Bouncing Around Boston

The kids are off from school for winter break, so we planned to head out of town for a day to explore Boston.  Jess’ friend Lizzie was staying with us, and she had never been to Boston, so we had to take her downtown to Faneuil Hall, the North End, and see the penguins and turtles at the aquarium (of course).  However, Jacob preferred to explore the city via T-stops.  So after Jenn & Jess got her chowda, Lizzie got some pizza, and Jacob got a whoopie pie, we got ready to go.  Jacob and I first took the Orange line from Haymarket to Back Bay, and headed to my first destination, the Salty Pig (http://www.thesaltypig.com/).

The Salty Pig was recommended by some beer list back in 2012, and it is located right across the T-stop.  Specializing in pork products (what else) and beer (what else), I got the Cured, a rally fancy ploughman’s.  It had Soppressata and Prosciutto Bianco, cheese, marinated eggplant and pickles with toasted bread – all were delicious.  I went with the Rogue Farms 7 Hop IPA on draft, a great accompaniment for the food, and chatted with the waiters about the local beer scene while Jacob played photographer (great job Jacob!).  We then went exploring Copley Place, stopping by the Boston Public Library (both entrances) and seeing the Boston Marathon Finish line (in between the cars passing by).  So we hopped on the Green line at Copley and head to the Park St Station to check out the Boston Commons.

The Commons is Boston’s version of Central Park, and it was a beautiful day to walk around.  We saw the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial by the State Capital, skipped the Granary Burial Grounds, and headed to my second planned stop, Stoddard’s Fine Food & Ales (http://stoddardsfoodandale.com/).  Stoddard’s was recommended by that same beer list, and this bar definitely had a lot to offer.  Today it was Jack’s Abby Hopstitution XPL on cask, an order of hand-cut fries for Jacob, a bowl of marinated olives for me, and an opportunity to watch the USA vs. Canada Women’s Hockey Gold medal game.  The US went into stall mode and it cost them, giving up 2 goals late in the game and losing in OT.  Oh well, I got to try a beer from the first Trappist brewery in the US, Spencer’s Trappist Ale (http://www.spencerbrewery.com/), a Belgian Pale Ale weighing in at 6.5% ABV, qualifying it as a Single suitable for the monks dinner table.  We walked to Downtown Crossing and headed back to Faneuil Hall to meet up with the ladies, getting into the car and heading out of town.

But we weren’t done yet, and Jenn suggested that we stop by the Sunset Grill (http://www.allstonsfinest.com/welcome/) for dinner.  With over 100+ taps and an endless menu that featured Mexican food, it has become one of our favorites.  I got the steak burrito while Jenn chowed on a humongous plate of nachos, and I got a nice sampler.  My sampler (all drafts) included Lost Abbey’s Merry Taj IPA (the first from this great SoCal brewery), Stone’s Stochasticity Project Grapefruit Slam IPA, The Bruery’s 6-Geese-A-Laying, and Allagash’s Red Howes (a delicious cranberry stout).  I was looking at the wall, scouting out their extensive bottle selection, and noted a red labeled bottle next to Goose Island’s Bourbon County stout.  Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be their Bourbon County Coffee Stout, the #4 beer on Beer Advocate’s top beer list.  Since you can’t get bottles to go in MA, Jenn offered to drive (at least I think I asked her) and I got the bottle.  Delicious, this 13.4% Imperial Stout is brewed with local coffee beans and aged in bourbon barrels.  It is these rare finds that keeps me searching.

We left and Jenn got us all home safe and sound.  I had a great day away from home with the family, and I can’t wait for an opportunity to go back.  When does baseball season start anyways? - 15286

 
“The man who isn’t jolly after drinking is just a driveling idiot, to my thinking.” - Euripides