Boston area thread

[GuzzleMcBrew]

Anyone take Dialed-In for a spin yet? Thoughts?

 

[tehzachatak]

Anyone take Dialed-In for a spin yet? Thoughts?

Relax. it is a very good fruited lambic.

 

[GuzzleMcBrew]

Relax. it is a very good fruited lambic.

Thx BB. That's all I needed to hear.

 

[bearsonacid1]

Dialed In is good. The hops are brutal

 

[Hookemhops13]

So I plan to be in Boston for a Tuesday-Thursday. Want to hit up tree house both to get cans/growlers and to enjoy the brewery (if that's something people do).

Tips/tricks for accomplishing this? Easy drive out there? Dependent on releases?

With the wife who enjoys beer but no where near our level. Things to do on the way/on the way back? Should I plan to get a hotel closers to THE?

Sooo many questions...what are the answers?

 

[JCastle1]

So I plan to be in Boston for a Tuesday-Thursday. Want to hit up tree house both to get cans/growlers and to enjoy the brewery (if that's something people do).

Tips/tricks for accomplishing this? Easy drive out there? Dependent on releases?

With the wife who enjoys beer but no where near our level. Things to do on the way/on the way back? Should I plan to get a hotel closers to THE?

Sooo many questions...what are the answers?

Not much out there but stop at BT's for BBQ. Definitely gonna be at least 5 hours including lines + driving from Boston. And not much to see at the brewery itself, just grab your stuff and get out.

 

[tehzachatak]

So I plan to be in Boston for a Tuesday-Thursday. Want to hit up tree house both to get cans/growlers and to enjoy the brewery (if that's something people do).

Tips/tricks for accomplishing this? Easy drive out there? Dependent on releases?

With the wife who enjoys beer but no where near our level. Things to do on the way/on the way back? Should I plan to get a hotel closers to THE?

Sooo many questions...what are the answers?

There's nothing to do at the brewery itself besides get beer (and maybe merch) - there will usually not even be samples available. It will also likely be packed with people - it's not a place you really hang out at all. TH is closed on Tuesday so your options are Wednesday or Thursday. Wednesday is cans only, Thursday is full service (includes growler fills).

It's like an hour and a half-ish drive from Boston depending on traffic, time of day you go, where exactly you're starting from, etc., so you're looking at minimum a ~3 hour round trip. If you are traveling out during rush hour it can be 2 to 2 and a half hours (don't do that). If you go on Thursday, there might be a huge line for beer depending on when you arrive and what is being offered - they "open at 5," but people will frequently be lining up hours in advance. Can only days are much smoother and they open at 12 - doubtful you will ever wait in line too long.

I have very little patience for the TH shitshow these days so personally, I would recommend going on Wednesday and just getting whatever cans they have and sacrificing growler fills. The more desirable cans tend to be released on Thursdays, but at low limits anyway, so is it really worth a couple extra hours of your time to get maybe 8 (if you have your wife...)?

As Jose mentioned BT's Smokehouse is fairly nearby (you'll pass it on your way to TH from Boston) and really good, but I might suggest you skip BT's and hit Armsby Abbey in Worcester on your way back instead. It's not very far out of your way and will have a stellar draft list (granted - partly stellar because it will have 3-5 HF lines on and I know you're also hitting HF so this may be of somewhat less interest, but there will also be other great undersung NE beer like Oxbow on there) and very good food/cocktails. If you go to BT's it's BYOB and you will likely see people drinking Tree House

 

[Hookemhops13]

There's nothing to do at the brewery itself besides get beer (and maybe merch) - there will usually not even be samples available. It will also likely be packed with people - it's not a place you really hang out at all. TH is closed on Tuesday so your options are Wednesday or Thursday. Wednesday is cans only, Thursday is full service (includes growler fills).

It's like an hour and a half-ish drive from Boston depending on traffic, time of day you go, where exactly you're starting from, etc., so you're looking at minimum a ~3 hour round trip. If you are traveling out during rush hour it can be 2 to 2 and a half hours (don't do that). If you go on Thursday, there might be a huge line for beer depending on when you arrive and what is being offered - they "open at 5," but people will frequently be lining up hours in advance. Can only days are much smoother and they open at 12 - doubtful you will ever wait in line too long.

I have very little patience for the TH shitshow these days so personally, I would recommend going on Wednesday and just getting whatever cans they have and sacrificing growler fills. The more desirable cans tend to be released on Thursdays, but at low limits anyway, so is it really worth a couple extra hours of your time to get maybe 8 (if you have your wife...)?

As Jose mentioned BT's Smokehouse is fairly nearby (you'll pass it on your way to TH from Boston) and really good, but I might suggest you skip BT's and hit Armsby Abbey in Worcester on your way back instead. It's not very far out of your way and will have a stellar draft list (granted - partly stellar because it will have 3-5 HF lines on and I know you're also hitting HF so this may be of somewhat less interest, but there will also be other great undersung NE beer like Oxbow on there) and very good food/cocktails. If you go to BT's it's BYOB and you will likely see people drinking Tree House

Awesome breakdown. Thank you! Only remaining question would be when they typically post what cans are available when?

 

[tehzachatak]

Awesome breakdown. Thank you! Only remaining question would be when they typically post what cans are available when?

It depends on both when canning runs are happening (typically one each on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, but that has occasionally changed, sometimes double batch on one day, etc.) and what the can is.

If it's semi regular stuff, it's usually morning to midday day of. E.g. they will post on Tuesday that they're canning Julius and then post Wednesday AM that they're canning Haze, or something. Occasionally that announcement comes a little later in the day. They haven't announced something before day of since pretty much the very beginning, I don't think.

If it's something more sought after (e.g. Very Green, King Julius), it might not be until opening time that it's announced, or it might not get announced at all and be completely silent the first day it's available.

Generally if you go on Wednesday you'll have either two cans of the fairly regularly canned beers available (Haze, Green, Julius, Ma, a Eureka variant, Alter Ego, Single Shot, maybe Bright) or one of those and maybe something a little less common like Bear or a Curiosity, but not usually one of the super RAR cans like Very Green - those are usually saved for Thursdays.

 

[Hookemhops13]

It depends on both when canning runs are happening (typically one each on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, but that has occasionally changed, sometimes double batch on one day, etc.) and what the can is.

If it's semi regular stuff, it's usually morning to midday day of. E.g. they will post on Tuesday that they're canning Julius and then post Wednesday AM that they're canning Haze, or something. Occasionally that announcement comes a little later in the day. They haven't announced something before day of since pretty much the very beginning, I don't think.

If it's something more sought after (e.g. Very Green, King Julius), it might not be until opening time that it's announced, or it might not get announced at all and be completely silent the first day it's available.

Generally if you go on Wednesday you'll have either two cans of the fairly regularly canned beers available (Haze, Green, Julius, Ma, a Eureka variant, Alter Ego, Single Shot, maybe Bright) or one of those and maybe something a little less common like Bear or a Curiosity, but not usually one of the super RAR cans like Very Green - those are usually saved for Thursdays.

Gotcha, thanks. Don't care too much about the super rare things as most of those tend to be DIPA's I believe and I'm more an IPA/Pale guy so sounds like Wednesday is probably best. Any hikers in the bunch? Any good hikes between TH and Boston?

 

[JCastle1]

Gotcha, thanks. Don't care too much about the super rare things as most of those tend to be DIPA's I believe and I'm more an IPA/Pale guy so sounds like Wednesday is probably best. Any hikers in the bunch? Any good hikes between TH and Boston?

BobZ enjoys hiking and is from the area, he might know of something.

 

[Hookemhops13]

Additional question, what's a good area for a hotel in Boston?

 

[JCastle1]

Additional question, what's a good area for a hotel in Boston?

Depends on your budget/arrival date. Avoid early-mid May if possible, everything is totally booked for graduations all around town.

 

[Hookemhops13]

Depends on your budget/arrival date. Avoid early-mid May if possible, everything is totally booked for graduations all around town.

Lol, arriving in 2 weeks. Been busy at work and slacking on the lodging. Budget mid range.

 

[Frank1]

Lol, arriving in 2 weeks. Been busy at work and slacking on the lodging. Budget mid range.

I've had good luck in boston with Priceline Express deals.

 

[JCastle1]

Lol, arriving in 2 weeks. Been busy at work and slacking on the lodging. Budget mid range.

Hmm tough to say with those dates. I was gonna recommend Cambridge, Downtown, Back Bay, Waterfront (nice areas, good food, sightseeing, etc to keep the wife happy) but not sure if you're gonna get any decent deals.

 

[tehzachatak]

Lol, arriving in 2 weeks. Been busy at work and slacking on the lodging. Budget mid range.

Godspeed.

 

[JCastle1]

I've had good luck in boston with Priceline Express deals.

Yeah I've had good luck with one of those "mystery hotel" things (I think it's Hotwire.com?). Got a last minute double room near Boston Common for $90 a night.

 

[pythonhgr]

Additional question, what's a good area for a hotel in Boston?

I'm on my way Wed-Fri and banked on Hotel Tonight app. Just booked the hotel today, and there are some great deals there if you have the patience to wait it out.

 

[Hookemhops13]

Hmm tough to say with those dates. I was gonna recommend Cambridge, Downtown, Back Bay, Waterfront (nice areas, good food, sightseeing, etc to keep the wife happy) but not sure if you're gonna get any decent deals.

Thanks, staying with friends in NYC so saving a pretty penny there I can apply to Boston.

Godspeed.

Haha ya was too worried about Vermont and NYC and blanked on actually getting a hotel in Boston. Looks like it may work out.

Yeah I've had good luck with one of those "mystery hotel" things (I think it's Hotwire.com?). Got a last minute double room near Boston Common for $90 a night.

May try that.

I'm on my way Wed-Fri and banked on Hotel Tonight app. Just booked the hotel today, and there are some great deals there if you have the patience to wait it out.

Oh man, I don't mind a bit of risk but that's even tough for me.

Thanks all, mainly looking for best areas and I'll sort out what I want to pay. Sounds like Cambridge, Downtown, Back Bay, or Waterfront is what I'm looking for?

 

[Auror]

Thanks all, mainly looking for best areas and I'll sort out what I want to pay. Sounds like Cambridge, Downtown, Back Bay, or Waterfront is what I'm looking for?

Those are the main "downtown"-ish areas and probably have the most hotels. I'd guess it might be hard to find a place for less than $250 a night in those areas though, and the better hotels are probably much more.

 

[JCastle1]

You can probably get a nice spot in Cambridge for under $200 a night on Hotwire. If not maybe try Newton/Watertown area. Back Bay is probably gonna be expensive as hell for these dates. Another option is Airbnb if you're willing to do it. My friends have had great experiences.

 

[bearsonacid1]

Playing hotel roulette on priceline is probably good. Everything is so close to each other it almost doesn't matter where you stay.

I bet there's some insane guest houses in cambridge on airbnb that are cheaper than any hotel. Take advantage of all the rich philanthropists

 

[Hookemhops13]

So I'm considering making a Treehouse trip next Thursday as we head up to Vermont (realize it's out of the way but better than doing Boston-Treehouse-Boston-Vermont). Are there some good restaurants I could stop at between TH and Waterbury? Blind pig in Athol? Any other options?

 

[Abitker]

So I'm considering making a Treehouse trip next Thursday as we head up to Vermont (realize it's out of the way but better than doing Boston-Treehouse-Boston-Vermont). Are there some good restaurants I could stop at between TH and Waterbury? Blind pig in Athol? Any other options?

Worthy Burger

 

[Hookemhops13]

Anyone friends with Don in the area? He has been gone for a while and not responding to texts. Has some of my Night Shift bottles he was trusteeing for me and I can't get in touch with him...

 

[tehzachatak]

Anyone friends with Don in the area? He has been gone for a while and not responding to texts. Has some of my Night Shift bottles he was trusteeing for me and I can't get in touch with him...

He's had some health issues that have stopped him from drinking and had a recent death in the family so he's been all over the place - I texted him, he said he didn't think he had gotten any texts from you? Wrong number, maybe? I'll PM you and pass his # along just in case. He says he'll get your box out tomorrow.

 

[Hookemhops13]

He's had some health issues that have stopped him from drinking and had a recent death in the family so he's been all over the place - I texted him, he said he didn't think he had gotten any texts from you? Wrong number, maybe? I'll PM you and pass his # along just in case. He says he'll get your box out tomorrow.

Yep thanks for the help, we touched base. I figured it was something like that and wasn't worried too much. Sorry to hear about the recent issues.

 

[screwyouguys]

anyone have any input on thoughts of getting a hotel somewhere between treehouse and boston

this way i can hit jacks abbey/trillium/night shift/ whatever else i should

gonna be cruising around new england for a honeymoon end of june, starting in maine then to vermont followed up to some stops in mass

any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[HevvyMetalHippie]

Framingham is a great place to spend your honeymoon, so I hear.