• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT
    • MASTHEAD
    • ADVERTISE
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • Close
  • BECOME A MEMBER

Dig Bos

The Dig - Boston's Only Newspaper

CURRENT STREET EDITION

DIG 23.05 – 4/8/21

BOSTON BETTER BEER BUREAU: SIN AND SASS IN WESTERN MASS

Written by CHRIS FARAONE Posted November 11, 2018 Filed Under: Better Boston Beer Bureau, COLUMNS, GTFO, Honest Pint, LIFESTYLE

 

Our first of many trips into the Pioneer Valley microbrew scene

 

Welcome to the Boston Better Beer Bureau, our latest incarnation of the trusty suds reporting we’ve done at DigBoston ever since people referred to beer as suds. Really, we remember the days when we’d spend half our checks on fancy German bottles just so that we could review them, whereas these days breweries from all around New England kindly send us samplers and stay in touch. The BBBB is a new attempt to return that love, all while sharing more news about the innumerable microbreweries and pubs among us. SIGN UP FOR THE FREE BBBB NEWSLETTER HERE.

 


 

We’re going to be writing quite a bit about Western Mass and its beautiful vice trade over the next couple of months. First there is New England Treatment Access (NETA) Northampton, which is slated to be the first or at least one of the first legal dispensaries to open in Mass, allegedly sometime later this month, and of course the new MGM Springfield, built across I-91 from the Basketball Hall of Fame. I look forward to losing a few dollars there.

 

While the Berkshires and Pioneer Valley are ripe for all kinds of coverage that readers in Boston can likely appreciate, since both are a relatively short car or bus ride away and offer significant party and culture opps across the board, this week we’re starting with their beers because, well, they do them well in Western Mass.

 

FORT HILL BREWERY PHOTO VIA FORT HILL BREWERY

 

There are far too many breweries and destinations to name in a column (or a book, for that matter), but an obvious starting point is Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton, which, in addition to having a facility and tasting room fit for a wedding or simply a quick sudsy stop-in, pumps out some of the most breathtaking pints and cans anywhere. Fort Hill’s flagship Fresh Pick is a staple you can fortunately find in almost any beer store west of Worcester, and I’m hoping that more of the perfect 7 percent citra magic makes its way here soon.

 

I also grabbed a four-pack of the devilishly labeled Sinshine, a delicious but antagonistic New England IPA from Bay State Brewing Co. in Leicester. Sure, Leicester’s not exactly Western Mass—not by the standards of any self-respecting Pioneer Valley or Berkshires native (I got a serious talking-to about this last weekend)—but I saw a lot of it out there, so here goes…

 

We’re working with a cloudy citrus nectar that could almost pass for fruit juice in appearance. There’s a bit of leather in its bite; despite the peach, melon, and tangerine notes—or perhaps because of them, as those and other flavors packed in here are as well known for bitterness as they are for their sweetness—the first few sips of Sinshine go down like a Sweet Tart. I mean that in a deep, positive, spiritual way; even up to about half an hour after banging back a couple of these ones, there were noticeable traces on my tonsils. It’s New England haze at its most daring and aggressive, as well as a canned treat that will get you shellacked at 6.9 percent ABV.

 

If you’re in the area and want the full experience, I recommend Fitzwilly’s and the adjoining Toasted Owl Tavern in Northampton as a proper starting place for evening fun. Serious beer snobs may dislike that their taps are actually cold, but for my money, the IPA, an easy West Coast classic with an ideal citrus kick from BLDG 8 Brewing in Northampton, made for perfect memories. I’m craving one right now.

 

Finally, while there are a lot more options to taste and bars to visit—I really want to check out Northampton’s internationally propped Tunnel Bar, though I understand it’s much more of a cocktail haven—no first trip to the area, I was told, can be complete without a visit to the Beer Can Museum at the vaunted Ye Ol’ Watering Hole.

 

By the time I made it there after the Northampton Brewery, I didn’t have much stamina left in me for more sampling, but I did spend roughly half an hour ogling the nearly 4,000 old cans they have on display. Looking back, I wonder if they have any old rusted joints for sale—perhaps there are some silver bullets in the basement for the tourists. I didn’t bother asking, though, since my trunk back at the hotel was already stuffed with plenty of contemporary product to bring back to Boston, review, and share with my drunken associates.

CHRIS FARAONE

A Queens, NY native who came to New England in 2004 to earn his MA in journalism at Boston University, Chris Faraone is the editor and co-publisher of DigBoston and a co-founder of the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism. He has published several books including 99 Nights with the 99 Percent, and has written liner notes for hip-hop gods including Cypress Hill, Pete Rock, Nas, and various members of the Wu-Tang Clan.

More from author
  • CHRIS FARAONE
    https://digboston.com/author/chris-faraone/
    A SHORT DOC ABOUT HOW DIGBOSTON WEATHERED A PANDEMIC YEAR
  • CHRIS FARAONE
    https://digboston.com/author/chris-faraone/
    POLITICIANS GET IN LINE TO CALL FOR BOSTON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
  • CHRIS FARAONE
    https://digboston.com/author/chris-faraone/
    HOW JULIET HIT A $100K KICKSTARTER GOAL IN 4 DAYS
  • CHRIS FARAONE
    https://digboston.com/author/chris-faraone/
    IF YOU’RE SURPRISED THE BPD CODDLED AN ACCUSED MOLESTER COP, YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION

Filed Under: Better Boston Beer Bureau, COLUMNS, GTFO, Honest Pint, LIFESTYLE Tagged With: BBBB, Beer, Berkshires, Boston better Beer Bureau, citra, Easthampton, Fort Hill Brewery, Hops, leicester, NETA, New England IPA, northampton, Pioneer Valley, Sinshine, western Mass, Worcester

WHAT’S NEW

A SHORT DOC ABOUT HOW DIGBOSTON WEATHERED A PANDEMIC YEAR

A SHORT DOC ABOUT HOW DIGBOSTON WEATHERED A PANDEMIC YEAR

FULL PARKING ENFORCEMENT RETURNS TO BOSTON, BLUEBIKES STILL AVAIL FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS

FULL PARKING ENFORCEMENT RETURNS TO BOSTON, BLUEBIKES STILL AVAIL FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS

EMERGENCY PRESS CONFERENCE AND RALLY FOR DAUNTE WRIGHT

EMERGENCY PRESS CONFERENCE AND RALLY FOR DAUNTE WRIGHT

POLITICIANS GET IN LINE TO CALL FOR BOSTON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

POLITICIANS GET IN LINE TO CALL FOR BOSTON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

PARENTS RELEASE AN ANALYSIS OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDRAISING INEQUITIES

PARENTS RELEASE AN ANALYSIS OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDRAISING INEQUITIES

IF YOU’RE SURPRISED THE BPD CODDLED AN ACCUSED MOLESTER COP, YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION

IF YOU’RE SURPRISED THE BPD CODDLED AN ACCUSED MOLESTER COP, YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION

Primary Sidebar

HEMPIRE FREEDOM PACK 25% OFF

FEATURED EVENT

Most Popular

  • VACCINE EQUITY NOW! COALITION ASKS BAKER TO ALLOCATE 20% OF NEW DOSES TO HARD HIT COMMUNITIES by SHIRA LAUCHAROEN
  • rally to protest discrimination and crimes against Asian and Pacific islanders during Stop Asian Hate rally on Boston Common in Boston PICS & RECAP: “STOP ASIAN HATE BOSTON” RALLY ON THE COMMON by KEIKO HIROMI
  • IF YOU’RE SURPRISED THE BPD CODDLED AN ACCUSED MOLESTER COP, YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION by CHRIS FARAONE
  • A FAREWELL TRIBUTE (OF SORTS) TO MARTY WALSH by DIG STAFF
  • THE MYSTERY OF CHEZ TORTONI by CHRISTOPHER EHLERS

READ CURRENT MEMBER EDITION

DIG Member 2.1 – March 2021

READ CURRENT STREET ISSUE

DIG 23.05 – 4/8/21

Footer

digbos

digbos
“My administration is doubling down on our work “My administration is doubling down on our work to stand up the #Boston Office of #Police Accountability and Transparency.” https://digboston.com/politicians-get-in-line-to-call-for-boston-police-accountability/ #politics #Massachusetts
This week is your last chance to hit up Mooby’s This week is your last chance to hit up Mooby’s in #Boston … https://digboston.com/moobys-boston-how-kevin-smith-has-brought-his-pick-up-experience-to-10-cities-during-the-pandemic/ #fan #popup #fun #restaurant #movie #Massachusetts #snoochieboochies
The group is asking that polices address the dispa The group is asking that polices address the disparities the #data has revealed. https://digboston.com/parents-release-an-analysis-of-boston-public-school-fundraising-inequities/ #education #school #public #study #fundraising #racism #Boston #Massachusetts
“We’re not going to survive for 20 more years “We’re not going to survive for 20 more years if we don’t do this [move to a bigger space].” https://digboston.com/how-juliet-hit-a-100k-kickstarter-goal-in-4-days/ #restaurant #business #food #crowdfund #SomervilleMA #coronavirus #COVID19
EDITORIAL: DIGBOSTON SEEKS CLIMATE IDEAS FOR MAYOR EDITORIAL: DIGBOSTON SEEKS CLIMATE IDEAS FOR MAYOR KIM JANEY. Environmental organizations and individual activists invited to submit opinion articles for publication. https://digboston.com/editorial-digboston-seeks-climate-ideas-for-mayor-kim-janey/ #politics @boston_mayor #environment #globalwarming #climate #activist #callforsubmissions #policy #Boston #Massachusetts
“Most are some of my favorite bars or local clas “Most are some of my favorite bars or local classics that I’ve learned to love in my time living in the city. Others just have a great facade that I know would make a great drawing.” https://digboston.com/drawn-but-not-forgotten-local-artist-sketches-beloved-boston-restaurants/ #art #artist #sketch #drawing #Boston #Massachusetts #bar #restaurant
Despite #pandemic hurdles, Mass #music instructors Despite #pandemic hurdles, Mass #music instructors hit new high notes. “My #teaching has gone to another level.” https://digboston.com/the-medium-is-the-maestro/ #education #Massachusetts #coronavirus #COVID19
From the podcast to the book, Wayne Federman chron From the podcast to the book, Wayne Federman chronicles the business of joke-telling. https://digboston.com/the-history-of-stand-up-from-mark-twain-to-dave-chappelle/ #comedy #history #book #interview #Boston #Massachusetts
“I’m calling on some of you to drop by a local “I’m calling on some of you to drop by a local field office and hear what people have to say.” https://digboston.com/dear-reader-the-political-season-is-upon-us-embrace-it/ #politics #commentary #election #Massachusetts
“I think most people agree that we want our publ “I think most people agree that we want our public dollars to go to those companies that are not cutting corners.” https://digboston.com/bill-seeks-to-penalize-contractors-for-unsafe-conditions/ #politics #legislation #construction #safety #labor #Massachusetts
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Submissions

Advertise

Privacy Policy

Customer Service

Distribution

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an e-mail blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: [email protected] To reach Editorial: [email protected] For internship opportunities: [email protected]