Boston area in early November

Can you be any more specific about what you two would like to experience while in the area? The amount of stuff you can do within a day trip of Boston is basically unlimited.

I'd definitely do Portland before I'd do Tree House twice.

 

+1 on Portland over a second Tree House day. Frankly, a Boston to Portsmouth to Portland beer trek is hard to beat, especially with the summer people gone.

If going to Plymouth anyway, consider dropping down into RI for Tilted Barn and/or Proclamation. Hit Trillium taproom in Canton either on the way down or the way back.

Finally, November's the perfect time for a trip to Alchemist and Hill Farmstead - too late for leaf-peepers, too early for skiers. You'll have the highway all to yourselves. It's a full-day trip but totally worth it.

 

That's 8+ hours of driving in a day which is more than I'd ever want to do, but if you fold the Tree House visit into it and spend a night in Vermont it would be a little more manageable.

Still though, as much as I love Hill Farmstead, I don't think I'd recommend it for someone spending a week in Boston unless they really really love road trips.

 

Instead, I'd recommend a visit to Armsby Abbey in Worcester for HF drafts on the way to/from Tree House.

 

Where are you staying and what sort of food do y'all enjoy? I agree with @oldbean that HF / Alchemist is a lot of driving for a day trip. We went to Stowe a few weeks ago and with some bad traffic and a minor accident on the route it took us 5+ hours from Boston...

Night Shift is a great place to spend a day, cool space, always tons of different beer on tap, BYO food. Lots of great restaurants with very good beer programs, but will need to know where you're staying to give better suggestions.

 

If you’re interested in that sort of thing, check out Old Sturbridge Village. Right down the road from Tree House.

 

Portland's a must stop. Search portland maine threads here, there are several with awesome suggestions for food/beer.

 

The answer in Portland is always Oxbow. Do not miss Oxbow. Then do the industrial way thing. Allagash, Austin st, foundation. Bissell gets most of the hype but is one of the last spots I bother with in ME. Way better spots without the hassle.

As far as MA hit what you want but try not to miss Mystic or Cambridge Brewing. Two of our best that just don't come up much. Get your juice on but don't miss out.

 

I'll second the recommendation to hit up Cambridge Brewing and Mystic while you're in town, and if you are looking to head out of town for a day, I definitely recommend the Portland day-trip. If I had a full day in Portland, I'd begin at Scratch Baking in South Portland for bagels and coffee, wander over to Willard Beach for a bit (or better yet drive a few minutes to Cliff House Beach in Cape Elizabeth), head into Portland and hit up Oxbow and Rising Tide, grab a few bottles or cans at Bier Cellar and a few slabs to-go at Slab before hopping on the ferry to Peaks Island to find a spot (either City Point or Brackett Point) to wander and sip a few beers, take the ferry back to Portland, and settle in at either Eventide or Boda for eats. I'd end my night at Novare Res.

 

I disagree with the contention that visiting Bissell is a hassle. There are often cans to be had, and the taproom is a really chill time. And the beer is just fantastic.

 

For great seafood and a diverse tap list in Boston, I'd recommend Row 34.

 

If Night Shift is a must walk 100 yards down the street and visit Bone Up (good little microbrew.) I'd work up an itinerary invovling Idle Hands, Night Shift, Bone Up and Mystic. Where you stay would depend on what order you hit them in. If you end at Idle Hands it's not far to Lamplighter (3 miles maybe) and Cambridge Brewing Co is walking distance from there.

 

If you're going to the Aquarium you'll be right near a bunch of the things you're trying to tick. The Trillium beer garden on the greenway is literally a 5 minute walk away so you can grab a draft (no cans). As someone already mentioned, Row 34 is fantastic for seafood with a great tap list and is right next to the actual Trillium brewery where you can get cans (this is like a 20 minute walk from the Aquarium). James Hook Lobster is even closer to the Aquarium and is a decent, no frills place for a lobster roll if you don't want the more upscale/sit down experience at Row 34.

You'll also be right next to the North End which is the Italian district. Do some research before you go though because there's just as many (or more) mediocre touristy places as there are good ones. I'm partial to Taranta which is a Peruvian/Italian fusion place. It's a cool area to walk through too and if you like sweets, go to Modern Pastry for cannolis (not Mikes - that's where the tourists go). There's a cool/dark/dungy old school cigar bar (Stanza dei Sigari) there too if that sort of thing floats your boat.

Another option for Italian that is awesome in it's own way is a place called Nappi's in Medford which is only about 3 miles from Night Shift. It's got a North End vibe with great food and, best of all, it is BYOB so you could bring some of your beer along. If you dig German/Belgian beer then the Idle Hands brewery is nearby as well.

Have a blast whatever you do!

 

I think the Trillium Beer Garden will be closed at the end of October.
Seafood: Row 34, Island Creek Oyster Bar, North Square Oyster. Eventide by Fenway should be open by then.
Italian: Coppa

 

Ack, I'd forgotten his trip wasn't til November. Thanks for noticing that and not leaving me as the asshat who sent him to a closed place!