Categories: Local & Entertainment; Eat & Drink

A Guide to Worldly Beers in Boston

By jilliancyork
updated 3 months ago

Sick of Bud Light? Yeah, me too. So what's a Bostonian to do? Read on, my friend, for a guide to Boston's worldliest bars, taverns, pubs, and breweries.

Beer Beer Beer

I’m from New England. That should say it all, but for the uninitiated, I will explain…Us New Englanders grow up surrounded by beer – not necessarily good beer, but beer as opposed to say, cabernet or whiskey. If we’re lucky, we’re from a microbrew-swilling family (I am). I’ve lived around the world, but New Hampshire and Vermont are still my reference points when it comes to beer…and although Boston is no spooning state, it’s got its fair share of the good brews. Here are a few of my picks for beer swilling.

Boston Beer Works

110 Canal St, Boston, MA 02114

True to its name, Beer Works does its own. They also have growlers, which until recently I thought were a Vermont thing (are you sensing a theme, friends?)

5 Best New England Beers

Colorado, you ain’t got nothin’ on New England. This is the home of hippie microbreweries – from the wilds of Maine to the ski slopes of Vermont, to urban Boston, and rural New Hampshire (and I suppose I should throw Connecticut and Rhody in there somehow, but to be honest, I don’t know that I’ve had beer from either state!) Here are my faves:

Magic Hat #9 (Vermont): Magic Hat is Vermont’s quirkiest and most famous. I’ve been to the brewery a handful of times, and each time it’s sheer awesomeness. #9 is my favorite because of both its namesake and the secrecy that surrounds the brew. It’s fruity, it’s light, it’s funky, it’s #9.
Samuel Adams’ Octoberfest/Boston Ale (Massachusetts): These two are going to have to tie for second – I used to love Octoberfest the most (so much so that I would buy cases and hide them in the basement), but recently I discovered Boston Ale on tap (hard to find outside of Boston) and my world changed.
Smuttynose Old Brown Dog (New Hampshire): Chocolately just like a brown lab, this tasty brown ale keeps me coming back for more, every time.
Portsmouth Brewery Blueberry Ale (New Hampshire): Score two for the home state! But seriously, this beer actually has giant Maine blueberries floating in it. Isn’t that reason enough?
Allagash White (Maine): Savin’ the best for last, yo. Allagash White is a yummy, summery, spicy ale that goes down nice and smooth. Damn, I sound like an advertisement.

Bukowski's

50 Dalton Street, Boston, MA 02115

The good: tons of beers, great (cheap!) bar food, sweet potato fries, full of hipsters. The bad: cash only, super loud, full of hipsters.

Deep Ellum Bar

477 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA 02134

22 on draft, 100 in bottles, and hours of fun. And they’ve got Smuttynose (see favorite #3). Deep Ellum, by the way, refers to an area of Dallas, Texas known for music, food, and nightlife. Allston is almost Deep Ellum lite.

Cornwall's

654 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215

If British beer’s your thing, Cornwall’s is your place. I love it because it’s clean enough to take a date (okay, maybe not a date) but pubby enough to serve pubby fare, and they list domestic beers as being “from the colony.”

Big City

138 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA 02134

Ain’t nothing better than Big City. It’s my favorite beer joint. At first, I thought it was overpriced, but then I realized that extra dollar is worth it to get away from all the BU kids who can’t afford more than one beer here/would rather get drunk off Bud. I am such a fan that I’m considering throwing my birthday party here. Also, they have twenty or so pool tables – and there’s always one available.

Cambridge Common

1667 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138

If the hip website doesn’t tip you off to how cool a beer joint this is, the atmosphere inside will certainly convince you. Awhile back, I lived in Vermont, the state where no one will let you drink Bud Light (it’s gotta be a microbrew). Although Boston is only a four hour drive, it’s typically worlds away…but not at Cambridge Common!

Harpoon Brewery

306 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA 02210

Okay, so don’t expect a brewery tour at Harpoon. Rather, come for 30 minutes of all-you-can-drink Harpoon. Isn’t that better anyway?

Samuel Adams Brewery

30 Germania Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

A beer tour, three free beers, and an authentic beer hall? Count me in! A tour of the Sam Adams brewery is a great way to start a weekend. Although my personal favorites are the Boston Lager and Octoberfest, I can’t really complain about any of them (especially when they’re free!)

Jacob Wirth Restaurant

31 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116

Jacob Wirth has Hoegaarden, so that’s a start. It also has loads of tasty German dishes and a serious German beer hall atmosphere that makes it feel almost like Munich.