Hugh O'Neill's - Malden, MA

Between Hugh's 35 taps and Mystic Station's 21, there's something for everybody within a 4 block walk from the train station. The food is pretty good too.

 

Definitely. I go there about twice a month with the wife for some dinner and a few too many nice beers. Best part is it's one of the more affordable places for dinner.

 

Brunch is pretty on point too. With the recent renovations Hugh's has stopped doing DJ nights, so no more annoying tough guy crowd on the weekends.

 

I live in Malden, about a five-minute walk from Hugh O'Neill's and Mystic Station. I'm probably at both at least once a week, and they've done great things with craft beer lately. Mystic Station actually has 36 taps (I think) and Hugh O'Neill's just added a bunch more with their recent redesign.

Hugh O'Neill's had a Bourbon County tap takeover earlier this year with 2013 and 2014 BCBS, 2013 and 2014 Barleywine and 2014 Coffee, not to mention some older, no longer produced variants. Additionally, they are *excellent* about keeping their list up-to-date on BeerMenus, which I find pretty awesome. They got some of the Revolution Brewing and Grimm Brothers stuff that came in for Extreme Beer Fest as well, so that's a nice connection to have.

Bryan at Mystic Station has Lunch and Another One on tap fairly frequently, and a great selection of other stuff as well. When Alpine hit the Boston area, he got a few logs of Duet. They recently did a Game of Thrones tap takeover. This is the old District 9 if folks know Malden; the bar just celebrated their first anniversary as Mystic Station. As good as the beer is there, the food is pretty killer too.

A little further away, Ferry Street Food and Drink opened, and while the tap list there isn't as extensive, they have a lot of local craft beer usually featured on tap.

Combine this with the fact that Night Shift is just up the street -- a five-minute drive in Everett -- and Idle Hands is a little bit further, and there's a lot of good reasons to come down to this area for craft beer. Like @messrock added, it's less than a five-minute walk from Malden Center MBTA station as well.

 

Did Mystic Station go in to the place that used to be Ladder 7, or something like that?

 

Yeah, District 9 as I said above. It was a firefighter-themed bar. Very close to City Hall, across from the old Fizz Ed's.

 

I'm a Malden resident as well and have been pleased with with the recent upgrades. Hugh's really stepped up its beer game in the last year or so. The transition from a semi-towny Irish bar to dance club after a certain hour on the weekends can be a bit disconcerting but I like the place. I just take the dance floor opening up as my cue to head out.

Mystic Station I also enjoyed. Haven't been in there as much but the owner seemed like a real nice guy that cared a lot about his investment which are both awesome things. Great to see some good beer options in town. I had almost given up hope after the Red Bones location fell through.

 

Oh thank goodness!

 

Tap list off the web site:

Aeronaut Jackdaw Porter 4.9 16oz. Draft $6.00
A traditional London Brown Porter packed with rich malts and toasted characters.
Allagash White 5.2 12oz. Bottle $5.50
Our interpretation of a traditional Belgian wheat beer. Brewed with a generous portion of wheat and spiced with coriander and Curacao orange peel, this beer is fruity, refreshing and slightly cloudy in appearance.
Avery Lilikoi Kepolo 5.6 12oz. Draft $8.50
Witbier with Passionfruit
Ayinger Maibock 6.8 16oz. Draft $8.50
Brewed with plenty of malt, hops and love, Ayinger Maibock is a big-bodied beer with a sweet, malty aroma, a rousing head and a fruity long lasting aftertastaste.
Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin 7.0 12oz. Draft $6.50
The tart freshness of grapefruit perfectly compliments the IPA's citrusy hop character.
Bantam Rojo 6.0 12oz. Bottle $7.00
Rojo is a blend of local apples fermented with an ale yeast and aged with sour cherries and black peppercorns. It is unfiltered and semi-dry.
Bosteels Triple Karmeleit 8.0 12oz. Draft $9.00
Bob, this is just for you. Brewed with oats, barley and wheat, Tripel Karmeliet has soft, full, rich grain character with hints of banana, vanilla, and a slight, pleasing bubble-gum aroma. A restrained hop bitterness offers perfect balance and a gentle counterpart to its substantial maltiness.
Bud 5.0 12oz. Bottle $4.00
Bud Light 4.2 12oz. Bottle16oz. Draft $4.00$4.00
Chimay Premiere (Red) 7.0 12oz. Bottle $8.00
Chimay Red is noted for its coppery colour which makes it particularly attractive. Topped with a creamy head, it gives off a light, fruity apricot aroma produced by the fermentation. The taste perceived in the mouth is a balance confirming the fruity nuances noticed in the fragrance... more
Coors Banquet 5.0 16oz. Can $4.00
Coors Light 4.2 12oz. Bottle $4.00
Corona 4.6 12oz. Bottle $5.00
Corona Light 3.7 12oz. Bottle $5.00
Doc’s Draft Hard Apple Cider 5.0 16oz. Draft $6.00
This cider is semi-dry and wonderfully effervescent with a remarkably fresh apple nose.
Downeast Cider Original Blend 5.1 16oz. Draft $5.50
Inspired by farm-fresh ciders enjoyed around New England in autumn, made from local apples for a full-bodied flavor and smooth finish.
Duvel Tripel Hop 9.5 12oz. Bottle $8.00
Unique one-off, made with three kinds of hops: Styrian Goldings, Saaz and Amarillo. Dry hopped with more Styrian, and an extra dose of malts to hold up.
Estrella Damm Daura 5.4 12oz. Bottle $6.00
Estrella Damm Daura is the result of a long collaborative research process between Damm and the CSIC (National Scientific Research Council) gluten unit, using the most advanced technology... more
Founders Red's Rye IPA 6.6 16oz. Draft $6.00
Pours a spectacular crimson red with a creamy tan head. Brewed with four varieties of Belgian caramel malts imparting a sweet richness. Reds Rye is impressively balanced with its hop bitterness and floral bouquet achieved from the dry hop... more
Guinness Stout 4.1 20oz. Draft $6.00
Irelands Signature Stout - Ingredients: Pale ale malt, about 25 to 30% flaked barley, and about 10% roasted barley, with no other grains or sugars; several hop varieties, mainly Goldings (pellets and isomerized extract); a flocculent head-forming ale yeast.
Harpoon IPA 5.9 16oz. Draft $5.00
This copper colored ale is floral, medium bodied, with a crisp, refreshing finish.
Heineken 5.0 16oz. Draft $5.50
Hidden Cove Patroon IPA 6.0 12oz. Draft $7.00
Hofbräu München Maibock 7.2 16oz. Draft $6.00
Medium slightly creamy body; Aroma of malt, woody hops, some caramel, & spice; Flavor of slight sweet malt, hops, caramel, and fruit; Finish is dry and slightly bitter.
Jack's Abby Hopstitution Calyptra 5.5 16oz. Draft $6.00
The hardest part about making new and exciting hoppy beers is sourcing the hops you need. Most hops are bought under contracts which are signed two or three years in advance... more
Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale 8.19 12oz. Bottle $7.00
Flavors of vanilla and oak are imparted to this special ale as it rests in charred barrels.
Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro 6.0 16oz. Draft $6.50
(Longmont, CO) - Roasted malt, coffee and creamy flavors stand out. Udderly delightful!
Magners Irish Cider 4.5 20oz. Bottle $7.00
Commercial cider made with a controlled yeast then pasteurised and artificially carbonated.
Magners Pear Cider 4.5 12oz. Bottle $5.50
We all need a bit of variety and that's why we came up with the idea for Magners Pear. Of course, we like to do things properly and don’t mind taking our time about it, so unlike some Pear ciders, the only fruit that goes into ours is pears."
Maine MO Pale Ale 6.0 12oz. Draft $7.50
Our first run at an American Pale Ale. Flavors and aromas of zesty citrus, passionfruit, and pine present themselves throughout. A very subtle malt sweetness for balance, but this is intended to finish dry.
Michelob Ultra 4.2 12oz. Bottle $4.00
Miller Lite 4.2 16oz. Draft $4.00
Narragansett Lager 5.0 16oz. Can $4.00
Roll out the Barrel: 5.0% Alcohol by Volume and 12 IBUs. A classic American lager and the workhorse of the Gansett stable... more
New Holland Black Tulip 8.8 12oz. Draft $7.50
Since the early 1600's, the Dutch have attempted to breed a pure black tulip. Many have tried and a few have come close...but none have succeeded. Call it the Holy Grail of the tulip world. In honor of this elusive flower we have brewed this special elixir... more
Night Shift Viva Habanera 7.0 12oz. Draft $7.00
Rye ale brewed with agave nectar and aged on habanero peppers Brewed with rye malts that bring their own natural spice, this invigorating cerveza gets its zesty kick and peppery flavor from habanero peppers that we add after fermentation... more
O'Hara's Irish Stout 4.3 16oz. Draft $6.00
Think of Irish beers and you think of Stout! Drink an O’Hara’s and you are drinking a “True Irish Stout”! Carrying the family name of the brewery founders, this multi-award winning traditional dry Irish stout, deep black colour with a reddish hue when held to the light, pours with a thick creamy ... more
Oskar Blues Pinner Throwback Session IPA 4.9 16oz. Draft $6.00
How do you cram as much hop & malt flavor and aroma as possible into a beer but make it crushable too? That’s the challenge we answered with PINNER Throwback IPA. At 4.9% ABV and 35 IBUs, this drinkable IPA uses several varieties of hops to target the ever-evolving flavor... more
Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) 4.74 16oz. Draft $3.00
Established in Milwaukee in 1844, this is the original Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Nature’s choicest products provide its prized flavor. Only the finest of hops and grains are used. Selected as America’s Best in 1893.
Revolution Fist City 5.5 16oz. Draft $6.50
This mega pale ale with California hop aroma is named for the Loretta Lynn tune -- blending the music that defines Big Star and the iconic fist that identifies Revolution’s beers. The beer will be available at Big Star, Revolution Brewing, and other One Off Hospitality locations.
Shock Top Belgian White 5.2 16oz. Draft $5.00
Shock Top Belgian-style wheat ale has collected awards in consecutive years at the North American Beer Awards.
Smithwick's Ale 5.0 16oz. Draft $5.00
Smithwick’s is Irelands favourite ale, from a tradition of ale brewing founded in 1710.
Stella Artois 5.2 16oz. Draft $5.50
Stone Cali-Belgique IPA 6.9 12oz. Draft $6.50
When reading the name "Stone Cali-Beligique IPA," "Cali" hints that it is a California-style IPA, and this brew has an undeniable Belgian influence, indicated by the word "Belgique" (which is how Belgium's French-speaking population says the word "Belgian"; the Dutch-speaking Belgians say "Belgie... more
Stone Chai-Spiced Russian Imperial Stout 2015 10.5 12oz. Draft $8.50
Intensely aromatic (notes of anise, black currants, coffee, roastiness and alcohol) and heavy on the palate…expect this mysterious brew to pour like used motor oil and taste even heavier!
Tom Crean's Irish Lager 4.3 16oz. Draft $6.50
European pale lager with dry floral hop notes'
Troegs Hop Back Amber 5.6 16oz. Draft $6.00
Troegs HopBack Amber gets its unique name and taste from the HopBack Vessel in our brewhouse. Packed full of whole flower hops, each batch circulates through the vessel, creating a fresh hoppy aroma, spicy taste and rich caramel note that defines this signature amber ale.
Uinta Dubhe Imperial Black IPA 9.2 12oz. Draft $6.00
Named Utah's Centennial Star in 1996, Dubhe (pronounced Doo-bee) illuminates the front of the big dipper from 124 light years away. Dubhe, also known as Alpha Ursae Majoris, is a red giant that appears orange in color and has a mass 4x that of the sun... more
Victory Hop Ticket #1 Black IPA 6.6 16oz. Draft $6.00
Aromas of roasted malt precede hints of pine and resin in this dark and rich Black IPA
Well's Banana Bread Beer 5.2 12oz. Bottle $6.00
This dark golden coloured ale hugs the palate with great intensity. Its malty aroma is complemented by the gentle nose of Banana. Its flavour unfolds with a sensual sparkle and a smart crispness, which balances its aroma perfectly... more
Widmer Brothers Kill Devil '13 9.5 12oz. Draft $7.50
Kill Devil Brown Ale's flavor come from the use of ingredients traditionally used by Caribbean distillers. Sweet Barbados and Blackstrap Molasses provide touches of toasted sugar, black licorice and blackened toffee while the palm sugars invite notes of subtle sweetness... more
Yuengling Lager 4.4 16oz. Draft $4.00

 

Missed your comment above. I used to shoot darts out of My Honey Fitz, so I know the area well. Or used to. Haven't been down that way since the Fitz closed.

 

It's great to see the little craft beer secret here gets some recognition. I've lived up the road in Melrose for 10 years and untill recently, it's been a craft beer wasteland. Usually had to trek into Cambridge/Boston for a good tap list and fresh offerings.

Hugh O'Neill's had always had a sneaky passable tap list, but in the last year or two, and certainly with the improvements the last few weeks, it's turning into a nice understated beer destination. I usually go for brunch when it's quieter - I had been in the past on a Sat. night but didn't like the loud Irish music scene and dance nights with the slow service. Perhaps that's changing. ... There's are some duds that are constantly wasting space on the tap list for some reason (Yuenling, Shock Top, MBC, Widmer, Wells etc. .. probably to keep the old timers happy and cash flowing), but I wonder/hope those will phase out over time as they continue to change their image and hopefully go all in on craft. The beer guy/owner there seems very exciited about the changes and getting the word out to the real beer geeks there.

Mystic Station just up the road has really stepped up its game as well. Great source for Be Hoppy and Alpine on the regular. They have all top notch craft brewer there, very little filler. Meals are solid, and portions are big. They are trying hard to win the beer geeks over. Very very solid. It's like when Hugh's doesn't have something, you can find it over and Mystic, and vice versa.

Between Mystic and Hugh's, you have a nice one-two punch within a few block. The better they do, the better rare stuff they'll eventual get. I'v seen nice sightings like Lunch and Boubon County in recent months. Let's hope they keep growing.

Not to be outdone, Ferry Street is a great spot as well in Malden, not far way. This place wins hands down for best meal in Malden for sure. They have a decent beer list to boot of all nice local stuff and findable beers but nothing overly exciting (though I did try Habinaro Sculipin there for the first time last week.) It's good beer, but not convinced they know enough to bring a differentiated tap list .. though they are trying. Still the best meal around though, bar none, paired with a nice Jack's Abby, Idle Hands and the like... I'll take that.

All in all, it's been a huge step up and hope it keeps developing so we get increasingly new and rare stuff here. Now if we can only get Shaun Hill's attention away from Worcester and toward this other up and coming urban area.

 

I kind of hope they keep some of the old vibe (dance night excluded). My wife and I have met some really cool people in there because it was more of a town pub and not a full on "craft beer" bar. That no pretensions pub ambiance is something I really enjoy and hope they manage to hang on to (in addition to have a great beer selection). That said, I am curious see the changes, haven't been in for about a month or so.

 

Alpine on the regular?

 

http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/on-the-regular

 

You misunderstood me. Forget the "on the regular" part, I meant, how are they regularly getting Alpine beers? I thought they weren't returning to Mass until the fall.

 

Stopped in there a while back after a work meeting, excellent beer selection. We were expecting the old place so we were pleasantly surprised with what we found. Talked to the owner/manager about how the demographics there were changing, new condos going up, etc. He sounded like he really had put thought into the upgrade and knew the area should be bringing in more and more people in the "beer geek" demographic.

 

I'm probably wrong about that, but I've had it there several times, last time being about a month ago.

 

Yeah, I agree with the "no pretension" part, I enjoy that aspect of ONeill's as well. There's probably a happy medium that they can reach to keep that feel and still be a kick ass beer bar without all the beer snobbery.

 

At Mystic Station right now, and they have Founders KBS on tap. $12 for a 12 oz pour.