Saw a recent other post about Deja Brew...I have a gift certificate for Hopster's in Newton. Anyone have any info, recommendations, advice?
I went way early when it first opened, before the bar was even in yet. The owner is great, our beer turned out pretty well, and had good experiences doing it and picking up/bottling. We brewed up a hopped-up slightly higher alcohol amber. That being said, I bet it's a totally different experience now with a bar and, you know, other people in there.
Here is the reply I got when asking if they were extract only: We offer all grain however there is an additional cost as we have to make 35 gallons at a time and it takes several hours. On the other hand you do get a much larger yield than our extract brewing for the cost and you can make 4 different types of beer.
I just went for a buddy's birthday a couple of weeks ago. Good program. Yes extract. $150 starting for 7.5 gal~ 3 cases. You must return to bottle. Super easy system. You can spend more and do more interesting brews. Fun to do with your buddies. All local taps. About 20. Good food. Fun for just drinking and eating Ina bar that smells like a brewery. You can also rent the all grain tuns in the basement as mentioned above. Good experience.
I've tried to grab a drink there on 4 separate occasions and each time they've been "closed" or they were rented out. Given up at this point, shame too because it's only a block from my work. They should post a schedule online or something.
On the topic of Hopsters: They'll soon be brewing beer that will be distributed to Boston-area bars and restaurants. http://www.bostonmagazine.com/resta...ters-becomes-first-commercial-newton-brewery/ The [commercial brewing license] allows the brewery to not only sell their house-made ales at the Hopsters bar, but also to other restaurants, pubs, and liquor stores through a wholesale distributor. Growlers will be sold for $4 at the restaurant and can be filled with Hopsters’ in-house ales. They will offer at least three specialty beer styles on tap, all of which will rotate on a weekly basis.
