Looking for something different to do on one of these fabulous fall weekends? Had enough apple cider lately? Try one of Boston’s Brewery Tours! Our great city is home to some great beer makers, and while I’m not really a huge lager fan, a visit to Ireland last spring taught me how to enjoy a tasty pint, and I think seeing the brewing process would be super interesting. And I guess I wouldn’t be opposed to a little tasting after the tour 
That being said, two breweries that offer tours in Boston are Samuel Adams and Harpoon.
Sam Adams’s recipes are based upon techniques passed down through multiple generations and comprise what I would call THE iconic beer of Beantown. Located at 30 Germania Street in Boston, Sam Adams tours last about an hour and include special samples along the way. A donation of $2 is suggested for all guests and any funds collected go to local charities. There’s obvi a gift shop, so you’ll have ample opportunity to snatch some Samuel gifts and gear on the way out! Want to know a little more about the brewing process before touring so you can ask questions like a pseudo-connoisseur? Read through the Sam Adams Beer Encyclopedia and you’ll be able to talk beer like a pro.
Harpoon, New England’s Craft Brewery, was founded here in Boston in 1986 by three Harvard students (the Facebook of beers, anyone?). Weekend tours at this 306 Northern Avenue brewery last an hour, cost $5, and include samples of freshly brewed Harpoon beers PLUS a souvenir tasting glass! Cost includes a donation to Harpoon Helps, the brand’s philanthropic branch. If Henry the Harpooner is your homeboy, grab a fun t-shirt or cap at the Brewery Store, where you can also get…wait for it…A 64-OUNCE COLLECTIBLE BOTTLE filled to order with your fave brew. Clearly this is the kind of eclectic accent that your living room has been missing.
Neither brewery takes reservations (except in some cases for large groups), so be sure to leave plenty of time because you may not be able to jump directly into a tour. Also, and this is not a joke, don’t forget your ID! People who are underage or who do not have a valid photo ID will not be able to sample…and let’s be real, that’s at least 75% of the reason you’re going. I’ve already made plans to explore the Harpoon brewery and will most definitely be scoping out Sam Adams in the very near future…so should you! Drink responsibly, of course, but spice up your Saturday (or Sunday) by taking advantage of this exciting, historic aspect of Beantown culture!
