Boston Area Craft Beer Bars?

[bovineblitz]

CBC for dinner for me

 

[Cape Brewing]

We should staht a Boston HBT Craft Beer Lunch Group.

 

[jfowler1]

Slightly off original topic: I too will be at the beerfest and am looking for a place to eat and have a good brew within walking distance of the trade center; any suggestions?

Come on guys....you totally dropped the ball on this thread.

I'll semi-second what has been said - the Cambridge Brewing Company is fantastic. It is the best brew pub I have even been to, period. Food is really good quality. They have some standard pub beers, but the flip side of the menu is really creative barrel aged / Imperial stuff. The beer garden is a great touch if it is nice out. The only problem - it is on the freaking opposite side of the city from the convention center, and would take three subway transfers to get to. Make that its own leg of the trip, and don't try to squeeze it in around the fest.

Also, I did the Harpoon openhouse once, but unless it changed format, they only offer one true "tour" a week - I think it is Saturday mornings, and is reservation only. They do have times that they open the gift shop for an open house (which is what we did), and agreeing with what was said, they will not ask you to leave. They have at least a dozen beers on tap, and the employees will explain each one as you go. But then they just keep pouring. My wife and I had to basically flip our glasses and call the quits. However, that open house is pretty ridgidly scheduled - I remember going like 3-5PM on a Tuesday. Harpoon might not work, but it is worth a shot.

So to answer the question, you need somewhere to eat before/after your session at the conference (I would aim for eating before). You want good, reasonably priced food, and a really good local draft selection. You also want to walk from restaurant to fest. The answer is the Barking Crab.
The pictures make it look crowded, but I've never been unable to get my choice of bar stool or high top. But it is really a "dump the seafood on newspaper and eat with your hands" kind of place.

http://www.barkingcrab.com/content/boston.html


I wouldn't call it a dive, but it is certainly casual and low key. I've been there 3 times, and loved it each time. My wife and I always eat outside, and I suggest you do the same. Grab some oysters and a crab cake sandwich, have a few pints of the multiple offerings from Sam Adams, Harpoon, Cape Ann, whatever, and walk over to the fest. It is about a 5 minute walk, and it is a straight shot down the side walk, so no fear of getting lost. From the city, just hop on an outbound Grey line (I think it was grey/silver - it is the underground bus - I was drunk). Get off at the first stop, face the water, and look left (you are basically looking at down town Boston). You can see the Barking Crab, and will know it by the Yellow/Red awning. To get to the Convention Center, just walk back down the sidewalk the way you came from (away from downtown Boston). I followed that advice last year when I attended the festival, and would strongly suggest others do the same.

So some more free advice about the festival (because I think that is where the OP was going anyway).

Don't cross the consumption line before you even get to the fest, because the breweries in attendance bring it strong. It is nice if you can remember what you tasted. Attendees hit heavy with RIS, IIPA's, and Belgian style stuff. It'll catch up with you, and fries your taste buds pretty quickly. I have heard to pick a style and stick with it - probably not a bad idea. Aside from that, I was talking to another member who confirmed the Maine Brewing Company is attending this year. They are a brand new Nano from Portland, ME, and I believe located on the same street as Allagash and Geary's. Find them - they will blow you away. Simply unlike anything else getting made in New England. They could make Stone jealous with their careless hopping rates. And if someone seems to be forming a big line, get on it early. It may be smart to visit DFH, Pretty Things, etc., as soon as the doors open. You start finding youself on a mile lone line and asking everyone around you; "I never heard of these people, is this stuff even any good?" More than likely, yes, yes it is.

Have fun everyone,
Joe

 

[Cape Brewing]

Totally disagree with the "CBC is far away" sentiment. It is almost a dead straight shot by cab, through the Financial District and down Memorial Drive. That's a ten minute cab ride.

Barking Crab?? Sure... Boston institution even but not a beer destination by any stretch.

Here is there draft and bottle list:

Draft:
Barking Crab White Ale - (Boston, MA) $5.25 / $18.50
Sam Adams Lager - (Boston, MA) $5.25 / $18.50
Kona Longboard - (Portsmouth, NH) $5.25 / $18.50
Sankaty Light - (Nantucket, MA) $5.25 / $18.50
Harpoon IPA - (Boston, MA) $5.25 / $18.50
Harpoon Seasonal - (Boston, MA) $5.25 / $18.50
Widmer Hefeweizen - (Portsmouth, NH) $5.25 / $18.50
Longtrail Ale - (Bridgewater Corners, Vermont) $5.25 / $18.50
Seasonal Selections - Ask your server what we've tapped today!

Bottles & Cans:
Budweiser - $4
Bud Light - $4
Corona - $5.25
Michelob Ultra - $4
Guinness (14.9oz. can) - $6
Magner's Cider - $4
Sapporo (22oz. can) - $7.25
Narragansett Lager (16oz. can) - $4.25
Heineken (16oz. Aluminum Bottle) - $6

 

[Cape Brewing]

Sorry. Cambridge St, not Memorial

 

[jfowler1]

I am sorry, but I have navigated from the World Trade to the Back Bay, it is not simple. A taxi can get you anywhere, but CBC is literally in a different city. I made the trip from the fest back to the Charlesmark Hotel (located right across the street from the Prudential Center), and it was a trek. Crossing into Cambridge on top of that is only harder. Like I said, get to the CBC, but don't do it back to back with the beer fest. CBC is my number one suggestion for a trip to Boston, but would be one of my last suggestions for someone looking for lunch before they walk into the fest.

Plug the two locations it into google maps. It is a 14 minute drive, and all that stuff in the middle of the two locations is the city of Boston.

And I agree, the draft list at Barking Crab is far from exotic (which I why I put local in bold text), but you are about to walk into a beer festival with 200+ different taps. How much of a selection do you need for lunch? Give me 2 pints of something fresh, local, and well handled, and I would be sent happily on my way to the conference.

That said, if you are given enough time, certainly work the trip to CBC into your weekend. It is a really easy pit stop to make before you even get into Boston, and that is usually how I play it. But if you are getting dropped off in front of the World Trade Expo Center, I think it is just way too far.

 

[bovineblitz]

Take the red line to Kendall, that puts you 5min away from CBC. Google map the WTC and turn on transit lines to see. Kendall is just across the river.

 

[Cape Brewing]

(nodding in agreement).

CBC is bot THAT far away from South Station and, in my view, is worth the "14" minute cab ride.

South Station... Shoor up to Washington St, left on State, right on Cambridge and it is a straight shot over the bridge into Cambridge.

Yes, it is "in another city" but a total of about 500 yards over the line.

 

[j1laskey]

Whiskey Priest also has a decent selection, and not to far from the venue.

 

[jfowler1]

(shaking head no)

Is CBC worth a cab ride? Certainly! That is a different conversation.

In the meantime, I'll attach a detailed map of Boston, and note the landmarks in question. I am sorry if the map looks dark, but it is the best I can do. I'll let the people attending the fest decide what looks like an easier option.

Joe

 

[j1laskey]

...Also, not as close as Whiskey Priest. but the Squealing Pig in Mission Hill is great too.

 

[ayoungrad]

(shaking head no)

Is CBC worth a cab ride? Certainly! That is a different conversation.

In the meantime, I'll attach a detailed map of Boston, and note the landmarks in question. I am sorry if the map looks dark, but it is the best I can do. I'll let the people attending the fest decide what looks like an easier option.

Joe

The Barking Crab is closer than Cambridge. That is for sure.

But if all you are looking for is standard beer selection (this is what the Barking Crab offers) then why not go to the Atlantic Beer Garden? It's hard to get any closer to Beer Fest than that...

 

[scinerd3000]

Just got back. Bukowski's was awesome- great tap list, service was good and the bartender I had was cute and has awesome tats. Drank a wide array and the ambiance was pretty sweet- nothing as divish as i was expecting but awesome. I ended up meeting a brewer there for the fest and got employee entry to both sessions saturday! Ended up going to one and got to chill and work the other.

We ended up going out later to LTK by the convention center which was pretty nice also. They had Delerium Tremens on tap which suprised me for some reason. It was a nice surprise. The Publick House came after and was awesome. They had a cask gueze there which was the most sour funky one i have ever had although the name escapes me. They also had this sweet sign up--No Pitchers Or Shots-- which i thought was interesting. Great beer list between the belgians and all else. Had Mongo Ipa and Racer 5 which were both excellend contasts. Next time Deep Ellem, CBC and all the other ones I missed. Awesome City though!!

Go Bruins...