Cambridge Brewing Company (2020)

Ok, that's what I thought... so then, am I crazy, or have they not released nearly enough of those in past few years to justify that whole operation?

 

An annual event with hardcore beer geeks isn’t the best example.

 

I go to the movies at Kendall pretty frequently and always grab a beer or two at CBC while I'm there (most recently 2 weeks ago). It's always pretty crowded in my experience, though that doesn't negate your general recommendation to put in some extra effort to visit.

 

Sours are very popular, barleywine is not. So, I think of barleywine as being the much geekier fest.

 

Yeah, the kind of craft beer drinker that sees a brewery post about an English dark mild fermented with Fullers ale yeast and hops in his car 5 minutes later with the intent of eating something other than buffalo chicken tenders with his beers, but ends up ordering them anyway because they're awesome and the cheapest thing on the menu.

 

Those buff chic tenders are as good as anywhere’s and are actually better than most. I prefer CBC’s over a couple of other places that specialize in wings and tenders.

 

Finally, I feel seen.

 

I don’t get to CBC too often because I’m not in that area much. But honestly, although I love their wilds and geekified beers, it’s good ‘ol Charles River Porter that I miss most when I haven’t been a while. I still don't think there's a better straight, classic porter around these parts.

 

I think it makes a lot of sense when you dig under the surface. It is one of the few beers they always have and on draft. It's one of the few beers that is available for larger consumption (i.e. people can get pitchers/beer tubes) which is great for groups. Two of the other house beers have been recently re-done (in the last few years, I mean). The porter, though great, is a hard sell for people who may think that Guinness is a dark and heavy beer. Also, the IPA is only available in cans (I don't remember the last time FC has been on draft at the brewery).

Yeah, Amber Ale in 2020 but there are some structural factors that make that make sense.

 

The Amber is also delicious. One of the few ambers I actually enjoy. Charles River Porter is fantastic.

 

I think I haven't had the Amber since 2012. I should probably revisit the house beers the next time I'm there.

 

I think Tall Tale Pale has actually gotten better. It's also a nice reset beer if you're going from sour to dark to barleywine or anywhere in between at CBC. Same with the house lager/zwickel, another beer that is overlooked but damn good.

 

Not sure they still call it Tall Tale. They re-worked the pale ale a couple of years ago.

 

They now call it House APA. And someone above mentioned that Flower Child is only served in cans, which is true, but they always have a couple (or three) other IPAs on draft.

 

Well, there’s this:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8e5G8gBv4Y/?igshid=hhwlu0ks7boz