Hop, Skip and a Jump

Oh, hey didn’t see you there, guess what I just did. . . . had a drink.

This time though it was in another new place, they opened their own tap room back on St Patrick’s day but they’ve been operating out of rented space owned by Peppercorns Restaurant on Park Ave in Worcester for a few years now. The brewery was right after another Worcester but this one is Wormtown Brewery. I know Renee has been waiting for this taproom to be open for a long time, I believe she even had a clock counting down the days. Now that it’s out, I heart it! I’ve enjoyed the Wormtown beers I’ve had in the past but with a room in which they allow me to drink in, in the building where it’s made? Well that’s just foam on a good brew.

MALT-ese Falcon

(I’m trying out new puns, bear with me)

After running around New Hampshire on a Saturday, I decided to switch gears and run around western Massachusetts for a bit. I’m start off these next couple of posts with a brewery I literally found out about when I should have been paying attention at work. Tip for any beer aficionados that want to make they’re own golden mile beer tours, just google breweries in (input state here) and you can find dozens of them. I found this little brewery, they’ve only been open for about 6-8 months, called Glass Bottom Brewery. Here is some great DIY mentality that I can get behind, these two guys are the only employees that grow some of their own hops or use some of the local hops for their beers. Oh, did I forget to mention those two guys from earlier are the only two working there, it’s that new!

A Quick Sip… Or Two

If you’re reading this then it means I haven’t been asked to stop. This will probably be a quick one, hence the title, as it was during that same day I went to Aeronaut Brewing, so I had already been drinking that day. This account is for Cambridge Brewing Company  and I’d like to go back. Once inside the restaurant I was only able to have a couple of beers, but I did have an excellent black bean burger which I wanted to brag about.

Once More, With Hops

Hey everybody, guess what? I’m back with another brewery tour and another selection of beer I’ve had.  This was another one I had the chance to visit on that weekend filled with beer and shenanigans. The brewery in question? The Mystic Brewery which, I have to say, had some pretty sweet digs. I mean they had an adult Jenga! It was just big blocks, but they also had chips . . . chips! Not to mention, it is one of the more relaxed breweries I’ve ever been to. I walked into what felt like an old cabin that beckoned you to pull up a stool and have a drink.

WARNING!!!

Hopominable Snowman

Hey gang! I wanted to use that pun while it was winter but it didn’t get through processing in time.

Now I’d like to blabber on about how great I’ve been in the last few weeks or my discovery of having peppermint chocolate with a stout, try it. It’s worth it, but you’ll just complain about how these posts used to be cool. How it’s become more corporate or lost it’s ways when everyone started talking about it. Wait . . . no one is talking about my posts. Then never mind, on to the beer at Worcester’s new brewery 3Cross.

Awesome People Eat And Drink At Rapscallion Table & Tap

Great food and great service often combine to make a satisfying meal at a restaurant but I think it’s rare to have a dining experience where everything from the food to the drinks to the waitress, to your chosen companions to the ones you wouldn’t have known out of a hole in the wall come together for an hour and half of your life that could not have been better if it had been designed. Today’s lunch at Rapscallion Table & Tap in Acton, MA was exactly one of those life moments where everything worked.

What’s Hops Got to do With it?

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And the drinks keep on coming.

If you weren’t sure if I had done any drinking lately, you were wrong and I’m sorry, Liver. I had the pleasure of enjoying a drink at Night Shift Brewery, a bumping place; there were couples with food, couples having a drink, people who brought babies and sad people trying to just get through the day. Either way this was a place that I would go just to hang out with friends. I had a feeling that Night Shift is a place where people love hanging out.

Hop-panion Piece

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Hey, party people. I’m sure you’ve already Renee’s piece on Medusa Brewery, well guess what booze hounds I was there too, so you’ll get to read my thoughts on it. I’m sure you all enjoyed Renee’s but mine will be filled with plot holes and spelling errors . . . other things! Mine would have been up sooner but I mistakenly had too good a time and couldn’t remember my password. I’ll start with the fact that I’ve never been to a brewery opening and was very impressed, despite the waiting in line for 15 minutes in the cold. This place had been in the works for sometime and much anticipated by the crowds. With that in mind, I understand why I had to wait. Walking inside though it was nothing but open spaces for people to enjoy quality beer and the occasional game of Jenga, which they had at a couple of tables.

On to the beer. 

Medusa Brewing Company

Excitement couldn’t be contained for the grand opening of Medusa Brewing Company last night in Hudson, MA. Doors opened at 4:00pm so fellow beer maiden, Steph, and I got some dinner at The Rail Trail Flatbread Co. before heading over for 7:00pm. We had a feeling this place was going to be packed for its opening night and maybe some of the crowd would have abated after a few hours. And if we had to wait, at least we would be well-fed. Rail Trail more than fulfilled its intended purpose. I plan on writing about them after a few more visits but, as of last night, they’re getting praise and the promise of a returning customer.

Back to Medusa, since that’s what I’m here to write about. Located in Hudson on Main Street no more than a stone’s throw from another beer lover’s haunt, The Horseshoe Pub, Medusa is just getting started on what I’m sure will be a very successful venture. They want to focus on their beer but since everyone loves to pair their drinks with food, they have a Bring Your Own Food policy. BYOF.

When we arrived at the front doors we were barred from entry as they were at max capacity! Even though fire codes prevented us from getting in right away, the taproom at Medusa was very spacious. On a busy night like their opening, you’ll only feel claustrophobic if you’re sitting at the bar with people breathing down your neck as they try to order. As people left, the Gatekeeper allowed the matching number to enter. Thankfully, we didn’t have too long to wait and we definitely made the most of the experience. The anticipation and excitement was infectious as we waved at people through the windows and cheered as each line-compatriot was admitted to the beer oasis.

First Rounds on Me

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Greetings all,

I’ve been asked by Renee to contribute to her blog with some of my own musings, most of which will consist of me rambling about the breweries I go to and the multiple beers I drink, responsibly. I’ll try to post as often as I can about anything new I’ve had that I think you should, or shouldn’t, try. In between those posts I’ll tell you about a new brewery I got to visit. With that I’ll try and paint you a picture of words of each glorious brewery (or have a look at the pictures I took), I’ll also post links to everything so you can see for your self.

That leads us to this first post of a brewery I went to along with the flight of beers. I was lucky enough to go out and visit a couple of breweries recently; this post will be dedicated to only the first one with future posts focusing on the others. The first brewery was Aeronaut Brewing Co. located in Somerville, MA, which was by far the best brewery I had visited that weekend. After making my way through the bitterly cold New England weather and grabbing a seat at the bar, I got to notice the sheer size of the place. It was inside a warehouse; so picture the inside of a warehouse and you’ll get the idea.