Slowly but surely, I’m becoming a beer snob. I won’t drink light beer in can or anything that is watery and flavorless. (Sorry, I don’t understand the obsession with PBR, and I never will.) I’m not a beer connoisseur by any means— I don’t even know what goes into brewing beer— but I know what I like and where to find it in the Boston area. Here are my favorite places to grab a quality brew.
The Publick House
1648 Beacon Street | Brookline, MA 02445 | Green C Line – Washington Square
I love The Publick House. Love it. It’s probably my favorite restaurant in the Boston area. It has an insane number of amazing beers and really delicious food. (I’m obsessed with the French fries in the paper bag!) I always recommend The Publick House to CNC readers and take my out-of-town guests there. It’s the best! Check out my many blog reviews of The Publick House for even more of my praise.
Quick tip: The Publick House gets packed most nights of the week, so if you want to eat there, make sure you arrive no later than 6:00 pm or so. Otherwise, you will probably wait awhile for a table.
American Craft
1700 Beacon Street | Brookline, MA 02445 | Green C Line – Tappan Street
American Craft is owned by the same folks as The Publick House, so, in my mind, it is equally as awesome. It’s right down the street from The Publick House, so depending on your mood, you can enjoy American brews or international varieties. Both places are a great option for good, quality beer. American Craft, however, has more outdoor seating if you plan to visit in the warmer months. Check out my reviews of American Craft for more information.
Big City
138 Brighton Avenue | Boston, MA 02134 | Green B Line – Harvard Avenue
Big City has a 80 beers on draft as well as an extensive menu, pool tables, and foosball, so it’s a fun place to hang out with friends. Also in the Big City family are Sunset Cantina and Sunset Grill. My favorite out of the three is Big City, but they’re all fairly similar with regard to beer selection, menu, and atmosphere.
The Otherside Café
407 Newbury Street | Boston, MA 02115 | Green Line B, C, D – Hynes
The Otherside Café is a great place for beer lovers with its ever-rotating selection of draft brews. There’s something for everyone! Mal and I have pretty different tastes in beer, but we’re always happy with the selection and prices (just $5 per beer) at The Otherside Café.
The Other Side Café also has an interesting, mostly vegetarian menu that’s definitely worth checking out. Here’s my review of the Otherside Café. The last time I was there, I got a free mini beer tasting!
Union Brewhouse
550 Washington Street | Weymouth, MA 02188-3425
Ok, the Union Brewhouse isn’t in Boston, but it’s one of my favorite places to drink beer, so I wanted to mention it. Plus, I’m sure I have some South Shore readers out there, right?
The Union Brewhouse is a laid-back, sort of dive-y brewhouse with a fantastic selection of draft and bottled beers— it’s easily the best selection on the South Shore. Mal loves the Union Brewhouse so much, he actually refers it “his” bar since everything about it is perfect in his mind. We go there quite a bit– mostly because we’re trying to join the 99 Beer Club.
Here are some additional establishments that are worth mentioning for their awesome beer selections:
- Bukowski’s – Back Bay & Cambridge
- Lord Hobo – Cambridge
- Lower Depths – Fenway
- Parrish Café – Back Bay
- Penguin Pizza – Brigham Circle
- Red Bones – Somerville
- The Independent – Somerville
Where do you like to drink beer in Boston?
