Lake Winnipesaukee Recommendations

Discussion in 'New England' started by dbrauneis, Jul 10, 2023.

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  1. dbrauneis

    dbrauneis Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,071) Dec 8, 2007 North Carolina
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I have searched through the threads that I can find that mention Lake Winnipesaukee and the lake region in general but most of the posts/responses are approaching 10 years old now, so I thought I would start a new thread to get some input. My last visit to the area was about 30-35 years ago before I drove or paid any attention to what is close to what :slight_smile:

    I’m headed to the area at the end of the month and will be staying with friends on a very small private island accessible only by boat. I will be arriving before lunch time on a Friday and not sure what (if any) excursions we will have into the neighboring towns.

    What are the can’t miss breweries, beer stores, bars, and restaurants with good beer lists? Are any of them right on the lake and someplace we can go to on the boat without moving to cars and driving? As I am one of only two big beer drinkers I’m thinking it will be a mostly go with the flow kind of weekend (everyone else is more of a bourbon/whiskey/scotch kind of crowd).
     
    #1 dbrauneis, Jul 10, 2023
  2. dbrauneis

    dbrauneis Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,071) Dec 8, 2007 North Carolina
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I have compiled a short list of my own through a little internet research but not sure about the accessibility from the lake nor of the to-go options/how early I could grab stuff.

    Here are the places that looked interesting to me:

    Lone Wolf Brewing Company (Wolfeboro)
    Craft Beer Xchange, Home of the Witches Brew Pub (Laconia)
    Twin Barns Brewing Company (Meredith)
    Burnt Timber Brewing & Tavern (Wolfeboro)
    Beveridge Taproom (Wolfeboro)
    Hobbs Tavern & Brewing Company (West Ossipee)
    Hobbs Brewing Company (Ossipee)
    Case - n- Keg (Meredith & Laconia)
     
    #2 dbrauneis, Jul 10, 2023
  3. bikerbill

    bikerbill Pundit (868) Aug 1, 2001 New Hampshire
    BA4LYFE Society Trader

    Certainly if you're gonna be in Ossipee anyway, don't miss Sap House Meadery, I'd say.
     
    #3 bikerbill, Jul 10, 2023
  4. SunDevilBeer

    SunDevilBeer Pooh-Bah (1,945) May 9, 2003 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    I've been to all except Twin Barns in the past several years. Beer won't blow you away at any of those places and aren't destinations, but are all decent places to hang out and have a few. Food is pretty good at Hobbs. My 2 cents.
     
    #4 SunDevilBeer, Jul 10, 2023
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  5. Capt_Quint

    Capt_Quint Pundit (762) May 29, 2015 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Not near the water but Kettlehead in Tilton is a good place to stop on your way in. Very good IPAs and the food is also more than worth the pit stop.

    Poggios in Center Harbor has a new beer garden featuring Notch beers, so that should definitely be on your radar. It’s across the street from the lake.

    Beer selections aren’t craft centric at all, but I still think Naswa at the Weirs channel and Town Docks in Meredith are worth the stops for the lake experience. Both right on the water.
     
    #5 Capt_Quint, Jul 10, 2023
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  6. yuppiescum

    yuppiescum Zealot (519) Jun 4, 2009 Massachusetts

    Where are you coming in from? Driving from NC, or from BOS/MHT/PWM? Perhaps we can offer a good suggestion on the route.
     
    #6 yuppiescum, Jul 10, 2023
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  7. dbrauneis

    dbrauneis Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,071) Dec 8, 2007 North Carolina
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    BOS but picking up friend at MHT - heading to Moultonborough to meet the guy with the boat to get us there.

    Also, can I buy beer at a NH Liquor Store (I’m sure the others will be wanting to stop to pick up some whiskey/bourbon/scotch) along the way?
     
    #7 dbrauneis, Jul 10, 2023
  8. dbrauneis

    dbrauneis Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,071) Dec 8, 2007 North Carolina
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Also, appreciate all the suggestions so far - this is the kind of local knowledge I was hoping to gather over just random stuff I find searching.
     
    #8 dbrauneis, Jul 10, 2023
  9. dbrauneis

    dbrauneis Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,071) Dec 8, 2007 North Carolina
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thoughts on Bert's Better Beers in Hooksett NH to pick some stuff up on our way?
     
    #9 dbrauneis, Jul 10, 2023
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  10. Capt_Quint

    Capt_Quint Pundit (762) May 29, 2015 Massachusetts
    Trader

    The Beer Store in Nashua, NH is really good and an easy 5 mins off the highway. Plus they’re really active on Insta with updates.
     
    #10 Capt_Quint, Jul 11, 2023
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  11. Piels25

    Piels25 Savant (1,034) Dec 17, 2013 Massachusetts
    Trader

    The rest area off I-93N in Hooksett has both a NH State Liquor store and a general store with a wide selection of NH craft beer. Probably need to check dates on cans to avoid some shelf turds. Personally, I would be buying all the Stoneface you can find there.

    I would also second a stop at Kettlehead in Tilton en route to Moultonborough. Good beer and food.
     
    #11 Piels25, Jul 11, 2023
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  12. BigDummyLamont

    BigDummyLamont Devotee (320) Jan 16, 2021 Massachusetts

    This is a good option. Also, you have Spyglass Brewery with cans to go and good reviews on their food so far right up the road. Very good NEIPAs and getting better with their lagers and stouts.
     
    #12 BigDummyLamont, Jul 11, 2023
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  13. kinopio

    kinopio Savant (1,037) Apr 30, 2009 Massachusetts

    Just liquor and wine. No beer. Might wanna buy beer in MA. NH is a mediocre beer state surrounded by 3 great beer states.
     
    #13 kinopio, Jul 11, 2023
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  14. dbrauneis

    dbrauneis Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,071) Dec 8, 2007 North Carolina
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    My parents still live in MA so I get up there occasionally to visit and love the beer scene BUT I have not had the chance to try beers from many NH breweries so I thought I would give them a shot this visit (you know, when in Rome…).
     
    #14 dbrauneis, Jul 11, 2023
  15. yuppiescum

    yuppiescum Zealot (519) Jun 4, 2009 Massachusetts

    Yeah, Spyglass is the answer here, if they're open when you are driving up.

    There's also Pipe Dream and Backyard right next to Manchvegas Airport
     
    #15 yuppiescum, Jul 11, 2023
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  16. Jcorn

    Jcorn Savant (1,220) Jun 17, 2015 Massachusetts
    Trader

    I love Spyglass, the limited stuff I have had from them has been excellent. There is also a Craft Beer Cellar right off of route 3 in Nashua. You can even order from them ahead of time and pickup.

    https://nashua.craftbeercellar.com/
     
    #16 Jcorn, Jul 11, 2023
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  17. dbrauneis

    dbrauneis Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,071) Dec 8, 2007 North Carolina
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I ended up stopping at Bert’s Better Beer while after the NH Liquor Store while waiting to pick someone up at MHT - worked out nicely, good selection and everything available as singles.

    Also went to Poggio's for dinner - didn’t get to the beer garden but was able to grab a Notch beer at the regular restaurant.

    Overall a great trip and found some interesting beers.
     
    #17 dbrauneis, Aug 12, 2023
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