Boston, MA
November 2010
I love a great beer. And I learned to distinguish a good beer from a great beer after I started drinking Sam Adams. So to pay homage to this celebrated brewery, I decided to spend a weekend in the company of the impressive beer masters.
One Friday morning, I walked to the train station and took a
train to 30th street Station in Philly. Form there, I took an 8-hour Metro Bus to
Boston and found my way to a pub in that train station. My friend Carol, came down from VT and met me
in the pub. We then drove over to Sam
Adams just in time to take the last tour of the day. I didn’t realize how special this was until I
saw that all of the employees were joining us on this tour and all of them had
a pitcher of beer with them which they shared with all of us. By the time the tour ended and we went back
to the tasting room, I was s already a little loaded and probably could have
been finished for the night.
But that just didn’t happen. We were allowed to sample four
of the 7 beers they had on tap. When I
protested that I couldn’t try all 7, the tour guide said, “Well, you just have
to come back tomorrow and try the other beers.”
He then encouraged us to get on a trolley and head out to Doyle’s Bar which
served soon exclusive Sam Adman’s beers.
By this time, neither Carol and I were in any condition to drive,
let alone go someplace for more beers. Our guide told us not to worry, we could
keep our car in their lot and come get it tomorrow. So that is what we did. We joyfully got on the Doyle trolley and
spent the evening with all of our new found friends at Sam Adam’s.
We fortunately had secured a room at a local B & B. So a
responsible taxi driver took us home at some point in the evening. I think I was more full of beer than I was drunk.
On Saturday, we got up and made our way back to Sam Adams
Brewery. Now there was a large crowd. So
we had to wait for a tour. That got on
my nerves. So, while we waited, we went to the gift shop and gave them too much
of our money. Once our tour starts, Carol and I excused ourselves and went
right to the testing room. This is where we spent the afternoon. In the evening, we went back to Doyle’s and
again drank too many beers. And, of course, took a taxi home. Our car was still in the parking lot since
yesterday.
On Sunday, we went into the Quincy Market area and found the
three bars that had exclusive rights to a Sam Adams signature beer. All three bars claim they have the best Sam
Adams beer. Personally, I liked them
all.
Mid-afternoon, I had to catch my bus back to Philly and I
got home around 10:00 PM, carrying my two liters of IPA, two pint glasses from
Doyle’s and two sample glasses from the tasting room. All in all, I had a really great time.
