Breweries, Beer Shops near Berkshires?

You're in kind of a craft beer desert up there unfortunately.

Bright Idea brewing is right at Mass MoCA and it's a very cool spot, but the beer is very hit-and-miss. There's also a packie (Steeple City Liquors) in town but, at least as far as beer, it's terrible. You'll be able to find Wormtown Be Hoppy (great beer don't get me wrong) but literally nothing else you don't have easy access to in NY. Dave's Package Store is on the outskirts of town, and you may be able to scoop some Greater Good there but nothing else really besides Sam Adams.

PUBLIC is a bar in town with very good food and some good craft options on tap, though.

 

North Adams isn't great, but if you want to drive 40 minutes or so down to Lenox you can go to Spirited, which is an awesome store for beer, liquor, charcuterie, cheese, etc... Last time I was there they had a bunch of great local stuff along with a bunch of 3F, Tilquin, and other Belgian stuff.

You'll also be right on the VT border, so you can head into Pownal or Bennington and get some Heady / Focal Banger pretty easily.

 

Purple pub in williamstown usually has some good beers in draft and has good food as well.

 

jacks hot dogs is great, but no beer. Great beer in Easthampton, Turners Falls, but not by you. Believe me, I know all about it.

 

As somebody that actually lives in North Adams, I can assure everyone that it's not as bad as everyone is making it out to be. Bright Ideas has been putting out killer stuff lately. Pretty much every IPA has been fire and the stout game has been solid. Pair beer with AOK BBQ or Chingon taco truck and it makes for a solid day at a brewery.

Spirit Shop in Williamstown and Dwyers in Pownal, VT are both solid and less than 15 mins from NA. I just got 2 EQ hops, j. wakefield, and some Old Nation IPAs last week at spirit shop. Dwyers is all about VT beer and regularly has alchemist, lawsons, BBCO, and four quarters.

 

I’m posting this here for people who search “Berkshires” in the future:

Barrington brewery is a 25 year old brewpub. They do a nice job with English styles and I dig their food and patio. Big Elm is south of there and has a good variety of beer. In terms of stuff in stores I’ve liked Shire Breu Hous. They have their cans at Nejaimes in Stockbridge for instance.