Founded in South Deerfield in 1993, Berkshire Brewing Company (also called BBC) is part of the old-guard of Massachusetts craft breweries. Founders Chris Lalli and Gary Bogoff connected on a mutual desire to brew fresh and high quality craft ales. Berkshire quickly grew into a recognized local brand, leading to an expansion in 1999. They now distribute their […]
Category: Beer Review
Grey Sail Leaning Chimney Smoked Porter
One of the newer entrants to the burgeoning Rhode Island craft beer scene is Grey Sail Brewing of Westerly. After years of planning, Grey Sail Brewing was founded in 2010 by Alan and Jennifer Brinton. They renovated a building on Canal Street that had originally housed the Westerly Macaroni Factory, and a year later produced their first […]
Cambridge Brewing Company The Audacity of Hops
The Cambridge Brewing Company was the first craft brewpub in Greater Boston. They opened in 1989 with the goal of making an alternative to the mass-produced macro-lagers that dominated the market. For 22 years the only way to sample the wide range of beers produced by The Cambridge Brewing Company was to head to their brewpub in Kendall […]
Founders Imperial Stout
It takes some cojones to quit a steady job and chase your dream of opening a brewery, but that’s just what Founders Brewing Company co-owners Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers did in 1997. Initially they brewed balanced, but unremarkable beers and they nearly went bankrupt. When they switched it up and made the complex and […]
Newport Storm Winter Porter
During a recent stock-up run I realized that I had yet to review a beer from Rhode Island, a huge oversight considering that the smallest state in the Union has a strong craft beer scene. One of the staples of Rhode Island’s craft beer scene is Newport Storm, brewed by Coastal Extreme Brewing Company in […]
Smuttynose Durty Brown Ale
With the explosion in popularity of craft beer, many established craft brewers face a unique challenge. There is competition for shelf space at stores and tap lines in bars, so they need to balance making their longstanding and traditional beers while also continuing to be exciting and innovative. Smuttynose Brewery in Portsmouth, NH has long been known for their canonical brews […]
Enlightenment Illumination Farmhouse IPA
Enlightenment Ales made local headlines in December when they announced a merger with Idle Hands Brewing of Everett, MA. Under the agreement beer would still be brewed under both labels, but the owners of Idle Hands would take over the business end while Enlightenment owner Ben Howe would focus on brewing. I wouldn’t be surprised […]
Cisco Grey Lady
Cisco Brewers is run by a group of entrepreneurs who manage not only the brewery, but also a vineyard and a distillery in beautiful Nantucket, MA. The vineyard opened in 1981 and the brewery was added in 1992. Cisco Brewers makes a series of year round beers including their very popular Whale’s Tale Pale Ale. […]
Victory Hop Ranch IPA
In honor of Super Bowl Sunday I decided to review a beer by Victory Brewing Company. Someone will claim victory in the big game tonight, and quite a few people will celebrate with some delicious craft beer. Victory Brewing Company was founded in 1996 by childhood friends and long-time homebrewers Ron Barchet and Bill Covaleski. […]
Weyerbacher Last Chance IPA
Weyerbacher Brewing Company of Easton, PA was founded in 1995 by Dan and Sue Wierback. Weyerbacher is the original German spelling and pronunciation of their family name, and thus was the perfect name for their beer. Their initial plan to focus on traditional beer styles went out the window with the development of their Raspberry […]
Hoppy Boston 