10 Best Breweries and Beer Places in Massachusetts

"Trillium has been brewing beer in the Fort Point area for years. But it was only in 2018 that they opened this fantastic new taproom, complete with bar, dining room and rooftop deck. Enjoy the full range of..."

"Much like a grammarian who looks for mistakes on Twitter, you’ll be equally spoilt for choice at Dorchester Brewing. Their rooftop has high-tops on the deck, picnic tables under a tent, and even more picnic tables in a glass-covered greenhouse, all of which overlook the Boston skyline. There are also 20 beers on tap and M&M BBQ on-site, which means paying attention in English class wasn’t that important after all."

"Dorchester Brewing Company invites babies and kids to visit the taproom with parents or guardians; there are sodas and seltzers available, as well as games, and M&M BBQ is open onsite daily for food. (No outside food is permitted, and dogs are not allowed at this time.). Dorchester Brewing Company is currently open for indoor and outdoor seating, as well as takeout (beer and/or food)."

"When Harpoon began brewing at its South Boston Waterfront location in the 1980s, the area was something of a wasteland – a melange of warehouses, parking lots and a working seaport. Now, the employee-owned brewery sits on the outskirts of what is Boston’s fastest-growing and perhaps glitziest neighborhood, making it a lot more fun to visit. A German-style beer hall offers views of the harbor (and the brewery tanks), plus dozens of delicious drafts on tap – including beers from Clown Shoes, another Boston craft brewer."

"Bars Breweries Seaport District. Harpoon has been at it for more than 30 years, brewing IPAs, Hefeweizens, stouts, and more. Grab a seat at a long table in the lively Beer Hall to enjoy fresh beers and giant pretzels."

"Airy gastropub with beer as an ingredient in many entrees, plus craft ales from an on-site brewery. Open for lunch and dinnerDress code: CasualPhone: +1 617-494-1994"

"If you’re lucky enough to have more than 2 days in Boston, consider visiting Revere Beach (it’s the oldest public beach in the USA!), touring the Samuel Adams Brewery, attending a Boston Red Sox game (or just touring Fenway Park, the oldest baseball stadium in the USA), taking a walk along the Charles River Esplanade, or heading out a bit farther along the Freedom Trail to take in the two remaining sights not covered on this itinerary, the USS Constitution and the Bunker Hill Memorial. If you’re a museum fan, Boston has enough to keep you occupied for months: for example, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is built in the form of a Venetian palace, holds gorgeous artwork, and is the victim of a heist."

"Take the Sam Adams Brewery tour After four days of sightseeing, you deserve a beer or five. Sam Adams is a major brewer in Boston and locals drink it widely and frequently. The brewery offers free tours, starting in mid-afternoon and departing every 45 minutes. You get a few free samples along the way."

"Democracy Brewing’s signature brews include Suffragette pale ale and Fighting 54th saison|Courtesy of Democracy Brewing. This downtown employee-owned brewery and pub celebrates the working class and the (continuing) struggle for freedom and civil rights, with staple drafts that include Suffragette pale ale, Consummate Rioter IPA and Fighting 54th saison. The bar also serves an excellent selection of comfort food that includes burgers, mac and cheese, fisherman’s stew and even pizza bagels."

"Night Shift’s original Everett location is close to the platonic ideal of a Boston brewery. They have a ton of excellent beer, a giant warehouse space with local art on the wall, and a patio with corn hole, dogs, and a different food truck every day. It gets really crowded as a result, but it’s the good kind of crowded where you feel like you’re at a party with people who are cooler than you, but not jerks about it."

"Head out to Everett to see why Night Shift has developed a strong following for its diverse portfolio: lagers, IPAs, milk stouts, saisons, weisses, porters, and small-batch limited releases. Enjoy flights, pints, or cans while partaking in trivia nights, fun runs, food trucks, and pet-centric fundraisers. Tours are offered Fridays through Sundays by donation."

"Sit in a booth, a table, the tatami room, or the sushi bar and choose from an extensive menu of standard and creative sushi offerings. Go traditional with rich salmon sashimi, daring with foie gras nigiri (foie gras with spicy daikon radish, scallion, sesame, ponzu sauce), or cute with ladybug maki (spicy seafood salad and sweet potato tempura inside, cherry tomato and black tobiko outside). A menu of cooked appetizers and entrees is available too, for sushi-averse dining companions."

"Fugakyu in Brookline's Coolidge Corner is a favorite for many Boston locals since it opened its doors many years ago. Everything is perfectly prepared, and their fun variations of rolls, which use their super fresh fish, are served in your setting of choice: private booth, tatami room, a table, or simply at the sushi bar. Reserve a seat then seat back and scour the menu that has an impressive selection of sushi along with a variety of cooked appetizers and entrees."

"FuGaKyu, or the house of exquisite elegance, hit Boston in 1998 and is the biggest Japanese restaurant in the New England area. Located in the heart of Brookline, it features a won..."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mark Cowell used under CC BY 3.0. This centuries-old outdoor market has been in existence as early as the 1600s. Here, vendors sell a huge variety of fresh produce at bargain prices, such as dairy products, Halal meats, spices, live chickens and other goods."

"If you’re lucky enough to have your 2 days in Boston overlap with a Friday or Saturday, be sure to swing by Haymarket (located right in front of the Boston Public Market) to check out a fabulous farmer’s market! Faneuil Hall Marketplace"

"About a nine-minute walk down Boylston Street brings us to yet another modern skyscraper worth looking up for: Prudential Tower, colloquially called “The Pru.” This international building is part of the Prudential Center complex, and it’s the second tallest building in Boston (after The John Hancock). The Pru was built for Prudential Insurance, and stands 759 feet tall, and contains 52 floors and 1.2 million square feet in commercial and retail space. Our favorite part of this tower is the 50th-floor observation deck (take a look at how that’s being reenvisioned here)."

"Often referred to as the Prudential Building or The Pru, the Prudential towers are the city’s second-tallest building standing at 749 feet and 52 floors and radio mast. A special feature about the building, which has window lights and blackout panels, has been used over the years to show support for sports teams, The One Fund Boston, victims of the Boston Marathon bombing and more. These LED lights, which create a glow at the top of the tower, change colour depending upon the event or occasion."

"Tracks removed from Boston & Albany’s Back Bay yards mark first tangible step in construction of multimillion-dollar Prudential Center,’’ noted the caption that ran in The Boston Globe. The site pictured is where the new tower was eventually built. The Back Bay’s dominating feature of the skyline at the time?"

"Oppa is a little pricier than some other places on this guide (their chirashi is $27.50, for instance), but the quality of their fish is worth the occasional splurge. This is especially true when it comes to sashimi and nigiri - the rolls are fine, but they’re not why we come here under normal circumstances. There’s also a selection of Korean dishes on the menu - place an order for delivery through Uber Eats."

"Oppa Sushi in Allston is offering their large selection of maki and sashimi for takeout. Hours vary day by day - check Grub Hub for more information."