What New England beer are you drinking now? (2025)

I just know of it from The Wick!

 

Ahhhh that’s right. My memory of the area is foggy

 

Didn’t realize this was a fruited version of Alter Ego before I bought it. Still very good though!

 

We want the notch back!

j/k, but there are people who really are into it.

 

So Mendon has a zoo and a drive-in? It's cup overflows with classic family entertainment. Kinda cool.

 

I believe I saw Wedding Crashers and 40 yr old Virgin back to back there, many moons ago

 

I guess I don’t think of Treehouse as Western MA brewery, despite the obvious: Treehouse Deerfield is firmly in Western MA. If I had to pick, I would rather support a smaller brewery like Honest Weight. I know this comes off as a criticism of Treehouse, but it’s not. I just don’t want a place as good as Honest Weight to go out of business because Treehouse is only 30 minutes away.

 

. @Stormfield , @brettanomyces420, My experience with some of the bigger, more well known brewers setting-up shop actually helps the locals by bringing in folks who otherwise would have never visited the area. Is this not the case with Treehouse in Western MA.?

 

Barrel-Aged Framinghammer - German Chocolate Cake - Jack’s Abby

Cross-posted to the Porter thread.

The bourbon is a bit heavy handed, with chocolate fudge competing for prominence. Robust malt is evident, with mint following. Vanilla and coconut show-up within a few minutes. Alcohol fumes and Brazil nuts as it warms. The flavor is sweet with late bitterness nibbling at the edges.essentially similar to the aroma, cappuccino and licorice being additions as it warms. Long finish has strong malt and bourbon. The Cashel Blue cheese has strong caraway that contrasts with the licorice.


And a tune more fitting to the cheese than the beer.

 

It may be true. I really don’t know.

 

One of my everyday favorites

 

Delicious new beer from Treehouse! Rooting for the Eagles btw.

 

That's not my experience. Treehouse keeps things very in-house - people get the whole experience (dinner, beer, entertainment) without leaving the TH Compound. It feels fairly analogous to their neighbor, Yankee Candle (doesn't give me quite as much of a headache, though!). There's too many variables to really give a definite answer, but I believe TH has really choked out beer tourism in Western MA. Small local breweries can't effectively compete against the (largest? second largest?) brewer in the state, especially with their tight control of their liquid giving an aura of rarity.

 

As much as I hear that, it’s not their job to not open there to help someone’s small brewery. It should incentive them to work harder on their product. Nate wasn’t handed a recipe or key to success. That *************(and crew) earned it. So why should he not be able to open shop where he wants? Sometimes I just think breweries that complain are new jack craft beer kooks. Since, if they aren’t, they should know the days of a barn in Brimfield. And if you do, how the fuck can you complain about Treehouse or act like they have done other Brewers a disservice. They worked hard and built up. Everyone has the option of applying themselves. It’s like complaining someone in your office gets a promotion. Look at your own performance and asses what you can do different to achieve your next goal. Stop blaming them, and take accountability. The world is fair. The best rises to the top. I’d love to hear a compelling argument of why Treehouse success wasn’t fair lol.

 

Based on a sample survey of one; When visiting an area I seek out as many different breweries as is practical. Usually based on what beers they have to offer. And usually we look for a well known/hyped brewery (such as Treehouse) that may be within an easy deviation from our path, which then makes visiting unfamiliar places more appealing. I have heard similar stories from others.

Now, what happens with the local population is a totally different story. And if that population fails to support their local breweries, then that’s on them, and maybe the local breweries as well. Providing the bigger breweries are following fair business practices, the locals (people and brewers) should look to themselves. Besides, the big brewers seem to have bigger facilities to accommodate the bigger crowds. Bigger crowds tend to be a put-off especially if the crowds are just there for the hype. Oh, and having a local attraction often helps other businesses in the area as well.

Now, if there is some sort of unfair business practice, then that would be a different story.

 

No criticism of brewers or staff here; I'm just saying this business model seems harmful to local breweries. Free market capitalism is cool; everyone should drink whatever beer they like. I'm gonna tap out of this conversation. Cheers!

 

Great beer

 

One of my favorite IPAs.

 

Of course, but have they done much to support these surrounding breweries? Collaborations? Hosting an event showcasing other breweries?

I can think of countless examples of local breweries doing this, too many to list. Even larger breweries like Sam Adams have done this multiple times over the years.