Hey all. I'm heading to Nantucket for a week, starting tomorrow. Thought I'd ask anyone and everyone your past experience on the island as far as beer/food goes. I'm sure there must be a couple good places besides the obvious Cisco Brewery, but I figured it'd be fun to get any input from my fellow beer enthusiasts. Good bars...liquor stores, hidden gems, that sort of stuff. Thanks!
You already plan on going, but will just rave about the experience at Cisco. Make sure you head out there on a nice day. The scene is fantastic ...
The Brotherhood of Thieves has a nice beer garden and the food is descent. http://www.brotherhoodofthieves.com/
The Brotherhood has about the best clam chowder I ever had, the rest of the food is good, though not spectacular. If you're driving down/ ferrying over, take some time and stop in at Cape Cod Beer in Hyannis. Just a couple minuters off ft 6, and very worth it.
While visiting the area we hit Cape Cod Beer, while not a waste of time, I wouldn't expect to have my mind blown.
I feel I should explain myself a bit better. Cape Cod makes fine local beers for locals. If you go their expecting some grand building or some crazy one off you'll likely be disappointed. Our experience was a peek into the brewhouse, an explanation of basic ingredients and samples. Everything I tried was good, the people in my group who were interested but in no way beer geeks enjoyed theirs as well. Some people have grand expectations that many of these small brewers just won't live up to in terms of tours, facilities, and likely time. We tend to forget how labor intensive this really is and how little extra resources they have. Their lives depend on making beer not showing people around an 80'x80' brewery. I also likely drank more Cape Cod beer than Cisco the 5 days we were in the area.
While on the island I referenced that, my girl friend had never heard it before, I looked it up on my phone and ruined her day
Good point. Cape Cod Beer doesn't go for the off the wall styles, just well dine interpretations of basics, ipa, pale, red, and seasonal. They do have some limited releases that are excellent as well, like Christmas. In July, and a coffee stout using locally roasted beans. Someone going in expecting the next PtE, Dark Lord or Duvel will be disappointed, those looking for good sessionable beers will be pleased.
and getting back to Nantucket ... that's the difference with Cisco ... they will have things that push the limit in addition to their basic styles. Not to mention there's a winery and distillery on location as well.
