About to go on a trip to Boston and would like to get some good beer suggestions. I am most interested in bars/restaurants, though it would be fun to check out some bottle shops. I'm not overly interested in breweries, as I won't have much time to take the tours. In Boston, I'll be staying near Cambridge and have heard recommendations for Cambridge Brewing Company, Lord Hobo, and Mead Hall. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Those are the correct recommendations, although I'm personally not a fan of Meadhall. If it's a nice day, I'd recommend starting at the CBC and grabbing some food on the patio. Lord Hobo is three blocks down Hampshire St, so stroll down there after. Where in Cambridge are you staying? And what days of the week?
Check out this thread for some area-specific options: http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/visiting-boston-summer-13-edition.99268/#post-1455157 Use the map too: https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zzQVS-K1uIyE.k09Ek3nknCU0
cambridge brewing company is my favorite brewery, so... re: mead hall, i was a real doubter due to the weird pricing (if i recall, what they charge for three philosophers is laughably overpriced, yet some rarities or high alcohol high price juggernauts end up being great deals)... but i went there for a friends birthday gathering, and i was really impressed. good atmosphere, good food, good assortment of beers, good service, clean lines and proper glassware (if all the different beers i tasted are an indication of the whole). no complaints, really. the only thing bad i can say about them (besides "what the fuck?" @ weird pricing) is that they're not lord hobo or CBC. other than that, they're really a worthwhile bar. i mean, shit, i'd take mead hall over *every single bar in manhattan* hands down.
I'm a big fan of the Cambridge Common resturaunt, on Mass ave btwn. Harvard and Porter squares. Pretty solid beer menu and live music downstairs at The Lizard Lounge. Both share the same beer menu.
i liked it when i went several years ago... horrible website, but current taplist is nice. i'd get jack's abby fire in the ham and CBC ship of fools and be very happy.
I'll be staying near Tufts - Davis square, I think is the area. Will be there Saturday night till Wednesday.
The Kendall combo should be at the top of your list, but Davis Square is great too. Redbones - BBQ and solid tap list Five Horses Tavern - Great comfort food and a great tap list, but make sure you check the price and pour size before anything you order. Can be the priciest by far. Flatbread - Pizza and all local taps at reasonable prices. By far the best value, but also pretty noisy with the candlepin bowling. For bottle shops, Downtown Wine and Spirits is right in Davis Square and has a very good selection. Ball Square Fine Wines is on Broadway, also close to Tufts, and is worth visiting despite their prices being a couple bucks higher across the board. If you have a car, I'd strongly recommend driving the 3 miles to Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont. Beautiful store, great selection, and prices in line for the area.
At my one and only visit to Lord Hobo I encountered a sharp tongued bartender. That was enough for me. There are too many outstanding establishments in the Cambridge area. I recommend all of the above...except Lord Hobo.
