Visiting Boston (Summer '13 Edition)

Only note I would add is that the Cambridge Trader Joe's is one of the few in the state allowed to sell alcohol - I made a special trip there last time I was in town last Fall to try the Unibroue-brewed Vintage Ale (which didn't live up to expectations, for me), but if you're in Cambridge anyway it's worth sticking your head in.

 

ditto for the brookline-coolidge corner TJ's. the selection is nothing to go out of your way for but there are some decent options, and they're reasonably priced.

 

agreed for the most part. the T gets a bad rap but it's actually a decent option depending on where you're heading... and of course factors like the weather, time of day, etc. definitely endorse moving about the city on foot though. i often jog home from work (Beacon Hill/West End area to Brookline), and it takes me <30 mins. cabs should always be a last resort.

 

Oh please, I ride the bus every workday and the driver hardly ever runs over a cyclist. Maybe once every three weeks or so, tops.

Besides, if you've been drinking, you'll hardly feel a thing.

 

Great post, Auror. Thanks. Guys at Nightshift and Jack's Abby are good dudes, so I'd give them a shout out. If folks are worried about drinking and driving or trying to hit up more than one brewery in a day since they are so scattered - I'd suggest a brewery tour where they pick you up and drive you around. A couple companies have popped up recently and I'll put a shout out in for another good dude at www.NewEnglandBreweryTours.com. Also a big fan of Redbones and Stoddards for strong beer selection. BBQ at Redbones is good, too!

 

awesome post, pretty much exactly what I'm looking for heading to a wedding just outside of Boston next weekend. Plan on stopping by Jack's Abby and Night Shift, but now considering a few others as well. I noticed there are no lists for bottles available at any of the breweries, is this not common in MA or is there some type of law prohibiting it? Would love to grab a few bottles from JA to bring back with me. Cheers

 

Everyone that bottles sells them at the brewery, so you can buy bottles at JA, NS, etc. But call ahead if you're looking for something specific.

 

thanks, looks like I will definitely be stopping by Julio's. Any idea if Night Shift has anything in bottles at the brewery right now? Haven't had anything from them yet, very excited to check them out.

 

Great info, heading to Boston for work next week for a few days, staying in Copley Square. Looks like I have some good options that are a short cab ride or short walk from my hotel. Definitely going to hit up Cambridge Brewing Co and Deep Ellum then will go from there...

 

one last question and then I'm done! Is there a pub at either Night Shift or Jack's Abby? Would like to stop for lunch at one or the other while we're there. Any preferences? Also is there any Sour Time Lager left at the brewery or is that long gone? Ok that was 2 questions, but thanks anyway!

 

No pub at either. Plenty of beers to taste though and carry out. I would suspect STL is long gone since it was a brewery only release and limited to 40 cases (20 cases a day over the two days it was available at JA).

 

We asked about food about a month ago when we were at Mystic and gotndirectednto a pretty nice salvadorean /Mexican which was a tasty and cheap food option 222 broadway Chelsea.

 

Interested to hear prices as soon as anyone journeys over, as it appears they have not posted them anywhere... Also, goodbye free Night Shift samples, I think... sigh. If the 5oz snifter is more than 2 bucks, I'm gonna be pretty annoyed.

EDIT: Prices.

 

Not bad... $2 for 6 oz snifter works out to a $5.33, not shabby by Boston standards at all. Of course $2 ain't free, but I'm all for seeing more breweries with taprooms where you can actually hang out in addition to getting a sample and a growler fill. It's shameful that I still haven't made it out to the breweries in Everett or Chelsea yet.

 

I think it depends a lot on how one views a visit to a brewery. If you think of it as a bar, then sure, the prices are fine (though $5.50/13oz = $6.75/pint for freakin' "session" beer). They're still more than CBC charges, and CBC has a nice patio in the middle of Cambridge instead of being in Everett, but I digress...

I tend to think of a visit to a brewery as more of a mutually beneficial relationship than the pure business of a bar, however. It's a chance for the brewery to introduce customers to their beers, make friends with customers, and generally offer hospitality. Using these expectations, I think charging full market price, marking up everything consumed on premises (an extra $4-5 just to crack the bottle open in the taproom?!?!), and charging $10/pint for samples is disappointing. NSB has the opportunity to roll out the welcome mat, but instead they seem to be trying to pocket every last dollar from people that walk in the door. I'm surprised they don't charge admission too.