Take The Massachusetts Brewery Trail For A Weekend You’ll Never Forget
It seems like there’s never been a better time to be a craft beer fan. With new breweries popping up left and right, you have your pick of awesome taprooms to check out in the Bay State. In fact, you can even embark on a weekend Massachusetts brewery road trip adventure.
The total drive-time of this brewery trail is about 5 hours. You can check out the route and get driving directions here.
Although there are plenty more Massachusetts breweries than the ones listed here, we’ve hand-picked these for an easy road trip.
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You trip starts off on Cape Cod, where Cape Cod Beer is busy brewing beverages that appeal to locals and visitors. For a time, this was the Cape’s only microbrewery, and they offer beer on draught and growlers. Mini-tours/presentations are held once a day during the week, Monday through Friday, at 11 a.m. and once on Saturdays at 11 a.m. For more information about Cape Cod Beer, visit the website here. Address: 1336 Phinneys Ln, Hyannis, MA 02601.
Try some of the best craft beer in Massachusetts at Mayflower Brewing, a craft beer microbrewery that sits just over the bridge in Plymouth. It was actually founded in 2007 by the tenth great-grandson of John Alden, the beer barrel Cooper who sailed on the actual Mayflower. They specialize in high-quality ales that will delight your tastebuds. Don’t miss their 400 double IPA. For more information, visit the Mayflower Brewing website here. Address: 12 Resnik Rd., Plymouth, MA 02360.
Idle Hands is one of the Greater Boston area’s few "nanobrewery." They make hand-crafted beer that blends Belgian styles with American ideas. Private tours are available by scheduling an appointment. Try Another Land brewed with New Zealand hops or a Farmhouse Pale ale with its fruity notes. For more information on Idle Hands Craft Ales, visit the website here. Address: 89 Commercial Street, Malden, MA 02148.
4. Nashoba Valley Winery and Bolton Beer Works, Bolton
If you can never decide between having beer or wine, this is the place for you. Nashoba Valley Winery and Brewery makes all its own wine and craft beer right on premises, so you can chat with the knowledgeable staff about everything from the hops to the best serving temperature. Try one of the flagship beers like the Mother Apple IPA or Bolt 117 lager and take home a growler. For more information, visit the Bolton Beer Works website here. Address: 100 Wattaquadock Hill Rd, Bolton, MA 01740.
This brewery was started by three college buddies in 1993. Since then, they’ve taken to brewing delicious beer like Wally Juice New England IPA with all-natural blood orange and their Green Monsta Wicked Awesome American IPA. Although there are three locations, the Westminster brew yard and retail store is the original. For more information on Wachusett Brewing, visit their website here. Address: 175 State Rd. E. Westminster, MA 01473.
Element Brewing fuses styles and flavors together to produce beer that truly has to be tasted. Be sure to try their Lunar Eclipse Black IPA brew or Nitro-Dark Oak over a plate of yummy food. Draft beer may be ordered as a 10-ounce or 16-ounce pour. For more information visit the Element Brewing website here. Address: 16 Bridge St, Millers Falls, MA 01349.
We end our Massachusetts brewery road trip here at Wandering Star Brewing, a quirky microbrewery in Pittsfield. They offer tastings, flights, and tours. Don’t forget to try their Wobbly Pop New England IPA. You can experience a tour of the brewery on Saturdays between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., which is also when the brewery tasting room is open. For more information, visit the Wandering Star Brewery Facebook page here. Address: 11 Gifford St., Pittsfield, MA 01201.
What’s your favorite brewery in Massachusetts? Share and let us know in the comments. For more tasty beer in the Bay State, check out this hidden farm brewery.
Address: 1336 Phinneys Ln, Hyannis, MA 02601, USA
Address: 12 Resnik Rd, Plymouth, MA 02360, USA
Address: 11 Gifford St, Pittsfield, MA 01201, USA
Address: 30 Bridge St, Millers Falls, MA 01349, USA
Address: 175 State Rd E, Westminster, MA 01473, USA
Address: 100 Wattaquadock Hill Rd, Bolton, MA 01740, USA
Address: 89 Commercial St, Malden, MA 02148, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Massachusetts Brewery Road Trip
February 16, 2021
Melissa Mahoney
What other breweries can I visit in Massachusetts?
Breweries are aplenty throughout the Bay State, found in both the big cities and the smallest of towns. The most famous breweries in the state are Sam Adams and Harpoon, and you’ll have to head to Boston to visit them. These companies sell their brews around the country and are recognized nationwide. Then there’s the highly-rated Trillium Brewing Company located in Canton. Founded in 2013 with the concept of a New England farmhouse brewery that uses mostly locally-sourced ingredients, Trillium has already won awards for its brews. You can read more about Trillium in our previous article, This Homegrown Massachusetts Brewery Was Just Named Among The Best On Earth.
Where can I find the best craft beer in Massachusetts?
Aside from Trillium Brewing Company, you may want to check out Spencer Brewery which happens to be the country’s first brewery run by a community of Trappist monks. Aside from that unusual fact, they make some incredible beer. Try one of their craft brews like Monks’ IPA or Trappist Imperial Stout. Learn more about the unique Spencer Brewery in our previous article here. You may find other interesting craft beers at Medusa Brewing Company located in Hudson. You will love the experience of drinking one of their craft beers out of the colorful art cans. Try the Laser Cat Imperial IPA or Bone City Lager. Read more about Medusa Brewing here.
What foodie trails can I take in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has so many incredible restaurants that it may be hard to decide where to go sometimes. From some of the best Italian to some of the best seafood restaurants in the country, there’s no shortage of places to dine. Here is a previous article we wrote that features a list of some of the best restaurants around the Bay State: 14 Restaurants You Have To Visit In Massachusetts Before You Die.
Address: 1336 Phinneys Ln, Hyannis, MA 02601, USA
Address: 12 Resnik Rd, Plymouth, MA 02360, USA
Address: 11 Gifford St, Pittsfield, MA 01201, USA
Address: 30 Bridge St, Millers Falls, MA 01349, USA
Address: 175 State Rd E, Westminster, MA 01473, USA
Address: 100 Wattaquadock Hill Rd, Bolton, MA 01740, USA
Address: 89 Commercial St, Malden, MA 02148, USA
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