Boston's Best African Beer: Where To Buy

Boston is home to a number of breweries, including five Black-owned breweries out of a total of around 200 in Massachusetts. Beer lovers in Boston can also enjoy Star Lager Beer, which is brewed in Nigeria and available in the US.

Boston's best craft beers

Boston has a thriving beer culture, with traditional European styles and experimental American styles, and everything in between. Here is a list of some of the best craft beers in Boston:

Harpoon Brewery and Beer Hall

Harpoon has been a staple in Boston's Seaport District for over 30 years, brewing IPAs, hefeweizens, stouts, and more. The Beer Hall offers a lively communal space with long tables, and the outdoor Keg Yard is open seasonally. The Harpoon Beer Hall also serves fresh pretzels and other delicious food prepared in their kitchen.

Dorchester Brewing Co.

Dorchester Brewing spans a 9,000-square-foot space, including a taproom serving 20 fresh beers on tap, a game room, a restaurant, and an all-season rooftop greenhouse called the Hopservatory, offering beautiful city views.

Trillium Brewing Company

Trillium Brewing Company is Boston's biggest craft beer name, offering New England IPAs, boundary-pushing pastry stouts, and newer European-style lagers and wild ales. They have multiple locations in Boston, including a three-level brewpub in Fort Point, a seasonal beer garden on the Greenway, and a seasonal Fenway location featuring experimental brews.

Night Shift Brewing Company

Night Shift Brewing has a diverse portfolio, including lagers, IPAs, milk stouts, saisons, weisses, porters, small-batch limited releases, and hard seltzers. They have multiple locations, including a taproom in Everett, two seasonal beer gardens along the Charles River, and a waterfront brewpub at Lovejoy Wharf.

Lamplighter Brewing Co.

Lamplighter Brewing Co. has a relaxed taproom on a leafy stretch of Broadway, offering New England IPAs, barrel-aged sours, and funky experimental brews. They also host various events, such as live music, trivia nights, cheese nights, and supper clubs.

These breweries offer a wide range of craft beers, from traditional styles to innovative experiments, ensuring there is something for every beer lover in Boston.

Black-owned breweries in Boston

There are a few Black-owned breweries in Boston, Massachusetts. Bev Armstrong, a former biotech executive, owns Brazo Fuerte, the first female-owned brewery in the state. Armstrong has also collaborated with Samuel Adams beer, one of the highest-rated beer brands among consumers. Brazo Fuerte is known for its unique, organic, and innovative ingredients, such as green tea, cacao nibs, honey, and goji berries.

Another Black-owned brewery in Massachusetts is Crue Brew, founded by Kevin Merritt in Raynham in 2014. Crue Brew opened a physical location in July 2018, financed by borrowing from the equity in Merritt's house, as well as loans from family and friends.

White Lion Brewing Co., founded by Ray Berry in 2014, was the first brewery in Springfield, Massachusetts' third-largest city. White Lion has distributed its beer independently rather than through a distributor. The company has also collaborated with Trillium Brewing Company, a Boston-based brewery, on the nationwide Black is Beautiful initiative. This initiative was established in 2020 following the death of George Floyd, seeking to raise awareness of social injustices facing people of color and to promote diversity and inclusivity in the craft brewing community.

Boston's top beer gardens

Bostons Top Beer Gardens

Boston has a lot to offer when it comes to beer gardens, from the traditional to the modern, and the cosy to the vibrant. Here is a list of some of the top spots to enjoy a beer and a bite to eat in the city:

Dorchester Brewing Company

Dorchester Brewing Co. is a well-respected craft brewery that offers a range of beers and a rooftop beer garden with stunning views of the Boston skyline. The exterior deck has open-air tables, and there is additional outdoor seating on the ground level. Dorchester Brewing Co. also has an in-house restaurant, M&M BBQ, serving up delicious, smoky meats. Reservations are not required, but if you want to guarantee a seat, they are available for a $5 deposit per person.

Cambridge Brewing Company

Cambridge Brewing Co. is the Boston area's original beer garden, located in a dog-friendly hideaway in One Kendall Square, Cambridge. It offers a full gastropub menu from chef David Drew, including a range of upscale pub fare, and a selection of beers in different styles, such as ambers, porters, and English-style ales. The setting is perfect for large groups, with a convivial atmosphere and a view of the brewing tanks from inside.

Trillium Brewing Company

Trillium Brewing Co. has not one, but three spacious outdoor beer gardens to choose from. The Fort Point location boasts a scenic rooftop, while Trillium Fenway offers an open-air space, and the main brewery in Canton has a roomy patio and a sprawling lawn. Trillium's brews are highly prized and sought-after in the area, so these beer gardens are a must-visit.

Harpoon Brewery

Harpoon Brewery in Boston's Seaport District offers a traditional German beer hall experience, with communal tables and a modern, operating craft brewery. They serve fresh beer, cider, wine, seltzer, and delicious food prepared in their kitchen. They also have an "Outdoors @ Harpoon" space, open Thursday to Sunday, with lawn games and a rotating food truck series.

Night Shift Brewing

Night Shift Brewing has two locations, one in Everett and one in the shadow of the TD Garden in Boston, offering alfresco beers with views of the Zakim Bridge. The Everett location has a roomy patio, while the Boston spot hosts trivia nights, fun runs, food trucks, and pet-centric fundraisers. They are known for their lagers, IPAs, milk stouts, saisons, weisses, porters, and small-batch limited releases.

Boston's best beer halls

Boston has a lot to offer when it comes to beer halls and gardens. Here is a list of some of the best spots to enjoy a cold one in the city:

The Publick House

The Publick House in Brookline is a monastic pub that offers an impressive selection of beers, with a 50-strong draft list and smart selections. The dark oak bar, arched windows, and monastic signage give it the feel of a cathedral of beer. It also offers buzz-friendly fare, like ranch-dusted tater tots, and a raucous soundtrack to enhance your drinking experience.

Lord Hobo

Lord Hobo has all the variety and thrills that beer enthusiasts crave, with a wide selection of craft beers on tap and in bottles. You can find rare treats like the Bourbon-barrel-aged Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout and the Smoked Maple Lager, a collaboration between Lawson's Finest Liquids and Jack's Abby Brewing.

Cambridge Brewing Company

Cambridge Brewing Company is the oldest brewery/restaurant in Cambridge, offering a range of crowd-pleasing beers in different styles, including ambers, porters, and English-style ales. They also have some unique offerings like a corn lager and a gin barrel-aged sour with cucumber. The setting is convivial, making it a great spot for large groups.

Dorchester Brewing Co.

Dorchester Brewing Co. produces well-respected craft beers and also partners with other notable craft brewers like Stillwater, Winter Hill, Radiant Pig, and Evil Twin. Their rooftop beer garden offers stunning views of the city skyline. If the weather turns, you can head inside to their glass-enclosed Hopservatory beer hall or enjoy additional outdoor seating on the street level.

Harpoon Beer Hall

The Harpoon Beer Hall, located in Boston's Seaport District, offers a variety of fresh beer, cider, wine, seltzer, and delicious food prepared in their kitchen. They have communal tables, as well as individual tables and a bar, providing a welcoming atmosphere for all types of gatherings. In addition to their well-known New England's Original IPA, they also brew UFO Beer, Clown Shoes, Shed, Long Trail, and Otter Creek.

Sam Adams Faneuil Hall Tap Room

Sam Adams Brewing's newest tap room is located near Faneuil Hall and offers a spacious outdoor deck with nice views. It's a great spot to enjoy a rotating selection of Sam Adams brews, as well as exclusive beers that you can't find anywhere else.

Boston's best breweries

Boston has a thriving beer scene, with over 130 craft breweries to choose from. Here is a list of some of Boston's best breweries:

Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall

Harpoon Brewery has been a cornerstone of Boston's beer scene since the 1980s. The brewery offers a range of classic and innovative beer styles inspired by the European travels of its founders. Its flagship Harpoon IPA is a refreshing classic IPA with citrusy notes and a malty backbone that's always on tap. The brewery also has a taproom and offers tours.

Trillium Brewing Company

Trillium Brewing Company is another longstanding favourite, producing an ever-changing list of artisanal beers for over a decade. They are deeply committed to supporting local agriculture, sourcing ingredients from nearby farmers and their own farm in North Stonington, Connecticut. Their signature beer, The Congress Street IPA, has tropical fruit notes and a biscuity malt undertone.

Lamplighter Brewing Company

Lamplighter Brewing Company has two taprooms in Cambridge, and their beers are also available in a handful of liquor stores. They create a range of beers, including the citrus-forward Birds of a Feather New England IPA and limited barrel-aged releases. Their taproom doubles as a coffee shop, Pepita, serving cold brews, teas, and espresso-based drinks.

Castle Island Brewing Company

Castle Island Brewing Company specialises in simple, approachable brews that everyone can enjoy. Try The Keeper, a crisp American IPA with tropical fruit and pine notes. Their taproom in South Boston has partnered with Bardo's as its "in-house pizza partners-in-crust", so you can enjoy a beer and a slice in one visit.

Night Shift Brewing Company

Night Shift Brewing Company was founded by three college friends whose hobby grew into a full-fledged business in 2012. They have several taprooms and two beer gardens across Boston and the neighbouring community of Everett. Try one of their limited releases for something unique.

Notch Brewery & Tap Room

Notch Brewery offers tasty German lagers and something unique—low- and no-alcohol beers like the tropical flavour-forward, non-alcoholic hazy IPA.

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