Boston Beer Works - Fenway

sjverla

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -17.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 2.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

Every damn time I've been to this place, they're always out of a good chunk of the beers that they've got hanging on the menu. That, and I've never been thrilled with their beer. The food's ok, service has never been a problem, and the prices are pretty solid. However, given the desire for combining bar food and good beer, I never name this place first.

It is, however, and excellent gateway for neophytes and budding beer-enthusiasts, provided you can actually get a glass of what you're after.

02-16-2011 05:06:34 | More by sjverla

FrankLloydMike

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +0.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

I hadn't been in here since a friend's birthday about five years ago, but stopped in before a concert nearby Friday night. Having been recently impressed by the beer at the Hingham Beer Works, I was eager to check out the Fenway location while it wasn't overrun during Red Sox games.

The vibe reminded me just a bit of the Capitol Hill location of Elysian in Seattle, with its big, open, industrial space. I was happy that there were actually relatively few TVs and the brewhouse was featured prominently. I had really enjoyed the beer in Hingham, but the vibe left a lot to be desired. That was not the case here. Like John Harvard's in Cambridge, though, the atmosphere can range from very pleasant to overcrowded and rowdy depending on the crowd and outside events. Friday night, though, it was extremely comfortable and enjoyable, and the ample floor space--replete with shelves around columns for placing drinks--between the bar and booths leads me to believe that this place can handle a good sized crowd pretty well.

The quality of the beers was not quite as strong as in Hingham, though that may have owed more to my choices, and none of the beers disappointed. The Steinbier, red Beglian IPA, and especially the brown ale on cask, which had a wonderfully dank nose, were standouts. There was a good selection, maybe 12-15 on tap and cask, ranging many styles.

We just had an order of sweet potato fries, which were good but not great. Service was excellent, friendly and attentive with samples being readily offered, and the prices were all reasonable.

I wouldn't go far out of my way to visit here, especially during baseball season, but I'll definitely stop by sometime when I'm in the area. I went to school just up the road, and while I have no regrets about the hours spent in the Squealing Pig, I probably should have stopped in at the Beer Works from time to time.

02-14-2011 16:27:15 | More by FrankLloydMike

IHC

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -15.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$$

This is a great place to go if you're in the fenway area! This is a working brewery and the beer served on site is the beer made on site and thats it! no bud ligt folks sorry! lol Any ways that also means no other craft beer either, However they do cater to all and there's a beer for almost anyone. I like they're blueberry ale its one of the better blueberry's in this area. Beware! This place is a mob scene before every redsox game. This place like every other place around fenway is jam packed with people during the games so if your not a fan of people standing all around you when you eat then this might not be the place for you.

If you go here any other time though it operates like a normal restraunt so you wont have to worry to much.

Food is good and typical selection prevails the menu, burgers fries, chicken and a variety of other foods you'd expect at a place like this.

12-08-2010 23:11:40 | More by IHC

asabreed

New York

4/5  rDev +2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Fenway was one of our stops last Monday, and thankfully there wasn't a game, because I knew we couldn't get tickets, and I knew the area around the stadium would be insanely packed.

My wife and I went here for lunch to grab a brew and some food. I got a turkey club with fries, and everything was solid. She got a chicken sandwich that she liked. Prices seemed reasonable for the quality and the area.

This is one of those all around "good" places. A ton of room, which is good for a few people or a whole family, and I think that's what makes these places do so well. And it was also insanely clean all around. A good selection was on tap for folks too, though most of it's your lighter versions of brews. That said, at a place like this, that's what's going to sell. They did have a cask porter on tap, and I was told that a Belgian IPA was carbonating and should be done soon.

There are a few of these, and if I were to come back to Fenway, I'd go here again.

08-18-2010 23:29:46 | More by asabreed

perrymarcus

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -6.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

beers were good, nothing that blew me out of the water, but i enjoyed sampling some stuff outside my regular lineup. some seasonals in addition to their beer menu staples, so there was a pretty decent assortment from which to choose. food was decent bar fare; went with a "charlestown burger", which came w bacon and cheddar. no complaints there. service was ok considering we were there before a sox game. would reccommend if you're in the area and looking for some grub and a brew, but no need to go out of your way for it.

06-25-2010 23:01:05 | More by perrymarcus

Marty

Maine

3.7/5  rDev -5.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Beers were okay. They tasted under-carbonated, and I wonder if that's done deliberately because - on a Fenway game day - the place is packed and the bartenders know they're going to be pouring straight into glasses, instead of down the sides. Despite massive crowds, I managed to get a couple beers in less time than it sometimes takes at smaller bars. The place is well staffed.

I tried an IPA, which was good but simple; good bitterness, but lacking in the aroma/finishing hops department. If you go, I'd recommend trying a beer that's not dependent on high levels of hoppiness - maybe a wheat? - and see how it fares.

The place is definitely worth a stop, if only to experience the insane crowds of Sox fans.

06-03-2010 13:40:35 | More by Marty

dustinjkline

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +5.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

Came to town on 4/23/10 for a Sox game. Stopped in to the Beer Works Fenway for some food and a couple beers. The prices are very good for that area. I had Muddy River Porter that was delicious, and a Back Bay IPA that was also very good. Waiter was very good. I ordered the wrong burger, and he had no problem switching it up for me after he brought it out to me. Food was very tasty. Beer was fresh and delicious.My friend that was with me got a chicken sandwich that he said was very good. He had a couple of the Bambino ales. My favorite stop before a Sox game.

04-24-2010 17:06:07 | More by dustinjkline

Deingeist

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

Went with a couple of friends on a weeknight cause we were looking for some quick food nearby, no games thankfully, the place was nearly dead save for a few tables of former teeny-boppers.

The atmosphere is sorta what you'd expect from an establishment across the street from Fenway. It's large enough to accommodate some big numbers, but I'm sure it still gets packed on game days. Fakey industrial/studio decor, very clean (which was nice), a bit theme-ish but it was ok.

It was a tad bit slow especially for a quiet night, but the waiter was understanding and good about special requests (one of the pals is a bit of an oddball and can be awkward). He checked back often enough without being overbearing.

They've got a good number of beers on tap and I have had several previously, all were decent, some in the past such as the "watermelon beer" (very light pils i think, with a wedge of watermelon in) were a bit of a stretch. However the pumpkin ale, blueberry, and black bat stout were all good. This night I had the Hercules Strong Ale. Served in a tulip glass this beer had a cloudy dark yellow/caramel color with an average head that left a lot of lacing. Tasted of vanilla and caramel with some citrus to balance out the sweetness. One of the better barley wines I have had, it was enjoyable.

The food is mostly average pub stuff, burgers are good but not amazing, however they seem to offer some interesting dinners (friends got the pork chops, and ragin' cajun) and apparently they also tasted good.

04-22-2010 13:31:26 | More by Deingeist

Jayli

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

I have been coming here for years but have never reviewed it.

This location is literally across from Fenway Park. When you first walk in, there is an area of tables to the left. Up the ramp the room then splits - a full out bar behind a partition and then seating on the left. I like the atmosphere - exposed brick, walls with bottles and growlers line the walls.
Service has been hit or miss, but this last time around our waitress was fantastic. She was attentive and stopped by enough, but not too much. She was quite knowledgeable about the beers, as well as the food.
Selection of beer and food is damn good. We got the Mako Shark Skewers - which was the first time that I had ever gotten them and hot DAMN they were fantastic. I got the South End burger, which was bacon and smoked gouda, and my friend got the Surf and Turf Sliders. Both were outstanding - and HUGE portions. Beer menu is solid. They have the Bunkerhill Blueberry, which still holds a soft spot with me, Kenmore Kolsch, Splendid Spliter Ale, Back Bay IPA, Beantown Nut Brown, Boston Common, Buck Eye Oatmeal Stout, and a couple of others. They are having an April special of APA's and Wheats right now.

I enjoy Beer Works, I may avoid it on game day, as the crowd gets rowdy, but overall it's a decent stop with some great food and solid beers.

04-19-2010 23:19:41 | More by Jayli

zerofear13

New York

3.7/5  rDev -5.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5 | $$$

Great place and a lot different from the bars around the Fenway area. Your other alternatives are pretty much generating 95% of revenues from Bud Light sales, so Beer Works is a nice stop.

I like this place but two complaints: I don't think I've ever gotten really great service here. I see a multitude of staff members, but depending on where you sit, it's quite difficult to grab your server's attention. Additionally, I think the wait staff treats the place like a restaurant a bit too much, and less like a bar. Drinks have quicker turnovers, they should probably walk around more frequently. My other complaint is their really high prices, but understandable given its area.

Other than that, their IPA is wonderful, and it's worth a stop in if you're there for House of Blues or the Sox and want something a bit different.

02-28-2010 21:48:20 | More by zerofear13