Getting Out: Where to Drink Craft Beer in Central Mass

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Jeffrey Starr, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Craft brewing is a favorite New England tradition. Image courtesy of Cambridge Brewing Co.

The annual American Craft Beer Week is this week and we in the New England area certainly live in an ideal place to celebrate. Craft breweries are common throughout the area along with bars, pubs and restaurants ready, willing and able to provide their tasty, fresh product to consumers. There are plenty of these establishments in Central Mass where you can go out and celebrate the great American tradition of locally-made craft beer or perhaps try a few rarer brews from more exotic parts of the world.

Armsby Abbey
144 Main Street, Worcester
Armsby Abbey keeps an ever-changing list of special craft beers available to purchase on their website so you can decide ahead of time if this is the place for you. The bar prides itself on celebrating the artistic craftsman with all aspects of the establishment. In fact, it was recently named by Craft Magazine as one of the 100 Best Beer Bars in America for the 3rd year in a row. One trip to the award-winning bar will give you a taste of why. Beers available on tap as of May 14 include Port Wipeout IPA, Maine Beer MO, Jack's Abby Hoponious Union, Lost Abbey Deliverance, Founders Double Trouble, and High & Mighty Beer of the Gods, among many more.

Wormtown Brewery at Peppercorn's Bar and Grille
455 Park Avenue, Worcester
Wormtown Beer takes its name from Worcester itself, and indeed it has become one of the most recognizable staples of the city. Selections available throughout the year include Seven Hills Pale Ale, Be Hoppy IPA, and Turtle Boy Blueberry Ale. The seasonal Spring offering is Irish Red Ale and the Summer offering is Blonde Cougar Summer Ale. Also check out an extensive list of ever-changing limited releases on their website. Remember Wormtown is the first and still only brewery that puts Massachusetts-grown ingredients in every beer they make.

JJ's Sports Bar and Grill
380 Southwest Cutoff, Northboro
Perhaps the most recognizable and popular local craft beer company in New England is Narragansett. Established in 1890, it is also New England's oldest beer. If you want to get your hands on it this weekend, there may be no better place to head to than JJ's. All month, you can get a pint of Regular, Lager or Summer 'Gansett for just $2. Being a sports bar, this is also an ideal place to watch the Bruins continue their exciting playoff run.

The Dive Bar
34 Green Street, Worcester
The Dive Bar may be small, but it packs a punch with a terrific selection of craft beers. Beers most recently listed as on tap include Founders All Day IPA, Blatant IPA, Allagash White, Dogfish Head Aprihop, Victory Summer Love, Avery Ellie's Brown, and more. Visit their Facebook group page to get up-to-date listings of craft beer offerings. Also check out the live music schedule.

Brew City
104 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester
Brew City has over 155 types of beer available with 40 on tap. Many, Many of these are craft brews and local ones at that. The types listed on the menu (some of which are available based on the season) include Newport Summer and Winter Ale, Mayflower IPA, various Berkshire and Shipyard Ales, Woodchuck Amber Cider, Woodstock Inn, Magic Hat, Red Hook, and Long Trail.