Pieces of the present
Photo credit: Andrew Nguyen | @Grandpa_Nguyen
While researching the history of Boston beer—old photographs of breweries, rusted cans, and brewers standing over the mashtun—I started to wonder how future beer drinkers would learn about today’s scene. Through tweets? Blog posts? Bombers and brewiana? What if we could leave them a message, take a snapshot of what’s actually happening?
With that in mind, we put together a 2013 local beer time capsule:
items that represent larger elements of the trends and forces at work in the brewing and beer scene today in Greater Boston.
1. Can of Samuel Adams Lager
The craft beer canning craze is off and running. Case (and can) in point: Sam Adams has finally put the Boston Lager in a can after developing a special “Sam Can” that is said to better protect and deliver the beer’s flavor.
2. Bottle of Night Shift Brewing Honeydew
Craft beer consumers are tuned in to what’s new, and nanos like Everett’s Night Shift Brewing deliver just that. Their Sour Weisse beer series has a huge following, and one-offs like Honeydew, hoppy Saison brewed with freshly juiced honeydew melons, keep it interesting.
3. Backlash Beer Catalyst
Americans still can’t seem to get enough of their IPAs, of all shapes and sizes: “sessionable,” imperial, single hop, and extra-extra hoppy. Backlash’s new Uprising! Series, featuring a different hop in every Double IPA, satisfies local hophead cravings.
4. Trillium Brewing 32-ounce Growler
Filling up growlers straight from the source allows for fresh beer and a chance to see where the magic happens. Visit Trillium to see Boston’s newest production brewery and fill up on hoppy American pale ales, smooth Saisons, and locally inspired farmhouse ales.
5. Pretzel Necklace
Beer fests are microcosms of the beer community: a chance to try a bunch of different beers in one place and often meet the people who make it. And as the craft beer industry swells, so does the number of new fests starting up.
6. Girls Pint Out and Boston Area Beer Enthusiasts
In not-so-shocking news, women like beer. And not only do they like it, they are organizing beer tastings, brewery tours, and educational classes, and creating a beer community in Boston. Girls Pint Out and Boston Area Beer Enthusiasts (BABES) are two of those beer-loving lady groups. Respect.
7. Untappd
It’s not enough to just drink a beer these days. You can also check it in on Untappd, Instagram it, then tweet it all out. Breweries too, are on social media to connect with drinkers and fans.
8. Beer Bar Menus
Boston is a town of great beer bars, and a peek at their beer menus reveals the beer trends and popular styles. Strike up a conversation with an educated beer bartender to learn a thing or two.
9. Harpoon Bike Jersey
Many craft beer drinkers (and brewers) today are an active bunch: holding bike rides from brewery to brewery, sponsoring 5Ks, and, of course, rewarding themselves with a beer at the end.
10. Valley Malt Malted Wheat
Local breweries use local ingredients, like malt from this Hadley, Mass. malt house. You can find their malted grains—barley, wheat, rye—in beers from Trillium, Cambridge Brewing Company, Watch City Brewing, and more.
11. Craft Beer Cellar card
The Craft Beer Cellar is the beer store cornerstone of the local beer community and their recently opened New England Annex store in Winchester further solidifies their place. Visit them in Belmont too, and look out for Newton Centre, where they will open a third location.
BACK TO THE BREW-TURE
