Top 3 MA Breweries

If you're coming from a far, north per se, they're one of those breweries you could work into a day's tour of a couple southeastern MA breweries, including either Mayflower or Buzzards Bay. The latter of which has a beautiful outdoor space to enjoy pints in.

 

When Mercury finally opens their pub, it would be so cool if they had something from all of their contract brands on tap there too.

 

You could lump RI breweries into a Bog trip too. Foolproof, The Bucket, and Crooked Current. All 3 are ordinary but offer 1-2 drinkable beers.

 

1. Tree House
2. Trillium
3. Jack's Abby
Honorable Mention--Wormtown

 

Never had Tree House, but my favorite brewery period is Mystic. I really enjoy all of their offerings.

As for others:

I really enjoy a lot of what Night Shift has to offer. I tend to get excited when I see them down here.

Cape Cod would most likely be my third favorite. Stylistically everything they produce is spot on. Really impressed whenever I pop in to get a growler.

 

Are they still shipping the Red to 99% of their draft accounts? It would be great if they could convince them to expand their offerings...

 

Make the trip to West Kingston, near URI, to Proclamation Ale if you want to see a RI brewer with more than than ordinary.

 

Trillium > Jack's Abby > Enlightenment. And a big "FUCK YEAH" to Notch, Mystic and CBC.

Tree House is too foreign to me to consider.

 

So just a few random tossed off points:
#1. It's a good time to be living in MA for Beer Drinking.
#2. by volume of purchase I'd say Jack's ranks as #3 for me but I will forever be grateful to Night Shift for El Lechedor. Wonderful beer. Curious to see what a year in the cellar does for Mordred. It's like, you can't lose.
#3. Re: Clown Shoes, you don't drink a label right? Their barrel aged offerings kill it for me and the price point rocks.
#4. CBC You Enjoy My Stout at $8 on the shelf, Hell yes! Don't get to the facility in cambridge much any more but enjoyed it.
#5. Cape Ann brewing: Sunrise Saison and Imperial Pumpkin Stout are always welcome in my house.
I could make more points but it's time to go out and have an actual beer and do an IP trade

 

After reading the entire thread it was nice to finally see Wormtown mentioned.

My top 3:
Trillium - Consistent quality, accesable.
JA - see above.
Tree House - only been twice but very impressed with what I have had. Just gotta get some cans now.

Honorable mentions:
Wormtown, good solid lineup. Be Hoppy is a favorite of mine.
I want to say Nightshift, but I have only had Morph and Whirpool.
Medusa Brewery. Solid lineup. Yet to have a bad beer from these guys. Very consistent. Their latest IIPA ZWEIHÄNDER is Gooooood.

 

The "Top Three" question I appreciate, by sheer breath of offering and consistency
being the criteria for me. I would offer,
Mayflower, Berkshire, Pretty Things, no particular order.
I love Tree House, Trillium, Mystic and Wormtown. The range of brewing in Mass can be a wonderful dilemma!
We are lucky to have hard working, committed brewers here in Mass.
Cheers all

 

Cisco on Nantucket needs more love.

 

I am taking Tree House out of my top 3, because of limited availability and price. Clown Shoes is #3. They hit every style and make a solid beer, affordable and available. Plus they are nation wide right? Galactica and Space Cake are excellent fresh. Swagger is a great lager and their stouts never disappoint. Plus they make state only beers. Honestly I have never drain poured a beer of theirs.

 

No love for wondering star?

 

Yes, that was me. The quotation below was posted,

"We are all of the "best breweries in Massachusetts are Jacks Abby, Tree House, and Trillium, in some order" train of thought, though, right?"

And this was my response,

"If you adore hops, sure.

Personally, the overall profile of Notch, Berkshire Brewing Company, and probably Jacks Abby put them in my top three.

I haven't tried Treehouse yet though, but based on what styles they brew best, I doubt my mind would change."

 

Berkshire does make some great beer. Having Czech pils now. It's always been top notch. Not one of my favorite breweries in the state but they make a couple beers I go to when nothing else is calling me. I'd like the pils in sixers.

 

Just had an awful Be Hoppy at Hops n Scotch in Cambridge. Anyone else experienced inconsistency with this beer?

 

Was it vegetal? I went to the brewery recently and every hoppy option I had was horribly vegetal.