Another Humble Request for Recommendations...

I have not been to Fort Point Market recently, so can't be sure what is on their shelves. With that caveat, Exhibit A, brewing out of the old Jack's Abby brewery in Framingham, has been sending out cans of their IPA to local package stores and would be worth checking out if you see it. Jacks Abby Kiwi Rising 4-packs are still around in many places - a very good IPL with NZ hops that came out in November, so it is past its peak in terms of freshness but still worth it at $10 or $11/4 16 oz cans. Otherwise, Night Shift is your best bet for local and fresh at Fort Point - Whirlpool might be the best session pale ale around. Castle Island has some good stuff at the brewery that occasionally makes it to distribution, but I typically skip over Candlepin and Keeper now.

That said, while you will find some nice beers at Fort Point Market, likely none will be better than what you pick up from Trillium. You will probably miss DDH Congress St. by Thursday, but by then I bet you will be able to pick up Stillings Street, their Nelson-hopped IPA that was released for the first time in August and might be my favorite of their IPAs. Coffee Pot and Kettle is also well worth your time, and they seem to be coming out with a good number of holiday surprises from the barrels these days, too. Enjoy.

 

I just got back from a walk to Trillium/Fort Point Market so I can tell you that they have a lot of local sours. A few varieties each from Cambridge Brewing, Mystic, Allagash and Night Shift. They have four packs of RR#23 from Barrel House Z(new brewery that does all barrel aged stuff). We get Wicked Weed now in Boston and they have some of their sours and hoppy stuff. They always have a few bottles from Kent Falls there. Check their Twitter feed for examples of stuff they have gotten in recently.

 

Night Shift for sure.

 

Seconding Exhibit 'A' if it's there - they're going to be very hyped soon, IMO. Also Bldg8 is making some very nice hoppy stuff lately. Maine Beer Co., of course... Mo, Another One, A Tiny Beautiful Something, really any of their hops.

If there's any Proclamation Ale Co cans on the shelf, get 'em.

Also Night Shift (duh).

Allagash - any smallish bottles with corks and cages, just say 'yes'.

The Tap Brewing Company has some interesting stuff; their Joshua Norton stout is really tasty. Wasn't super wild about their Solar Plexus IPA.

Oh, and Clown Shoes. Any Clown Shoes bomber that says "Aged in (anything) barrels" is gonna be good. Especially if Hammer of the Beast is still on shelves at Fort Point.

You'll be able to get some good New York beers, too - I'd pick up a 4-pack of Weyerbacher's Sunday Mole Stout and anything from SingleCut.

14th Star Tribute sneaks down here occasionally. If it's there, may as well snag it.

 

Where is the family? How far west? There are a lot of good bottle shops near the Pike most of the way west.
Not to mention breweries.

 

Honest Weight

 

Absolutely get some Kiwi Rising. It's a beer that has always faded quickly, but this year's batch in cans is holding much longer. I haven't notice much fade at all. One difference I've noticed is that retailers never put the 500 ml bottles in the cooler, but the cans nearly always are. Had one Sunday and it is still superb.

 

Depending on your timing, you could stop for lunch at Jack's Abby in Framingham, try some of theirs, their new venture Springdale Brewing, and then basically go across the street to Exhibit A.
Also, I recommend Julios in Westboro

 

4-packs of Night Shift are cheaper at Ft Point Market than the brewery itself. Stopping there and Trillium will satiate your Boston beer needs. Be on the lookout for Singlecut (NYC) too.