Each summer, craft beer aficionados and ale fans attend WGBH's Craft Beer Festival to sample dozens of brews from the best around, and to get a chance to learn more about the brewing process. Guests also enjoy some of Boston's best eats from local food truck vendors while enjoying live music. It's a fun time!
You can get your tickets here, and check out this preview of all of the amazing craft beer vendors that you'll be sampling:
Aeronaut Brewing Co.
Craft beer; creative new recipes. A cool location. And lots of community involvement. These are just a few of the things that Aeronaut Brewing Co. are known for, in addition to some pretty stellar beers; year round and seasonal.
14 Tyler St., Somerville, MA, aeronautbrewing.com
Altruist Brewing Company
Top notch beer and people; Altruist maintains a passion for good ales through brewing small hand-crafted batches, adjusting each recipe in an endless pursuit of perfection, and including a big dose of love into each batch.
559 Main St., Sturbridge, MA, altruistbrewing.com
Anonymous Brewing
With a culinary approach of balancing ingredients and an experimental process Anonymous Brewing has developed a series of beers that deviate just enough from their defined style to provide an alternative craft experience.
Rowley, MA, anonbrew.com
Artisan Beverage Cooperative
Ginger Libation is an effervescent, pre-prohibition style ginger beer with a pleasant sweetness and distinctive ginger zing! Artisan Beverage Cooperative has been making this popular beverage since 2010.
324 Wells St., Greenfield, MA, gingerlibation.com
Bantam Cider
Bantam's original cider is made from apples fresh-pressed from Carver Hill Orchard in Stow, MA, that are fermented and blended at Westport Wineries in Westport, MA. We love them because their ciders are fresh, crisp, and their makers really understand the meaning of "locally sourced".
40 Merriam St., Somerville, MA, bantamcider.com
Baxter Brewing Co.
Whether it’s cotton tarps or beer taps, Baxter Brewing Co. believes that hard work starts when the sun rises and doesn’t stop until the job’s done. In addition to some inventive names, all of Baxter's brews share the common traits of grit, determination and passion. It should come as no surprise that they're the first brewery in New England to can all its beer. Flavor-locked... and loaded.
30 Mill St., Lewiston, ME, baxterbrewing.com
Bell's Brewery
The passion that began Bell’s Brewery continues today as they grow and remain dedicated to their mission; to be fiercely independent, 100% family owned, deeply rooted to their community, and committed to the environment and brewers of inspired beer.
8690 Krum Ave., Comstock, MI, bellsbeer.com
Cambridge Brewing Co.
New England-inspired cuisine; locally sustainable practices; a plethora of locally, nationally, and internationally awarded beers — just a few things that Cambridge Brewing Co. is known for. They're also the first commercial brewery in the U.S. to brew a Belgian beer.
1 Kendall Square, Bldg. 100, Cambridge, MA, cambridgebrewingcompany.com
Cape Ann Brewing Co.
Handcrafting beers since 2004, Cape Ann Brewing Co. incorporates time honored traditions, with the latest trends and styles, to offer a varied draft selection that can please any palate.
11 Rogers St., Gloucester, MA, capeannbrewing.com
Castle Island Brewing Co.
Castle Island is dedicated to crafting the highest quality beer with purpose and without pretense. With a focus on American ales, they make offerings that are both unique and approachable.
31 Astor Ave., Norwood, MA, castleislandbeer.com
Champlain Orchards Cidery
Champlain Orchards Cidery is family-owned and ecologically managed, overlooking the gorgeous Lake Champlain in Shoreham, VT. Every drop of their hard cider is made with apples grown on the orchard and crafted by hand on site.
3597 VT-74, Shoreham, VT, champlainorchardscidery.com
Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co.
Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co. brings sarcasm and freshly brewed craft beer to the heart of Lansdowne Street; infamously known for their wicked local (and delicious) brews, and going far beyond your average brewery experience.
3 Lansdowne St., Boston, MA, 617- 859-0030, cheekymonkeyboston.com
Clown Shoes
The Clown Shoes mission is to produce beer without pretension while being free and a little crazy.
clownshoesbeer.com
Eden Specialty Ciders
Specialty ciders that reflect the cold winter climate and apple heritage of Northern New England. Eden Specialty Ciders make ciders that are unique and innovative, but refrain from aggressive manipulation and industrial beer and wine processing techniques.
150 Main St., Newport, VT, edenciders.com
Essex County Brewing Company
Nano brewery and tap room launched in 2018 by three guys with roots in Essex County. Singular goal to create the highest quality beers possible and serve them in a communal, family-friendly setting.
58 Pulaski St. Building A, Peabody, MA, essexcountybrewing.com
Exhibit "A" Brewing Company
Offering a fun look at storytelling through beer with a subtle nod towards the meaning of life. Exhibit "A" keeps their lives, and their beers, simple and honest.
81 Morton St., Framingham, MA, exhibit-a-brewing.com
Flying Dreams Brewing Co.
"Unique twists on traditional favorites." That's the brewing plan at Flying Dreams Brewing Company. Well, that and to brew their beers an average of 25% longer than other craft brewers do to "get it right". These guys don't mess around with flavor.
455B Park Ave., Worcester, MA, flyingdreamsbrewing.com
Funky Bow Brewery and Beer Company
Deep in the woods of Lyman you’ll find Funky Bow, one of the most sought after breweries in Maine. A father and son team “done good” are constantly developing new single batch flavor combos, as well as their staple beer line guaranteed to tickle your taste buds.
21 Ledgewood Ln., Lyman, ME, 207-409-6814, funkybowbeercompany.com
Idle Hands Craft Ales
Idle Hands is well known for their craft Belgian beers. The Aeam and Adelais are both very popular, as well as Heide, Emelyn, Two Seam, and Proème. And we love that they're located in Malden; an area that's smack dab in the middle of spectacular local food boom.
89 Commercial St., Malden, MA, idlehandscraftales.com
Ipswich Ale Brewery
Founded in 1991, Ipswich Ale is one of the oldest craft brewers around. Their on-site restaurant, the Ipswich Ale's Brewer's Table, keeps 15 different tap lines going at all times and serves a diverse menu that compliments the beers. What's popular? The Original Ipswich Pale Ale, and the IPA. Also, their award-winning stone ground mustard? Delicious.
2 Brewery Pl., Ipswitch, MA, ipswichalebrewery.com
Jack's Abby
Founded in 2011 by three brothers, Jack’s Abby has become a mainstay of the craft brewing scene in the Northeast and nationwide.
100 Clinton St., Framingham, MA, jacksabby.com
Mystic Brewery
Founded in 2009 by a fermentation scientist, Mystic Brewery cut its teeth brewing difficult and traditional styles like Saison, Gruit, and Wild Ale, and by employing retro-innovative techniques like square fermenters and native fermentation cultures. And in 2013 they became the first brewery to win a Great American Beer Festival gold medal using an American indigenous yeast strain. We're not shocked, this beer is delicious.
74 Williams St, Chelsea, MA, 617-466-2079, mystic-brewery.com
Newburyport Brewing Company
Each of NBPT's beers feature unique flavor characteristics and are brewed to be balanced, drinkable and excellent representations of their style.
4 New Pasture Rd., Newburyport, MA, nbptbrewing.com
Ommegang Brewing
Award-winning Belgian ales, and a rotating edition of historical ales. And let's not forget the Game of Thrones special edition beer; paying homage to the struggle for control of the Seven Kingdoms in the hit HBO series, Bend the Knee is being distributed in a series of three collectible bottles, all finished in matte black and adorned with one of the Great House sigils. Ommegangis on fire.
656 County Highway 33, Cooperstown, NY, ommegang.com
Ponyshack Cider
Ponyshack makes their Cider in small batches and with local apples grown in the heart of apple country in the orchards surrounding Boxborough, MA. Over the years they've developed their own custom blends of apples to press into fresh juice to create different hard Cider varieties.
22 Littlefield Rd., Boxborough, MA, 978-393-1653, ponyshackcider.com
Ragged Hill Cider Company
Ragged Hill Cider Company is an award winning orchard-based craft cidery specializing in small batch, heritage style ciders made using traditional methods with no added sugar.
94 John Gilbert Rd., West Brookfield, MA, raggedhillcider.com
Revival Brewing Company
Revival Brewing Companyis a renewal of brewmaster Sean Larkin’s passion for unique and innovative craft beers, cultivated over twenty years of creating signature brews for the preeminent breweries in Rhode Island.
505 Atwood Ave., Cranston, RI, revivalbrewing.com
Shakesbeer
Inspired by the works of William Shakespeare, Shakesbeer combines traditional brewing techniques with new American flavor profiles. Just as Shakespeare brought the art of the stage to the masses, they're bringing the art of craft beer to the people by producing a line of sophisticated yet easy-drinking beers.
160 Old Derby St., Hingham, MA, drinkshakesbeer.com
Shoal Hope Ciderworks
Along with producing great ciders, Shoal Hope Ciderworks is committed to being an active and supportive member of the business and cultural communities in Provincetown and throughout the region.
Provincetown, MA, shoalhopeciderworks.com
Springdale by Jack's Abby
With curiosity, creativity and the support of our talented production team, Springdale by Jack’s Abby,the experimental and barrel-aging arm of Jack’s Abby Brewing, have we’ve spent their first year crafting dozens of wild and barrel-fermented beers, as well as a line of traditionally fermented ales.
100 Clinton St., Framingham, MA, springdalebeer.com
Stoneface Brewing Co.
A strong and rapidly-growing presence in the craft beer scene on the Seacoast of New Hampshire, Stoneface Brewing Co. is brewing beer we like to drink. The list includes hop-forward IPAs and pales, interesting lagers, delicious dark ales and a growing sour program. The list goes on and on.
36 Shattuck Way, Newington, NH, 603-570-2603, stonefacebrewing.com
True North Ale Company
True North has a unique perspective on brewing beer, with a multi-generational group of family and friends working together to produce some highly creative craft beers including American IPAs, Belgian Ales, German Lagers, cutting-edge sours, and many more traditional and experimental styles.
116 County Rd., Ipswich, MA, 978-312-6948, truenorthales.com
True West Brewery
True West brews their beer with all the same ingredients as everyone else; hops, grains and water. But they also have a secret ingredient; SUNLIGHT. Their brewery is powered by 100 solar panels, so they are truly shedding light on their brewing process! On top of that, the brewery lives in the same building as their restaurant, which means the taps are pulling directly from the source. That's a reFRESHing beer.
525 Massachusetts Ave., Acton, MA, brewtruewest.com
Whalers
Whalers is a locally owned brewery with an on-site taproom selling draft beer, growler fills and merchandise.
1174 Kingstown Rd., South Kingstown, RI, whalers.com
White Lion Brewing Company
White Lion is the first craft beer brand to go to market in Springfield. The company has all of the necessary ingredients for a successful, sustainable future: A compelling brand, a smart plan for growth, and a commitment to being a vital part of the city’s renaissance.
Springfield, MA, whitelionbrewing.com
Woodchuck Hard Cider
Woodchuck Cider Makers meticulously oversee the details of every cider before any bottle or keg leaves their Cidery. It’s this special attention and passion for cider that ensures they always deliver a premium hard cider that is true to their roots.
1321 Exchange St, Middlebury, VT, woodchuck.com
