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Massachusetts
Here are the best breweries in Massachusetts
Readers Say
More than 500 readers named 91 spots to get a beer.
This summer, you may have a few activities to check off your list: visit a farmers’ market, head out to the beach, and meet a couple of friends at a brewery. And let’s be real, you probably already have your favorite spot for local beer. Massachusetts is home to over 200 breweries, according to the Massachusetts Brewers Guild, featuring quality drinks, beautiful scenes, and good food.
We wanted to know what you thought were the best breweries in the state, and over 500 readers responded. Tree House Brewing Company, known for its sprawling Charlton campus, among other locations, took the first place title, claiming 32% of the vote. Many readers enjoy drinking the Julius, an IPA with citrus flavors, and they mentioned that the hiking trails complete the experience. We asked CEO Nate Lanier what makes the beverages so refreshing and enjoyable, and he told us about how unique they are.
“The beer brewed at Tree House is a pure expression of the individuals who design and brew the beer, like a brush stroke or singing voice, so by nature it’s nearly impossible to replicate,” Lanier wrote in an email to Boston.com.
Below, find our guide to the top breweries in Massachusetts for 2023, featuring the top five spots, an interactive map, and list of all 91 spots to visit, according to readers.
Where to find the best breweries in Massachusetts 2023, according to readers:
A 🍺 means that this brewery was ranked among the top five in both 2023 and 2022.
5. Notch Brewing
When you’re looking for a waterfront experience, think of visiting Notch Brewing in Salem, but their Brighton location, similarly designed in the style of a Czech and German beer hall, is a great destination for Boston locals. Notch is known for their traditional lagers, which typically have modest alcohol. Reader Ben K. from South Boston said, “They shy away from the too trendy, almost cliche, oversaturated IPA market, which sometimes feels like an arms race between breweries like Trillium and Tree House. Instead, they focus on central European beers — like from Bavaria, [the] Czech [Republic], Poland, and the like. It’s a fresh take and fills a massive hole in the craft beer market. These are less hop forward, more malty, and in my opinion, the best in the world!” Notch Brewing took 3% of the vote.
Readers love: German Afternoons, crisp, dry, and hoppy.
Multiple locations
4. Vitamin Sea Brewing
Vitamin Sea originated when founder Dino Funari and friends began brewing in a basement, and it’s taken off since then, having officially launched in 2019. Visit their South Shore taproom, and settle into a German beer hall atmosphere, in a space that also borrows industrial design features. You’ll be able to sample New England IPAs like the Amity Means Friendship and the Wave Hunter, while they currently also have a variety of hard seltzers on tap (also: be sure to check out their slushies). Food trucks such as Bone & Bread and Meat & Cheese Project are known to be at the Weymouth location, while Vitamin Sea also is operating a pop-up beer garden on Athenaeum Street in Kendall Square. A new taproom and kitchen will be opening later this summer, close to Cape Cod. Readers like Eric from Canton said they offer “great beer at a great price. Vitamin Sea has the quality of the other breweries mentioned without the crazy prices.” Vitamin Sea earned 3% of the vote.
Readers love: Any IPA, like Double Summer or Peninsula.
Multiple locations
3. Hopothecary Ales Brewery and Kitchen
You’ll want to try what the team is crafting at Hopothecary Ales in North Reading. Just opened in 2021, the brewery features drinks that are inspired by apothecaries or medicine, since co-founder Steve Gabardi is a pharmacist by trade. Their 180-seat space includes two bars, a dining room, a patio, arcade games, and an area where you can view and take in the brewing process. Their menu boasts a range of beers, from ones that are “easy drinking,” to fruit flavored ones (such as the pineapple coconut, a milkshake IPA from their Soda Jerk series), and malty and dark beverages. Bites include burgers on brioche buns, BBQ burnt ends mac and cheese, pizza, and Thai chicken lettuce wraps. An anonymous reader told us that they enjoy Hopothecary Ales because of the “great beers, full sit down food menu, full liquor selection, and family friendly! Even have skeeball! Hopothecary Ales has something for everyone!” They took 3% of the vote.
Readers love: Elixir, with flavors of candied orange, stone fruits, and dark resinous notes.
303 Main St., North Reading
2. Trillium Brewing Company 🍺
These days, it’s hard not to find a Trillium near you. The brewery has locations in Canton, Fort Point, and the Fenway, as well as two beer gardens: one opened recently on Boston Common and features a performance venue, while they have another spot on the Greenway, joined by seasonal food trucks. At the Canton location where Trillium is headquartered, they specialize in wood fired pizza and barbecue. Readers named beers like the different Daily Servings, which start with a basis of a German-style beer called the Berliner Weisse, then focus on fruits, as favorites. Founder JC Tetreault said that the Fort Point pale ale is also a classic. “It was named after the neighborhood where our original brewery is located,” he said. “It’s focused on the Citra hop. As I was developing the recipes for the standard beers that Trillium would offer, Citra was really that hop that absolutely everybody loved.” Trillium took 10% of the vote.
Reader Andrew T. from Canton said, “Their beer is fantastic, but their Canton location expansion has made the place a great place to meet up with friends and eat some delicious food.”
Readers love: Daily Serving, with flavors of passionfruit, orange peel, and guava, or a pale ale like Fort Point.
Multiple locations
1. Tree House Brewing Company 🍺
If you live in New England, you undoubtedly know that Tree House Brewing Company has something of a following in the region. At their primary location in Charlton, or “the mothership,” according to a representative, you’ll find additional features like hiking trails and a pavilion where you can experience live performances. In Tewksbury, Tree House recently opened a golf course and main club house. The Deerfield destination in Western Massachusetts is home to a full size “Summer Stage” where musical acts entertain audiences. Finally, Tree House also owns spots in Sandwich and Woodstock, Connecticut. CEO Nate Lanier said that the outcome of the beers is more important to the company than process efficiencies, and “the same people who designed and created our beers still have a hands-on process in their creation today.” Readers mentioned that they enjoy drinking the Julius, and Lanier told us a little bit about why that might be. “Julius is popular because it is incredibly flavorful, easy to drink, and consistent,” Lanier wrote to Boston.com. “It is a one-of-a-kind beer that sparked a craft beer revolution, and in spite of multiple attempts, it has never been replicated.”
Reader Nicholaus L. from Hopkinton said, “I feel that they have mastered the New England IPA style with the super juicy and hazy characteristics. They have a great outdoor space with bands, food trucks, etc. in Charlton, MA, but have expanded to the Cape, along the ocean, and to several others. So for beer that you can only buy at their locations, there sure are a lot of locations to choose from at this point.”
Readers love: Julius, bright and juicy, or Green, a tropical heavy IPA.
Multiple locations
Honorable Mentions 🏅
Widowmaker Brewing Co.: The popular brewing company will be opening a new taproom and kitchen in Brighton by late August. Readers enjoy the Blue Comet, which has a tropical fruit nose and “soft, biscuit, malt character.” Multiple locations
Readers say: “Consistently pushing the boundaries of what is possible!” —Ron, Boston
Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company: Known for its big, bold beers, Greater Good produces beverages with hand selected hops from locations ranging from Oregon to New Zealand. 55 Millbrook St., Worcester
Readers say: “I’ve been going here since 2017, and my favorite thing is my familiarity with the staff there. They always make us feel welcome.” —Jeff M., Leominster
Cisco Brewers: With locations in Nantucket, the Seaport, and beyond, Cisco Brewers offers beers like the Wandering Haze and the Grey Lady. Visit one of their spots, and let the conversation flow. Multiple locations
Readers say: “Atmosphere. It’s the place to go before the beach or after the beach.” —Jim A., Wrentham
Here are all the reader-recommended breweries in Massachusetts (2023):
- 7th Wave Brewing, 120 N Meadows Rd., Medfield
- Abandoned Building Brewery, 142 Pleasant St. #103a, Easthampton
- Aeronaut Brewing Company, 14 Tyler St., Somerville (Multiple locations)
- Angle Tree Brewery, 45 Elm St., North Attleborough
- Aquatic Brewing, 661 Main St., Falmouth
- Barrel House Z, 95 Woodrock Rd., Weymouth
- Bay State Brewing Company, 112 Harding St., Worcester
- BearMoose Brewing Company, 1934 Revere Beach Parkway, Everett
- Bent Water Brewing Company, 180 Commercial St., Unit 18, Lynn
- Berkshire Brewing Company, 12 Railroad St., South Deerfield
- Bog Iron Brewing, 33 W Main St., Norton
- Bone Up Brewing Co., 38 Norman St., Everett
- Break Rock Brewing, 534 Victory Rd., Quincy
- Brew Practitioners Brewery and Taproom, 45 Baldwin St., East Longmeadow
- Brick and Feather Brewery, 78 11th St., Turners Falls
- Brockton Beer Company, 121 Main St., Brockton
- Buzzards Bay Brewing, 98 Horseneck Rd., Westport
- Cambridge Brewing Company, 1 Kendall Square Bldg. 100, Cambridge
- Canned Heat Craft Beer Company, 52 Ferry St., Fall River
- Cape Cod Beer, 1336 Phinneys Ln., Hyannis
- Castle Island Brewing Co., 10 Old Colony Ave., Boston (Multiple locations)
- Cisco Brewers, 5 Bartlett Farm Rd., Nantucket (Multiple locations)
- Coastal Mass. Brewing, 95 Rantoul St., Beverly
- Cold Harbor Brewing, 108 Milk St. #6, Westborough
- CraftRoots Brewing, 4 Industrial Rd., Milford
- Democracy Brewing, 35 Temple Pl., Boston (Multiple locations)
- Devil’s Purse Brewing Company, 120 Great Western Rd., South Dennis
- Dirigible Brewing Company, 24 Porter Rd., Littleton
- Distraction Brewing Co., 2 Belgrade Ave., Roslindale
- Dorchester Brewing Company, 1250 Massachusetts Ave., Boston
- East Regiment Beer Company, 30 Church St., Salem
- Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Company, 81 Morton St., Framingham
- Faces Brewing Co., 50 Pleasant St., Malden
- Flying Dreams Brewing, 277 Main St., Marlborough
- Gentile Brewing Company, 59 Park St., Unit 1, Beverly
- Great Marsh Brewing Company, 99 Main St., Essex
- Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company, 55 Millbrook St., Worcester
- Harpoon Brewery, 306 Northern Ave., Boston (Multiple locations)
- Honest Weight Artisan Beer, 131 W Main St. #104, Orange
- Hopothecary Ales Brewery and Kitchen, 303 Main St., North Reading
- Idle Hands Craft Ales, 89 Commercial St., Malden
- Ipswich Ale Brewery, 2 Soffron Ln., Ipswich
- Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, 100 Clinton St., Framingham
- Lamplighter Brewing Co., 284 Broadway, Cambridge (Multiple locations)
- LlamaNama Beer Labs, 49 Cordage Park Circle, Plymouth
- Lord Hobo, 2 Drydock Ave., Boston (Multiple locations)
- Lost Shoe Brewing and Roasting Company, 19 Weed St., Marlborough
- Lost Towns Brewing, 483 Main St., Gilbertville
- Mayflower Brewing Company, 12 Resnik Rd., Plymouth (Multiple locations)
- Medford Brewing Company, 30 Harvard Ave., Medford
- Medusa Brewing Company, 111 Main St., Hudson
- Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co., 411 Waverley Oaks Rd., Waltham
- Mill 77 Brewing, 77 Elm St., Amesbury
- Modest Roots Brewing Co., 3 Industrial Way, Unit A-2, Tyngsborough
- Naukabout Brewing Company, 13 Lake Ave., Mashpee (Multiple locations)
- Newburyport Brewing Company, 4 New Pasture Rd., Newburyport
- Night Shift Brewing, 1 Lovejoy Wharf, Boston (Multiple locations)
- Notch Brewing, 525 Western Ave., Brighton (Multiple locations)
- Oak & Iron Brewing Co., 18 Red Spring Rd., Andover
- Oakholm Brewing Company, 80 Lake Rd., Brookfield
- Offshore Ale Company, 30 Kennebec Ave., Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard
- Portico Brewing, 101 South St., Somerville
- Purgatory Beer Co., 670 Linwood Ave., Whitinsville
- Rapscallion Brewery, 8 Meadow Rd., Spencer (Multiple locations)
- Remnant Brewing, 2 Bow Market Way, Somerville
- River Styx Brewing, 166 Boulder Drive, Suite 112, Fitchburg
- RiverWalk Brewing Co., 40 Parker St., Newburyport
- Roundhead Brewing Company, Westinghouse Plaza Building #10, Hyde Park
- Rushford & Sons Brewhouse, 8 Grove St., Upton
- Second Wind Brewing Company, 7 Howland St., Plymouth (Multiple locations)
- Seven Saws Brewing Company, 1148 Main St., Holden (Multiple locations)
- Shovel Town Brewery, 50 Oliver St., North Easton
- Skyroc Brewery, 11 Riverbank Rd., Attleboro
- Start Line Brewing Co., 151R Hayden Rowe St., Hopkinton
- Stellwagen Beer Company, 100 Enterprise Dr., Marshfield
- Sterling Street Brewery, 175 Sterling St., Clinton
- Stone Cow Brewery, 500 West St., Barre
- Tackle Box Brewing Company, 416 Boston Post Rd. E, Marlborough
- Tree House Brewing Company, 129 Sturbridge Rd., Charlton (Multiple locations)
- Trillium Brewing Company, 50 Thomson Pl., Boston (Multiple locations)
- True North Ale Company, 116 County Rd., Ipswich
- Turtle Swamp Brewing, 3377 Washington St., Boston
- Twisted Fate Brewing, 120 Andover St., Suite 4, Danvers
- Untold Brewing, 6 Old Country Way, Scituate (Multiple locations)
- Vanished Valley Brewing, 782 Center St., Ludlow
- Vitamin Sea Brewing, 30 Moore Rd., Weymouth (Multiple locations)
- Wachusett Brewing Company, 175 State Rd. E, Westminster (Multiple locations)
- White Lion Brewing Company, Tower Square, 1500 Main St., Springfield (Multiple locations)
- Widowmaker Brewing Co., 220 Wood Rd., Braintree (Multiple locations)
- Winter Hill Brewing Company, 328 Broadway, Somerville
- Wormtown Brewery, 72 Shrewsbury St., Worcester (Multiple locations)
Massachusetts
Wary of Trump but vowing not to be ‘paralyzed,’ Mass. House leaders unveil $61 billion budget plan – The Boston Globe
Despite the White House’s aggressive moves to slash federal spending, House leaders also said their new budget plan does not build in any direct contingencies for potential cuts to federal aid, which have already come at breakneck speed as Trump implements his second-term agenda.
State Representative Aaron Michlewitz, the chamber’s budget chief, said their plan going forward will involve “monitoring how the situation is in Washington [and] being ready to pivot when necessary.”
“We can’t be paralyzed by the situation that’s taking place in Washington,” Michlewitz said. “We need to still be moving our budget forward, be aggressive in terms of our support for our constituents, and not get caught up, try to keep blinders on and build the best budget with the information that we have.”
House Speaker Ron Mariano told reporters that Trump has begun wreaking “havoc” on programs on which residents rely. The Trump administration, for example, is closing the Boston Head Start office, which administers free care to families in need. The House budget includes $18.5 million in Head Start funds.
“Government can be both fiscally responsible and an agent of good,” the Quincy Democrat said.
The House budget included several items that amounted to the chamber’s first meaningful response to the Trump administration so far, nearly three months into his presidency.
Mariano said the House budget would include a “significant increase” in funding — to $82.5 million, a roughly 7 percent increase from last year — for Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office, just shy of the total number Campbell requested last month as she’s waged several legal fights against the Trump administration. That amount is $6.8 million more than the $76 million Healey’s January budget would allocate to Campbell, a sum that would be less than what Campbell received during the last fiscal year.
The extra funds are designed “to ensure that AG Campbell can continue to push back against any unconstitutional actions taken by the Trump administration.”
Lawmakers also allocated $5 million to a new immigration legal assistance fund that would be distributed as grants to organizations who assist non-violent offenders. Another $1 million will go to a new gender-affirming care program to community health centers, as the federal government has cut funding to organizations that administer transgender care.
The House also included a measure designed to alleviate Massachusetts’ exorbitant housing costs by ending renter-paid broker’s fees in many situations, which renters typically pay to secure a home or apartment. The House plan would prohibit prospective renters from being charged a broker’s fee if they did not “initiate contact with the broker” during their housing search.
Their proposal comes after Healey included a measure in her own budget requiring the party that hires a broker, usually the landlord, to pay for brokers’ fees, after she said they “should be abolished” in January. The Senate included a similar change in its version of a sweeping housing bill last year, but it failed to make it into the final version of the law passed last July.
The House also allocated $275 million for the state’s emergency shelter system, $50 million less than what Healey’s budget had suggested. It would be far less than the $1 billion the state has committed in total to the program this fiscal year, but, Michlewitz said, reflects the state’s efforts to rein in costs, including instituting a 4,000-family cap starting this December.
The Healey administration said Wednesday that fewer than 5,000 families were in the system as of this week, the first time it’s dipped below that level since the summer of 2023.
The Trump administration has already begun cutting aid tabbed for Massachusetts on several fronts. It has already sought cuts to school aid and health funding, and Healey’s office on Wednesday said the Trump administration canceled another $90 million in disaster prevention aid for Massachusetts communities from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Healey said that move “ripped the rug out from under” 18 cities statewide that had planned to upgrade local infrastructure to withstand natural disasters.
Meanwhile, Congress is pursuing a spending blueprint that Democrats and state officials warn could mean deep cuts to Medicaid, through which the state is reimbursed billions of dollars each year for its MassHealth program. In all, the state budget typically leans on roughly $16 billion in federal aid — most of which is tied to health insurance for 2 million Massachusetts residents, including children, low-income families, and those with disabilities.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Matt Stout can be reached at matt.stout@globe.com. Follow him @mattpstout. Anjali Huynh can be reached at anjali.huynh@globe.com.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts restaurant franchise owners fined for alleged child labor law violations
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A new state program aims to get more people out of their cars and onto a bike. The Massachusetts E-Bike Voucher Program went live on Monday.
The state said it will accept applications over the next two weeks for the chance at a voucher to purchase an electric bike.
The program is designed to help moderate to low-income people as well as some with certain physical challenges where cycling could be beneficial.
$800-$1,200 vouchers
The vouchers range from $800 to $1,200 depending on eligibility. The state said they plan to grant 3,000 vouchers over the next six months.
Boston tried this program last fall and local bike shops said the program was a success.
“It’s been extremely beneficial because it’s given access for more people to ride e-bikes,” said Landry’s Bicycles general manager, Mark Vautour. “Last year it was just the city and now it’s going to be the state as well. There was definitely a pick-up in business in the fall from a couple of different demographics, whether it be students or seniors.”
The Charlestown shop sells the e-bikes the state is giving out vouchers for. The partially motorized bikes can hit speeds up to 28 miles per hour. And for some, they serve as an alternative way to get to work or run errands.
“Most people don’t enjoy sitting in traffic so it’s an opportunity for people to get on a bike and see how much fun it is,” said Vautour.
A full list of qualifications and eligiblity can be found here.
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