Happy #MassBrewMonday! We know some of you may take this day off to rest your liver, but even if you’re not drinking beer, we want you to be thinking beer. So here are three recommendations. As stated in last week’s initial installment of this new blog series, we’re not beer reviewers, but we do have palates and we do have opinions. Here’s what impressed us this past week:
If you’ve never made a trip out to Brick & Feather or Armsby Abbey, put it on your craft beer to-do list.
Sauron’s Nightlight by Brick and Feather Brewery
A 7.3% Robust Porter packed with roasted malts, this delicious balanced brew hits you with tons of coffee, dark chocolate, and some dried fruits, complimented by a huge body. Scored this beauty at Armsby Abbey in Worcester, arguably the state’s best beer bar, where it was perfectly served by the beerkeep. Normally you’d have to drive all the way out to the brewery in Turners Falls to get your hands on it, but it would definitely be worth the trip.
Another Dimension from John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House
Not to be confused with its other locations, the Framingham brewpub has really seen an uptick in the quality and creativity of its offerings since new brewer Brian Flach took over nearly a year ago. This is one of his latest creations, a New England style Pale Ale hopped with Galaxy, Mosaic and Amarillo. We think its intergalactic! John Harvard’s doesn’t distribute, so you’ll have to pay them a visit to try this brew. Do it, you’re probably overdue anyway.
New England IPA by Sam Adams
We were fortunate enough to be invited to the soft opening of the new Sam Adams Boston Brewery taproom last week. You can read our impressions of it here. While there, we were even more fortunate to be among the first to sample their taproom-exclusive New England IPA, “a medium-bodied, hazy brew featuring a big punch of citrus juiciness.” You can get it now at the taproom, and in the Northeast soon. They plan to distribute it nationally in early 2018. Set aside any prejudices you may have about the U.S.’s biggest craft brewery and give it a try, we think you’ll be glad you did.
