5 DRINK MINIMUM: THE PUBLICK HOUSE

CRAFT BEER EDITION

DRINK 1: Ask the bartender for their favorite craft beer.
DRINK 2: Pick a beer that, if you ordered it with your parents, they would call you an asshole.
DRINK 3: Find the beer that is brewed closest to where you grew up.
DRINK 4: Choose a beer that represents your least-favorite European country.
DRINK 5: Your choice. Choose wisely.

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“No shots, no pitchers,” reads a sign behind the bar at The Publick House—it’s all about the beer here. Like a promised land for craft beer fanatics, The Publick House has a droolworthy draft and bottle selection of Belgian and American beers. The rooms are cozy and welcoming, especially the Monk’s Cell in the back, where the draft lines are all Belgian. But most importantly, everyone there, from the bartenders to the servers to the crowd, loves good beer.

DRINK 1:

Scheldebrouwerij Hop Ruiter ($9) Dave, my bartender for the night, is a Dig sales alum and has a nice beard, so I trust his judgment. He pours me his new favorite beer, the Hop Ruiter, a slightly spicy Belgian strong pale ale. It’s the perfect drink to kick off this journey while I settle into the back corner of the Monk’s Cell among a laid back crowd of 20-somethings. “Ernie Boch Jr., he just seems like a douchebag,” I overhear one of the guys nearby say. I nod and cheers silently to that and put the Hop Ruiter back in record time.

DRINK 2:

Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Parabola ($26) I don’t think I’ve ever heard my mom call someone an asshole, but ordering a 12.5 percent ABV Imperial Stout for my second of five drinks would definitely warrant it. It pours like molasses, has almost no head and is packed with roasted coffee and smoked flavors. It’s a beauty and a beast of a beer—dark, effervescent and aggressive. About halfway through the bottle, my drinking partner and I realize we’re in trouble. This night is a parabola and we’re somewhere near the bottom of it.

DRINK 3:

HaandBryggeriet Hesjeøl ($15) “You got anything from Norway?” I ask Dave, mostly in jest, but lo and behold they have two—a porter and a harvest ale. I seriously need to lighten up after the parabola so I opt for the smoky and somewhat sweet Hesjeøl. I also need some food, but the kitchen closed about 10 minutes ago, Dave tells us. “This is bad new bears,” I groan. “This is fun news bears!” my persistently perky friend chirps. At least this Norwegian stuff is highly drinkable and half the ABV of that damned Parabola.

DRINK 4

Allagash White ($6) Desperate drunken times calls for desperate measures—in this case a food run across the street to Dragon Star for sesame chicken and rice. The fortune cookie reads, “Finish your works on hand. Don’t be greedy.” I heed the advice and get back to work. They’re out of the Wachusett Larry IPA, but my mom’s from Maine so Allagash it is. Since the night started I’ve heard people ordering it about every five minutes. A mellow, smooth and delicious beer, it rounds out the night nicely.

DRINK 5:

Pretty Things Jack D’Or ($6) Last up is another extremely popular beer, the Pretty Things Jack D’Or saison. By now my friend’s talking with the dude in the polo shirt next to us, but I have no energy to make small talk or do anything except sit and quietly appreciate the astounding selection of Belgian beers here—Achel, Brasseire Dupont, Orval—the list goes on, but the night does not. Time to close up this tab (again, damn you Parabola) and roll home with a belly full of beer.

THE PUBLICK HOUSE
1648 BEACON ST.
BROOKLINE
617.277.2880
EATGOODFOODDRINKBETTERBEER.COM
@THEPUBLICKHOUSE

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