Cheaper craft bars in Boston

Cambridge Brewing Company and Cambridge Common are my go-to places if you're looking for value.

 

Cambridge Common and Cambridge Brewing Company (Not to deter you, but Bukowski's = not cheap)

 

Boston in general = Not good value. Expensive craft beer pours; no happy hour.

Bukowski = definitely not good value, even by Boston standards. To paraphrase what you say you're looking for: It's a good spot with a local emphasis that ~will~ bust open the wallet.

~Relatively~ good value = Atwood's Tavern, Cambridge Common, Asgard, Kinsale, The Avenue (Allston), and Flatbread Company (Davis Square/Somerville).

Best value, in my opinion = Cambridge Brewing Company. Innovative, interesting beers at decent price points (for Boston).

If you had to choose amongst the best craft beer bars in the city (i.e., bars with the most interesting offerings on draft or bottle), you'd probably be choosing between Lord Hobo, Deep Ellum, Publick House, and Bukowski's. They're all pricy, but Deep Ellum & Publick House are the most reasonable (relatively speaking). Lord Hobo has some beers that are priced reasonably, but then you'll come across a 12 oz. draft pour of Maine Brewing Company Peeper Ale priced at $9. Which is ridiculous. Bukowski's is an equal opportunity gouger. Everything is overpriced.

 

When we were at bukowski for the goose island tap takeover it wasn't that bad priced, I can't understand why Magoun's is rarely mentioned, I mean currently it has duchess of Bourgogne on tap and drink prices aren't bad. Also the the food is reasonable and substantial. I like lord hobo but the food is pathetic, and I always feel deep ellum is a rip off food and beer wise.

 

Olde Magoun's Saloon in Somerville used to be reasonably priced. Haven't been there in a while though:

http://magounssaloon.com/menus/draught-beer/

 

Other decent options that aren't overly far from you, but still offer a decent craft selection: Salty Pig (closest), Coda (slightly further), and Picco (furthest). (Prices are in line with most of Boston... meaning not great, but not unreasonably overpriced.)

 

Downtown Buk's is not a value, but the list is pretty OK. Redbones in Davis has a great list (near Flatbread and Downtown Liquors for great bottles to bring home) and Charlies in Harvard has *very* good value and has a surprising list (in the winter Celebration Ale *pints* were $6!!). Also, if you are on the T Publick House in Brookline is an easy ride (although it's a shell of what it used to be).

 

Conveniently, the Champions Sports Bar in the lobby of your hotel has a decent selection - 36 taps, although half are meh but you are sure to find something decent. Prices are about average for Boston (meaning cheaper than Bukowski's).

 

The fact that this is considered a very good value tells you pretty much all you need to know about on-premises prices in Boston.

 

Yeah, but maybe he actually means 20oz pints, which are almost unheard of in Boston.

 

I like Olde Magoun's for both pub food and beer, and by Boston area standards, it typically is a pretty good value, but their consistent failure to post or list price/pour size information on their menu or board in the pub means you never really know until your bill arrives (servers rarely know and it is a pain to have to ask). Pet peeve of mine, but I like to factor this information into my ordering decision.

 

I'll echo what most other's have said. I think Cambridge Brewing Company is downright cheap for Boston. The "downfall" (I say this jokingly of course) is that they only serve their beer. I've also found Sunset Tap in Allston to be reasonably priced (although I haven't been there in awhile so maybe things have changed).

Just an FYI to the OP, getting to Publick House and Sunset on the Green Line from Copley can be a trek. We're talking 20+ minutes each way. For my money I'd rather spend a couple extra bucks and drink somewhere close by. FWIW, JM Curley and Stoddard's in the Downtown Crossing area are pretty good. Pricing is in line with Boston; you'll think it's expensive, I've been here too long to know what's normal.

 

Yeah, I hear that. It was sort of an unknown spot when I lived in Boston but always had at least a couple of good beers on. I also realized that OP was looking for a spot close to his hotel, so I guess this is probably ruled out for him.

 

If you're heading out to the Allston area (Sunset and Deep Ellum) stop by The Avenue. They don't have many rares but a decent craft selection and the pours are all either $5 or $6 depending on the beer.

 

Depends on where he's coming from, the Philly pricing is pretty insane.

 

If you go to CBC, Lord Hobo is a short walk away, and Cambridge Common is just a few stops away on the red line.

 

This is why my 'bar knowledge' has drastically fallen. For the price of a pint or two I can buy a six pack