I was in Boston a few weeks ago to visit some family, and after enjoying the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum with my sister, we met up with my cousin and her husband for brunch. I visited my cousin and her husband a few years ago for one of the best Saint Patrick’s Day experiences in my life. They know the ins and outs of Boston’s restaurant scene, and I take their recommendations to heart. So when I booked this trip, I was excited to explore something new with my cousin. We decided to wander around Boston’s craft breweries, as we are both ladies who love a good craft beer. We went to three lesser known craft beer breweries in Boston, and each one had solid brews.

Trillium

My cousin Kirsten and I wandered into Trillium Brewery in Fort Point around 11am on a Saturday, and the place was pretty packed inside. We were lucky to get a seat at a shared table, and tried a few beers during our visit. They also serve a nice brunch on the weekends, but as we had just eaten we didn’t order anything. Trillium specializes in craft beers that have a hint of fruit, but this isn’t like any fruit beer you’ve had before. The citrus, pineapple, and other fruity tastes are incredibly subtle in their IPAs, pilsners, and stouts. So much so that you only get a hint of it. I had a Congress Street and it was honestly one of the best IPAs I’ve had in a while. Trillium was founded in 2013 by a young couple in love, JC and Esther Tetreault, and business has been booming. They recently expanded to a second, larger brewery and taproom location in Canton, MA, and trust me, its worth a visit. But get there early. Kirsten and I left Trillium around 1pm, and there was a line out front just to get in.

Somerville Brewing (aka Slumbrew)

                                                Photo courtesy of Slumbrew.com

Slumbrew was the second taproom Kirsten and I visited, and they had some solid (but silly named) brews. Kirsten told me that she comes to this brewery all the time in the summer, as they have an great outdoor space and some good bar food. I couldn’t leave without trying the Flagraiser IPA, although I eventually switched to the Luma Luma IPA. I’m an IPA girl, what can I say? I liked the casual vibe of this place, and the fun names they gave their selection of brews. I’ll definitely come back next time I’m in Boston.

Bantam Cider Company

This location I did forget to get a photo while I was there (oops!) But Kirsten and I were dying to try this cider and it did not disappoint. The slogan for Bantam is Modern American Cider, and honestly it did taste like any of the ciders you can find in a store (and their cider is gluten free). Kirsten and I both tried the Rojo cider first, which was a little light but you could really taste the hint of cherries. We grabbed a bottle of the Rojo to go, and I encourage you to try it when you visit Boston!