if you could only

I was thinking the same thing, except with these parameters it is in fact a contest, because Wormtown. If you like IPAs, Be Hoppy is better than any Morph I've had, though I haven't had this latest IPA iteration in the tall boy. The Wormtown tasting room is brand new and serves up flights and full pours, plus growlers and squealers to take with you (sometimes cans of BH and bottles of Hopulence). Wormtown's selections are more straight-ahead while you are always going to find something unique at Night Shift. While I'm solidly in the Trillium camp as the Commonwealth's sole representative, Wormtown is well worth a visit.

 

If you're OK with no beer to go then the best beer might be at Armsby Abbey given their recent taplists.

 

While I think Tree House makes the best beer in the state, I would pick Jack's Abby as the best brewery/taproom. It's easy to get to, the staff members are awesome, you can enjoy full pints, half pints, and samplers, and they will probably have the widest selection of bottles/growlers to go. Night Shift is on par in terms of variety and full pours at the taproom, plus you can usually order take out at the bar or there may be a food truck on site, but I hate driving to Everett.

 

Thanks for the tip, @BAMF as I have not been to the new Wormtown room. Will check it out

 

I'd go to Cambridge Brewing Co.

 

TH almost always has cans these days.

IMO, you can't do much better, particularly if you want to see more of MA than Boston, than lunch at Armsby Abbey in Worcester (Hill Farmstead & more on tap often), a stop at Yankee Spirits (huge local can/bottle selection) on the way to Tree House before grabbing BTs BBQ (BYOB!) for dinner.

 

Jack's Abby is my favorite brewery in MA, and THAT's not even close. TH makes uniformly excellent beers- if you go, youight have the opportunity to try 3. Samples are samples, it's not going to get you through the wait. JA has a dozen beers on, give or take, at any given time in a variety of formats. I love almost everything they put out, and there is huge variety to what they make- you could easily drink 2-3 barrel aged Baltic porters, a few IPLS, a pale lager or two, a fruited Berliner, and a cask offering in the same visit. For as muh as I love Dean and the TH crew, Rob and the guys at JA are wonderful and always have great tunes playing at the taproom. Add super reasonable fill prices (including only $3 deposit on glass) and regular brewer tours, it's a no brainer to me if you're making a drive to get here. And the cherry on top: 12-8 Wednesday through Sunday hours.

 

Trillium for sure.

 

If you are coming from NY through Western Mass. Then I'd forget going to Boston. Between TH, Wormtown, and JA you will be more than impressed. All are within a 50 mile radius. Plus between restaurant, bars, and bottle shops you are fine not traveling east of rte 95. CBC Westford gets occasional bottles of Trillium plus Julio's always has Night Shift and is the best craft beer store in the state. On top of the big 3 in the area of West/Central MA. A couple small breweries have popped up 3Cross and Medusa. Also out west I hear High Horse is good and Stoneman (I think that's the name). Then Pioneer and Rapscallion near TH are decent. They are on an apple orchard/Frisbee golf course.

 

MFK: Trillium, TreeHouse, Jack's Abby - GO!

 

M: JA
F: TH
K: Tril, with sadness in my heart

 

Both awesome breweries and great owners...I havent been to tree house but damn Trillium makes some tasty beers

 

Yup, CBC followed up by a short stroll to Lord Hobo. CBC has easily one of the best patios in the Boston area which is a big bonus this time of year. And the Kendall square area is a million times better than where some of these other breweries that are being mentioned are.

Trillium and then Row 34 is a good combo too.

 

If you want the best beer available, probably Tree House or Trillium (though others will argue for others, and they aren't wrong either.
If you are looking for an all-day experience, or at least a couple hours, I do agree with Harpoon, with the beer hall, pretxels and lots of brewery-only beers (plus their beers, even the IPA which is barely an afterthought in bottle shops, is pretty fantastic almost fresh from the bright tanks) The new SlumBrew facility in Somerville's Assemble Row is supposed to be a blast. The rest of them, even if they have draft pours, like Jack's Abby, don't have food available, so if you want more than a beer or 2, you'll want to eat along with it.
I will also put in a plug (no, I don't work for them or anything) for Medusa in Hudson. Really good beers, and you can bring in or have delivered your own food, and there are some good options nearby. PLus, with The Horseshoe and Rail Train nearby, you can have some other great beers on tap easily.

 

Add me to the Trillium camp. Less wait, better access for most people and more beer options. Hoppy beers are on par with Tree House.

 

Yeah man, it's the subsubsuburbs

 

Trillium over treehouse -- larger selection of juicy IPAs/DIPas

 

Many great options here. Treehouse is awesome, but depending on how you're driving, you don't have that many other options in the area (unless you only want to hit one spot). Trillium + Fort Point Market + Row 34 is an awesome beer experience and would be my vote.