i'm from Jersey and heading up to Boston in a couple of weeks and am looking to get my hand on as many IPA's and hoppy brews as I can. I plan on visiting Trillium already. Any other suggestions for beer to grab and places to get beer?
On your way up, stop off in CT for some New England Brewing beers. Ghandi-Bot (or whatever they're calling it now) might be available. Once you're over the border, make sure to hit up Tree House in Monson MA. Not too far off the highway. Continue along the pike (I-90) and stop in Worcester - Armsby Abbey for dinner, Wormtown Brewery for Be Hoppy. Just a bit up the road (damn, still not in Boston yet!) get off the highway and check out Jack's Abby in Framingham. Once you arrive in Boston, you'll want to do Trillium & Night Shift for sure, but also consider stopping by Mystic and Idle Hands (check their hours)... not so much hoppy, just delicious stuff. While you're in Boston/Cambridge, Lord Hobo and Meadhall are the picks for beer with your dinner, or you can hit up Row 34 which is literally right next door to Trillium. Hope that's enough help for ya!
Harpoon is less than a mile from Trillium, and they do a pretty nice tour. The Harpoon IPA is a New England classic, and Rich and Dan's IPA is solidly hoppy too - I'd recommend checking it out for the big brewery experience. Cambridge Brewing Company is not far from Trillium, and they also have some nice hoppy brews (Flower Child, Tall Tale to name a few) as well as new American food.
Look up Craft Beer Cellar. There are a few in the suburbs and have great selections. I can't speak for any particularly amazing bottle shops in boston proper, perhaps someone else can offer suggestions there.
If you are coming in from the west. Not far off the Mass Pike is Julio's in Westboro. Probably the best bottle selection in MA.
Best under-the-radar local packaged IPA: Ipswich 101. Best under-the-radar brewpub IPA: Beerworks (several locations) Contender
