I haven't "gone out" on New Year's Eve in probably five years. Maybe more. It's not that I don't like fun. (I love fun.) It's just ... there's nothing fun about going out on New Year's Eve.
This isn't a Boston thing. This is an everywhere thing. For some reason, when it comes to December 31, people will pay any amount of money to wait in line in the freezing cold so they can toast a half a glass of mediocre champagne with a thousand sweaty strangers at a bar or club they wouldn't usually be caught dead in. I know I'm laying it on pretty thick here. But really, what's to love?
That's why this year should be the year of the NYE craft brewery. Sure, you'll encounter crowds here, too. You might even wait in line for a while. (Read: You're gonna wait in line for a while.) But at least you know that once you get in, you'll be met with a lineup of some of the best beers going, and probably a few brewed special for the occasion. Also, the the music won't suck. And the crowd will be there not so much because it's NYE but because it's Saturday and this is where they go on Saturdays.
If you're intrigued, read on. Here are a few local breweries doing NYE right.
Bone Up Brewing Co.
Everett's BUBco will be open until 1 a.m., serving their ever-growing lineup of crave-worthy brews.
"Now, we here at Bone Up are of two minds about New Year's Eve: we like drinking-related celebrations as much as anyone, but it seems like NYE is when a lot of places like to charge a steep cover to get you into a 'party' whose theme is apparently 'Let's Make These Drinks Way More Expensive!' ... which ain't really our style," founder Liz Kiraly told me. "Instead, we're throwing a (free to enter) party whose theme is more like 'Let's Keep it Low-Key' and we're putting in even less effort than we usually do for this type of shindig. We'll have beer and games and snacks for some comfortable good times, and the city is even letting us stay open until 1am! And who knows, we may even go buck wild and order a stack o' pizzas. Party on!"
Dorchester Brewing Co.
Dorchester's DBCo. will be open until 12:30 a.m.
"We’re hosting the biggest bash of the year in Boston and we want you here. We’ve extended our hours for the night and last call will be at 12:30am!" co-founder Holly Irgens told me. "We’ll have have local Dorchester Polish food for purchase from DJ’s European Market & Deli from 12-4 p.m., a local DJ spinning beats at night from 8 p.m. on, free local desserts after 9 p.m. 'til they last and of course, we’ll be counting down and showing the actual ball drop from New York City at midnight."
What's more, she said, "We’re planning a special beer release of Resolution Berliner, our Doppel Berliner Beer with Pear, to release on the eve of 2017 served in champagne flutes, so you can make a traditional toast to the New Year."
Hopsters
Newton's Hopsters is celebrating all that's sour, since, you know ... 2016.
"For $69.99 you'll have the opportunity to join the brew staff in creating your own Flanders Red Ale, yes we'll provide the all grain wort that we brew for last year's Flounders Ale," said founder Lee Cooper. "Ticket price includes admission, heavy hors d'oeuvres, brewing, a beer toast at midnight and party favors. Then in 11 months you will pick up six 750 ml bottles that will be ready for you to enjoy next end of year Holiday Season 2017!"
Lamplighter Brewing Company
Cambridge's Lamplighter Brewing Co. will be open past midnight.
"We’re hosting a NYE party! Tickets ($75) include three full pours of beer and a midnight toast, lots of party favors and New Year's swag, hot and cold appetizers and snacks throughout the evening, and a Lamplighter teku glass," founder Cayla Marvil told me. "We’re releasing Astral Weeks as our midnight toast, a brett ale that’s been aging in chardonnay barrels since July."
Night Shift Brewing
Everett's Night Shift will be open until 1 a.m.
"We'll be toasting to another exciting year by tapping two kegs from our cellar, and celebrating the release of two brand new beers," marketing coordinator Gene Buonaccorsi told me of the party. "Our new releases include Nostos, an imperial hefeweizen with chocolate that we brewed in collaboration with Burial Beer Co. from Asheville, NC, as well as Hive Queen, an imperial stout brewed with honey. The cellared kegs are Marilyn, a barleywine aged in apple brandy barrels, and Second Breakfast, a baltic porter. These two cellared beers are available for one night only, and exist in very limited quantities, so we're pretty excited to share them. Company Picnic will be our food vendor for the night, and we'll have the Taproom decked out in festive decorations!"
Somerville Brewing Company
Somerville Brewing Company, a.k.a Slumbrew, has two parties popping off this NYW.
"At our Assembly Row beer Garden we have The Buzz playing for a night of dancing with your friends in jeans and drinking beer. This party is about your posse and that means we're selling the tickets in packs of Ten!" said founder Caitlin Jewell. "Our second bash is a smoother, soothing party at the brewery with elegant hors d'oeuvres and the brewery scene's favorite funky jazz band, The Erlenmeyers!"
