I’m back from my work trip to Boston, which is one of my favorite beer towns. I was there for two nights and used the opportunity to visit two outstanding brewpubs. First up: Boston Beer Works on Brookline Avenue across from Fenway Park.

After a long day of travel and work on Sunday, June 3, we had a free evening. I can always count on Todd, my friend and co-worker of 16 years, to join me on a beer expedition. Since our time in town was limited, I didn’t want to take the chance on a new spot, so we settled on an old favorite, Boston Beer Works. We were staying at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge overlooking the Charles River, and it was quick $10 cab ride to the Works.

What drew us in? The web site announced the kick-off of the summer menu:

The funny thing was, Boston was freezing for June! We had left behind beautiful, sunny, 80-degree weather in DC for cloudy, overcast skies and highs in the low 50s. The Heat is On? Not!

I love Boston Beer Works because they have a huge menu of house beers – 16 on draft when we visited. They serve four-beer samplers, and I started with an all fruit beer sampler rack featuring:

• Bunkerhill Blueberry Ale
• Watermelon Ale
• Castle Rock Raspberry
• Park Street Peach Weizen

Laugh if you must, but Boston Beer Works brews fruit beer as good as anyone. Who can resist a glass of beer with floating fresh blueberries or with a slice of watermelon hanging off the side? Not buying it? Just know that this line-up went perfectly with our platter of boneless Buffalo wings, tossed with Honey Hot, 9-Alarm, and traditional Buffalo sauce.

The Celtics-Heat playoff game was on the TVs so Todd and I decided to stay a while. I worked my way through three more four-beer samplers, so I could try every beer on the menu.

Rack 2:

• Fenway Pale Ale
• Back Bay IPA
• Boston Common
• Bulfinch British Ale

Rack 3:

• Hub Light
• Haymarket Hefeweizen
• Mayflower Maibock
• Ploghman’s Ale

Rack 4:

• Boston Red
• Beantown Nut Brown
• Muddy River Porter
• Curley’s Irish Stout

The beer and food were excellent, though the atmosphere was a little dull. There wasn’t much of a crowd,with the Red Sox out of town. I’m sure it was a different scene at the Boston Beer Works near TD Garden where the Celtics were playing!

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