Faces Brewing Co. in Malden

Discussion in 'New England' started by AlcahueteJ, Jun 7, 2020.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,088) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    meefmoff and rhino88888888 like this.
  2. BRYeleJR

    BRYeleJR Pundit (995) May 18, 2013 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Any firsthand experiences here yet? Going to try to grab Mystic Station takeout soon and want to know if I should grab crowlers there or beers across the street (if Faces is even open for that...)
     
  3. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,689) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    A friend of mine's in-laws run the place. They are related to the Martignetti liquor stores (now closed down.)
    I haven't had any of the beers yet, but I expect to at some point once things open back up and gatherings are re-authorized.
     
    AlcahueteJ likes this.
  4. rhino88888888

    rhino88888888 Zealot (580) Dec 12, 2013 Massachusetts
    Trader

    According to their FB page, Faces will be opening their beer garden for on-site food and drink starting tomorrow (Wednesday). They recommend calling ahead for seating. Menu and taplist is up on their website - https://www.facesbrewing.com/menu/
     
    AlcahueteJ likes this.
  5. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,088) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    According to the article they've been selling beer to go already.

    Also it's across the street from Hugh O'Neil's I think, not Mystic Station.
     
  6. podart

    podart Aspirant (223) Jan 22, 2010 Massachusetts

    I picked up 3 four packs - the IPA was solid ($18/4 pk) and the cream ale was crisp and tasty ($15/4 pk). I added the coffee imperial white stout ($21/4 pk) but haven't tried it yet.

    The brewery is in an old bank and the space is really cool -- lots of marble and high ceilings. I didn't notice where the outdoor space would go - I think it must just be the sidewalk? I didn't see anything else, but wasn't really looking.

    The label artwork is excellent, too.
     
    AlcahueteJ and rhino88888888 like this.
  7. mrmattosgood

    mrmattosgood Maven (1,301) Nov 6, 2010 Canada (BC)
    Deactivated

    Not to be that guy, but man are we pricing ourselves out here? Brand new brewery. $18 for four IPA, $15 for four cream ales?

    An imperial coffee white stout? For $21?

    We're talking $54 for 12 beers from a new brewery. Is this not wild to anyone else? I'm all for new breweries -- and yay capitalism! -- but goodness gracious.
     
  8. podart

    podart Aspirant (223) Jan 22, 2010 Massachusetts

    Yeah, I was a little surprised, so that's why I noted the prices. I was already there and wanted to support a new place so I went with it, but won't be a regular stop for to-go brews for me at that price point. (Also a little disappointed they wouldn't break up 4-packs)
     
  9. Dave_32

    Dave_32 Devotee (346) Apr 7, 2015 Massachusetts

    Pretty sure those prices are the "new normal" that I keep hearing about
     
  10. matthewp

    matthewp Pundit (856) Feb 27, 2015 Massachusetts
    Trader

    The pictures on their website look like they've got a pretty decent place, the food menu looks good as well. The beer selection, so far, doesn't completely stand out but it does have a few options to attract more than only IPA fans. The cream ale, Mexican lager, and kettle sour are good choices for attracting more than just beer geeks. My first thought was why have another brewery in that area but they are a bit more into the suburbs (by a slight bit) than most of the other places. That and they aren't looking at food secondarily. If their beer is decent and they are planning to survive off self distribution and food sales then they seem like they've got a good shot.

    Now the big question, how many people here actually knew what the original Faces was or had been there? Certainly the old Faces building and sign were still up until recently but its an interesting connection to use. Perhaps next we'll see a brewery named "Goodtimes Emporium"?
     
  11. lansdowne24

    lansdowne24 Crusader (427) May 30, 2012 Massachusetts

    Malden Center has been "up and coming" for quite a few years now. The city of Malden just ripped up their old city hall to replace it with a massive new complex that will house at least a dozen, if not more, new businesses. https://www.cityofmalden.org/684/Pleasant-Street-Development. It looks like it's going to start opening up shortly.

    Additionally, there is very easy T access to the Orange Line and a number of bus routes throughout the area. The craft beer scene has also been well represented through the offerings at Mystic Station and Hugh O'Neills. There's really only one other option in the immediate area (Idle Hands) and after living here for several years, it definitely feels like there is room for at least one more. Night Shift/Bone Up are geographically close, but doesn't feel like it is part of Malden at all. Makes sense why Mystic was looking at space over here as well...it's a great spot with much more affordable prices than nearby Somerville or (gulp) Cambridge and still feels like "the city".
     
  12. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,088) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    For some reason the ubiquity of kettle sours irritates me more than New England IPAs.

    Faces is a lot older than Goodtimes though right?

    I remember my dad going to Goodtimes to watch the Pats 1994 Superbowl.

    There's also Dom's Sausage and Boda Borg. And in terms of beer, Ball Square is opening a third location in Malden as well (might be open already).

    It's my favorite liquor store in the Camberville area.
     
    matthewp and lansdowne24 like this.
  13. lansdowne24

    lansdowne24 Crusader (427) May 30, 2012 Massachusetts

    Dom's is one of my favorite things about Malden. Best steak tips ever. I didn't know about Ball Square, that's exciting!

    In anticipation of the reopening of things, my friends and I have dubbed hitting Boda Borg and Faces in one outing as "Boda Both".
     
    AlcahueteJ likes this.
  14. matthewp

    matthewp Pundit (856) Feb 27, 2015 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Its funny how a mile or two makes all the difference. Like you said geographically Night Shift isn't far off but it feels like a different world and Mystic was only down the road from NS (Down the Road Brewery as well, no pun intended). Mystic and Down the Road both seemed much more like the city than Night Shift but Idle Hands and Faces seems so much more suburban than Night Shift.
     
    meefmoff and AlcahueteJ like this.
  15. mgp

    mgp Devotee (353) Jan 30, 2010 Massachusetts

    Bit Bar is also (supposedly?) opening in Malden Center: I think it's in the same development as the Ball Square / Malden Center Fine Wines.

    Back to Faces: what an unfortunate time to open a new brewery/brew pub. Hopefully the Martignetti money gives them enough flexibility to weather the storm.
     
    AlcahueteJ and matthewp like this.
  16. matthewp

    matthewp Pundit (856) Feb 27, 2015 Massachusetts
    Trader

    I agree, I'm not a fan of kettle sours for many reasons. They really aren't true "sours" they are just sour beers. To each their own but kettle sours tend to give me stomach aches so I avoid them.

    Faces was around at least in the 80's, I know my sister went there when she was in High School and then I went there once or twice when I was in high school (she graduated in 1984 and me in 1990). I only remember going to Good Times in the 90's to play pool. I actually ended up living a few blocks away from Good Times in the early 2000's, but never went there when I lived there.
     
    AlcahueteJ likes this.
  17. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,088) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Ha, I've actually never been to Dom's, I just hear everyone rave about it. Been everywhere else in Malden though that we've mentioned (except Faces).

    Unfortunately I can't see something like Boda Borg opening for a REALLY long time...
     
    matthewp likes this.
  18. redbill

    redbill Aspirant (240) Nov 29, 2018 Massachusetts

    lold, I had forgotten about Good Times. Wasn't there a huge riot there one time during an international soccer game?
     
  19. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,088) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Probably.

    I imagine there wasn’t just “one time” there was a huge riot there.
     
  20. lansdowne24

    lansdowne24 Crusader (427) May 30, 2012 Massachusetts

    Ran by Faces yesterday around 6:30pm to see what opening night at the outdoor patio looked like. Lots of wooden picnic-style tables, well separated and all occupied. A few people standing in line six feet apart waiting to get in. I would be comfortable sitting at one and enjoying a beer or two.
     
    matthewp and AlcahueteJ like this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.