Highest-rated breweries in Massachusetts
Cold beer, anyone? American beer drinkers have their fair share of options no matter where they might live.
Indeed, a market once dominated by a handful of major brands has become far more diverse since the craft beer scene expanded sixfold between 2008 and 2016. Independent production cooled off just a little in 2023 but still accounted for a whopping 23.4 million barrels of beer and craft beer's overall market share by volume rose to 13.3%, according to the Brewers Association. For context, in 2013, there were 3,108 craft breweries in the U.S.—and as of 2023, there are 9,761, representing a 214% increase in just a decade. Cheers to that!
Why the ongoing obsession? Putting aside the fact that people simply love their brew, beer has emerged as a wildly versatile beverage category. Craft breweries explore beer to its fullest potential and tend to rank highly as a result.
Another thing about beer is that every sip tells a story. It's first and foremost the journey of the beer's own production, namely one involving water, malted grains, botanical hops, and yeast. However, it's also a chronicling of the area in which the beer was produced since every state has its own respective history, climate, geography, and resources. Then there's the tale of the people who produced it, turning their love of carbonated alcohol into a passion project and hiring all kinds of local talent.
Combine America's love of beer with endless flavor possibilities, and you arrive at a sensational pastime and a thriving national industry. With nearly 10,000 craft breweries bubbling up across the nation, each one offers its own unique qualities, some complete with guided tours and tasting rooms (and maybe some hearty gastropub fare).
Many of the nation's highest-rated breweries are so small and independent that the only way to sample their suds is to visit them in person, while others distribute their products around the country—or even across the globe.
To find some top spots near you, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breweries in Massachusetts using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, a business with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 6, 2024.
Regardless of the brewery's size and scope, one thing is for sure: Now is a great time for a beer!
#30. Hog Island Beer Co.
- Rating: 3.5/5 (99 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#29. Mayflower Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (55 reviews)
- Address: 12 Resnik Road Plymouth, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. Berkshire Brewing Company
- Rating: 5/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 12 Railroad St. South Deerfield, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. Barnstable Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (17 reviews)
- Address: 485 West Main St. Hyannis, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. Hyland Orchard & Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. Aeronaut Brewing Co.
- Rating: 4.5/5 (52 reviews)
- Address: 14 Tyler St. Somerville, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Wachusett Brewing Company
- Rating: 4/5 (102 reviews)
- Address: 175 State Road East Westminster, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. Oak & Iron Brewing Co.
- Rating: 4.5/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 18 Red Spring Road Andover, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Medusa Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (92 reviews)
- Address: 111 Main St. Hudson, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Naukabout Beer Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (56 reviews)
- Address: 13 Lake Ave. Mashpee, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Devil's Purse Brewing Company
- Rating: 4/5 (78 reviews)
- Address: 120 Great Western Road South Dennis, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. Western Avenue Studios & Lofts
- Rating: 5/5 (46 reviews)
- Address: 122 Western Ave. Enter off School St. Lowell, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. Cold Harbor Brewing Co
- Rating: 4.5/5 (59 reviews)
- Address: 66 Otis St. Westborough, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. Bright Ideas Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (73 reviews)
- Address: 111 Mass Moca Way North Adams, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. 1634 Meadery
- Rating: 5/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 3 Short St. Ipswich, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Wormtown Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (61 reviews)
- Address: 72 Shrewsbury St. # 4 Worcester, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. Trillium Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (101 reviews)
- Address: 110 Shawmut Road Canton, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. Far From The Tree Cider
- Rating: 4.5/5 (53 reviews)
- Address: 108 Jackson St. Salem, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Bad Martha Farmer's Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (102 reviews)
- Address: 270 Upper Main St. Edgartown, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Buzzards Bay Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (61 reviews)
- Address: 98 Horseneck Road Westport, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. Stone Cow Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (65 reviews)
- Address: 500 West St. Barre, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Red Apple Farm
- Rating: 4.5/5 (92 reviews)
- Address: 455 Highland Ave. Phillipston, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. Trillium Brewing Company
- Rating: 4/5 (136 reviews)
- Address: 369 Congress St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Night Shift Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (168 reviews)
- Address: 87 Santilli Hwy Everett, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Downeast Cider House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (94 reviews)
- Address: 256 Marginal St. Building 32 Boston, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Tree House Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (164 reviews)
- Address: 129 Sturbridge Road Charlton, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Cape Cod Beer
- Rating: 4.5/5 (429 reviews)
- Address: 1336 Phinneys Lane Hyannis, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Cisco Brewers
- Rating: 4.5/5 (803 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,025 reviews)
- Address: 306 Northern Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Samuel Adams Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,555 reviews)
- Address: 30 Germania St. Jamaica Plain Boston, Massachusetts
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jacob Osborn, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.
