Boston is better known for its Irish pubs and sports bars than its craft beer bars, but the city has some gems if you know where to look. The following list of Boston-area craft beer bars is a good place to start. Bars are listed in order of my personal preference, with my favorites atop the list.
- The Publick House (Washington Square, Brookline, MA)
- Cambridge Brewing Co. (Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA)
- Bukowski Tavern (Two locations, one in Boston’s Back Bay and another in Inman Square, Cambridge, MA)
- The Lower Depths Tap Room (Kenmore Square, Boston)
- Sunset Grill and Tap (Allston Village, Allston, MA)
- The Gaff (Moody St., Waltham, MA)
- Lord Hobo (Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA)
- John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House (Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA)
- Deep Ellum (Allston, MA)
- Cambridge Common (Cambridge, MA)
- Jacob Wirth (Chinatown, Boston)
- Russell House Tavern (Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA)
- Five Horses Tavern (Davis Square, Somerville, MA)
- Boston Beer Works (Two locations, one in Boston’s Fenway and another downtown)
- The Tip Tap Room (Boston’s Beacon Hill)
- Meadhall (Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA)
- The Biltmore Bar & Grille (Newton Upper Falls, MA)
- Tavern in the Square (Two locations, one in Allston Village and another in Porter Square, Cambridge)
- Yard House (The Fenway)
Every one of the bars listed here is worth a visit. The craft beer scene is booming in and around Boston, and new bars open regularly, so I’ll update this list when appropriate.
UBN
(Last update 09.15.12)
Urban Beer Nerd 
What about the Beantown Pub on Tremont? Where you can have a cold Sam Adams while looking at a cold Sam Adams!!
Hey dcmontreal,
I like the Beantown Pub, and I go there somewhat frequently. But it’s definitely not a “beer bar.” You can’t really get craft, or rare, beer there. Another pub I’m particularly fond of is The Squealing Pig on Huntington Ave. near Brigham Circle. It actually does have a good selection of craft beer, but it’s still not really a beer bar.
UBN
Hello UBN,
If you ever get to Montreal give this place a try: http://www.bieresetcompagnie.ca/index.php
Sorry, but that site is only in French, but here is a page with English details http://www.yelp.ca/biz/bi%C3%A8res-et-compagnie-montr%C3%A9al-3
Or there is a chain of places called Les trois brasseurs (The Three Brewers) and they have restaurants all over the place. They brew their own beers on site. http://les3brasseurs.ca/eng/index.php
Cheers
Cool. Thank you. I’ve never been to Montreal, but it’s definitely on my list of places I’d like to go. Now I know a couple of bars to visit if I make it there.
UBN
If you like Boston, you’ll like Montreal!! Even if you wear a Bruins shirt!!!
I’ll definitely bring my B’s jersey along–and my Sox cap!
UBN
I’m a Sox fan – tough year – since the Expos left town and I can ya meet half way on hockey with a Habs Chris Nilan jersey!!!
Cheers!
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Check out Canary Square in Jamaica Plain. Great craft beer and great food
Cool. Thanks Jimbo. Never even heard of Canary Square. I’ll definitely check it out.
UBN
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[…] The Lower Depth’s bartenders are knowledgeable and friendly. And the bar frequently holds “beer socials” and other events with local brewers. For all of these reasons and more, The Lower Depths Tap Room sits near the top of my Best Boston Beer Bars list. […]
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You forgot Atwood’s Tavern in Cambridge and The Brendan Behan Pub in JP. Redbones in Davis Square used to be decent but they’ve really scaled back on the quality of the brews they have on tap in the last few years… a shame.
I didn’t forget those bars. I’ve never been to Atwoods. I’ll have to check it out though. And I don’t really consider Brendan Behan’s to be a beer bar.
UBN
I’ll second Atwood and add Picco in the south end. Rotating tapa year round compliment good pizza and ice cream. Check it out
Cool. Thanks for the advice. I’ll check them out.
UBN
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[…] Bukowski Boston, but that’s largely because it has sentimental value to me. Both bars make my list of Boston’s best beer bars, and you should definitely make a stop at each if you’re ever in Boston’s Back Bay or […]
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