Some of the best breweries in Massachusetts are hiding in plain sight. The state has quietly become a standout beer destination, and you don’t have to look far to find proof.
Across Cape Cod, the South Coast, and Boston, you’ll find relaxed taprooms, farm breweries, and lively beer halls worth visiting. We rounded up 20 local favorites. Some have been pouring for decades, while others are newer additions to the Massachusetts craft beer scene.
Best Breweries on Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Cape Cod’s brewery scene offers plenty to explore, from spacious outdoor settings to relaxed neighborhood taprooms. These six local favorites provide a taste of the Cape’s growing craft beer culture.
Naukabout Beer Company. Photo: Randi Baird Photography, Cape Cod Chamber
Naukabout Beer Company in Mashpee
Naukabout Beer Company brings relaxed Cape Cod energy to Mashpee. Its beers rotate often, so there’s usually something new to try. Its spacious outdoor setting also makes it an inviting place to settle in over a pint or two.
Tree House Brewing Company in Sandwich
Tree House Brewing Company brought its celebrated beer lineup to Cape Cod with its Sandwich location. Known for its IPAs and wide-ranging craft beer selection, the brewery also serves wood-fired pizza. As a result, it’s easy to turn a quick stop into an afternoon by the water.
Aquatic Brewing in Falmouth
Aquatic Brewing brings together two Cape Cod favorites: science and local beer. Its founders began homebrewing while studying oceanography at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and MIT. Today, the Falmouth taproom serves lagers, ales, and rotating releases brewed with the same experimental spirit.
Cape Cod Beer in Hyannis
Cape Cod Beer has brewed in Hyannis since 2004 and calls itself Cape Cod’s original craft brewery. Its taproom and beer garden offer year-round favorites, seasonal releases, and regular events. Check the brewery’s calendar before visiting to see what’s happening.
Devil’s Purse Brewing Company in South Dennis
Tucked away in South Dennis, Devil’s Purse draws inspiration from European brewing traditions and New England ingredients. Its lineup ranges from crisp Kölsch-style beer to pale ales and seasonal releases. The casual taproom makes it an easy addition to a Mid Cape outing.
Hog Island Beer Co. Photo: Ben Nugent, via Cape Cod Chamber
Hog Island Beer Co. in Orleans
Hog Island Beer Co.’s original Orleans location combines its main brewery with a full bar, tasting room, restaurant, and event space. The beer selection covers plenty of ground, from IPAs and pale ales to darker and seasonal styles. That variety makes it easy to find something that pairs well with the menu.
Best Breweries on the South Coast, Massachusetts
From downtown New Bedford to the fields of Westport, the South Coast’s brewery scene may be smaller, but it offers more range than you might expect.
Moby Dick Brewing Co. in New Bedford
Moby Dick Brewing Co. is a downtown New Bedford favorite pouring house-brewed ales and lagers alongside seafood and classic New England dishes. The selection changes throughout the year, giving both locals and visitors a reason to return.
Buzzards Bay Brewing in Westport
Set on a farm in Westport, Buzzards Bay Brewing offers a distinctly South Coast experience. It brews its beers on site, and the property offers plenty of room to enjoy a pint outdoors. It’s an especially inviting stop on a sunny afternoon.
Red Hand Brewing in Lakeville
Red Hand Brewing brings a friendly, neighborhood brewery feel to Lakeville. Its rotating craft beer lineup lets visitors sample what’s currently pouring in the taproom.
Canned Heat Craft Beer Company in Fall River
Canned Heat Craft Beer Company is a small-batch brewery in Fall River with a regularly changing selection. It’s a worthwhile stop for visitors who enjoy discovering local releases that may not be widely available elsewhere.
Harper Lane Brewery in Middleborough
Harper Lane Brewery began with five-gallon stovetop batches before growing into its own taproom. Although the operation has expanded, the family-run brewery has held onto its welcoming, homegrown feel. Its Middleborough taproom also offers food from neighboring Home Rootts Bistro.
Berkley Beer Company in Taunton
Berkley Beer Company combines locally brewed beer, a full food menu, and a relaxed taproom in downtown Taunton. Its rotating selection and regular events make it an easy gathering place for an afternoon or evening out.
Best Breweries in Boston, Massachusetts
Boston’s brewery scene doesn’t stay in one neighborhood. It stretches from the Seaport to Roxbury, with longtime institutions and newer favorites along the way. Here are eight stops worth the trip.
Harpoon Brewery in Boston’s Seaport. Photo: NewtonCourt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Harpoon Brewery in Boston’s Seaport
Harpoon has been part of Boston’s beer scene since 1987, and its Seaport brewery still feels like a local rite of passage. Expect an extensive beer list, food, and a steady mix of longtime fans and first-time visitors.
Democracy Brewing in Downtown Boston
Democracy Brewing combines a brewery, restaurant, and bar in the heart of downtown Boston. Its taps range from traditional lagers and ales to more experimental seasonal releases.
Samuel Adams in Jamaica Plain
A Boston brewery guide wouldn’t be complete without Samuel Adams. The Jamaica Plain brewery offers tours and tastings, while the Downtown Boston Taproom provides another place to explore the lineup.
Dorchester Brewing Company in Dorchester
Dorchester Brewing Company offers a spacious taproom, an extensive beer list, and food from M&M BBQ. With indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, it’s an easy place to spend an afternoon or evening.
Trillium’s Double Dry Hopped Congress Street IPA. Photo: Walshc22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Trillium Brewing Company in Fort Point and Fenway
Trillium is one of the most recognizable names in Massachusetts craft beer. Its lineup ranges from IPAs and pale ales to farmhouse-inspired brews. The Fort Point location includes a restaurant, patio, and roof deck, while Trillium Fenway offers another lively Boston setting.
Night Shift Brewing in Boston
Night Shift’s Lovejoy Wharf location places its beer near TD Garden, the Freedom Trail, and Boston Harbor. Along with beer, the waterfront restaurant serves Detroit-style pizza and elevated pub favorites. Its expansive patio is another reason to visit in warmer weather.
Castle Island Brewing Company in South Boston
Castle Island Brewing brings its approachable beer lineup to South Boston. The taproom serves easy-drinking styles, hop-forward options, and food, making it a relaxed stop in the neighborhood.
Long Live Beerworks in Roxbury
Long Live Beerworks brought its Rhode Island roots to Roxbury. Hop-forward beers, especially hazy IPAs, remain a calling card. It’s a worthwhile addition to a Boston brewery outing.
Want to explore beyond these 20 favorites? The Massachusetts Brewers Guild offers a statewide brewery map to help plan your next stop.
Raise a Glass to Local Beer
These 20 Massachusetts breweries cover plenty of ground, from small taprooms and farm breweries to waterfront gathering places and longtime city institutions. That variety makes the local beer scene worth exploring.
Grab a friend, choose a region, and start making your way through the list. You’ll probably discover a few favorites of your own along the way.
Looking for more coastal Massachusetts adventures? Explore our Coastal Massachusetts Bucket List for more memorable places from Boston to Cape Cod and the South Coast.
Considering a move closer to your favorite coastal communities? Explore homes and neighborhoods across Cape Cod, Boston, and the South Coast.