Hops, Grapes & Barrels Tour

DAY 1:

• Start your day at The Beach House in Natick for a game of indoor sand volleyball—a super fun way to get the blood pumping and build up an appetite for lunch (and, of course, beer!)
• At Jack’s Abby, get a behind-the-scenes tour to see how their beer is made, followed by lunch in their newly renovated beer hall and a tasting of their famous lagers. With two dozen choices on tap, including beer hall exclusives, you can try everything from their Smoke & Dagger black lager to the Blood Orange Wheat radler. And be sure to taste one of Jack’s rotating offerings that change weekly. Pair your flight with a wood-fired pizza, some American bar fare, or even a schnitzel sandwich.
• After lunch, head down the street to Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Company for a flight of their amazing beers—try a crisp German Kolsch, a roasty American porter, a hazy juicy IPA, or one of their taproom-exclusive Brewer’s Special Kegs, and experience all the uniqueness of this local craft brewery.
• Later in the afternoon, take the short drive to Hopkinton to check out the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. One of the region’s largest performing and visual arts centers, HCA includes a rotating gallery of regional work, art workshops and special events, engaging lectures, and live performances, such as their Broadway in Hopkinton series or their famous “A Play, A Pint & A Pie” summer stock production of one act plays. With your ticket price comes a pint of local craft beer and a savory hand pie.
• In the evening, head up the street to Start Line Brewing to discover the many craft brews they have on tap, including a plethora of IPA’s, ales, and stouts, which you can enjoy with a tasty dinner and live music.
• Spend the night at the Holiday Inn Express Boston-Milford where relaxation is effortless in their ultra-comfortable guestrooms. End the evening with a nightcap and some live music at CraftRoots Brewing, where they are passionate about the beer they create.

DAY 2:

• Start the day with a little virtual golf at GolfX, where you can play courses from Pinehurst #2 in North Carolina to Royal Melbourne in Australia!
• Afterwards, wander the cute shops of the Franklin Cultural District, with a stop for lunch at Teddy Gallagher’s Irish Pub (whose draft line up includes some great Massachusetts’ beers!), then head to 67 Degrees Brewing to try one of this microbrewery’s offerings.
• In the afternoon, trek over to Dacey Field to try your hand at a round of disc golf on their highly-rated 18-hole course.
• Want to mix up the beer tasting with a little wine? Stop in to La Cantina Winery’s tasting room to experience their uniquely regional wines made in the Italian winemaking tradition, such as their Cranberry & Honey wine made from local honey and Cape Cod cranberries. The tasting room offers samples of over two dozen wines, which you can also buy by the bottle.
• In the evening, explore GlenPharmer, a restaurant and whiskey distillery housed in the historic granite and heavy timber mill buildings of the Brookdale Mill. This premier destination distillery and tasting room offers behind-the-scenes tours, as well as creative, chef-inspired cuisine that embraces the intersection of fine food and craft spirts.
• Check out what play, concert, or dance performance is on at The Black Box for your evening’s entertainment.

DAY 3:

• Just a mile from the hotel, you can get on the Upper Charles Rail Trail to start your day with a run, bike, or walk the few miles into downtown Holliston, ending at Coffee Haven for a great breakfast sandwich and latte. Still have energy? Keep going another ½ mile to see the famous 8-arch bridge at the Bogastow Brook Viaduct.
• Head to the Natick Mall for a wander of the shops. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, indulge in a great lunch and a little glass of something from local brewery Night Shift Brewing in their taproom at Level99, followed by a few hours of challenge-based entertainment.
• Go to Lookout Farm for an early dinner and a flight of their beautiful ciders brewed on-site. If the weather is nice, sit outside with your succulent BBQ; feeling a bit chilly? Grab a picnic table in The Greenhouse covered dining area while you sip your way through their offerings. Sit back, relax, and enjoy some live music with your cider.
• On your way out of town, try one last flight at Lost Shoe Brewing Company…followed by a cup of their home-roasted coffee for the road!
• Love our breweries as much as we do? Find more of them in the Dining section of our website–click Favorite Places for a complete list. Post pictures of your tour with #WeAreMetroWest, and make plans to come back again!

The MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau encourages you to drink responsibly. Please do not drink and drive.