Boston bars and breweries | 10 spots for great beer

The city that was the setting for the greatest ever TV show about a bar is always going to have a rich beer culture. Boston covers the full spectrum of beer-drinking establishments, from the classic old taverns to the latest, hip, craft brew bars. With a thriving local brewing industry constantly creating new products, drinking beer in Boston can be a joyful journey of discovery.

One of Boston’s favorite craft breweries, Trillium, has partnered with the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy to create an elegant and very civilized beer garden in Fort Point. This summertime retreat for lovers of fine craft beers is open from Wednesday to Sunday, offering Trillium’s broad range of creations, from New England wild ales to hoppy light beers.

Where: Atlantic Ave & High St, Boston

‘Love Beer, Love Life’ is the motto of Harpoon, still living up to that philosophy after more than 30 years creating innovative craft brews for discerning drinkers. Their original Boston brewery is on the waterfront, with a traditional beer hall offering the chance to sample the latest brew and a plate of pretzels. Tours are also available for aficionados interested in malts and hop ratios.

Where: 306 Northern Avenue Boston

The bierkellers of Bavaria and the colorful beer halls of central Europe are the inspiration for Bronwyn in Somerville. This is the place to check out authentic Czech or German-style beers, produced by local microbreweries or imported. The brews are served up in a lively atmosphere, alongside comfort food classics like wieners, sauerkraut, and huge pretzels.

Where: 255 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143.

Somerville Brewing Company have established a vibrant, family-friendly beer garden, serving up their innovative brews, like the blood orange Hefeweizen, or Lobstah Killah Imperial Red Ale. Sandwiches, soups, and pretzels are available to accompany your pint. Saturdays offer live bands, while Sundays are a chance to chill out with a trivia quiz.

Where: 301 Canal Street, Somerville, MA 02145.

The granddaddy of craft beer in Boston, the Sam Adams brewery is a pilgrimage destination for lovers of independent brewing. Open since 1988, it’s still the place where the brewery develops and brews its specialty ales.  Hour-long tours are available, along with the chance to sample the latest creations and the time-tested classics.

Where: 30 Germania St, Boston

This popular Cambridge nightspot offers a beer list that travels the globe for venerable ales like Newcastle Brown, Hoegaarden, and Lindemans, before returning home to US favorites, on draft or in bottles, from Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, and the Brooklyn Brewery. When it’s summer in Massachusetts, the beer garden at Charlie’s is the place to be.

Where: 10 Eliot Street, Cambridge

Established in 2012, this groundbreaking brewery is a favorite among the local craft brew cognoscenti. Their Everett taproom is a striking and extensive contemporary space, a cool environment for sampling distinctive modern brews like the Morph range of IPAs, Furth Hefeweizen, Whirlpool pale ale, and Awake coffee porter.

Where: 87 Santilli Hwy, Everett

No guarantees that everybody will know your name, but, thanks to the classic sitcom, this is the place everyone imagines when they think of an American bar.  The original is on Beacon Hill, with a replica in the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Sure, it’s for tourists, but you haven’t seen Boston until you’ve sunk a beer at Cheers.

Where: 84 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108, or Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Quincy Market, South Boston

After 28 years in business, the Cambridge Brewing Company is an established brewpub in a refurbished mill, renowned for its fine craft ales and seasonal New England cooking. Experimentation is key to the success, with the brewers regularly pushing back the boundaries and creating outstanding new beers.

Where: 1 Kendall Square, Bldg 100, Cambridge

A classy establishment that combines excellent craft beer with gourmet cuisine, the Tip Tap Room offers over 100 beers, including 36 drafts. It’s a great place to learn about pairing food and beer, or to discover a German weissbier or the latest brilliant brew from a tiny craft brewery.

Where: 138 Cambridge St, Boston

Boston is paradise for the beer-lover. Craft brewing is proliferating, with exciting new brews emerging every day. The city also acknowledges its German and Irish heritage, with some atmospheric old taverns where you can sink a brew, surrounded by history.