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Here are the best breweries in Massachusetts
"Tap rooms can never lose their focus on being a community-driven enterprise,” said Notch Brewing's founder Chris Lohring.
Massachusetts breweries come in all shapes and sizes. But at its core, their shared mission is to bring people together to drink great beer.
With over 230 breweries in the state, Massachusetts has a rich beer culture that shows itself in tap rooms where people can gather.
“A brewery is often treated like a community center for the 21-plus crowd,” said Katie Stinchon, Executive Director Mass Brewers Guild.
On any given night, a brewery might host a paint night or a yoga class. Oftentimes, there is a line out the door for trivia. A brewery’s tap room serves as a third place that is not work or home to congregate and encourage people to be social, according to Notch Brewing’s founder Chris Lohring.
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“Tap rooms can never lose their focus on being a community-driven enterprise,” said Lohring.
The brewery should not serve as a bar where the game is on and people don’t talk, or a restaurant where the food outpaces everything else, according to Lohring. His aim is to foster an “informal,” hospitality-centric environment with great beer.
Do people still want to drink at breweries?
While the brewing industry has significantly evolved in the past decade — from a boom in craft brewing to facing post-COVID challenges — brewers still see the tap room experience as invaluable.
When Sam Hendler co-founded Jack’s Abby in 2011, it was still illegal to pass a pint of beer over the bar for the customer to drink in-house.
A Massachusetts law was passed in 2013 that allowed for breweries to sell their beer for on-premises consumption without needing to file for a separate restaurant pouring license. It became a major shift for the brewing industry.
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“That was the beginning of a whole new era of craft beer in Massachusetts,” said Hendler. In 2015, Hendler Family Brewing Co. opened its first beer hall. Recently, the company has also acquired Night Shift Brewing and Wormtown Brewery.
“We have not changed the tap rooms in a significant way,” said Hendler, who thinks that every brand needs to keep its own identity.
“Worcester and Wormtown are basically synonymous so if we muddy the waters there we feel it will be really confusing,” he said.
Who goes to the tap room?
Boston Beer Company is trying to evolve with its consumers by offering choices in its tap rooms, especially since drinking has gone down nationally as Gen Z has stepped away from alcohol.
“We’re seeing a big rise in interest in the sober curious movement so we are seeing a lot of people that are interested in no or low alcohol beers,” said Shelley Smith, Senior Manager of R&D Brewing and Operations for brands like Samuel Adams and Dogfish Head Brewery.
The tap room is a critical place to interact with the consumer. Experimentation and innovation are central to the experience. Oftentimes a beer like American Light will begin in a tap room and then move to regional then national sales if it performs well, according to Smith.
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While tap rooms have typically been family-friendly, a movement to stop kids from entering breweries has started to gain traction. Notch and Castle Island Brewing have both recently added policies limiting children in the tap rooms at night.
Boston.com surveyed readers last fall asking if kids belong in breweries, and the majority of the more than 1,200 who responded answered no.
Reader Bonnie T. from Braintree said, “Kids don’t belong in bars. Breweries are bars. You have kids, get a babysitter.”
What’s next for breweries?
Despite challenges, new breweries continue to find their place in Massachusetts.
Drawdown Brewing opened their doors at the end of 2023 and has found success in Jamaica Plain. The brewery is woman and LGBTQ+ owned, and was named the best place to watch women’s sports in 2024 by Boston magazine.
“It’s all about striving to be an excellent space that fills a void in the market,” said founder and owner Liz Nicol.
We asked readers to help us update our guide to the best breweries across Massachusetts, and received hundreds of votes. Below find an updated interactive map and full list of reader-recommended breweries across the state.
Map: Where to find the best breweries in Massachusetts
List: Where to find the best breweries in Massachusetts
| Name | Address | Reader Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| 7th Wave Brewing | 120 N Meadows Rd., Medfield | |
| Abandoned Building Brewery | 142 Pleasant St. #103a, Easthampton | |
| Aeronaut Brewing | 14 Tyler St., Somerville (Multiple locations) | “Aeronaut go-to order is Lemonatti (the best beer ever) or whatever sour is on tap (when they don’t have Lemonatti). Aeronaut is large, with lots of tables, 2 different food vendors hosted inside, and board games at the bar if you run out of things to talk about! Tuesday Indie trivia is always a blast and they throw a really fun NYE party!” – Erin, Somerville |
| Angle Tree Brewing | 45 Elm St., North Attleborough | |
| Arlington Brewing Company | 15 Ryder St, Arlington, MA 02476 | “Arlington Brewing Company favorites are the Spy-P-A, Marley’s Ghost and Foxy Librarian They are such a fun, community engaged company with so much variety!” – Laura, Arlington |
| Aquatic Brewing | 661 Main St., Falmouth | |
| Barnstable Brewing | 485 W Main St, Hyannis, MA 02601 | “Barnstable Brewing. Excellent beers for every taste. All made with love and care for the craft of beer making. Owners and staff make you feel at home. Great food from Jay’s Barbecue is the icing on the cake. Great beer, great people, great food…the best brewery on Cape Cod!” – Reader from Hyannis |
| Barrel House Z | 95 Woodrock Rd., Weymouth | “I think that Barrel House Z is seriously underappreciated in the MA beer scene. Wonderful vibes, stellar events, and above all else, incredible beer. I’d give my favorite beer to their Shipping Up Irish Dry Stout, closely followed by the Bamboozled by Hops NEIPA.” – Patrick D., Quincy |
| Bay State Brewing Company | 112 Harding St., Worcester | |
| Bear Moose Brewing | 1934 Revere Beach Parkway, Everett | “BearMoose Brewing Company. Full lineup of old school pinball games, great beer (try the illegal pour) and most importantly it’s dog friendly inside and out!” – Shawn, Everett |
| Bent Water Brewing | 180 Commercial St., Unit 18, Lynn | |
| Berkshire Brewing Co. | 12 Railroad St., South Deerfield | “Berkshire Brewing, Deerfield. Go-to would be Drayman’s Porter or Imperial Stout; Obviously I’m a dark lover! Good old fashioned tap room.” – Earl W., Springfield |
| Black Hat Brew Works | 25 Scotland Blvd #1, Bridgewater, MA 02324 | “Black Hat Brew Works feels like home. Not only do they have great beer , I love the Fuzzy Bunny Slippers IPA, but most of all, I love the sense of community and welcoming environment.” – KJ, Bridgewater |
| Bog Iron Brewing | 33 W Main St., Norton | “Bog Iron in Norton MA. It’s what breweries used to be. Unpretentious, good food, nice people, local bands on weekends and most of all, good beer.” – Gene, Norton |
| Break Rock Brewing | 534 Victory Rd., Quincy | “Break Rock Brewing in Marina Bay, Quincy. This place doesn’t get enough love! The location is stunning and one of the only true waterfront taprooms in Massachusetts I think. Great atmosphere! They make great beers and don’t just have 10 IPA’s in draft. Their Peacefield Kolsch is my go to. Golden Goose New England IPA is rock solid as well.” – Adam F., Weymouth |
| Brew Practitioners Brewery and Taproom | 45 Baldwin St., East Longmeadow | |
| Brewery Silvaticus | 9 Water St, Amesbury, MA 01913 | “Brewery Silvaticus in Amesbury, MA. Y Knot American Lager. Amazing lagers and fun specialty Belgian style ales. Great vibes overall including outdoor seating area overlooking the Pow Wow River in downtown Amesbury. Staff is super friendly and helpful. They have small bites available too but also regularly rotating food trucks too. Amesbury has three great breweries in the downtown, all three are good but this one has the best beer.” – Renee, Amesbury |
| Brick and Feather Brewery | 78 11th St., Turners Falls | |
| Bright Ideas Brewing | 111 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247 | “Bright Ideas – They have a wide variety of beer styles. Some you don’t see too often, such as dortmunder and altbier, and they all taste very good!” – Eric S., Easthampton |
| Brockton Beer Company | 121 Main St., Brockton | |
| Buzzards Bay Brewing | 98 Horseneck Rd., Westport | |
| 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) | “Castle Island – Norwood Keeper Love the vibe, the beer and the food. And is dog friendly!” – Alex, Roslindale |
| 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 | “My personal favorite is Automaton. Colin (master brewer and co-owner) is always trying something new, so a good option is a flight of 4 beers. There are some pre-selected or you can select any 4 beers you want. Chris (Colin’s brother-in-law and the other co-owner) can usually be found behind the counter along with a great staff of bartenders to serve you beer or their own hard seltzers.” – Chuck, Littleton |
| Distraction Brewing Co. | 2 Belgrade Ave., Roslindale | |
| Dorchester Brewing Company | 1250 Massachusetts Ave., Boston | “First choice: Dorchester Brewing Company in South Bay, Boston They change up their offerings all the time, but their Neponset Gold is a reliable everyday beer. Best things: their San Francisco-style BIG roofdeck and greenhouse taproom – Boston needs more rooftop offerings! AND the fact that their beer pricing isn’t outrageous, unlike many of their competitors: excellent and varied beers and reasonable price points!” – Fred A., Rhode Island. |
| Double Down Brewing | 455B Park Ave Worcester, MA 01610 | “Secret gem is Double Down Brewing in Worcester. Their IPAs are all top notch, their stout is a collab with Guinness brewmaster, and almost every beer I have ever had there is a great representation of its style. The food next door at Pepper Corns is also great.” – Chuck M., Worcester |
| East Regiment Beer Company | 30 Church St., Salem | “The brewery is in a restored firehouse. They have an excellent selection of malty, hoppy, and sour beers. They also make a seltzer. For food they have Crazy Good Kitchen in house which makes the best smash burgers ever. They have a variety of live music including Irish sessions and Sea Shanties and always special events.” –Terrence O., Salem |
| Epigram Brew Co. | 394 Middlesex Rd, Tyngsborough, MA 01879 | “Epigram in Tyngsboro. The variety and quality of beers brewed in-house, the menu mainstays as well as the food specials in the perfect setting to enjoy with friends and family. Always great service and a great time!” –Bobby, Chelmsford |
| Faces Brewing Co. | 50 Pleasant St., Malden | |
| Flying Dreams Brewing | 277 Main St., Marlborough | “The variety and quality of the beer is amazing and the patrons are always fun to talk to.” –Jonathan T., Marlborough |
| Forty Second Brew Co. | 77 Summer St, Kingston, MA 02364 | “Solid beer, great staff.” – Jim B., Pembroke |
| Gentile Brewing Company | 59 Park St., Unit 1, Beverly | “Gentile Brewing Company: on the Beverly Beer Mile.. Good variety of tasty beers, including lower ABVs and seasonal specials. Family owned and focused on building community and a welcoming place for all. Great upper deck for outside beers in warmer weather. And hopefully the taco slide will make a come back this spring.” – Elizabeth, Beverly |
| Great Marsh Brewing Company | 99 Main St., Essex | “Great Marsh Brewing, always order the German pils. Awesome views, laid back space and a great selection of beer and seltzers.” – Andy, North Andover |
| Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company | 55 Millbrook St., Worcester | “Greater Good Brewery, Citra is a great summer beer (when they have it – for some reason there was NONE last summer) Evana & Good Night Moon are perfect dark beers. The Pulp Daddy series is good for just about everything. There’s a solid kitchen and a nice outdoor area. Plus it’s right in town and there’s plenty of parking.” – Gail Holland, Worcester |
| Harper Lane Brewery | 16 Wareham St, Middleborough, MA 02346 | “Great nano brewery in Middleborough MA. Great food. Lil Cloud can stand-up to offerings from Treehouse and Trillium. And the head brewer looks like Jesus – a beer Jesus what is not to love about that.” – Jason C., Middleborough |
| Harpoon Brewery | 306 Northern Ave., Boston (Multiple locations) | |
| Honest Weight Artisan Beer | 131 W Main St. #104, Orange | “Honest Weight Artisan Beer in Orange, MA. I love their Accidental Wilderness IPA. Their cozy industrial taproom always has the best music playing (the owners are two music lovers and audiophiles) from local musicians, to vinyl nights, open mic, karaoke, and dance parties, they offer something different for the North Quabbin region. Plus you can find their brews at several music venues across the state!” – Ashley R., Orange |
| Hopothecary Ales Brewery and Kitchen | 303 Main St., North Reading | “Hopothecary Ales – any of their lighter beers and a lunch wrap (w/ truffle fries).” – Bernard L., North Reading |
| Idle Hands Craft Ales | 89 Commercial St., Malden | “Local Malden spot with great outdoor seating and no noisy ESPN broadcasts.” – Travis, Malden |
| Independent Fermentations | 127 Camelot Drive Plymouth, MA 02360 | “Independent Fermintations Brewery. All their beers are awesome, but especially love the Imperial Stouts. Also has really good seltzers and kombuchas.” – Dan V., Bernardston |
| Ipswich Ale Brewery | 2 Soffron Ln., Ipswich | |
| Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers | 100 Clinton St., Framingham | |
| Lamplighter Brewing Co. | 284 Broadway, Cambridge (Multiple locations) | “Go to order is any pilsner or lager they have on tap, or the newest hazy IPA Radio Waves (and I say this as a non-IPA person). The beers are always great and they have interesting takes and flavor twists. The vibes of both locations are great. I love the coffee shop option in the mornings for the Broadway location. The staff is always super friendly and happy to chat. They have so many events it feels much more of a community space than just a normal brewery.” – Brianna, Cambridge |
| LlamaNama Beer Labs | 49 Cordage Park Circle, Plymouth | “Spruce tip pale ale Small batch only available in the tap room. Tap room great place to hang out. Part of a distillery so have more than just beer.” – Audra, South Shore |
| Long Live Roxbury | 152 Hampden St, Boston, MA 02119 | “Long Live Roxbury and whatever Brian recommends. Long Live Roxbury makes the best IPAs and have a wonderful team. The brewery has good weekly events, live music, food trucks and free parking.” – Phil N., Dorchester |
| Lord Hobo | 2 Drydock Ave., Boston (Multiple locations) | “Lord Hobo in Woburn. I love to try the flights of seasonal beers, and their food is really good too. It’s a great place to spend a weekend afternoon with friends and the kids!” – Beth, North Andover |
| 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) | “Great atmosphere, variety of styles, their Porter is unmatched.” – Joanne C., Plymouth |
| Medford Brewing Company | 30 Harvard Ave., Medford | “Medford Brewing Company, Rude Panda Imperial Porter. Best neighborhood brewery filled only with locals.” – Swabarna, M., West Medford |
| Medusa Brewing Company | 111 Main St., Hudson | |
| Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. | 411 Waverley Oaks Rd., Waltham (Multiple Locations) | “Mighty Squirrel. I don’t have a go to order because I love trying all their beers. Really delicious beer, fantastic atmosphere, and great food trucks. I also love watching the rock climbers next door.” – Erica, Waltham |
| Mill 77 Brewing | 77 Elm St., Amesbury | “Mill77 Brewing in Amesbury is a hidden gem. Perfectly located in downtown in a beautifully renovated Mill building. Live music, karaoke, trivia and food trucks on the regular. TVs for all of the local sporting events – and a goal light for Bruins playoff games! Their IPAs are as good as anyone around, but they always offer something to fit all tastes. I love it because I can walk there, but definitely worth the trip if you can’t!” – Zack, Amesbury |
| Modest Roots Brewing Co. | 45 Middlesex Rd, Tyngsborough | |
| Naukabout Brewing Company | 13 Lake Ave., Mashpee | |
| Newburyport Brewing Company | 4 New Pasture Rd., Newburyport | |
| Night Shift Brewing | 1 Lovejoy Wharf, Boston (Multiple locations) | “Nightshift Brewery on Lovejoy! I get literally whatever is on tap and made there – the amount of beers I’ve had and loved are astronomical. Additionally they have some incredible pizza.” – Cass W., Boston |
| Notch Brewing | 525 Western Ave., Brighton (Multiple locations) | “Notch Brewery (Brighton) – Tenner – These are good quality beers that you want to, and can, drink more than one of, in a world class environment. It feels like, and tastes like, being in an antique Austrian beer garden. Not asked, but worth noting, you can walk across the courtyard to order the best pizza on earth from Pizza Project. Really and truly a world class experience from ambiance to flavor.” – Justin, Brighton |
| Oak & Iron Brewing Co. | 18 Red Spring Rd., Andover | |
| Oakholm Brewing Company | 80 Lake Rd., Brookfield | “Oakholm Brewery, Brookfield. Great selection of beer, and they are all good. Beautiful setting.” – Chris A., Spencer |
| Offshore Ale Company | 30 Kennebec Ave., Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard | |
| Old Colony Brewing | 599 Washington St, Whitman, MA 02382 | “Old Colony Brewing – great staff and atmosphere. The Snow Day Porter is delicious!” – Lindsey, Whitman |
| Portico Brewing | 101 South St., Somerville | “Portico Brewing, whatever is hot and fresh, great staff and beer is the best.” – Cian K., Somerville |
| Rapscallion Brewery | 8 Meadow Rd., Spencer (Multiple locations) | “Rapscallion located in Acton, Spencer & Sturbridge. Delicious regular & seasonal beers as well as an excellent food menu.” – Barry K., Littleton |
| Remnant Brewing | 2 Bow Market Way, Somerville | “Remnant Brewing . I love the Cambridge taproom but Bow Market will always be home. Go to order is clip art or hella crispy! I recommend Remnant Brewing Satellite because it’s the perfect bar. The beer has always been top shelf. Great service, comfortable vibes and a full bar!” – Leslie, Cambridge |
| RiverWalk Brewing Co. | 40 Parker St., Newburyport | |
| Roundhead Brewing Company | Westinghouse Plaza Building #10, Hyde Park | “Roundhead Brewery in Hyde Park is my new favorite brewery. It is one of the few Hispanic-owned breweries in the country, which is cool in itself but also a place that welcomes everyone. They have an extensive line of Peruvian-inspired beers, similar in style to Belgian farmhouse ales.” – Reader, Hyde Park |
| Rushford & Sons Brewhouse | 8 Grove St., Upton | |
| Rustic Brewing Company | 34 Front St Suite G21, Indian Orchard, MA 01151 | “Rustic Brewing Co. blueberry cheesecake sour. Family friendly, great vibes, great beer. What’s not to love!’ – Anna, Southampton |
| Sam Adams | 30 Germania St, Boston, MA 02130 (multiple tap rooms) | “Samuel Adams Boston Lager. I’ve tried just about every craft brewery in New England, focusing mostly pale ales and lagers, and while I have found several that I like, Sam Adams is still the best tasting beer I have ever had.” – Dale G., Gloucester |
| Second Wind Brewing Company | 7 Howland St., Plymouth (Multiple locations) | |
| Seven Saws Brewing Company | 112 Industrial Dr, Holden, MA 01520 | |
| Shovel Town Brewery | 50 Oliver St., North Easton | “Love their Madagascar Vanilla Ale!” – Julie, Brighton |
| Skyroc Brewery | 11 Riverbank Rd., Attleboro | |
| Start Line Brewing Co. | 151R Hayden Rowe St., Hopkinton | “Start Line Brewing – Hop Load Hazy. Consistently great beer and a really nice brewery with great food.” – Jamie, Ashland |
| 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 | |
| The Brewery at Four Star Farms | 508 Pine Meadow Rd, Northfield, MA 01360 | “The Brewery at Four Star Farms in Northfield, MA. My go to beer is Bine Cuttter, but you can’t go wrong with any of their beers. This brewery has a very relaxed vibe and you can’t go wrong sitting out on the lawn on a nice warm day.” –Chris T., Barre |
| Tree House Brewing Company | 129 Sturbridge Rd., Charlton (Multiple locations) | “Tree House. Julius. Best beer in the northeast in my opinion. Company is also a well oiled machine. Great spaces to hang with friends, good food options on site, solid gear. Just great at all things brewery and I’ve found the same standard at each of their locations.” –Tom, Melrose |
| Trillium Brewing Company | 50 Thomson Pl., Boston (Multiple locations) | “Trillium Brewing. Although they are known for their IPAs, they produce a wide array of styles all done exceptionally well. Especially their wild ales and stouts! My go-to order is usually whatever Double IPA is fresh, Vicinity is a favorite. Although limited to a yearly release, Headroom is the best there is and can’t be missed. ” – AJ M., Jamaica Plain |
| True North Ale Company | 116 County Rd., Ipswich | “Huge range of styles and they’re all good.” – JR, Ipswich |
| Twisted Fate Brewing | 120 Andover St., Suite 4, Danvers | |
| Untold Brewing | 6 Old Country Way, Scituate (Multiple locations) | “Untold brewing in Scituate has several great selections and constantly adds new brews. The staff is friendly, the vibe is relaxed and it’s dog and child friendly. A great community spot!” – John L., Scituate |
| Vanished Valley Brewing | 782 Center St., Ludlow | |
| Vitamin Sea Brewing | 30 Moore Rd., Weymouth (Multiple locations) | “Vitamin Sea Brewing. All the IPA’s are great.” – Kevin C., Holliston |
| 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) | “Widowmaker Brewing, Blue Comet. Best IPA on the planet. Fun taproom and great service.” – David F., Braintree |
| Winter Hill Brewing Company | 328 Broadway, Somerville | “Winter Hill brewing. The food is impressively good, particularly the “berts big boy” Burger and the Sunday brunch pancakes. We love the English pub feel with premier League on the tvs and Brit centric playlists.” – Hayden, Somerville |
| Wormtown Brewery | 72 Shrewsbury St., Worcester (Multiple locations) |
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