June 24th-29th Conn,RI,Mass Trip!

Discussion in 'New England' started by zrab11, Mar 11, 2013.

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  1. zrab11

    zrab11 Maven (1,450) Dec 25, 2010 Indiana
    Trader

    Hey Fellow BA’s! My wife and I require your assistance in helping to make our upcoming east coast vacation the best possible. I am looking for recommendations/advice on both food and beer. For food- we are looking for anything unique, local and just down-right GOOD. We love good food and the cost isn’t so important as is the taste. We love the farm-to-table movement but also enjoy a greasy spoon. It’s all about what the people who live there all the time know is good. If you live in/or are familiar with good eats in any of the places I will list, I’d love to hear your picks or any feedback on places that we already know we want to visit as well as places we didn't mention that is a Must go.

    As Far as Beer Goes. I will most likely be getting most of my beer before I reach your state. Like Beers from DFH,Lagunitas,Weyerbacher and a few others in PA unless you think your prices are significantly less and I should wait till i get to your area? But there is a Few brewery's that you supposedly get distributed that I might be interested in picking up some bottles if they are available. Now I will list the brews that are “Supposedly” distributed to your area but as i know that doesn’t necessarily mean the area I am in gets these beers. Or they may be a beer that is Brewery only release and is not sold in stores or is only sold in stores at a certain time of the year. . Also just b/c I listed a brewery below doesn’t mean i think it comes into each state that is represented in this forum but all the beers below “supposedly” come into at least 1 state or more in this forum.

    So here is the Beer I am looking to pick up that I won't have probably snagged on my trip.

    Connecticut
    Captain lawrence- Barrel Select, Cuvee De Caselton, Rosso E Marrone(Probably NONE of these i can get but i thought i would ask and see)
    GI- Cherry Rye(none made it to my neck of the woods)

    Massachusetts
    Alesmith-Yulesmith(summer),Old Numskull,Wee heavy,Horny Devil
    Cascasde- Basically ANY of their sours
    GI-Cheery Rye
    Port/Lost abby- Angel Share BBA, Serpents Stout,Deliverance, Judgement day
    Firestone Walker(limited)-Wookey jack,velvet merlin,16,Parabola, Abacus

    Rhode Island
    Ithica-Flower Power,Brute, Leblue

    Now of course as i said above I recognize that some of these might be kinda whaleish or not even make it to shelves. But these are what I am looking for so if they are not available just let me know and I will be totally fine of course. Most of the more assessable beer that i was wanting to attain on my trip will be snagged before i reach your neck of the woods!

    So below is the basic Itinerary of our trip.

    Monday June 24th
    -Leave philly
    -dinner Rutt’s Hut in Clifton, NJ
    -then Drive to Best Western or Days Inn in West Haven

    (I hear Black Rock Wine and Spirit in Fairfield CT might be a good shop?)

    TUESDAY June 25
    -Hike East Rock park
    -Pepe’s Pizzeria vs. Sally’s Apizza vs. Modern Apizza place
    -drive to Providence (1hr. 41min.)
    -time for stops along the way
    -dinner Waterman Grille? Los Andes? East Side Pocket?
    Flan y Ajo?
    -night-time fire walk

    WEDNESDAY June 26
    -drive Providence to Newport (1hr.)
    -The Mooring for lunch?
    -staying at 4 Dresser Street #3, Newport, RI
    -Cliff Walk
    -10 mile Ocean Drive

    (I saw that I will be passing Grapes and Grains bottle shop on the way to New port and thought that looked like a good place. Please advise.)

    THURSDAY June 27
    -Newport to Cape Cod (1hr. 30 min.)

    FRIDAY June 28
    - Cape Cod to Boston

    SATURDAY June 29
    -Boston
    - Eat at "Cafe Fleuri" (chocolate buffet) for 1 of our meals in boston

    SUNDAY June 30
    - Boston to Bar Harbor (Highbrook motel, Atlantic Eyrie-mountainv?)

    So this is a Rough Idea of what we are going to do. So please Chime in on the Restaurants in Connecticut and RI that we have chosen as well as any that you like. Also please give us Restaurant ideas for Boston as Boston is pretty much unplanned at this time. The Restaurants don't have to have a good beer selection but always welcome of course.

    Also please let me know of any Bars or Breweries that I Must check out on my route. Ive Heard of "Deep Ellum" and "Sunset grill and Tap" Are either good?

    Also please let me know bottle shops that I can snag a few brews that I want or beers that I don’t get in the midwest that I should want. I love really all styles. Favorites being sours, and Stouts, and DIPA’s.

    Feel Free to Chime in on any activities or sites to see as well. We are active people and love to be outdoors and willing to try anything once. We are not really into Museums but appreciate things like "the Liberty Bell" and other things that have to do with our great history or the history of the states we are in.

    More questions to come for Maine, NH and Vermont in the upcoming weeks. But for now just give me advice on what I have posted.

    Thanks for all and any advice
     
  2. kinopio

    kinopio Savant (1,037) Apr 30, 2009 Massachusetts

    For your night in Boston I would go to Cambridge Brewing Company since its an amazing brewpub. There are a ton of great restaurants in that area. My favorite is Oleana. Its Turkish/Mediterranean and the chef owns a local farm with her husband so they have great produce. She was on Top Chef Masters a couple years ago. Pick up some bottles of Jacks Abby when you are in the Boston area.
     
    FrankLloydMike likes this.
  3. CharlatanSin

    CharlatanSin Initiate (0) May 28, 2009 Connecticut

    For your New Haven pizza stop, I'll strongly recommend Modern instead of Sally's or Pepe's. Better pizza, WAY better atmosphere, and delicious NEBCO on tap (Sea Hag, Elm City and one rotating, seems like it's usually Gandhi-Bot these days). Best pizza on planet Earth for my money. Plus, it's closer to East Rock Park, which is on your itinerary anyway.

    You're not going to find any of those beers you mentioned in CT (other than Flower Power, which you mentioned under another state), but you should definitely pick up some NEBCO while you're in the New Haven area. I can recommend specific stores if you want. I pimp Gandhi-Bot a lot around here, but for a really good reason. It's one of the best.

    Sounds like a fun trip!
     
    tehzachatak and RMoeNay like this.
  4. averagjoe3

    averagjoe3 Initiate (0) Jul 9, 2012 Connecticut


    doubt youll find any of the bolded on shelves anywhere .

    def stop at New England Brewing when in Connecticut, and as mentioned above the New Haven scene is great
     
  5. EDNOSE

    EDNOSE Pundit (996) Oct 27, 2007 Connecticut

    I can help you with the CT to Cape Cod leg ...

    In CT, you can't go wrong with any of those pizza places. Modern will have the best beer selection. The difference in pizza is truly negligible. You'll be eating at one of three of the best pizza places in the country. After lunch, head up to New England Brewing Co. Stop at Amity Wine and Spirits around the corner for one of the better selections in the area (if you do that you can skip the Fairfield stop you mentioned).

    Might consider hitting Grey Sail Brewing in Westerly, Rhode Island on the way to Providence. I used to live in Newport, but that was years ago. I believe there's a thread somewhere on things to do there now. Mooring will give you a nice view. Cliff Walk is a must.

    You should hit up Cape Cod Beer while on the Cape. Small operation with decent beers (nothing to wow a beer nerd) but it's a nice time. Hit up the Cape Cod chip factory essentially a stone's throw away. Not sure if you have an intention of somewhere to stay on the Cape, but I assume since it's just one night that it's not that far out? Cape is a bit of a wasteland for beer stores, but check the few threads on here for some ideas.

    I would hit Jack's Abby in Framingham on my way into Boston. Not totally on the most direct route but they are pushing out fantastic lager after fantastic lager.
     
    smutty33 likes this.
  6. jedwards

    jedwards Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2009 California

    You won't see Brute or Le Bleu in RI, but you might find some Flower Power. Nikki's Liquors in north Providence is your best bet for any bottle purchases, but Grapes & Grains is excellent as well and since it's on your route might not be a bad plan.

    Regarding restaurants in RI, there's tons of great food here. If you're in the mood for a tasting menu focused on local product I'd recommend The Dorrance downtown -- not a huge beer selection, but great wine and cocktails.. North on the West side is another excellent spot (see their menus posted on their tumblr for an idea of what kind of food they're serving -- it's seriously some of the most amazing, exciting food I've eaten in a long time), as is Flan y Ajo (which you already mentioned). Los Andes is pretty terrific as well -- the meat platter there can probably feed five people, and they have killer ceviche. Julian's, The Avery, and E&O on the west side are probably the best beer spots in Providence proper. The Eddy downtown and Cook & Brown in the north part of the East Side are the best cocktails in town (if you end up on the East Side, check out Farmstead/La Laiterie for cheese, charcuterie, and insanely rich food). I don't know Newport well but I've heard good things about The Mooring.

    I'm not sure what you mean by night-time fire walk... if you're thinking Waterfire, the schedule isn't out yet for the 2013 season and they're held on Saturdays.
     
  7. Jwale73

    Jwale73 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Aug 15, 2007 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If you are in Newport:

    Pour Judgement - greater burger and beer special:
    http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/15775

    Right down the street on Broadway is Malt:
    I've heard good things, but haven't been there yet:
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Malt-On-Broadway/292429170854426

    Norey's is also on Broadway - decent food and beers:
    http://www.noreysnewport.com/

    In terms of bottleshops, Sandy's on Aquidneck Ave. is decent. The owner has really stepped up its craft game and prices are reasonable. It's also not far from the Cliff Walk.
    http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/12108

    Have a great trip.
     
  8. Patrick

    Patrick Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2007 Massachusetts

    I wouldn't even come up here. Just camp out in the Rutt's Hutt parking lot.
     
  9. jaxon53

    jaxon53 Pooh-Bah (2,235) Mar 1, 2006 Connecticut
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Skip all the rest of the New Haven pizza joints, Modern Apizza is the BEST pizza in New Haven, or Ct for that matter. Definitely hit up NEBCO.
     
    RMoeNay likes this.
  10. jtdolla911

    jtdolla911 Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2011 Massachusetts

    Deep ellum and sunset grille are both fantastic, with great draft lists. sunset has a much larger selection, but deep ellums food is better, although more expensive. they are about a 5-10 min walk away from one another, so you could eat and one and drink at the other. pretty much any restaurant on the north end is fantastic, authentic italian. skip hanover st and check out restaurants on salem st. al dente and antico forno are two id recommend. not great beer selection at either tho.
    Whatever you do in Boston, don't get tricked into going to Boston Beer Weeks. its a "brewpub" and its terrible.
    While in the area, check out Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont, great little store with some fantastic employees and a strict no bmc/sabmiller/inbev policy.
    Between boston and bar harbor, id suggest checking out Cape Ann brewing co in Gloucester. Great little place for a meal. The beer is pretty solid, beautiful ocean views, and good seafood.
    Or, take a detour up to bar harbor to hit either Porstmouth, NH or Portland, ME. Both have great craft beer scenes
     
  11. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    You might do better to stop at Captain Lawrence rather than try to find it on shelves, it isn't too far off your route.
     
  12. RC51Mike

    RC51Mike Zealot (517) Dec 17, 2004 Delaware

    In Newport, I agree on Pour Judgement. We've ended up there the last several times we've been to Newport. Perro Salado for good Mexican. Not big on beer but you should be able to find at least one good one. The outdoor patio is crowded but very cool place to sit. Mooring is very good. Not quite Spiced Pear or Castle Hill that folks rave about but very, very good. Scales and Shells for seafood, simple but good and fresh (tho they don't take credit.)
     
  13. tehzachatak

    tehzachatak Initiate (0) Sep 19, 2010 Massachusetts

    Fixed that for you
     
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  14. MattXT

    MattXT Initiate (0) Nov 23, 2010 Virginia

    Whenever I'm in Boston with the other half, we like to class it up at night and go to Top Of The Hub, which is a restaurant in the penthouse of the Prudential Building. Get a window seat and enjoy some dinner with the entire city at your feet, or go to their lounge area for a nightcap with some live jazz. +1 on the suggested Cambridge Brewing Co visit. +1 on avoiding Boston Beer Works.
     
  15. seplo

    seplo Pundit (947) Sep 8, 2009 Connecticut

    There is a couple of good stores in the Black Rock area besides the one you said
    There's Mo's in Fairfield as well as Harry's
    Total Wine in Norwalk
    Just to name a few
    You're not gonna find Cherry Rye anywhere, that's been gone pretty much since it hit the shelves. If I were you I'd try to set up a trade for it and do an in person trade, possibly at NEBCO.
    CHEERS
     
  16. seplo

    seplo Pundit (947) Sep 8, 2009 Connecticut

    And Julios in Westborough MA is a must stop at for beer
     
  17. zrab11

    zrab11 Maven (1,450) Dec 25, 2010 Indiana
    Trader

    Thanks For your advice so far. BTW I loved Gandhi-Bot the first time i ever had it. It actually was quite a funny story. I got it as an extra in an In person trade in Indiana. and at the time I had a lot of beer coming in from trades and what not and thought it looked like a Lame artistic job on the can so i threw it in my cellar and forgot about it for a week or so. Then I was packing up a box to ship somewhere and needed some extras and so I went into my cellar and started looking around. The BOT grabbed my eye and I thought I guess I'll throw this in as well as some other things. but then I was like "I'm a little thirsty" What the heck I'll pop it open as I pack the box. As I don't feel right sending an extra that I got as an extra as an extra. And WOW am i glad i didn't send it away. It was super super tasty. A really creamy DIPA.. Anyway

    Can you buy Gandi-bot at the Brewery? Can you buy a case? If so does anyone Know how much it is for a case? or atleast a 4 or 6 pack(whatever they come in) Btw When are they open? Their website doesn't have any hours or days they are open.?

    So we have Chosen to go to "MODERN APIZZA" per everyones requests.

    We still need some opinions on Dinner Tuesday Night in Rhode Island . These are some of the places we saw looked good. Waterman Grille? Los Andes? East Side Pocket? Flan y Ajo?

    Also we wanted to go to "Water Fire" on Tuesday night.. Is it only on saturdays??


    We have also decided to go to lunch on Wednesday at "Poor Judgement" per some recommendations here.


    Still Looking for Recommendations for Dinner Wednesday Night In Newport Rhode Island. Here are a few that looked good.
    Brick Alley Pub? The Mooring? The Red Parrot?


    Thanks for the Help with my questions. And thanks for all the recommendations so far. We are still putting together all the details of the trip and really love all the locals help!

     
  18. RC51Mike

    RC51Mike Zealot (517) Dec 17, 2004 Delaware

    The Mooring! Brick Alley was just ok I guess and Red Parrot a bit too touristy with loud kids and average food. We also ate at a sister restaurant to Mooring, the Boathouse in Tiverton and it was also outstanding.
     
  19. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    You can go to Water Fire on Tuesday, but it will be only water. It is usually Saturdays and few oddball Mondays and Fridays.
     
  20. zrab11

    zrab11 Maven (1,450) Dec 25, 2010 Indiana
    Trader

    So if I go at night and bring a couple lighters do you think I can recreate the event so that my wife will be happy? Haha :grinning:
     
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