6 brewpubs we love in New England

Idyltime Brewing Co.

When I first moved to North Conway, N.H. in 2015, I was immediately told to “Check out the Moat — it’s where all the climbers and outdoors people go to hang out.” 

Coming from Philadelphia, the concept of going out to bars with friends and meeting new people wasn’t new to me. But now that I was in a small, rural mountain town, I had assumed there wouldn’t be much of a nightlife to discover.

The front doors of the Moat Mountain Smokehouse and Brewery (3378 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, N.H., moatmountain.com) led me to a small vestibule with clear floors, offering views of the brewery tanks below. Inside was lively, both locals and tourists enjoying house-made beers, nachos, and burgers after a day of adventuring in the mountains. I had been to plenty of beer bars in Philadelphia, but the concept of a brewery-restaurant combination was new to me. In the years to come, I’d learn that this concept wasn’t an anomaly, but a staple in cities and mountain towns throughout New England.

Brewpubs, which are defined by the Brewer’s Association as “a restaurant-brewery that sells 25 percent or more of its beer on-site and operates significant food services,” draw beer lovers from up and down the East Coast to places like Vermont’s Lawson’s Finest Liquids and Idyltime, or Trillium Brewing in Massachusetts. Of course, there are also plenty of breweries throughout the region that have gained national and international recognition, but they don’t quite offer the same in-house experience as places like the Moat, where guests can enjoy a full food menu with their pint.

For the beer lover in search of a new spot to check out, here are some of our favorite brewpubs in New England.

Idyltime Brewing Company, Vermont

While the Green Hills of Vermont are known by many as the pinnacle of New England skiing, the progress-forward state has always been ahead of the game when it comes to food and drink. Idyltime Brewing Company, located in the village of Stowe, specializes in classic, European-style beers such as the Munich-inspired Helles Brook or the European-style oatmeal stout. Idyltime’s  roots can be traced back to an early 20th century cider mill that eventually became a gathering spot for local families and farmers. Today, the pub continues to be a popular gathering spot for those looking to relax and socialize after a day of skiing, hiking, or biking. — 1859 Mountain Road, Stowe, idletyme.com

Foundation Brewing Company, Maine

Traditionally known for its lobster rolls, dramatic coastline, and iconic lighthouses, Portland, Maine has made headlines in recent years for its budding culinary and beverage scene. In fact, the city of just under 67,000 people boasts the most breweries per capita in the country at 18 per 50,000 people. And while not every brewery in the city meets the standards for being considered a “brewpub,” many appeal to locals and visitors by offering full food menus along with their own craft beers. Foundation Brewing Company has a solid core lineup consisting of two IPA’s, a pale ale, brown ale, pilsner, and a spiked lemonade. They also offer a rotating menu of limited and aged brews. Their tasting room now features a new kitchen with an evolving menu focused on Detroit-style pizzas as well as sandwiches and snacks taking inspiration from a variety of places (think Mexican-style street corn, German soft pretzels, and dragon noodles). — 1 Industrial Way #7, Portland, foundationbrew.com

Earth Eagle Brewing, New Hampshire

For its small-town size, the city of Portsmouth is no stranger to the craft beer scene. Situated on the Maine-New Hampshire border, just an hour south of Portland and an hour north of Boston, the coastal city is home to countless top-tier restaurants, breweries, and brewpubs.

At the top of that list lies Earth Eagle Brewing. Earth Eagle, which features a year-round beer garden, a burger and hot dog menu, a homebrew supply store, and frequent events, has a full bar in addition to a rotating beer menu. Like most bars, breweries, and brewpubs in New England, they offer plenty of options that fall under the “IPA” category, but often have sour-style beers, which have been increasing in popularity in recent years.  — 175 High St., Portsmouth, eartheaglebrewings.com

Trillium Brewing Company, Massachusetts

With public locations in Canton, Fort Point, Fenway, and Greenway, both of Trillium’s Canton and Fort Point locations offer a full food menu as well as some of the best beer in Massachusetts; arguably the Northeast. Trillium offers a huge selection of beer, with varieties ranging from pale ales and IPAs to stouts and wild-fermented sours — and there’s no shortage of options under each category. At the three-floor Fort Point location, visitors can enjoy farmhouse-inspired dishes, like their grain bowl or summer salad, from the rooftop terrace. The Canton location features a taproom and patio, with a menu focused on wood-oven pizzas and traditional barbecue such as their pulled-pork sandwich or brisket platter. Trillium also embodies the farm-to-table movement, sourcing as many ingredients as possible from its own farm, which is located in North Stonington, Conn. — 50 Thomson Place, Boston and 100 Royall St., Canton, trilliumbrewing.com 

Trinity Brewhouse, Rhode Island

Established in 1995, Trinity Brewhouse was one of the first brewpubs in New England. The pub’s location in the heart of Providence makes it a popular hangout spot for locals, with half-off wing night on Mondays serving as a pretty good reason to get out of the house. Between 1997 and 2017, Trinity won 27 awards from the Great Northeast International Beer Fest for a variety of their house-made beers, earning a name in the craft beer world. Today, the brewpub offers a variety of styles, like Belgian strong ales, a Kolsch, and an American pale ale. Like any good brewpub, the menu is constantly rotating. — 186 Fountain St., Providence, trintybrewhouse.com 

City Steam Brewery, Connecticut

Established in 1997, City Steam Brewery is a staple on the Connecticut beer scene. The Hartford brewpub, which doubles as a comedy club, offers a wide variety of beer styles in a setting that’s about more than just the beers — it’s a place for locals to head during a night out on the town. City Steam focuses on offering a beer for every palate, from lagers and American wheat beers to more “experimental” styles like a blueberry guava twist sour or a vanilla porter. Their food menu consists mostly of traditional bar fare, like dry-rubbed rotisserie wings, nachos, burgers, and steaks, to name a few. The comedy club, which has been known as the Brew Ha Ha Comedy Club since City Steam’s inception, is one of the main draws of the establishment. Its 200-seat showroom often draws bigger-name comedians as well as up-and-coming acts. — 942 Main St., Hartford, citysteambrewery.com