Boston area thread

[axeman91821]

Hi all, so I'll be up in Boston this weekend for alcohol related shenanigans. Getting into town Thursday night and the only current item in the itinerary is hitting Trillium's Fort Point location for cans on Friday. Any good events going on Thursday-Saturday?

 

[bearsonacid1]

Hi all, so I'll be up in Boston this weekend for alcohol related shenanigans. Getting into town Thursday night and the only current item in the itinerary is hitting Trillium's Fort Point location for cans on Friday. Any good events going on Thursday-Saturday?

Nothing worth going to that I can think of. There's a couple nice sours on tap at CBC right now though

 

[BeersMorgan]

Went to Row for the JWB thing last night. Was bummed that the casita cerveceria on fleek was on the board but not available. Overall the pineapple pop was pretty tasty.

Finally talked myself into getting the burger and added the fried oysters to it. Very possibly the best burger I've ever had. Although I've been in the bathroom for the majority of the morning. Totally worth it.

 

[JCastle1]

Went to Row for the JWB thing last night. Was bummed that the casita cerveceria on fleek was on the board but not available. Overall the pineapple pop was pretty tasty.

Finally talked myself into getting the burger and added the fried oysters to it. Very possibly the best burger I've ever had. Although I've been in the bathroom for the majority of the morning. Totally worth it.

Always told myself I'd try the burger eventually but always kept going back for more oysters and lobster rolls. No regrets.

 

[BeersMorgan]

Always told myself I'd try the burger eventually but always kept going back for more oysters and lobster rolls. No regrets.

I end up splitting a lobster roll and getting either oysters or ceviche on the side 99% of the time. Ticking the burger was a big step going forward though.

 

[beerindex]

So are flights and/or taster sized pours (2-5oz) not a thing in Boston?

Because I've been trying to do my research in advance of September, and it looks like the only bar with a solid tap list that offers this is the Ginger Man. Nearest I can tell Blackmoor, Bukowski's, Deep Ellum, Five Horses, Lord Hobo, Lulu's, Meadhall, Publick House, Tip Tap Room, and Worden Hall don't.

 

[pjl44]

So are flights and/or taster sized pours (2-5oz) not a thing in Boston?

Because I've been trying to do my research in advance of September, and it looks like the only bar with a solid tap list that offers this is the Ginger Man. Nearest I can tell Blackmoor, Bukowski's, Deep Ellum, Five Horses, Lord Hobo, Lulu's, Meadhall, Publick House, Tip Tap Room, and Worden Hall don't.

It's pretty rare at the straight beer bars now that I think about it. Unless they're having an event, flights or half pours are more common at breweries around here.

 

[tehzachatak]

So are flights and/or taster sized pours (2-5oz) not a thing in Boston?

Because I've been trying to do my research in advance of September, and it looks like the only bar with a solid tap list that offers this is the Ginger Man. Nearest I can tell Blackmoor, Bukowski's, Deep Ellum, Five Horses, Lord Hobo, Lulu's, Meadhall, Publick House, Tip Tap Room, and Worden Hall don't.

At bars, it's very uncommon, but as pjl44 points out it s a lot more common at breweries. Does Sunset do flights? I honestly can't remember because I banned myself from ever going in that place again like three years ago, but it seems like a real stupid move if they don't.

 

[Don2]

At bars, it's very uncommon, but as pjl44 points out it s a lot more common at breweries. Does Sunset do flights? I honestly can't remember because I banned myself from ever going in that place again like three years ago, but it seems like a real stupid move if they don't.

Sunset does flights

 

[tehzachatak]

Sunset does flights

I think the last time I ever got a beer in there it was a terrible narragansett IPA ("fresh keg!") that had probably 2-3 ounces of pumpkin ale in it from the beer that was on the line previously.

 

[Don2]

I think the last time I ever got a beer in there it was a terrible narragansett IPA ("fresh keg!") that had probably 2-3 ounces of pumpkin ale in it from the beer that was on the line previously.

Yeah their lines used to be dirty AF guaranteed, now it's hit or miss.

 

[rhino8888]

So are flights and/or taster sized pours (2-5oz) not a thing in Boston?

I think Redbones still does flights. It definitely offers 10oz, 12oz and 16oz pours on most beers plus liters for low ABV beers. Lord Hobo offers a flight of their own beers only. Many of the breweries do flights too including Night Shift, Mystic, CBC, Bantam Cider, Lord Hobo Brewery and Slumbrew Taproom.

Branch Line is a good place if you want to taste a few beers. They don't do tasters but their normal pour sizes are a little smaller than normal at 13oz for lower ABV beers and 6oz for higher ABV or sours. I think they will do 6oz pours of anything on the list. It can get pricy though.

 

[pjl44]

I think Redbones still does flights. It definitely offers 10oz, 12oz and 16oz pours on most beers plus liters for low ABV beers. Lord Hobo offers a flight of their own beers only. Many of the breweries do flights too including Night Shift, Mystic, CBC, Bantam Cider, Lord Hobo Brewery and Slumbrew Taproom.

Branch Line is a good place if you want to taste a few beers. They don't do tasters but their normal pour sizes are a little smaller than normal at 13oz for lower ABV beers and 6oz for higher ABV or sours. I think they will do 6oz pours of anything on the list. It can get pricy though.

Is it my imagination or has the selection at Redbones bottomed out? That was my hang 5-6 years ago, but I feel like my last few visits in there have been mostly lower tier craft stuff.

 

[MooltiPass]

Is it my imagination or has the selection at Redbones bottomed out? That was my hang 5-6 years ago, but I feel like my last few visits in there have been mostly lower tier craft stuff.

I was there over the weekend. First time going so I don't have anything to compare it to but I wasn't particularly impressed with the selection.

 

[rhino8888]

Is it my imagination or has the selection at Redbones bottomed out? That was my hang 5-6 years ago, but I feel like my last few visits in there have been mostly lower tier craft stuff.

Redbones is my favorite local place to hang out. I agree that their daily selection doesn't match Row 34, Lord Hobo or Branch Line in terms of the "hot" beers and their servers are generally clueless. But they are happy to provide samples. I do like that they have a strong commitment to small local breweries like Element, The Tap, BBC, Idle Hands, Down the Road and Aeronaut. And they are one of the few places that you will find British cask ales in Boston. Redbones regularly puts on tap takeovers with free apps. This bottle-pour event in December was great but only about 10 people showed up:

 

[pjl44]

Redbones is my favorite local place to hang out. I agree that their daily selection doesn't match Row 34, Lord Hobo or Branch Line in terms of the "hot" beers and their servers are generally clueless. But they are happy to provide samples. I do like that they have a strong commitment to small local breweries like Element, The Tap, BBC, Idle Hands, Down the Road and Aeronaut. And they are one of the few places that you will find British cask ales in Boston. Redbones regularly puts on tap takeovers with free apps. This bottle-pour event in December was great but only about 10 people showed up:

Nice. I'm definitely rooting for them, as I have a lot of fond memories. To your points:

- When I was going there, most of the bar staff was really knowledgeable. That shift toward clueless was part of the reason I started drifting away.

- I don't necessarily need hot beers, but am looking for good beers. Unfortunately, I've had my fair share of mediocre to poor offerings from those small breweries named. The wrong mix all at once and you can have a real dud of a taplist. Tough when there is strong competition.

- Cool that they're still hosting events and I'm sure the food is great as ever. (Although the price hike was another reason my visits fell off.) Would love to see that place have a renaissance. Or maybe they're doing better than a couple years ago and I just haven't noticed.

 

[rhino8888]

I'm sure the food is great as ever. (Although the price hike was another reason my visits fell off.) Would love to see that place have a renaissance. Or maybe they're doing better than a couple years ago and I just haven't noticed.

Funny, I've been going to Redbones for 20+ years but I've never been impressed with the BBQ, but that might just be my taste. I agree that I'm rooting for them to succeed. I love the comfortable neighborhood dive bar feel and the quirky mix of people that you don't get at the fancier Davis Sq bars. They've been serving craft/cask beer since before it was cool and they have hosted/sponsored NERAX from the beginning. Redbones seems to draw good crowds even with the ongoing growth of competition in Davis Sq. Somerville is looking at approving dozens of new liquor licenses so it will be interesting to see what happens in the city.

Cheers and hope to run into you at Redbones sometime!

[Speaking of clueless, I can't leave off talking about Redbones without including this photo of their beer list from last Sept when Mayflower Standish launched!]

 

[Peacock]

I am traveling from NYC to Manchester NH on Saturday for a wedding. I am looking to grab some Trillium on the way. The wedding is at 2pm but I am seeing if I time it right, I can swing by and grab some cans and bottles and then head up to Manchester. I am just seeing if this possible before I waste my time and miss a wedding.

 

[Auror]

It'll be a little tight, just based on distance and I'm sure you don't want to get there right at 2, but you should be able to do it.

 

[Auror]

Hobo out, Trillium in for Zwanze Day. Very interesting.

 

[bearsonacid1]

Sucks that there aren't any places with easy public transit now but I'm happy to see LH off the list. I can at least assume Trillium will organize the event a lot better.

 

[thegerm87]

Praying for ticketed events at trillium and armsby. The past few years have just been a mess.

 

[tylerk88]

Bummer about LH. Suppose this might be incentive to finally visit Trillium in Canton. Or maybe I'll win a HF raffle

 

[jwazzy]

http://www.trilliumbrewing.com/trillium-events/2016/10/1/zwanze-day-2016

Nice little nod to lambic.info in there.

 

[JCastle1]

Zwanze at Lord Hobo was the damn worst.

 

[JCastle1]

Bummer about LH. Suppose this might be incentive to finally visit Trillium in Canton. Or maybe I'll win a HF raffle

The event at HF is cool but very limited. Five drafts, one pour of each and done. At least in 2014, not sure about last year.

 

[tehzachatak]

Zwanze at Lord Hobo was the damn worst.

It was pretty dope in 2012 (James, Anna, Susan on draft, Anna and Sankt Hans bottles, lots of Fou and Mamouche), but haven't been since then and have heard it is now pretty awful.

 

[Auror]

Now that I think about it, can farmer/brewer breweries in MA legally even have guest taps? (I don't know the answer to this to clarify)

 

[bearsonacid1]

It was pretty dope in 2012 (James, Anna, Susan on draft, Anna and Sankt Hans bottles, lots of Fou and Mamouche), but haven't been since then and have heard it is now pretty awful.

Photos I saw of the taplist the last couple of years looked basic AF

 

[jctetreault1]

Now that I think about it, can farmer/brewer breweries in MA legally even have guest taps? (I don't know the answer to this to clarify)

We're pulling a one day permit