Boston Marathon Brewery Tour

Discussion in 'New England' started by graydude, Mar 9, 2022.

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  1. graydude

    graydude Initiate (122) Jul 9, 2016 Australia

    I’ll be in Boston for the Marathon in April and sooo looking forward to a post-event brewery tiki tour. Travelling from Australia for a trip that should happened in 2020.

    Will be staying in the seaport area so Trillium will be first call after the race (and probably before :open_mouth:). Keen to head to Treehouse, up to Alchemist, and Hill Farmstead, possibly Portland on way back down.

    That all depends on having a rental car. First question: is there any other viable way to get out to Treehouse in Charlton?

    Second question: are there any other absolute must visit breweries in the New England area that you’d recommend?

    Cheers,
    Graydude
     
  2. Mikecap

    Mikecap Pooh-Bah (2,098) May 18, 2012 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Nice, I’m running this year as well. There’s a ton to do in New England brewery-wise depending on how far/where you want to travel, but I’ve got some suggestions/answers to your questions.

    Charlton is not close to Boston or easily accessible by public transit, so you’ll certainly need a rental car. Highly recommend HF and the Alchemist, but would note that Alchemist is still “to go” only, with no drinking on site. For HF, you need a reservation to drink on site as well, so plan accordingly. Depending on what you want from the Alchemist, Heady and Focal are available in most liquor and even grocery stores in Vermont, so you can maybe save a trip unless you’re planning to visit Stowe anyway.

    Portland is great, but not really “on the way” back from HF. Certainly doable, but you’ll certainly want to spend a couple of nights to make all the driving worthwhile.

    Tons to see in New England, but in the Boston area itself, I suggest hitting Notch and Cambridge Brewing for sure, even before Trillium.
     
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  3. graydude

    graydude Initiate (122) Jul 9, 2016 Australia

    Awesome. Thanks for the feedback. The beer prospects are the only thing getting me through training at the moment. Carrying an injury and fully expecting to have to walk half the marathon. Good luck for your race!
     
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  4. MattOC

    MattOC Pooh-Bah (2,100) Jan 13, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    @graydude as @Mikecap said, Tree House is not really accessible from Boston without a car. It’s about a hour each way. That said, if you want the on-site drinking experience you’ll have to go that route. If not and you’re just looking to get some cans to have while you are in town and to take back home with you, you could always go the proxy ordering route, which they allow, and set up an arrangement to place an order and have someone bring it back to you in the Seaport area.
     
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  5. graydude

    graydude Initiate (122) Jul 9, 2016 Australia

    Thanks, great option.

    I’m not opposed to getting a car rental and I have a hotel booked in Sturbridge. But, if there was a booze bus/brewery tour that negated the need for both (for one day), we’d definitely consider that option also.
     
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  6. Rug

    Rug Grand Pooh-Bah (3,454) Aug 20, 2018 Massachusetts
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    Wait, are you staying in Sturbridge or Seaport? You've said both lol. But if it's Sturbridge then you're literally right down the road from Tree House
     
  7. graydude

    graydude Initiate (122) Jul 9, 2016 Australia

    Yep, both. Seaport for 4 nights covering the marathon and then I booked a night at Sturbridge for Treehouse. Can be cancelled though if there was another viable option to get out there and back to Boston.
     
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  8. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,242) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    If you wanted to skip actually going to Hill Farmstead and just wanted to drink some of their beers, Tree House is about 20 minutes from Armsby Abbey. One of the only (if not the only one) places that runs multiple Hill Farmstead drafts in MA. And the food is also out of this world…best burger I’ve ever had in my life.
     
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  9. graydude

    graydude Initiate (122) Jul 9, 2016 Australia

    I like your thinking. Also The Alchemist has just confirmed that their beer garden won’t open until May. That turns out to be a bit of a trip just to pick up some (admittedly bloody awesome) cans.
     
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  10. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,242) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I didn't even notice you were from Australian until you used the word "bloody" haha.

    Best of luck in the race mate! Ran it once myself.
     
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  11. Newport_beerguy

    Newport_beerguy Pooh-Bah (1,860) Feb 24, 2011 Rhode Island
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    If you want to check out Portland I'd advise you also switch one of those hotel nights from Boston to Portland. I wouldn't suggest a newcomer to make that round trip (3.5 hours) between the Seaport and Portland in one day when also visiting breweries.
     
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  12. Harrison8

    Harrison8 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,285) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If you're staying in Fort Point, hit the Fort Point market for to-go beers. You can even order online for pick up.

    Also, feel free to give me a shout when there. If I can get past this injury, I'll be in Boston for the marathon as well. I think @Beersnake1 will be there too.

    Cheers and good luck.
     
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  13. Jcorn

    Jcorn Savant (1,220) Jun 17, 2015 Massachusetts
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    2nd Fort Point, easily my fave beer store in the Boston area. You can even browse their selection here.

    https://www.fortpointmarketstore.com/s/shop
     
  14. schteve

    schteve Pundit (884) Sep 10, 2003 New Jersey

    I Ran Boston a couple of times a couple years ago. My post-race fun included Lamplighter, and I'd consider it worth it. There was also a brewery in Hopkinton. My first year running we stopped there on the way into town for lunch and then drove the course into Boston. It wasn't mind-blowing, but it was decent, and they had a Marathon themed beer, so that was fun.
     
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  15. jbertsch

    jbertsch Pooh-Bah (2,874) Dec 14, 2008 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Start Line Brewing.
     
  16. schteve

    schteve Pundit (884) Sep 10, 2003 New Jersey

    Thanks, I meant to put that in there! :grin:
     
  17. graydude

    graydude Initiate (122) Jul 9, 2016 Australia

    Thanks all. Loving all the feedback. So many tasty beers, so little time. I’ve not been a huge user of Beer Advocate to date but recently gave some tips to someone travelling the other way so thought I’d give it a crack.

    I’m a Kiwi living in Brisbane and I’ve got an Aussie mate also coming across from Switzerland for some beers.
     
  18. Jbrews

    Jbrews Pooh-Bah (2,214) Aug 6, 2013 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah

    Great to see someone from well over the pond posting here. I’d consider skipping hill farmstead and head to Armsby Abbey. Was there last weekend and four hill farm taps on. You’ll have to pick a reservation to even have a drink there and weather/whatnot can screw that all up. Otherwise, I believe you can show up just for cans/bottles. Also, it’s literally in the middle of fucking nowhere. Parker pie being somewhat close by. But there is nothing else but gorgeous fields and smelly cows.

    I think one misleading thing people don’t always discuss about Vermont and other areas is many of the heavy hitters are geographically spread way way out. You need to commit to some serious time behind the wheel to get to them. Not to mention then drive safely after any drafts, so definitely plan accordingly and consider the distances. Waterbury vt has the three amazing bars(pro pig, reservoir and blackback pub) which can satisfy any beer craving. Plus craft beer cellar next to pro pig has anything you could want. It’s another option as all are literally 100 feet from each other.

    Good luck on the race! Ran one full marathon myself and know the struggle! You got some sick waves over there as well I hope to score someday
     
  19. graydude

    graydude Initiate (122) Jul 9, 2016 Australia

    Waterbury does look like a better option than staying in Stowe. Thanks!
     
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  20. Jbrews

    Jbrews Pooh-Bah (2,214) Aug 6, 2013 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah

    Its pretty mind blowing how good those 3 bars are
     
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