Trip to Lawrence, MA

Kind of no mans land for craft beer. I think your best bet would be Andover Liquors Andover MA.

 

Lawrence is no mans land for everyone from MA.

 

I know you said bottle shops, but try to hit The Tap in Haverhill, a great brewpub, only a short drive from Lawrence.

 

The Tap in Haverhill and the Grill Next Door in Haverhill. Both great beer bars.

As for bottle shops, Andover Liquors is prob the best one around there.

 

You could always hop on 93 and head down to Redstone in Stoneham. That's my go-to shop when I am in the area.

 

If you are looking for Brett beers keep an eye out for Boulevard's Saison Brett, its probably still on some shelves.

 

My recommendation for anyone travelling to Lawrence is - don't.

 

I was wondering if someone was actually going to say this out loud.

 

I was just gonna say wear a vest and keep your head down.

OP theres a couple other decent stores not too far on rt 114 beer and wine at the andovers is pretty basic but if your not from the area youll find some good locals and a few imports. Andover wine and spirits and denrock liquors are all within a 5 min drive of each other and have some decent stuff but usually nothing mind blowing or super hard to find.

 

When most liquor stores have bullet-proof glass cages around the liquor and cashiers, you definitely are not in a craft beer friendly area. I second the recommendation to drive into North Andover or Andover and hit up one of the stores there. I used to frequent Denrock when I lived in the area and there is enough there to keep you satisfied.

 

Redstone in Stoneham isn't too far. Awesome place great staff and quite a selection.

As stated above I you aren't gonna find anything good (beer or just in general) in Lawrence. UGH.

 

Hey what about Tripoli's Pizza/Bakery? I also heard The Claddagh as upped their game with 30+taps.

 

What brings you to Lawrence ?

Is there a drug dealer convention I dont know about?

 

Good ole Lawtown... used to vacation there when I lived in Lowell.

 

Wow the hate train for Lawrence here is substantial, probably from people who have never set foot there. I work in the area & go there often for lunch & (gasp) even go there on occasion after the sun goes down. Never encountered a bit of a problem there.

As previous poster mentioned the Claddagh has a modest selection of beer & is a comfortable place to have a few beers.

Lawrence also has a few Mexican restaurants that run rings around anything in Boston - Tacos Lupita & Cafe Azteca.

For good beer retail, I'd stick with Andover Liquors...nice selection but high prices.

 

I have heard that the Claddagh has inproved but it has been years since I have been there.

I will talk trash about Lawrence cause I have been there.... It's pretty bad. I gave up when on the place when a drunk guy riding a girls ten speed bike while drinking a brown bagged 40 offered to sell me the bike so he could buy drugs. It was a good deal for a probably stolen bike but I declined

 

Sounds like many encounters Ive had in Cambridge & Boston over the years.

 

Well.. I will say this. I have lived and Boston for years and I have never seen anything like that. I felt really unsafe going to my buddies house in Lawrence and I have never felt in immediate danger hanging in Boston.

 

I'll be the first to admit Lawrence is a struggling urban area that has its problems. However let's not exaggerate the issues & pretend they are unique to the city.