• Home
  • About
  • Contact

Passions and Places

A travel + outdoors blog

  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Zambia
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • Iceland
      • Portugal
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Alabama
      • Arizona
      • Connecticut
      • Idaho
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Massachusetts
      • Mississippi
      • Montana
      • Nebraska
      • New Hampshire
      • Rhode Island
      • Vermont
      • Wyoming
  • Activities
    • Camping
    • Cycling
    • Hiking
    • Kayaking
    • Motorcycling
    • Scuba Diving
    • Skiing
    • Yoga
  • Planning
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting
    • Gear and Packing
  • Travel Styles
    • Active and Healthy
    • Couples Travel
    • Educational and Experiential
    • Foodie Travel
    • Long-Term Travel
    • Nature and Outdoors
    • Off the Beaten Path
    • Road Trips
  • Responsible Travel

A Beer Lover’s Guide to Craft Breweries in Boston

October 11, 2016 By Ryan Victor 24 Comments

Updated July 5th, 2022

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

Despite the puritanical alcohol laws in Massachusetts (no happy hours, no alcohol sales on Sunday morning, very limited alcohol at grocery stores…), the Boston craft beer scene has really taken off. Though there are many more in the surrounding suburbs, this post explores all the craft breweries in Boston proper. If you’re a beer lover in the city, be sure to check one out, or try them all!

Contents

  • Boston Microbreweries in the Heart of the City
    • Harpoon Brewery
    • Trillium Brewing Company
    • Night Shift
    • Democracy Brewing
    • Cheeky Monkey Brewing Company
    • Castle Island Brewing
  • More Craft Breweries in Boston Proper
    • Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)
    • Turtle Swamp Brewing
    • Dorchester Brewing Company
    • Flying Embers Brewery and Social Club
    • Distraction Brewing Company
    • Roundhead Brewing Company (coming soon!)
  • Boston Breweries Map

Boston Microbreweries in the Heart of the City

Harpoon Brewery

Harpoon is easily the second most famous of the breweries in Boston (Sam Adams coming in first), and it was actually granted the state’s first commercial microbrewery permit in 1986. Like Jim Koch, the college classmates who founded Harpoon were disappointed with the beers available in the U.S., especially after returning from a trip to Europe. While its first beer was a mild ale, you might know Harpoon for its hoppy IPA, introduced in 1993, at a time when IPAs were brewed almost exclusively on the West Coast.

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

The most important thing to note about visiting Harpoon is that it’s a production brewery. Unlike Sam Adams, it’s hot, it’s loud, you have to wear safety glasses, and there are a dozen or so workers milling around producing lots of beer. The tour actually takes place on a series of catwalks above the brewing systems so you don’t get in an employee’s way. It’s a great contrast to the quaint, artisanal experience at Sam Adams. If you have time for two Boston brewery tours, I definitely recommend taking both.

On the Harpoon tour, you get to see the nuts and bolts of how thousands of bottles and cans worth of beer go from the barley barrels to your refrigerator. You also get a complete rundown of how each machine in the brewery functions and the chance to see them in action.

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

Midway through the tour, it’s time for the unlimited (yes, really!) tasting of the beers that are currently in production. Afterward, you have the option of hitting up the Bavarian-style beer hall, where you can get a delicious German-style soft pretzel (highly recommended, especially with the cheese and garlic butter dipping sauces) or a slice of Sicilian-style pizza.

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

Tours of Harpoon run seven days a week. Tickets are $10 for the full 50-minute tour, only offered on the weekend, or $5 for a 25-minute guided tasting and short walk through the production line on weekdays.

Location: Right at a stop for the SL2 Silver Line bus.

Visit Harpoon if you want to see how beer is really made in America, production line and all (and you like tasty German pretzels). It’s a great place for beer enthusiasts who like to understand the details of how things work.

Trillium Brewing Company

The third of the microbreweries in Boston, Trillium Brewing Company opened in 2013, the year I moved to the city. Their first location in Fort Point was little more than a retail counter selling cans and growlers of their then-unknown brews.

Since then, they’ve moved to a two-story taproom that not only serves some of the best beer in Boston (and in the U.S.), but also upscale entrees like oyster plates and gnocchi. Trillium’s rise in popularity over the past ten years has been nothing short of meteoric, and it now regularly appears on lists of the world’s best breweries.

Rectangular steel and glass building sorrounding by high tables and roped off grassy area.

Trillium’s style brings back fond memories of my home state of Montana, where the hoppy West Coast-style IPA is so popular. One of their earlier offerings, Pocket Pigeon Pale Ale, is still hands-down one of the best beers I’ve had.

Trillium’s flavors are unique and interesting; they’re not trying to please everyone. You get the sense that the brewers just enjoy trying out new recipes, seeing what works. The staff all seem excited to be working there and are knowledgeable about the beers they’re selling.

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

A couple years ago, Trillium opened a tasting room an hour or so away in Canton, which is now their main production site. I haven’t been out there, but knowing how good the beers are, I’m sure it’s worth the trip.

During the summer, the Trillium pop-up beer garden at the Rose Kennedy Greenway is the perfect place to enjoy the warm weather while sipping fantastic beer (it’s also dog-friendly). There’s also a location outside the Landmark Center, making it an obligatory stop whenever you’re shopping at REI.

Location: Seaport – Right at a stop for the SL1, SL2, and SL3 Silver Line buses, or a 10-minute walk from South Station (Red Line); Landmark Center – right by the Fenway T stop (Green D Line); Greenway Beer Garden – a 10-minute walk from South Station (Red Line).

Visit Trillium if you’re looking for the best craft beer in Boston. During the summer, the Trillium beer garden is the place to go for after-work drinks if you’re near the Greenway.

Night Shift

Along with Trillium, Night Shift Brewing has been one of the unexpected stars to emerge from the New England craft beer scene. The three founders started in 2012 with a tiny 3.5-barrel kit in an old warehouse across the Mystic River in Everett.

Now, they’re one of the country’s 100 largest craft brewers by volume. That success led to several expansions, including a location in Natick, several beer gardens throughout Boston and Cambridge, and the exquisite Lovejoy Wharf outpost in the North End.

Several people sit alongside a bar with modern aesthetics while a flat screen TV above them plays sports news.

Sitting beneath the offices of Converse World Headquarters, the Lovejoy Wharf location is all things for all people. Of course it’s a taproom for Night Shift’s extraordinarily good beer; it’s also a coffee bar in the morning, serving their in-house roasted beans. And they’re a purveyor of Detroit-style pizza, the crispy thick-crust variety that’s been sweeping the nation since the start of Covid. They even have huge pretzels and truffle fries – what more could you ask for from one of the best breweries in Boston?

Well, you could ask for great beer – like the Santilli IPA, which won bronze in the American IPA category at the 2016 World Beer Cup, or the Birthday Brownie Porter, brewed with cacao nibs from Boston-based Taza Chocolate. Night Shift is always coming out with small-batch, limited-time brews, so there’s sure to be something new to try on every visit.

Harbor view populared with a few small boats and a cable-stayed bridge in the background.

Much easier to find than Night Shift’s Everett location, the Lovejoy Wharf outpost is the most convenient brewery near TD Garden (expect crowds whenever the Celtics or Bruins are playing). It’s also located amidst the famed Freedom Trail sights, some of the top attractions in Boston.

Location: Just a five-minute walk from the North End T stop (Orange, Green D, & Green E Lines).

Visit Night Shift at Lovejoy to get a taste of some of the best beer in Boston after a game or in the middle of a day of sightseeing.

Democracy Brewing

Breweries are often located at the fringes of a city – decrepit warehouses, shuttered factories, or suburban strip malls – places where rent is low and a new venture is less risky.

The breweries in Boston are usually no exception, so I was surprised when Democracy opened their brewpub in 2018 less than a block from the Boston Common. Could a microbrewery with such expensive real estate make it? And could they afford to take risks with their beers? Astonishingly, the answer is a resounding yes – and they’re doing it while creating a pro-worker framework for other breweries to follow.

Bright blue building with Ukranian flag hanging above it, and a warmly lit interior visible through the windows.

Their name isn’t a cheap ploy to capitalize on the nearby Freedom Trail; Democracy Brewing is a 100% worker-owned co-op. They’re even working with the Massachusetts legislature to create a state-owned bank that’s more receptive to funding co-ops.

A tulip-shaped glass filled with amber-hued beer sits on a table with a warmly-lit, out-of-focus bar scene in the background.

Democracy’s taproom has the feel of a small German beer hall, with warm lighting and a line of long tables stretching the length of the bar. The menu consists of classic pub grub and, because it’s Boston, a plate of mussels.

There’s always one or two options for every style of beer – porters, sours, New England IPAs, etc – each of them well-rounded without being boring. The brewery also hosts a variety of events, everything from calligraphy and candle-making to political debate viewing parties.

Location: Just a two-minute walk from Park Street/Downtown Crossing or five minutes from the Chinatown T stop (Orange Line).

Visit Democracy before seeing a show in the Theater District, or grab a bite to eat after spending the day at the Common.

Cheeky Monkey Brewing Company

You might be forgiven for not noticing Cheeky Monkey down at the end of Lansdowne Street, across from Fenway Park. After a long afternoon watching the Sox and drinking Sam Adams, it’s easy to miss. But rather than paying ballpark prices for a Boston Lager, I’d suggest enjoying a couple pints in here before heading to the game.

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

The Sox weren’t playing the day I visited Cheeky Monkey, so it was pretty quiet inside. I ordered the Harambe’s Ghost IPA (they have a somewhat twisted sense of humor) and watched the Cornhole World Championships. It should be noted that this was during the World Cup, so I was surprised that bar patrons were more interested in a beanbag toss, but it made for an interesting visit.

While the IPA was solid, I didn’t love that, unlike most microbreweries in Boston, this one is also a full bar with a wall of liquor bottles behind the counter. Or that the dining area and bar felt like your average trendy spot, with contrasting lighting and, in this case, a giant light board that says “PEACE.”

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

Where Cheeky Monkey gets interesting, though, is in the back room, an area you might not even know existed unless you were headed to the bathroom. It’s loaded with pool tables, shuffleboard, and overstuffed couches for lounging. Suddenly, Cheeky Monkey seemed less like the standard trendy bar and more like the best place to hang out after the game. My only regret was that I didn’t bring a posse of friends with me.

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

Beer and games aside, Cheeky Monkey is actually a brewpub with plenty of food options. They pride themselves on their full menu, which includes a variety of street food-inspired dishes like Korean BBQ beef tacos and Singaporean street noodles. Don’t fill up on hot dogs and popcorn at the stadium when this deliciousness is available after the game.

Location: A ten-minute walk from the Kenmore T stop (Green B, C, & D Lines).

Visit Cheeky Monkey before or after your next Red Sox game (just prepare for the crowds).

Castle Island Brewing

Every Boston neighborhood has its own unique identity, but possibly none more so than Southie (aka South Boston). An area once infamous for organized crime (it was the home of Whitey Bulger, after all!), Southie has been heavily gentrified and is now known for its having the city’s nicest beaches, in addition to the best burgers and dogs over at Sully’s.

Converted warehouse with large Castle Island Brewing Co. sign and string lit picnic table seating in the foreground.

Castle Island Brewing got its start in 2015, making it pretty old as far as Boston microbreweries go. Despite the name referencing an iconic Southie landmark, they opened their first taproom out in the suburb of Norwood, where rent is considerably cheaper. Several years later, they had the means to open up a location closer to their Southie namesake.

A pint glass filled with red-hued beer sits on a copper-plated bar next to a red and blue paper beer menu.

The taproom features six of the most popular beers developed at their Norwood location, along with a dozen more that are exclusive to Southie, including innovative brews like a strawberry IPA and a chardonnay nitro ale.

There’s no shortage of delicious food either, with Bardo’s Bar Pizza serving up crispy slices of South Shore-style thin crust along with wings, churros, and even lobster rolls. Castle Island definitely has a party atmosphere, the sort of spot to start off a night out. Speaking of, there’s trivia on Tuesdays and live music nearly every Friday.

Location: An eight-minute walk from both the Broadway and Andrew T stops (Red Line).

Visit Castle Island after a day at Carson Beach, just a 15 minute walk from the brewery, or take the No. 11 bus from its namesake park.

More Craft Breweries in Boston Proper

Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)

When people think of Boston beer, they’re almost certainly thinking of Sam Adams. It’s by far the biggest craft brewery in Boston, and their Boston Lager is probably the most popular microbrew in the U.S. today; in fact, its ubiquity makes me reluctant to even call it a microbrew.

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

Back in the late-80s, Jim Koch founded the Boston Beer Company (the parent company of Sam Adams and sometimes mistakenly called the Boston Brewing Company) in an effort to bring the flavorful and complex tastes of European beer to America, which at the time was mostly serving up bland mass-market brews from the likes of Budweiser and Miller. When Sam Adams Boston Lager debuted in 1985, the company had just two employees and no office, and Koch distributed the beer by going door-to-door asking bars and restaurants to serve it.

But the Boston Beer Company has come a long way since then, developing dozens of year-round and seasonal brews and expanding its distribution to all 50 states and 20 other countries. With the wide distribution network it created, Sam Adams can take a lot of the credit for popularizing microbrews and starting the craft beer revolution that continues today.

Though founded in Boston, most of Boston Beer Company’s product has always been brewed elsewhere, and the main factories are now in Pennsylvania and Ohio. If you’re picking up a six-pack of Boston Lager, you can bet it wasn’t actually produced in Boston.

The Boston brewery is more of a test kitchen, where they work out the kinks in the flavor before scaling up production at the main facilities. However, Sam Adams does produce a couple small-batch beers in Boston that are only distributed in keg form to select bars in the area – most notably the 26.2 Brew that’s created each spring for the Boston Marathon.

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

The Sam Adams brewery tour is really hands-on; you can nibble on roasted barley (delicious) and rub hops flowers between your hands to release their telltale scent (which will make you smell like you’ve been drinking all day).

Since the brewery is mostly used for small-batch experimentation, it’s relatively uncrowded and quiet. The pre-war brick walls and copper brewing apparatuses give it a quaint feel; you can easily imagine men with large beards getting together to sip beers straight from the brewing kettles, pondering whether they should add a little more hops or perhaps some orange peel and coriander.

The tour doesn’t give the sense of the massive quantities of beer that need to be canned and bottled to send Boston Lager and its sister beers to bars, supermarkets, and convenience stores across the country, but it’s a pleasant environment for learning about the brewing process.

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

If you’re looking for souvenirs or presents, the Sam Adams gift shop has all manner of Boston beer memorabilia, plus cans and growlers of some of their lesser-known beers. Tasting these beers and bringing a couple bottles home was the highlight of the tour for me. The Sam Adams beers I’d had in the past weren’t terribly interesting, so it was great to try out some of the more unique brews from America’s second-biggest microbrewery.

The regular tour and tastings are $10, last about 40 minutes, and run 7 days a week. For something more in-depth, try one of the new specialized tours, which start at $20. They’re only offered a few times a week, so sign up online as early as possible.

Location: Jamaica Plain – A five-minutes walk from the Stony Brook T stop (Orange Line); Faneuil Hall – a 10-minute walk from Park Street/Downtown Crossing.

Visit Sam Adams for a relaxing experience where you’ll learn the basics of the brewing process in a great atmosphere. It’s the ideal place to take friends visiting from out of town.

Turtle Swamp Brewing

One of the things I love most about visiting smaller craft breweries in Boston (or anywhere) is getting some face time with the person doing the actual brewing and creating the recipes.

Many Boston breweries are too large and the brewmasters too busy for that sort of interaction to happen, so I was pleasantly surprised to come upon the much smaller Turtle Swamp Brewing. This Jamaica Plain brewery is run by a former Harpoon employee and a home brewer with a background in biochemistry, who both seem passionate about experimentation and bringing great craft beer to JP.

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

You’ll need to plan ahead if you want to see how that experimental mindset is transformed into delicious suds – they only do tours once a month, in the evening on the second Thursday. The 1.5-hour experience costs $25 and comes with a guided flight tasting.

The tasting room at the brewery is fairly small, and the bar even tinier, but what Turtle Swamp does have is an excellent patio. Yes, it’s actually just a roped-off section of the parking lot, but repurposed wire spools as tables and the magnificent mural of a turtle shepherding a pint through the forest give it personality and a homey feeling. There’s not a whole lot of shade out there, though, so it’s best enjoyed on a cloudy afternoon or while the sun is going down.

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

Not sure what to drink at Turtle Swamp? The bartenders are perfectly happy to hand out some free samples to help you make your decision. I sampled the Orange Line IPA and fell in love with its citrusy aroma and lightweight body – the perfect beer for a hot afternoon.

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

Some of the area’s best food carts – El Pelon, Tacos Don Beto, and Oath Pizza – stop by a couple days a week, so you can make a meal out of your visit. The brewery is dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your pooch along.

Location: Just a few minutes’ walk from the Green Street T stop (Orange Line).

Visit Turtle Swamp to enjoy a relaxing evening of great beer on the chillest patio in the city.

Dorchester Brewing Company

I’m not sure I’ve ever felt more at home in a Boston brewery than when I walked through the doors of Dorchester Brewing.

The long wooden tables invite people to actually talk to each other rather than stare at their smartphones, and the shelves in the back are packed with board games to keep patrons entertained. There’s also a couple of pinball and skee-ball machines, along with a shuffleboard table, to keep things interesting. Plus they host trivia on Wednesdays, a retro game night the first Thursday of the month, and a slew of other events.

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

White brick walls, exposed pipes, and vintage lighting remind visitors of the neighborhood’s roots without coming off as cringe-inducingly hipster; Dorchester Brewing is a communal meeting place for people who enjoy great beer. The taproom’s newly-built second floor is also designed to look like a greenhouse, with 360-degree views of the surrounding neighborhood, and features a rooftop deck where patrons can enjoy the beautiful summer weather.

Did you know there are a whopping eight craft breweries in Boston? And that’s just within the city limits! Our guide to Boston microbreweries covers them all, including where to get free tastings, enjoy the very best beer, and take fun brewery tours in Boston. If you’re a beer lover visiting the city, don’t miss out on experiencing the Boston craft beer scene!

I’m definitely getting the warm fuzzies for Dorchester Brewing’s atmosphere, but let’s not forget that we’re here to drink, too. I sprung for the Embarrassment of Riches Hoppy Ale, which was the perfect after-work brew: a medium body with a lower alcohol content (5.5%) compared to some of the stronger IPAs. If you can’t wait to get home for dinner, they have some snacks like pretzels and guac, along with food trucks in the parking lot on weekends.

Location: A 15-minute walk from the JFK/UMass T stop (Red Line).

Visit Dorchester Brewing to see a less touristy side of Boston, and bring a group of friends to challenge to some shuffleboard.

Flying Embers Brewery and Social Club

I have to admit, I questioned whether Flying Embers Brewery belonged on a list of Boston craft breweries, since it’s based in California – and the website suggests they only make hard seltzer and kombucha, not beer.

But I did want to see the space – they’re located in the old piano factory formerly occupied by Backlash Beer, which I never got a chance to visit. And I was eager to support a business in Roxbury, a Boston neighborhood that – despite being the geographic center of the city – is too often overlooked.

Three picnic tables sit inside a roped-off beer garden outside a historic brick building bearing the Flying Embers name and "Phoenix" logo.

Fully prepped for the flowery tartness of kombucha, I was shocked to learn when I got there that Flying Embers does brew beer. They don’t make very many, but the ones they do make are fantastic. While the seltzer and kombucha are made from recipes developed in California, the Boston brewing team is given a free hand with the beer, and has used it to concoct incredibly original NEIPAs, sours, and fruity ales. I love that they’re trying out new things, and they have the financial security to keep doing it, thanks to the popularity of the seltzers and kombuchas.

A beer glass displaying the flying embers "Phoenix" logo sits half filled on a table with an out of focus bar and sets of bench seating in the background.

What really sets Flying Embers apart, though, is the space. It lives up to the moniker of a social club with the sprawling taproom that has room for all sorts of events like movie nights, yoga classes, and even some lawn games out on the patio. The brewery also works with local food vendors like Bon Me, and you can also bring your own food or have something delivered to you at the bar.

Location: Nearly a half-hour walk from the Ruggles (Orange Line) and Andrew (Red Line) T stops, ten minutes from the Newmarket commuter stop (Fairmount Line), and right by stops for several buses, including the No. 1 and No. 45.

Visit Flying Embers for a different kind of brewery experience, with few tourists, plenty of exciting events, and plenty of options for non-beer drinkers to enjoy.

Distraction Brewing Company

I always love an underdog brewery, whether it’s because they’re small-batch, in a remote area, or just because they’re up against a goliath rival brewer. These unexpected gems are what keep craft brewing exciting as the industry approaches a point of oversaturation, and Distraction Brewing certainly fits the bill.

Started by three homebrew-loving dads, Distraction is the only brewery in Roslindale, a neighborhood that’s within the Boston city limits but is far removed from the hustle and bustle.

A patio with cafe tables sits behind a banner stating "beer patio" alongside a stately brick building.

Sitting in a unique 1,600-sq.-ft wedge-shaped structure, the brewery ushers patrons into the heart of Roslindale Village. Outside, a section of Birch Street has been closed to traffic to create the beer patio, pedestrian mall, and event space (live music Thursday-Saturday throughout the summer). It’s BYOF – bring your own food. Thankfully, there’s over a several mouth-watering eateries to choose from within a five-minute walk of the brewery.

Two pilsner glasses, one nearly finished and the other full, sit on a cafe table alongside a busy sidewalk.

The dozen or so beers on tap offer something for every palate,, from an orange cream IPA to a Belgian tripel to cold brew coffee cream ale. Using their basement that was once a bank vault, Distraction is also hoping to start aging beer soon (and will be one of very few Boston craft breweries to do so).

Location: Practically adjacent to the Roslindale Village commuter stop (Needham Line).

Visit Distraction for a more local experience that’s free from tourists. Make an afternoon of it and take some time to explore the inconspicuously cool Roslindale Village and the nearby Arnold Arboretum.

Roundhead Brewing Company (coming soon!)

When I first published this post, there were only three breweries in Boston proper: Sam Adams, Harpoon, and Trillium. In just six years, that number has tripled, and some have added second locations. Now that we don’t live in New England, I can only check up on the Boston craft beer scene every couple years, and it seems I already have a new one to look forward to – Roundhead Brewing, all the way out in Hyde Park, which will be the first Latino-owned Boston brewery.

During the three years I lived in Boston, I don’t think I ever made it out there, so I’m very excited to have a reason to explore this lesser-known neighborhood during our next visit. The brewery is expected to open later this summer and plans to serve wood-fired pizza along with their beers., But they’re already brewing and offering curbside pickup of their cans on Fridays and Saturdays.

Location: A 15-minute walk from the Readville commuter stop (Fairmount & Franklin/Foxboro Lines) – an hour-long ride from downtown Boston.

Boston Breweries Map

Click here for an interactive version of the map!

Which of the craft breweries in Boston would you be most interested in visiting?

PIN IT!

If you’re a beer lover, visiting some craft breweries needs to be on your list of things to do in Boston. From giants like Harpoon and Sam Adams to homegrown operations in the suburbs, Boston breweries run the gamut - and this article details them all. #boston #beer #craftbreweries There are so many things to do in Boston, and if you love beer, here’s one more to add to the list: visit one (or more!) of the best craft breweries in Boston. This guide covers every one within the city - including 3 spots for Boston brewery tours. #bostonma #microbreweries #craftbeer

Filed Under: Educational and Experiential, Foodie Travel, Massachusetts, North America Tagged With: beer, Boston

Comments

  1. Natalie says

    July 11, 2022 at 9:05 pm

    Wow, so many breweries! I’ll admit that the only Boston brewery I knew was Sam Adams, but now I’ll have to try out some others next time I’m in Boston 🙂

    Reply
    • Ryan Victor says

      July 18, 2022 at 1:27 pm

      There’s a lot more variety these days and I’m so excited to try Roundhead when we get back there this September!

      Reply
  2. Chantelle says

    July 10, 2022 at 12:17 am

    We love to visit breweries! We havent been to Boston, but are going in September, so this is a fun post to find. I had NO idea about the stricter laws there, no happy hour or sales on Sunday, that was interesting to me!

    Reply
    • Ryan Victor says

      July 10, 2022 at 6:34 am

      For a long time breweries were also only allowed to fill growlers that had their label on them. After we left Boston, they changed the rule to allow generic growlers, like a Hydro Flask, to be filled. There’s a lot of bureaucracy, but it’s still a great state for brewery hopping.

      Reply
  3. Jasmina says

    July 9, 2022 at 5:09 pm

    Awesome post! As a craft beer lover I would love to go there and check out those breweries!

    Reply
    • Ryan Victor says

      July 10, 2022 at 6:37 am

      It’s a great time! Also, don’t forget to go across the river to Cambridge for several more breweries. There were just too many to include in one post.

      Reply
  4. Andrea says

    July 9, 2022 at 3:46 pm

    I love visiitng breweries when I am in a new city. Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
    • Ryan Victor says

      July 10, 2022 at 6:38 am

      Boston’s a great city for it too, with excellent public transportation options to almost all of them.

      Reply
  5. Alexandra says

    July 9, 2022 at 1:44 pm

    I have been to Boston numerous times and have never been to the Sam Adams taproom or to any of these places! I must go back now as beer is certainly growing on me haha.

    Reply
    • Ryan Victor says

      July 9, 2022 at 3:37 pm

      The original Sam Adams brewery was a little out of the way, so it’s nice that they have the taproom downtown so people can order something besides the Boston lager. Enjoy your next trip there!

      Reply
  6. Crystal says

    November 6, 2019 at 8:53 pm

    I need to add that Sam Adams has an incredible taproom. They’ve got a nice sized space (indoor and outdoor) with comfy seating and games. We went for New Years last year and plan on going back gain this year. Thanks for the great article! I’m stoked to try out a few new breweries while we’re there later this year.

    Reply
    • Ryan Victor says

      November 7, 2019 at 12:55 am

      Should definitely check out Nightshift in Everett if you get the chance, it’s a fifteen minute walk from the Wellington stop on the Orange Line. They always seem to have interesting events going on. I’m also excited to get back to Boston and check and Trillium’s new taproom in the Fort Point area (only had a small counter for selling before).

      Reply
  7. Crystalyn says

    October 15, 2018 at 11:47 am

    Awesome post. Harpoon is a favorite brewery of mine! They seem to be popping up all over the place now though.You’ll have to make a part two 🙂

    Reply
    • Ryan Victor says

      October 27, 2018 at 10:31 pm

      Yeah, it looks like Backlash has opened since the post was updated. Who knows what else will be there next time we swing through Boston.

      Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    September 18, 2018 at 11:58 am

    What about Hopsters Brewing Company in the Boston Seaport just down the street from Harpoon? Looks like you need to do a better Google search next time!

    Reply
    • Ryan Victor says

      September 23, 2018 at 2:53 pm

      Hi Lee, We were under the impression that your beers were brewed at the Newton location, and we decided to limit this post to beers brewed in the city limits. We had planned to include it in a future post about breweries in the greater Boston area or to come brew our own beer and write a separate post on that experience.

      Reply
  9. Sarah - Borders & Bucket Lists says

    August 25, 2018 at 12:22 am

    ooh this looks like such a fun time! I had no idea there were so many breweries in Boston!

    Reply
    • Ryan Victor says

      August 25, 2018 at 5:49 pm

      A few of them opened in the last couple years as employees from Harpoon left to start to their breweries (something Harpoon was supportive of to grow the brewing community). There are even more breweries across the river in Cambridge in Somerville if the ones listed aren’t enough…

      Reply
  10. Alex says

    March 14, 2018 at 2:45 pm

    I would hardly say that Sam Adams is a “microbrewery” when they distribute all over the US! Also sad this list is so short, I’m used to there being dozens of great microbreweries in most midwestern cities.

    Reply
    • Ryan Victor says

      March 16, 2018 at 4:41 am

      Very true, Sam Adams has nationwide distribution, but the Boston Beer Company is considered the 2nd largest craft brewing company in the U.S. and their Boston location is considered a test kitchen. The beers available for sampling there are far different from the Boston Lager, which is actually brewed in Cincinnati. Founder Jim Koch has also been a major supporter of the craft beer movement ever since home brewing was legalized in the late 70s and it was really interesting to see and hear about some of that history. It’s also true that Boston only has three microbreweries within the city limits, which can be blamed on the sky high real estate prices. With so many microbreweries popping up these days, most can only turn a profit if they keep their building costs down, at least initially. Cities adjacent to Boston with cheaper rent – Cambridge, Everett, Chelsea and Natick all have some great microbreweries, however they didn’t have tours or impressive tasting rooms like Sam Adams or Harpoon.

      Reply
  11. Danielle N. Salmon says

    October 12, 2016 at 12:46 pm

    The first beer I ever had was Sam Adams and I loooooved it. It was actually Boston Lager too! Whnever I order it at the bar, my friends are like, “eww you drink that?” But I seriously love it. It’s super smooth and easy to go down and never has a bitter taste. That’s so cool that you got to check out their microbrewery, would love to do that one day too!!!

    Reply
    • Ryan Victor says

      October 21, 2016 at 2:02 pm

      That’s so funny, I’m glad you love the Boston Lager! You definitely do need to check out their brewery!

      Reply
  12. ourfamilytraveladventures says

    October 11, 2016 at 3:41 pm

    So many breweries to visit! Time to head back to Boston!

    Reply
    • Ryan Victor says

      October 21, 2016 at 2:01 pm

      Definitely! And I didn’t cover them here, but Boston’s suburbs have even more.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Close-up of a white man and woman both wearing black with trees in the background, and an overlaying green banner that says "Welcome!"

Hi! We’re Jen and Ryan, an American couple on a journey to travel the world while working from the road. We’re passionate about outdoor adventure, responsible travel, and getting off the beaten path. Passions and Places is a space for us to share our stories and tips with you, but most importantly, we hope to inspire you to seek your own adventure.

Download the Ultimate Couples Bucket List!

Popular Posts

  • Exploring the Best and Quirkiest Attractions in Jerome, AZ
  • A One-Day Itinerary: The Best Things to Do in Whitefish, MT
  • The Ultimate Boston Bucket List

Search

Visit our Montana travel blog!

The words "Montana Discovered" written across a silhouette of Montana, all inside a light blue rectangle.

Where are we now?

Privacy · Disclaimer · Terms of Use
Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress