Photography by Kyle Ramey.
The 5th Annual Local Craft Brewfest was a sold out event. Featuring dozens of breweries, distilleries, and retailers of local food, the festival showcased the rich variety of products available from sustainable businesses in the greater Boston area.
The Moakley U.S. Courthouse on the Waterfront is a great location for an event like this, with plenty of floor space and a spectacular view. Taking center stage, of course, was a rich assortment of local breweries, offering a combined forty-five unique beers to sample. Among the local favorites in attendance were Harpoon (the $5 tour of their brewery is not to be missed) and Narragansett, (who brought a seasonal treat, the Autocrat Milk Coffee Stout, a flavorful departure from their tried and true lager formula). More niche breweries also took part, such as Rapscallion who boasts the oldest Massachusetts beer still on tap, and Baxter, pioneer of the cans over bottles Renaissance..
With long lines for nearly every booth, Local Craft Brewfest attendants quickly caught on to the practice of finishing one drink while in line for the next one. With plenty of time to spare while vendors chatted up beer enthusiasts, the line was the best place to find a moment of zen to appreciate the subtle flavors in your drink, compare notes with friends, and mark off which samples you liked best on the handy on the handy checklists handed out by volunteers.
Local Craft Brewfest wasn’t just about beer, though. Fans of the hard stuff were treated to samples from wineries and small distilleries such as Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Dirty Water Distillery, and WhistlePig Whiskey, who definitely won the best dressed award, sporting old school vests and bow ties.
To pair with this impressive spread of beverages, local food producers offered an array of snacks ranging from savory to sweet. Staples like Cabot Creamery and Vermont Smoke and Cure offered meats and cheeses, while confectioners satisfied the sweet tooth. Somerville’s own Taza Stone Ground Chocolate Chocolate previewed its seasonal gingerbread and peppermint flavors, and Frost This Cakes served up pastries flavored with Sam Adams.
Hiding in the food section off to the right was Spiked Seltzer, an innovative alcoholic beverage that identifies itself as a beer in that it gets its alcohol content from fermented sugar, but is a totally clear beverage with no hops, malt or anything else that makes beer beer. It’s just sugar and fruit, which makes for a crisp, refreshing, and just slightly sweet flavor.
The evening moved to a soundtrack provided by DJ’s from RadioBDC, Boston’s new streaming only radio station that features an endangered species: the live DJ. Personalities you may recognize from the defunct and sorely missed WFNX in fact.
Local Craft Brewfest is a booming Boston tradition that’s sure to stick around for a long time. Be sure to get your tickets well in advance next year before they sell out!
This post was brought to you by Jane Ward of Corn Free July. Check her out!
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