Options in Nashua, NH

Definitely check out Martha's Exchange, the brewpub downtown. They make some of the best beer in the state, the food is pretty good, and it's a nice space, with the brewhouse and tanks behind some booths in the bar area. If it happens to be unseasonably nice out, they have some very nice sidewalk and patio seating. The one thing I'll warn about is that at 10pm (I believe) on Friday and Saturday nights, the main bar turns into a night club. It's unfortunate, but just get there early, enjoy the beer and the laid-back vibe, and move on before 10pm.

Other than that, I'm not too sure what there is for nightlife when it comes to good beer. There seem to be some nice restaurants and bars downtown, but I'm not too familiar with them. I've never been, but I've heard good things about the Beer Store if you want to just take something home after Martha's. I also haven't made it to the Olde Kilkenny Pub in downtown Milford (just west of Nashua), but I've heard good things and believe they're the first place to serve Martha's outside the brewpub.

You could also head up the road a bit to Manchester, and check out Milly's Tavern, the brewpub in the Millyard there. Again, I could usually do without the bands there, but they're not there every night, and obviously some people like them. I'd call ahead and see if it sounds like whatever (if anything) they have going on is something you'd enjoy, but I've been really digging the beer there lately, after feeling a little down about them for a bit.

I'm much more familiar with the bars downtown in Manchester. Strange Brew is the old-guard, with a very laid-back vibe and extensive beer list. Murphy's Taproom has recently stepped up their beer list in a big way, at least rivaling that of Strange Brew, but the Brew wins hands down on vibe. And Firefly, also downtown, and River Road Tavern in Bedford (between Manchester and Nashua) have shorter, but very well-selected, constantly rotating taplists and good environments.

If you have time during the day and don't mind leaving the immediate Nashua area, check out White Birch Brewing in Hooksett (just north of Manchester) for a tour and tasting. Of course, you could always stay in the area and do the AB tour in Merrimack.

Enjoy your visit!

 

Echo what FLM says (Except for the White Birch rec) but if you don't mind a 15 minute drive down the highway to Lowell, MA the BeerWorks brewpub outlet has a double bock & rye lager now that are really good, plus many other options of varying goodness.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/18044/?view=beerfly