Boston Beer Works

The first time I went to Boston Beer Works was on a fall evening before a Red Sox Game last year, and I must say I was a bit overwhelmed by the hundreds of people crammed into the place. Offering 12 to 16 hand-crafted beers each day at only $5 each, however, it's no wonder the place is so popular. Last night it was suggested that a bunch of us go grab dinner there and watch the game, so I figured why not. I recall seeing some pretty tasty-looking bar food that last time...

When we got to the restaurant it was pretty dead, polar opposite of the last time when I could hardly get to the bar for a drink. I was very pleased from the get-go to see that they had a home-brewed Pumpkinhead Ale on tap. Seated at a table in the back corner, we had a good view of a few of the TVs as well as some of the machinery used to make the beer there.

We started with a few pitchers of the before mentioned Pumpkinhead ale, described as "a copper-colored ale that’s brewed with real pumpkin and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla and allspice". Everyone was a big fan. Another beer that caught my eye was the Peanut Butter Porter, "a deep brown, full-bodied ale with rich roasted coffee and chocolate overtones. Flavored with real peanut butter". I definitely want to come back some time later in the season to try it.

I was very impressed with their extensive menu - they even have a whole Oktoberfest menu with fun German-inspired dishes for the month, including schnitzel and bratwurst. I couldn't resist ordering a burger, though, and so chose the Fenway burger, which was covered in chili, scallions, and cheddar. They have a few different fry options for only $.95 extra, so I substituted my classic fries for the sour cream and chive fries with ranch dipping sauce. They were absolutely delicious. Other options include gravy fries, cheese fries, sweet potato fries, and fiery fries with ranch. As for the burger, they serve a serious hunk of meat, nice and medium rare like I wanted it. I thought the price of just over $10 was justified for such a meaty burger. Many of the others got burgers, too, and equally loved them.

Melanie and Chris, on the otherhand, got nachos for their meal. The half order, for only $6.95 is MASSIVE. After eating for a good half an hour it barely seemed like either or them made a dent. For $3 extra you can add chicken, chili, steak, or guacamole. They were excellent, and I look forward to the leftovers in our fridge!

In terms of other menu offerings, Boston Beer Works has whatever you might be in the mood for - salads, pizza, ribs, and even fried pickles, which I'm dying to try next time. If you're looking for a place with great beer and great food to match, I encourage you to head to Boston Beer Works, especially if you have a large group. Just be careful before and after games at Fenway ;-)



first photo courtesy of thesunblog.com