bar. The approachability and quality of the beers, as well as the helpful descriptions and visibility of the brewhouse, make Martha's Exchange an easy choice for beer loves as well as an unintimidating place to learn about good beer. I'll definitely be stopping by Nashua more often in my trips up to Manchester now.
Nov 07, 2011
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Reviewed by SevaTse from New Hampshire

4.18/5  rDev +10.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Easily one of the better brewpubs in New Hampshire!
Tried their beers(and loved them!) for the first time at a New Hampshire brewfest at Redhook few years back (a rare American brewery with a decent Oktoberfest), and finally visited this summer.
It is located in a downtown type area, they have few rotating taps and a cask engine. The interior is pretty stylish, with brown leather on booth benches, but not stuffy.
Me and my wife tried few of the tap offerings and had a salad and some sandwiches- all in all a positive experience.
Recommend it as a destination.
Sep 18, 2011
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Reviewed by rowingbrewer from Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +10.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
This place is a pretty decent little brewpub. they have eight beers on tap and one cask at all times. the beers are pretty good with some of the styles being much better than others. the beer seemed to be fairly fresh and the service was pretty good, they waitresses are good looking and friendly. the food was great everyone in my party had food and everyone was impressed with it. the prices here are also very reasonable. i would definitely recommend trying this place to anyone in the area. cheers
Aug 22, 2011
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Reviewed by Tundruth from New Hampshire

3.59/5  rDev -5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5
Great place to enjoy a beer, I go here often and really like it. They have a lot to offer for various types of clientele. The bartenders are very friendly but I don't really know if they are knowledgeable about the drought beers which are all brewed on site because the only times I've visited were on Friday/Saturday nights when the place is packed for their nightlife venues which feature some DJ guy named Josh Porter from the radio station Kiss 108. I really look forward to visiting Martha's for a normal lunch or dinner sometime and will probably re-review once I do get the chance to. The parties they host there Thurs-Sat are probably the best in the city of Nashua though! So go there to show your friends a good time if your looking for a packed place to do some dancing and mingling.
Nov 10, 2010
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Reviewed by 86sportster883 from Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +11.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Nice, big, inviting, comfortable brewpub /restaurant. I sat in a booth off to one side of the bar and ordered a Steeplechase Porter with the Shephards Pie lunch special. Music was country, but playing low enough that I didn't mind. The staff was friendly, constantly in motion, and promptly delivered my lunch and beers. I followed the porter with a cask conditioned stout that was pleasingly different. Easy drinking, lower in abv, only medium bodied but with a slick mouthfeel. The waitress could tell me little about the stout, but I would categorized it as an English-style session stout. Pretty damn good.

Also on tap:
Volstead '33' (golden, light ale), Pumpkinweizen, Bucuit City Pale Ale, The O.C.H.O (Obligatory Cascade Hopped Offering), Extra Special Simcoe, Dr. Hoppenstein's Double IPA, Prior's Passion Dubbel.

Excellent beer, very good food, a great brewpub.
Nov 05, 2010
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Reviewed by AARomanov from California

3.86/5  rDev +2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
Nice brewpub in downtown Nashua. Plenty of seating inside, very nice large bar, outside patio area also good. The staff is friendly too.

Didn't try the food but I'm sure it's fine.

As for the beers, they typically have about 8 of their beers on draught and a cask ale. Your best bet is to get the sampler and pick which one you like. The selection always varies and I definitely appreciate the brewmaster's various takes. There is no category to peg the beers into. They do English ales, Belgian beers, Belgian inspired English ales etc.

You're bound to find something you like and it's definitely worth trying out.
Sep 02, 2010
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Reviewed by OtherShoe2 from Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -10.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | food: 4
A good sized establishment with a bar area (with surrounding tables/booths) and a semi-separate dining area full of booths. I've never had to wait for a table (summer/winter), and the place is always fairly busy. Nice high ceilings, dark wood, and not overly loud.

Menu is decent with some good dinner selections (seafood was very good), with good pub-grub offerings as well. Beer selection, from the chalkboard, was very good (multiple variations) and there are always seasonal offerings. Beer is fresh and at the right temperature. Samplers are available and they have a couple of guest beers as well. Beer, overall, is ok. Not the best beer I've had in a brewpub, but adequate to good. Prices for brew and chew are appropriate, and there is always plenty of cheap parking in front or in the lot 1 block behind.

Service has something to be desired. Eat at the bar. The waitress in our section messed up my beer order twice (you work in a brewpub, you need to get that right). However, the poor SOB behind me (who was seated well after me) -- his food didn't come with the rest of his party's, and then when he finally got it, it was the wrong thing -- twice. When I left, he was finally getting his meal, and everyone else was done. An oddity? No, I've seen this before at Martha's. Beware.

Overall, an ok place to visit or a beer lover. Not first choice if dining out in Nashua, but not bad if you are looking to sit at a bar and have some fresh brewed beer.
Jan 16, 2010
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Reviewed by BeerTrader from Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -8.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Had dinner last night at Martha's with two other couples. It's been a while since I've had dinner at Martha's and the beer remains the best thing about the place.

We had an obviously new/inexperienced waitress.

Food selection was good and everyone enjoyed everything, but on a quality scale I'd only rate it 3 stars out of 5.

The beer was great. The Brewer, Greg, is continuing to refine his art and brewmaster skills.

I really enjoyed his 500th brew batch commemorative brew, Quintcentennial. Very nice, malty and hoppy ale, nice creamy head, very enjoyable. I also enjoyed his Oktoberfest. Nicely done. My wife had the Pumpkinweisen and I managed to sneak a taste... very well done, subtle pumpkin & spice, not overpowering. I also managed a taste tester of the evenings Cask offering: Smoked Blonde. You really need to be a Rauchbeir lover to enjoy this one, another well made brew but just not my favorite of the evening.
Nov 06, 2009
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Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.8/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
Pleasant small town brewpub, on a pretty and historic long street. Good sized patio, well kept, above average service. The brewmaster is relatively new here, and experienced and his lineup was above average and a bit adventurous. Good turnover in beer keeps it fresh. Early part of lunch, really not to busy for summer, perhaps reflecting the economy though traffic was fairly buzy. A worthwhile stop if you are passing through. Guest taps would be appreciated to encourage the trip for others, certainly not key for me though.
Jul 15, 2009
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Reviewed by Durge from Connecticut

3.86/5  rDev +2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
I have been here several times over quite a few years now and it seems largely unchanged having stopped in for an enjoyable Dr. Hoppenstein just last month. From an initial glance it seems to have great potential with it's friendly exterior along the main drag of old downtown Nashua. The interior captures a nice old school charm with a big nicely sculpted wooden bar and antique sort of trimmings. The pre-dinner crowd was fair sized, somewhat lively with chatter and the like. The bartendress was friendly and pretty attentive. We didn't sample any of the food but the beer was quite good that I had and prices were normal I thought. I recall over the years that the general taste tests here were less than impressive, OK, but forgettable. The Dr. Hopp was my best experience to date but I don't live in the area and can't say I've fairly tested the place. From my experience it is definitely worth a visit, and there aren't many other good choices in the area that I'm aware of. At least there are some decent beers and if you can find a stool at the bar, it's not a bad way to catch a Sox game or whatever.
Apr 10, 2009
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Reviewed by GWaters from New Hampshire

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Martha's is a brewpub in Nashua, NH.

I have gone to Martha's on various occasions, and always had good service and decent food. Sometimes they have live music, and I have never had a bad experience with the music, food, or beer.

The only detractor that I could seem to find is that Martha's doesn't truly have an identity. Everything is just good - the food, beer, and atmosphere are average.
So, overall, it is a safe place to go for a date or dinner with someone from work.

I would like to see Martha's gain an identity, and perhaps take some chances with the beer. They have a nice set up for brewing, it is too bad we don't get dazzled by their brew.
Jan 03, 2009
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Reviewed by IBUnit63 from Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Since I bought my new rig through Costco at a NH dealer, I rationalized a trip to this place after getting some cosmetic warranty stuff taken care of. Deep in the heart of downtown Nashua we go...

It's a quiet place during lunchtime during the week - nice woodwork on the bar...a few TVs on ESPN and CNBC. White linen on tables. Slightly more formal than your typical brewpub with a candy counter off to the side.

Service is solid - not an incredible amount of brew knowledge volunteered (they do warn that the Flanderish sour is reallly sour, which is helpful for those that don't dig the style) but then I didn't ask for much 'cause I'll figure it out eventually.

Selection finds 8 on tap and the Flanderish sour (reserve) in bottle. Styles cross the spectra but I wish Dr. Hoppenstein was there - would like to try this. Beers are very good that I sampled.

Food is pretty much typical pub grub - the lamb pita was very enjoyable but the burger I had there was just fair to middlin'.

No beef with the price tag. Lunch fare moderate ($8-10) and beers are generally $4.50-$5.50.

If you're in the neighborhood doing some tax-free shopping over the boahdah, check this place out for lunch and one of their enjoyable brew offerings. Good stop.
Dec 31, 2008
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Reviewed by jiggahertz from New Hampshire

4.18/5  rDev +10.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Martha's is one of my go-to's for a nice relaxing dinner, or drink outside during the summer. The one complaint I have about their outdoor seating is that they don't have a waitlist and during peak times during nice weather it can become really crowded. So you are basically forced to hover over people until someone gets up from their table.

The beers are decent, but nothing to write home about. I usually get the old dunstable amber, have also tried the volstead 33.

The atmosphere is cool around normal dining times. Be aware that after ~10pm or so on the weekends, the tables in the dining area are moved and it turns into a club. Hip-hop top 40 type stuff.

Food is generally good. The jumbalaya is great, was disappointed with the size of a pulled pork sandwich I got there. Reuben was also pretty good. They offer a good selection of sides to go with sandwich entrees (fruit salad, pasta salad, coleslaw or fries).

Oh yeah, there is also a huge chocolate counter with what I assumed to be homemade chocolates as you enter on the left side.
Dec 22, 2008
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Reviewed by JimFalzone from Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I don't want to beat a horse here, the other reviewers covered this place well. I went yesterday and noticed a couple changes. Seems like they tried to make it a little more upscale with new square dishes, white table cloths, and fancier menu items. Food, service, and cleanliness was very good. The chicken wings were nice and spicy. The lamb pocket was very tasty.

The owners of this place deserve props for their regular contributions to beer festivals.

Nice beer selection. They had an IPA, double IPA, amber, stout, scotch ale, and an interesting pumpkin hefeweizen. My only criticism is that the beer always seems flat here. I've heard other folks mentioned this before, and it hasn't seemed to change.

I'll go back to Martha's everytime I am in Nashua, but probably won't make a special trip.
Nov 12, 2008
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Reviewed by 007 from Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +7.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I stayed in Nashua for one night as part of a week-long vacation and brewery tour of New Hampshire, Mass., and RI. Of the 8 brewpubs I visited during the week, Martha's Exchange was a standout. My wife and I sampled the selections on tap and settled on the Belgian White and the Steeplechase Porter, both very good representatives of their styles.

We were there on a Wednesday night and the atmosphere was a bit stodgy, but the service and food made up for it. The maple salmon was delicious. The prices for entrees range from $10 to $20 with sandwiches a bit less. The presentation and taste were worth it.

Any future forays into New England will include another stop at Martha's Exchange.
Oct 08, 2008
Martha's Exchange in Nashua, NH
Brewery rating: 3.61 out of 5 with 270 ratings