The Many Faces of Boston Beer Works

Brothers Joe and Steve Slesar started Slesar Brothers Brewing Company in 1990. Their combination of restaurant and brewing experience motivated them to open a successful group of brewery/eatery locations throughout the Boston area. The Boston Beer Works chain serves a variety of handcrafted ales and lagers paired with a menu of bold American cuisine.

In 1992 the first Boston Beer Works to open was the Fenway location, located directly across the street from Fenway Park at 61 Brookline Avenue. New to the average diner, the beer making process was exposed, allowing guests to see the brewing area while enjoying the finished product. This concept exists today in every Beer Works location.

The current menu includes starters like Beer Dough Bites and Stout Cheese, Potato-Bacon-Cheese Spring Rolls, and Blueberry Shark among standards like nachos, wings, and hummus. I highly recommend indulging in one of their bucket of fries. Choose a flavoring like Sour Cream and Chives or Fiery.

Sandwich choices include the Downtown Burger (Two grilled burger patties – one topped with cheddar and applewood smoked bacon – the other with Swiss cheese and sautéed onions, all on one bun), Chicken Bravas (Grilled chicken breast with baby spinach, vine-ripened tomato and mahon cheese with roasted red pepper aioli on a toasty ciabatta roll), and the Brew’bano (Roast pork, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and chipotle mayo on toasted French bread).

Some mouth watering entrees include BBQ’D Baby Back Ribs (served with whipped potatoes, sautéed green beans, cornbread and coleslaw), Chicken and Shrimp Sesame Stir Fry (Sautéed shrimp, chicken, snap peas, red pepper, green onion, shiitake and soy sprouts in a sesame ginger sauce served with jasmine rice), and Shrimp ‘N Ham ‘N Mac ‘N Cheese (Shrimp, Canadian bacon and spinach with cavatappi in a rich, golden cheese sauce infused with oatmeal stout and topped with buttery crumbs).

The menu includes a delicious Garden Burger served with grilled mushrooms and honey-dijon dressing, and all of the entree salads can be made vegetarian – including a price adjustment! The Stir Fry and Mac ‘N Cheese can also be made vegetarian. On weekends, brunch is served, and a lunch menu is available during the week.

After only a year, Boston Beer Works became one of the largest producing brewpubs in the country. The brand was instantly successful. The current head brewer at the Fenway location, Jodi Andrews, brews up over 50 varieties of ales and lagers with at least 15 on tap at any given time.

Some of the brews include Hub Light, Boston Garden Golden, Patriot Pils, Fenway American Pale Ale, Boston Red, and Beantown Nut Brown. Some of my favorites are the Bunker Hill Bluebeery Ale and Victory Red (brewed to celebrate the Sox winning the World Series in 2004).

The Beer Works also offers gluten free beers and ciders. A cask conditioned ale is usually available, and sample trays can be purchased. Wine and cocktails are also available.

In 1996, the Salem Beer Works opened in historic Salem, MA, then in 2000 the Boston Beer Works Canal Street location, located near North Station (pictured in headline image above) and TD Garden at 112 Canal Street. At the time this was one of the largest brewpubs in the eastern part of the county at 15,000 square feet of space, including championship billiard tables on the second floor. The corporate offices are also located at this location.

The Beer Works also has locations at Logan International Airport in Terminals C and E since 2007. Called “Beer Works Outlets,” these three locations offer an abbreviated menu to pair with the delicious ales and lagers.

Lowell Beer Works opened in 2008 along with the Beer Works Production Brewery and Bottling Facility in Lowell, MA. While patrons have always been able to take Beer Works brews home in growlers, for the first time the beers were available in 6-packs.

Fenway American Pale Ale, Bunker Hill Bluebeery Ale, Boston Red Ale, and Back Bay IPA are always available in bottles. The seasonal releases include Summer Works Watermelon, Autumn Works Pumpkin, and Winter Works Lovefest. The Overtime Series includes RIPA Rosemary Imperial Pale Ale, Black O Lantern Imperial Pumpkin Stout, and Redeemer Imperial Red Ale.

Expanding the brand even more, Hingham Brew Works opened at 18 Shipyard Drive in 2010, and most recently the Framingham Brew Works opened at 345 Cochituate Road in 2013. At these locations, the year round beers are renamed to reflect the town. For example, Boston Red is Cochituate Red and the Beantown Nut Brown is Bowditch Brown Ale at the Framingham location.

If you live in the Boston area or visit often regularly, I highly recommend picking up a Beer Works VIP Card. Free to join, the membership gives you a $10 VIP Reward for joining, a $10 VIP Reward each month, and a $10 VIP Reward on your birthday. You also accrue Loyalty Points every time you visit Beer Works.

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