Turtle Swamp Brewing, which was built in a former JP mechanic's garage, is one of the best breweries in Boston worth visiting. Turtle Swamp is situated in one of Boston’s hippest, yet casual neighborhoods, Jamaica Plain. The brewery opened in 2015 yet maintains an under-the-radar feel.

Situated in an area of the city that’s historically been home to many breweries, it’s now one of only a few in the southwestern part of Boston. With many brews named for local landmarks and sites, it’s nearly impossible to pick a bad choice. Those who enjoy hops can’t go wrong with the classic South Street, a New England IPA. A small menu of grilled cheese, paninis, and hotdogs will satisfy meat eaters and vegetarians alike.

The giant garage doors are still there, so you’ll have great natural light while you overlook a nice patio. There’s no food, but there are often food trucks, and the brewery regularly hosts fun things, like adult prom night. Don’t forget to check out the hidden room upstairs that has some board games and more comfortable bench seating.

• Google rating: 4.3/5.0
• Founded: 2015
  
• Annual Revenue: $1.3 million per year
  
• Opening Hours: Mon to Fri 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM, Sat to Sun 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
• Website: https://turtleswampbrewing.com/
• Phone: +1 617-522-0038
• Address: 3377 Washington St, Boston, MA 02130

On international beer rankings, Trillium Brewing Company frequently receives raving reviews, and the atmosphere and service at all of its locations are flawlessly matched to the company's beverages. Its original Fort Point brewery and taproom, which have expanded alongside the trendy Seaport neighborhood over the past ten years, are constantly buzzing with activity.

Similarly, bustling is its seasonal beer garden located on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The latter makes a great pitstop for those partaking in Boston activities along the waterfront and the water. Its most recent location is in the Boston-area suburb of Canton. There is no better place to spend a summer evening than at the Trillium Garden on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, where there are string lights hanging from the ceiling, a food truck waiting to serve, and distant glimpses of Boston Harbor.

With room for up to 500 guests, this location is significantly larger! It also has a full restaurant, which makes it a good option for people looking for a more laid-back experience and somewhere to linger.

• Google rating: 4.6/5.0
• Founded: 2013
  
• Annual Revenue: $28.1M per year
  
• Opening Hours: Mon to Thu 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM, Fri to Sat 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM, Sun 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Website: https://trilliumbrewing.com/
• Phone: +1 857-449-0083
• Address: 50 Thomson Pl, Boston, MA 02210
  

Winter Hill Brewing Company is one of those down-to-earth neighborhood joints everyone loves! This brewery sees a lot of returning customers and regulars who come in multiple times a week. Winter Hill values giving back to the community and works with and supports a variety of non-profit organizations. Additionally to ethically sourced, handcrafted coffee, they also sell amazing small-batch beer that is made on site.

Winter Hill has no intention of catering to popular beer trends. Instead, this hidden gem in the neighborhood keeps its output restrained and deliberate, typically offering five approachable draft beers at all times. That means two to three year-round options as well as seasonal options like a German ale with Kolsch-inspired flavors. This brewery also serves as a morning caffeine stop, offering Counter Culture Coffee brew and espresso drinks along with pastries and take-out breakfast sandwiches, has to be loved.

With its intense mango, peach, and tropical fruit notes, the Sun Buzz IPA is the perfect summer crowd-pleaser and a great partner for outdoor cookouts and pool parties.

• Google rating: 4.6/5.0
• Founded: 1980
  
• Annual Revenue: $4.1M per year
  
• Opening Hours: Tue to Sat 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Sun 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Website: https://winterhillbrewing.com/
• Phone: +1 617-684-5451
• Address: 328 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145

From Boston, take a short detour down the Charles River until you reach Waltham, where the Mighty Squirrel Brewing is located. After being established in 2013, Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. has since opened its enormous brewery in Waltham, Massachusetts with the intention of continuing to grow and expand into its 23,000-square-foot facility.

A sizable, inviting beer garden outfitted with rows of string lights and umbrella-shaded tables is connected to the brewery. Mighty Squirrel’s founders are all about enjoying the great outdoors, so in addition to the spacious beer garden, they picked a location that is right by Beaver Brook Park. You won't likely have to wait for very long, if at all, as its indoor taproom, outdoor patio, and Biergarten can accommodate more than 500 people.

If you’re intrigued by its name, you’ll be even more charmed by what’s on tap at Mighty Squirrel. For one of the brewery’s most popular IPAs, try Cloud Candy. Or, for a more whimsical sip, try the Strawberry Rhubarb Smoovy or one of many seasonal options.

Situated right beside the stunning Beaver Brook Reservation, a state park, Mighty Squirrel is the perfect place to go after a casual hike. It’s also a family-friendly destination and the outdoor areas are dog-friendly, so bring the whole crew along!

• Google rating: 4.6/5.0
• Founded: 2013
  
• Annual Revenue: $5.1M per year
  
• Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM, Sun 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM
• Website: https://www.mightysquirrel.com/
• Phone: +1 781-839-9242
• Address: 411 Waverley Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA 02452

Dorchester Brewing Company, one of best breweries in Boston, appears unassuming at first glance on an industrial stretch of road in Boston's most populous neighborhood. Take a look up, and you'll notice its expansive roof deck and greenhouse-style rooftop beer hall, dubbed the "Hopservatory." Visitors can order a house-brewed or locally-brewed beer, wine, or cider on tap while admiring the Boston skyline from the south.

This brewing company opened its doors in 2016 with one of the first grain silos built in Dorchester, MA in over a century. Dorchester Brewing Company is a place that is always brewing, producing both its own craft beers and those of several partner breweries. DBCo. brews its own well-crafted house beers in collaboration with local brewing partners and regional collaborators, and serves them all on the taproom's gleaming new 20-tap system.

Dorchester Brewing Company's large brewing space houses some of the most cutting-edge brewing equipment, including high-speed canning and bottling machines and a massive energy-efficient cooler in the back for fresh beer storage. Dorchester Brewing Company is one of the newest and best places to settle in for a tour visit, with food trucks outside, wi-fi and board games inside, and an ever changing line up of fresh brews.

• Google rating: 4.5/5.0
• Founded: 2016
  
• Annual Revenue: $4.6M per year
  
• Opening Hours: Sun to Mon 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM, Tue to Thu 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM, Fri to Sat 11:30 AM - 11:00 PM
  
• Website: https://www.dorchesterbrewing.com/
• Phone: +1 617-514-0900
• Address: 1250 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02125

Aeronaut Brewing Co., which officially opened in June 2014, creates inventive beers inspired by New England agriculture and enlivened by hand-gathered strains of house-cultured yeast. The Somerville-based brewery and food hub prides itself on being a welcoming community space where visitors enjoy a welcoming social environment immersed in manufacturing, science, and the local food chain, with a mission to brew world-class beer, amplify community voice, and support arts and culture.

Aeronaut is one of those places that has grown significantly since its inception while still maintaining an authentically cool vibe. Aeronaut's sprawling taproom has two massive seating areas and shares space with Carolicious, which serves delectable Venezuelan cuisine, and Somerville Chocolate, which sells locally crafted chocolate bars. Visitors can also sip beers on the spacious outdoor patio area during the summer.

If you're here for the beers, you'll find a diverse menu with numerous eclectic seasonal additions at any time of year. If Aeronaut is hosting a book and brews event, drag bingo, or a night of trivia with themes ranging from summer camp to Game of Thrones, you know you'll be entertained. It is located in Somerville, just north of Boston, and is a short walk from trendy Bow Market and Union Square.

• Google rating: 4.5/5.0
• Founded: 2014
  
• Annual Revenue: $5.3M per year
  
• Opening Hours: Mon 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM, Tue to Thu 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM, Fri to Sat 5:00 PM - 12:30 AM, Sun 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  
• Website: https://www.aeronautbrewing.com/
• Phone: +1 617-987-4236
  
• Address: 14 Tyler St, Somerville, MA 02143

Night Shift Brewing, one of the one of best breweries in Boston, began as an idea. Rob Burns, Mike O'Mara, and Michael Oxton started homebrewing beer for friends and family in a small kitchen on Josephine Avenue in Somerville, MA. This hobby took place after work, late into the evenings, and became known as their "night shift." It was 2007, and they hoped to share something more interesting and flavorful than the commercial options on the shelves.

In 2012, they relocated their hobby to a small Everett warehouse and officially launched Night Shift Brewing. Years of long days and late nights have resulted in world-class beers, a passionate community of loyal customers, and a growing team of hardworking Night Shift staff.

They keep a laser-like focus on three values: inclusivity, integrity, and innovation. And they strongly believe in the mantra "all styles welcome" - not only in terms of what they produce, but also in terms of how they run their business. Night Shift, the mad scientists of modern-day brewing, loves to experiment with flavors like habanero pepper and agave nectar in their hugely popular 'Viva Habanera,' and herbs and spices like rosemary and pink peppercorn in their aptly named 'Rose.' These out-of-the-ordinary combinations draw customers from all over the country, making them a must-visit brewery for any beer connoisseur or enthusiast.

• Google rating: 4.5/5.0
• Founded: 2012
  
• Annual Revenue: $23.2M per year
  
• Opening Hours: Mon to Thu 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Fri to Sat 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM, Sun 11:30 AM - 8:00 PM
  
• Website: https://nightshiftbrewing.com/
• Phone: +1 617-456-7687
• Address: 1 Lovejoy Wharf #101, Boston, MA 02114

Harpoon was founded in 1986 by Dan Kenary, Rich Doyle, and George Ligeti. They were three friends who loved beer and enjoyed drinking it together, but found the beer options at the time to be limited. Traveling through Europe and experiencing the rich traditions of European brewing and beer drinking enhanced their love of beer and opened their eyes to the rich beer culture they desired back home. They decided to build a brewery so that they could brew the beers they wanted to drink and invite their friends to the brewery to drink them with them.

The first Harpoon Ale was brewed in June 1987 in a warehouse space on the Boston waterfront that had been converted into a brewery. Fresh, local craft beer began to reach Boston beer drinkers. It was difficult to imagine craft brewing becoming what it is today. A visit to Harpoon brewery isn't complete without a tour of the facility, where you'll learn about its intriguing history and try a sample.

After your tour, head to the beer hall or on-site seasonal beer garden, where there's plenty of room to sit or stand. Harpoon really nails it with its seasonal offerings; Camp Wannamango, Flannel Friday, and Winter Warmer are all fantastic. Aside from its delectable beverages, Harpoon hosts exciting events on a weekly basis. Check out the calendar for events like cornhole tournaments, artisanal vendor fairs, a barbecue festival, and, of course, Octoberfest.

• Google rating: 4.6/5.0
• Founded: 1986
  
• Annual Revenue: $88M per year
  
• Opening Hours: Sun to Tue 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Wed 12:00 PM - 8:30 PM, Thu 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Fri to Sat 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
• Website: https://www.harpoonbrewery.com/
  
• Phone: +1 617-456-2322
• Address: 306 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210

Located in an iconic brick flatiron in Roslindale Square, this Boston brewery opened up at the end of 2019. Despite the challenges that lurked just around the corner of their opening, Distraction has been making itself a staple in the neighborhood, and with over a dozen fresh beers on tap, they invite you to come “Kick Back and Be(er) Yourself.”

If you’re into more casual brews, don’t worry, there’s something more sippable for you too, for example, try the Daily Distraction, a juicy New England IPA. Distraction Brewing is new to the scene, having opened in 2019, but its friendly servers, cool neighborhood vibes, and interesting pours mean it’ll be around for a while. Also, don’t forget to check out their lineup of events each month which feature an array of talented musicians and groups. Sipping beer and listening to live tunes is what life’s all about.

• Google rating: 4.8/5.0
• Founded: 2019
  
• Annual Revenue: N/A
  
• Opening Hours: Tue & Thu 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Wed, Sun 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Fri 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM, Sat 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Sun 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  
• Website: https://www.distractionbrewingco.com/
• Phone: +1 617-477-3677
  
• Address: 2 Belgrade Ave, Roslindale, MA 02131

Democracy Brewing, an actual downtown brewery for a change, exudes the charm of an older Boston. In the face of a beer industry that adores metal warehouses and posts and beam barns for taprooms, Democracy Brewing sticks to its revolutionary design guns with a small taste of what on-site brewing must have been like 200+ years ago.

Democracy Brewing takes pride in being entirely employee-owned, but it provides much more than just ethical business practices. Democracy Brewing has mastered the art of decadent pub food with a variety of savory dishes on the menu, including mac and cheese loaded with a healthy portion of birria beef and pulled pork sandwiches infused with stout. There aren't many places in town that provide such a seamless blend of traditional Boston charm and modern sophistication. This building, clad in rustic red brick and crowned with a stunning mural depicting Massachusetts' official motto, does just that.

At Democracy Brewing, you'll see a wide range of people, including those attending networking events, those on dates, graduate students stopping by after evening classes, and visitors enjoying a pint after sightseeing. The Max Kriek is an excellent choice for those who prefer their beer to be tart, and it has a lovely pink hue thanks to a high concentration of cherry purée.

• Google rating: 4.6/5.0
• Founded: 2016
  
• Annual Revenue: N/A
  
• Opening Hours: Tue to Wed 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Thu to Sat 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM, Sun 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Website: https://www.democracybrewing.com/
• Phone: +1 857-263-8604
• Address: 35 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111