Visiting Boston Guide (Summer '14 Edition)

I like Five Horses South End a lot overall. Lots of space, near the T, good local tap list, great place to watch a game, near some other good spots like SRV. But the prices and small pour sizes can be a slap in the face.

 

Spending a Saturday night in Boston at the end of August to break up a drive to Maine... We're staying at the Nine Zero on Tremont & Bloomfield, and after taking my daughter to the Children's Museum was hoping to grab some cans at Trillium...

- odds of them still having cans at 5:30 PM at the Congress St Trillium location? Not a chance?

- any decent recommendations for dinner + a solid tap list nearby when you've got a 3 year old in tow? I notice the Yelp listing for Row 34 says "Good for Kids: No" although there's some mention of kids in the reviews that seem like it'd be ok?

 

Cans have been lasting a few days at least, Saturday night shouldn't be a problem based on recent history.

Row 34 could be OK for kids (it isn't super fancy) but it's almost all seafood. Pastoral right down the street might be a better option. It's pizza and has a solid taplist, nowhere near as good as Row 34 though.

 

Row may not be good for kids because the place gets packed and waits for a table will be long unless you have a reservation. I'd maybe go to Worden Hall for a less hectic Saturday night crowd and a nice draft list

 

If you hoppy beer is your thing, I think the discussion begins with those three definitely (and Treehouse, but you can't find them on tap).

But eliminate highly rated/popular beers on this website, and other breweries can easily be included in that discussion. You could throw Berkshire, Notch, and Mystic in there for example to add some variety. And I think they brew beer that is just as high in quality as the three you mentioned.

I understand what you're saying though, and if I was coming from out of town and frequented this website, I'd probably seek out breweries like Trillium/Night Shift/Jack's Abby as well.

@ShanePB

Don't forget their other location in Davis Square. I haven't been to the South End location, so the Davis location may be a bit smaller. But there's plenty to do in Davis Square and around Cambridge. I swing by almost every weekend now to have a Trillium draft. But then there's Redbones around the corner as well. And if you want cheaper local drafts, Cambridge Common is up the street. Other options are jumping on the T and checking out Lord Hobo and/or Cambridge Brewing Company (which has the excellent Smokeshop connected to it, I HIGHLY recommend checking this place out).

And if you wanted to drink Night Shift's beers, their brewery is a quick 10 - 15 minute Uber from Davis. A really really fun spot, and you can sample multiple varities of their beer fresh (not that it isn't extremely fresh in stores as well).

 

Hello ladies and gents,

I've really appreciated all the information you've put into this thread (any many others!); this is truly an incredible resource. I'm going to be in Boston for basically a night after a flight and then am heading back out to western mass to see the family and want to enjoy the beer scene as much as I can without racing all over. While I'm originally from mass, I've never spent too much time in Boston outside of a few months many years ago and now I live across the ocean, so please be kind if my unfamiliarity with the area shines through...

Ok, I'll be staying with a friend near Mass General on Tuesday. She's made reservations at Row 34 (based on my forwarding on the great recs here), but outside of that, there's nothing really planned. I'd love to have a sampling of a few "Boston-only" beers. I love Jack's abby but I can get that. Of course I'll be looking for Trillium and Night Shift, but anything else I should be looking out for on draft lists? Any bars in particular that I should try to steer us towards without turning it into an all-night uberfest? Anyway, I had also thought of trying to check out Night Shift's taproom but upon looking at distances, that seems a bit silly if we're ending up at Row 34, agreed? Anyway, so that's part 1 of my question -- given the starting location and a reservation at Row 34, what waypoints seem to make the most sense?

Second part is pretty easy, I think, as I'm decently sure I've been able to answer the question on my own. The next day around noon before heading out of town, I'd love to get some cans/bottles before heading out. My thought was a quick trip to Fort Point and that's it -- get some Trillium at the brewery and then go next door to the Market for some Night Shift and any other recs. Again, trying to avoid a detour to Everett before getting on the Pike, but I would definitely love to grab some Whirlpool.

Yes, I will be stopping at Tree House on the way back and perhaps Yankee.

Yes, I will be buying my friend dinner for putting up with this scavenger hunt.

thanks everyone!

 

Row 34 is great food and also a strong beer list, but in my experience skews a bit more European than local, which means you will drink very well there but won't necessarily accomplish all of your goals. You will almost always get a Trillium tap, at the least. Your best bets for great locals between MGH and Row 34 will be Ginger Man (Faneuil Hall), Stoddard's (Downtown Crossing), or Tip Tap Room (Beacon Hill). Kinsale is also a decent stop near City Hall Plaza and a fairly quick walk from either Ginger Man or Tip Tap if you aren't into the scene at either of those spots.

Your plan for Day 2 is sensible but there are simply no guarantees Whirlpool will be in stock at any package store - it is not so popular that it sells out immediately, but also not so ubiquitous as something like Hoponius Union.

 

Others stores between Mass General and Row 34 that should have local stuff would be Charles Street Liquors, Gordons(across from Stoddards) and Boston Wine Exchange. As for other local breweries to look for on tap and bottle: Mystic and Cambridge Brewing come to mind. I'd walk to Gingerman or Stoddards after Row 34 for local stuff on tap.

 

Well-researched! I think @ommegoodness covered Monday. Your only other option would be to Uber from Row 34 into Cambridge and do Meadhall which doesn't leave you far from MGH at the end of the night.

On Wednesday, you're solid in Boston. I would consider detouring to Armsby Abbey in Worcester for lunch on your way out which will have a few Hill Farmstead taps (only two right now but I think they usually have more). That would put you at Tree House around 2:30-3:00 which is a good time to guarantee yourself cans while probably dealing with shortest lines.

 

Thanks so much for the quick replies. I'll definitely look into stopping at Ginger Man and Stoddards -- both seem pretty reasonably-located! Thanks for the heads up about the Night Shift availability. The Meadhall idea also sounds interesting, hadn't heard of it.

Already looking forward to this!

 

If you were heading in today, I think I'd push this more. But might as well throw it out there since Meadhall in Cambridge is something you're willing to do.

You could either take the Red Line to Davis, or Uber it over to Davis in Somerville from Row 34. Five Horses Tavern has five Trillium drafts, Grimm Lumen, and two Nightshift taps on right now (their website seems to be fairly up to date when I check before I go, even though there's no date on the list).

Whirlpool was just canned yesterday, so it should be available in stores. Downtown Liquors is right there in Davis, also Liquor World in Porter, or Ball Square Fine Wines up the street if you want to walk a bit, likely will have some depending on when it hits stores.

And if you're REALLY ambitious, if you took the T to Five Horses, you're only a 10 - 15 minute Uber ride away from Nightshift. You can probably score a lot of goodies to take home with you. Also, they have a draft-only Zwickel and Doppelbock, and their One Hop This Time: Simcoe which sounds fantastic. Right now it still lists the 7/1/16 batch of Morph, which in my opinion, is a must-try (not sure it will last until Tuesday, Morph is a rotating recipe).

Anyways, what the others all recommended is obviously more doable, just thought I'd throw this out there if you're feeling up to it. I'd check the tap lists at Nightshift and Five Horses on Tuesday before making that decision, today is only Thursday. Those lists may change a bit, and I don't know your style/beer preferences.

 

Oh, another option as well out that way is Jack's Abby's new beer hall right? I haven't been, but I heard it's a solid spot worth checking out. And @CamD you could try some of their beers you may not get, like multiple Framinghammer variations.

 

Anywhere to get good craft beers before a Red Sox game around fenway?

 

Cornwall's, Yard House, Lower Depths.

 

I'd throw in the Publick House as an option. It's about a 10-15 minute ride on the T (subway) from Fenway. For walking distance, I'd also check out Eastern Standard. They're more of a high end cocktail bar but they often have great stuff on tap.

 

Check out Fort Point Market right down the street from Row 34, great selection.

 

Worth considering a stop at the Beer Works too. There seems to be a consensus that they've really upped their game recently. At a minimum they have a couple new IPAs that are definitely worth tasting: Contendah IPA and a double that might be called Big Eye. I thought the mango IPA and the Zwickle were really good as well.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I'm sure it will be crazy around the park since it is Red Sox/Yankees.

 

Probably not anymore, that rivarly kind of died out since the Sox won and then both teams haven't been a contender in the same year for a number of years now.

You'll have a great time regardless, and it might even benefit you with less of a crowd.

Enjoy!

 

What are the best stores to buy local crafts right by the Back Bay train station?