![]() Its gentrified warehouse building on the river offers harvest tables for a European communal drinking experience in a family friendly atmosphere and prides itself on, as Chris explained to me, the art of how things are done rather than just what is produced. ![]() With owner and brewer Chris Lohring at the helm, Notch combines inventive beers with a sense of community. to focus on session beers and has drawn rave reviews for its classic European beers. Founded in 2010, Notch was the first brewery in the U.S. Whereas New England is famous for its juicy IPAs, Notch is notable for bucking the trend and going in its own direction. With ten Massachusetts breweries on tap along with a few out-of-state’rs, FINZ proved to be a great culinary starting point and perfectly located just across the road from Notch Brewery and Tap Room, Salem’s brewery standout. To be on the coast and not have seafood for my first proper meal seemed anathema, and my decision to have the Lobster Mac and Cheese paired with Cape Ann Brewing’s Real Easy IPA - a juicy New England IPA - was a no brainer. From here one can easily meander around the downtown attractions, which includes a requisite number of witch hotspots, of course.įor me it meant grabbing dinner at FINZ and its selection of fresh fish, seafood, oysters, and of course the famous New England lobster roll. Watson down in Boston), among many other firsts.Ĭhecking into the historic century-old Hawthorne Hotel, a majestic building that fits well into the museums and historic sites lining Salem streets, seemed fitting. And it is here that one finds the first commercially made candies, the first militia, and the first long-distance telephone call (Alexander Graham Bell to Mr. People and money alike flowed through this coastal port, a key site for trade with China, the West Indies, and Africa. History is deep here due to its early role as a key seaport. Yet strip away Witch hype and you still have a funky yet cozy locale, one framed by old bones of red brick and weathered timber. Salem is known less for its beer and more for the Witch Trials, which despite all their infamy lasted only about a year in the late 1600s. Keen to check out the brewery scene outside of Boston, particularly those of a smaller craft variety, I jumped on a ferry and headed northwards. Harpoon IPA has a strong presence across the state but be sure to try one of the many other beers that they offer onsite at the brewery, and order up a classic pretzel while you are at it. ![]() With a large selection of beer brewed onsite and a bright and inviting (if busy at times) tap room, Harpoon offers a good option for visitors to Boston keen on learning how beer is brewed, as evidenced by the large groups that seem to continuously rotate through the facility throughout the day. Yet I opted to pass on touring the brewery and instead made my way to Harpoon, where craft beer and large-scale success have gone hand-in-hand. Samuel Adams and its stalwart lager has been a staple of the scene for over thirty years, its beers available internationally and its brewery a popular destination for tourists. Thus began four days of roaming across Massachusetts and seeing what came (and was poured) my way.Īn early morning flight on Porter Airlines out of Toronto got me to Boston and soon after into a downtown pub for a rite of passage - a pint of Samuel Adams on tap - and an escape from the scorching mid-summer sun. Having discovered a Massachusetts Craft Brewers Trail brochure with an oh-so-inviting map laying out routes to explore, I was keen to head down and check out some of its offerings. Massachusetts, a beautiful state with a not so easy to spell name, has a tremendous yet largely untapped scene that offers much to the adventurous beer connoisseur and casual drinker alike. Vermont breweries have made great strides in attracting drinkers from all over (including us south-east Canadians who are within relatively easy touring distance), yet it is not the only New England destination for beer lovers. While the American North-West has laid a strong claim on those of a dank and bitter variety, the American North-East leads with a style that is often visually dense and fruitfully aromatic to the nose, unfiltered and strongly dry hopped. For New England, that means juicy and hazy India Pale Ales (or, simply, IPAs). Small town breweries are popping up across the map and, in some cases, regions are becoming known for their success with certain beer types. ![]() Craft beers have taken over and the variety, from tart gose sours to smooth chocolate milk stouts, means a greater choice than ever. Step into any thriving bar these days and you are bound to come face-to-face with an imposing selection of ornate beer taps offering a wide range of drinkables. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |