1Boston is a great sports bar town. With recent championship teams in baseball with the Red Sox, football with the Patriots and basketball with the Celtics, sports bars around the city are packed almost every night. Sports and beer are just made for each other, so it is no wonder why Boston is also a beer town. Tasting the local fare is easy to do at any sports bar, but you can also go to the source. Boston is home to two of the country's most famous breweries--Samuel Adams and Harpoon. The good news is that these breweries open their doors to visitors who want to learn more about the local product.http://www.flickr.com/photos/revjim5000/2349161623/
- Get to Boston. The tours can be done easily in one weekend or one day depending on how tipsy you want to get. The tours are accessible through Boston's T system.Visit Harpoon Brewery. Harpoon is a locally owned and operated brewery with two locations, one in Boston and one in Vermont. Harpoon is still brewing beer at the same location as the day it started in 1987. Insiders know the Harpoon tour is less of a tour and more of tasting, so if you are looking for a pure tasting experience this is a great place. There are no reservations necessary and tastings are available on Tuesday to Thursday at 4 p.m. Friday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and on Saturday at 12, 2 and 4 p.m. The brewery is accessible by the MBTA's silver line and the red line.Visit Samuel Adams. Samuel Adams is probably Boston's best known beer. The brewery has a variety of seasonal beers, as well as a regular and light version that is on tap in almost every bar in Boston. The Samuel Adams tours are more traditional, and people of all ages are encouraged to take a tour, but only people 21 and over can taste the beer. The tour hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,Fridays 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.Support the breweries. If you can't get to Boston to take a tour and sample some of the local fare, make sure to buy the products in your own home towns. The beauty of making beer is the chance to sell it to patrons across the country and the world. So, even if you can't stop by to visit the factories in person you can taste the fruits of the breweries' labor in the comfort of your own home.
