Thoughts on this bar itinerary through New England this weekend...

No New Hampshire stops? We've got a great cluster of breweries here in the Portsmouth area, which are right between between Boston and Portland, unless you're traveling by boat. Smuttynose (Hampton), Portsmouth Brewery, Stoneface (Newington), Throwback (North Hampton), Blue Lobster (Hampton), Earth Eagle (Portsmouth), RedHook (Portsmouth) and 7thSettlement & One Love (Dover) are all within a quick stop off the highway.

Have fun and safe travels,

JT
Smuttynose Brewing Co. & Portsmouth Brewery

 

I hope we'll see you at the new Smuttynose.

How regrettable was the tattoo?

 

I wouldn't do a whole day at Publick House (if that is what you are implying by the lunch/dinner). Throw Deep Ellum in there, too.

 

If you are at Lord Hobo you will be within walking distance of Cambridge Brewing Company. Always something good on tap there and they have a nice outdoor patio. State Park is another great bar with cool decor located in the same plaza as Cambridge Brewing Company. They have some gems on their bottle list.

 

I'd definitely recommend a stop in the 'Smouth, and I'd also highly recommend a visit to the Cambridge Brewing Company (CBC) while you're in Boston--easily one of the best brewpubs in New England, and as nice a patio as you'll find in Boston.

 

You might consider stopping at Three Penny Pub in Montpellier VT. I personally like it better than Pro Pig and the Res, though it would require a drive back to Waterbury... even if you just stopped in for a pint.

Also, consider eating dinner at Hen of the Wood. Not sure if you'll be able to land reservations, but if you can... the food is great, really a must do when in the area.

 

In addition to the Cambridge/Boston area suggestions (I know this might get tough...) I highly recommend a stop at Sunset Grill and Tap in Allston. 100ish taps and always really good stuff. I've seen Parabola, BCBS, 120 minute, etc on tap there. The food is also surprisingly really good....

 

I see others already hit on CBC, but I'll add to their recommendations. They have an amazing apricot sour on tap right now in Picture of Nectar.

 

They have really good food there too. Definitely try anything they have that is sour or barrel aged, which looks like Arquebus, a really crazy wine barrel aged barleywine that is 15% ABV but easy to drink, and Picture of Nectar.

 

a loud 'second' to this idea! I had a birthday dinner there last summer that was outta this world. tremendous, tremendous, fresh, locally sourced food (with Heady on tap when I was there) and the setting is just beautiful

 

Seconded. Highly recommend Picture of Nectar if you're even remotely into sours. This beer is really really good.

 

I think mixing in a couple restaurants that serve as high quality of food can be nice, but maybe that’s just me. Let’s face it, many beer bars have decent enough food, but they’re sometimes a bit too similar on the food front and it’s more about the beer. Places like Hen of The Wood will give you a culinary experience on top of a few quality taps (HF Twilight, HT, and Maine Lunch last time I was there). In the same vein, if you want primo local seafood in Boston without sacrificing a top tier beer list, hit Row 34. That’ said, this doesn't mean stay away from places like CBC, Lord Hobo, Public House… it’s just food for thought (pun intended) if you're a real foodie type.

 

I would definitely hit up prohibition pig. Its my favorite place to go in VT. They always have a decent selection of hill farmstead, lawsons, and other rarer VT beers that you wouldnt find on the average draft list.

 

To me the publick house is more about bourbon than beer.

 

Are you perhaps thinking of Citizen Public House in Fenway rather than The Publick House in Brookline (one of the best beer bars in the country)?