This is pretty short notice so any help will be much appreciated. I will heading to the Nashua/Manchester area of NH for the long weekend. What are the best places to hit within 30 min or so? I have already done the whole Portsmouth journey, it is amazing just looking for something a little more off the beaten path. Dont get me wrong, the Bud tour is always a fun one to see the size of the operation. Anything from brew pubs, to great tap selection to breweries would help. Thanks!
The Derry/Londonderry area has 4 pretty good breweries. You can hit them all in a Saturday afternoon. Kelsen in Derry Rockingham Brewing in Derry 603 Brewery in Londonderry From the Barrel in Londonderry. In the same plaza is Moonlight Meadery. There's also Able Ebenezer in Merrimack, which has an active taproom. Candia Road Brewing Co and Milly's Tavern brewpub for Manchester. Nashua has Martha's Exchange brewpub. White Birch in Hooksett is in the range, too. As far as stores, Craft Beer Cellar in Nashua, Beer Store in Nashua, Bert's in Hooksett, the Drinkery's and Lazy Dog in (London)Derry. For bars, Cask and Vine in Derry, Whole Foods in Nashua, and Strange Brew in Manchester.
A little bit further north you have White Birch Brewing in Hooksett and also Henniker Brewing in Henniker.
Martha's Exchange Brewpub in Nashua - not particularly fond of the food or the night-time scene there, but I'll go for the well-made beer by a long-established brewer.
In addition to some of the other places mentioned and some of the places I've mentioned in Manchester in the past, I'd definitely recommend a stop at 815 in downtown Manchester (815 Elm Street, 2nd floor). It's a speakeasy-themed place, which is a bit hip for the Queen City. Their tap list is fairly short (maybe 6 or so draughts), but extremely well-selected, and dedicated entirely to New Hampshire beers. It's also the only place I've seen Stoneface on tap in Manchester.
The Belgian Mare Brewery in Alstead is pretty cool. the brewery is a barn build on the owner property and it's all off-grid. All heat is derived from fire and everything is gravity fed. Beer is OK. You'll basically be going for the experience, which may be one of a kind and well worth it. On the way from Nashua you can also visit the Henniker Brewery. Just trying to give you options if you're looking for new things to try.
What are the prices like at From the Barrel? I keep hearing good things about them but they're just a bit out of comfortable driving distance for me.
Typical new hop-forward brewery prices. Bottles (22oz) are mid-7 to 10 (for the 10% DIPA). $8 32oz fills at the brewery, $4 for glass.
