Going "home" for a week... suggestions?

Discussion in 'New England' started by Patrick_in_DC, May 8, 2015.

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  1. Patrick_in_DC

    Patrick_in_DC Devotee (382) May 8, 2015 Maryland

    Hey,

    I'm looking for some suggestions for brewery visits and I'll rattle off some prelim plans and list places I've already been and places on the "to do" list... I'm going home to north central mass the last week of may (23-31).

    I have... been to two roads, firefly hollow, wachusett, gardner ale house, three different beer works (Lowell, Fenway, Garden), jack's abby (will revisit), harpoon, night shift (may revisit), mystic (may revisit), smuttynose, and throwback. edit: forgot trillium and cambridge brewing

    I am going to stop at Weyerbacher in PA on the way up (first Saturday)... I have an overnight stop in Bristol CT. Sunday starts in Bristol. Not against doing something CT-ish on the way up. Sunday may be the best day to do anything western Mass. I have another friend I'd like to drop in on near Springfield.

    I'd like to visit Tree House but that'll be a timing issue.

    I will hit Areonaut, Slumbrew (Boynton location), and Idle Hands/Enlightenment.

    I'll probably take a bus tour hitting Earth Eagle, Throwback, and Blue Lobster (second Saturday). This will be the day/night I stop in Bristol on the way back to DC.

    The trip back will likely be some brewery between greater NYC and Baltimore.

    Basically I'm just looking to see if there are anything that's obvious to a New Englander. In the end this trip is to get away from DC so I'm not going to destroy myself in the search for the perfect beer... but I don't want to miss the blatantly obvious either... and maps give suggestions but they never trump local knowledge... thanks.

    Max range... western Mass, Southern NH, Southern Maine, greater Boston
     
    #1 Patrick_in_DC, May 8, 2015
    Last edited: May 8, 2015
  2. slengteng

    slengteng Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2014 Massachusetts

    Considering the list of breweries that you've already been to I think Tree House is the stand out for what you need to hit. Wormtown in Worcester would also be worth hitting on your way from Tree House to north central MA. They have a nice patio area where you can sit outside and enjoy their beers. Also in Worcester is Armsby Abbey which I have yet to make it to but they have Hill Farmstead on tap.
     
    ChrisMyhre likes this.
  3. ChrisMyhre

    ChrisMyhre Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2013 Massachusetts

    In that range my top choices would be;

    Tree House
    Trillium
    Armsby Abbey
    Julios Liquors
    Allagash
    Tributary
    Smuttynose
    CBC
    Stoneface

    On the way home through NYC I would stop at New England Brewing Company and get pizza on Wooster street in New Haven.
     
  4. Patrick_in_DC

    Patrick_in_DC Devotee (382) May 8, 2015 Maryland

    I also have to remember that as long as my parents are still alive there will always be trips back to Fitchburg... but the geek part of me says "MUST DO EVERYTHING!!!!" :stuck_out_tongue:
     
  5. Mark_Russell_CT

    Mark_Russell_CT Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2014 Connecticut

    Since you will be in Bristol, I would highly suggest stopping by Relic in Plainville. Small place with a great variety!
     
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  6. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,716) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    2nd on hitting up Relic....very closeby and Mark the brewer is a pretty cool guy to chat with about beers. Usually quite a few drafts available for growlers and some cool bombers too
     
  7. Patrick_in_DC

    Patrick_in_DC Devotee (382) May 8, 2015 Maryland

    yeah, I saw their website... and like the options there... but the timing blows. If they had Sunday hours I can pop on by... blah.
     
  8. MVP09

    MVP09 Initiate (0) Oct 19, 2012 Massachusetts

    Medusa Hudson, MA
    Wormtown Worcester, MA
    Tributary Kittery, MA
     
    krantul likes this.
  9. MVP09

    MVP09 Initiate (0) Oct 19, 2012 Massachusetts

    Tributary is in Maine
     
  10. smanson56

    smanson56 Pooh-Bah (2,070) Feb 15, 2014 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah

    I would probably pass on Blue Lobster and try to add Stoneface, Newington NH and Garrison City Beerworks, Dover NH.
     
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  11. Flashy

    Flashy Pooh-Bah (1,767) Oct 22, 2003 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    Welcome to BA.
     
    Patrick_in_DC likes this.
  12. Jsanchez1

    Jsanchez1 Aspirant (262) Nov 25, 2014 Connecticut

    If you can make it to Portland going to Industrial Way and getting Bissell Brothers, Foundation, Austin Street, and Allagash is going to be the best bang for your buck. Just get to Bissell for opening so you leave with cans. 15 minutes away near Old Port you'll find Oxbow, Rising Tide and Bunker Brewing as well
     
  13. Patrick_in_DC

    Patrick_in_DC Devotee (382) May 8, 2015 Maryland

    Hey, thanks guys.

    In the end I got to weyerbacher, high point (NJ), Jack's, mystic, slum, idle, navigation, element, and opa-opa. edit: and firefly hollow... introduced the bristol-based friend to them... he texted a few friends saying "why aren't we going here?!"

    I screwed up aeronaut... just too much for one day.... I barely made it through slum and that was the 3rd of the day... I had to take an hour "off" but to do that I had to drive an hour... don't worry folks, beer fatigue and normal fatigue, not drunk :slight_smile: Relic I meant to but I got a late jump on Saturday. I should apologize to the owner/brewer 'cause I said I'd go the next day when I talked to him Friday night at ACBF.

    ACBF was ridiculous. I don't know how I had 28 samples and was able to drive by the time I got back to Alewife. Maybe I'll do that again, we'll see. Hard from DC. The "beating expectations" winner was Spencer (St. Joseph's Abbey). A father associated with the abbey/brewery was able to talk to me after I stumped one of the beer pourers at a basic church structure question (I was wondering if they were part of the Worcester diocese or not... yes they are, for the record... so that makes one healing priest, one comatose child which is supposed to grant miracles, and a trappist brewery... I feel bad for the bishop). I won't declare a personal winner not out of desire but there was a lot of beer to run through and its unfair to do that. I'd rather view it as "what I enjoyed" and "what surprised me".

    Always chances to do other places again but most likely Turkey Day and Christmas.
     
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