![]() I like harpoon beers, so for me the tour is a 'must visit' for Boston. Next stop the bottling plant, and more technical details of the lengths they go to keep the beer at its best.Īfter that, it was back to the bar, and shop for merchandise. The group coming behind us drove us out, but it didn't feel as though we were being rushed (not sure how long we are on their, but it could easily have been 20mins). If we didn't get to try everything, it was our own fault. Our guide gave us a brief and entertaining description of each of the beers (for us, if memory serves, it was Rye IPA, IPA, Harpoon Ale, Summer Ale, White IPA, Black IPA, UFO White, UFO Raspberry, Stout, Directors Cut, and Harpoon Cider) and then it was up to us to decide what we wanted to try. The tasting room is a relatively small bar with taps for whatever is available on the day. The good news is that the beer is still excellent, as the next stop on the tour demonstrated. What you see is a lot of stainless steel and a small control room where the computer that controls it all lives. Harpoon is no longer a small craft brewery, but has grown to small industrial scale. If you've been to a brewery before, there is nothing new here. Although there were probably 30 of us in the group, his commentary was clear, aided with a mike. The tour itself started with a sample of IPA, and then our tour guide took us into the brewery. It was freshly baked, the dipping sauces freshly prepared, and delicious. ![]() If you visit, you might not think to try the pretzels, but think again. The beer was excellent, but that was to be expected. We filled the time with a beer each, and a pretzel to share. “We found an aesthetic that would complement the brand, versus competing with it.We arrived at about 3:30 on a Monday, for the 4pm tasting to discover that this was the first day of their new regime of running tours during the week, so we put our name down. “One of the most challenging things for this project is the fact that the brand was already there and established,” says Barraza. “One of the things we really argued for was the same quality of views from both bathrooms,” says Barraza-a feat in layout the team worked for in order to highlight the hall’s locale.Īlong with the views and the beer, Harpoon also showcases its product at one of the longest bars in Boston. The beer production area and Boston harbor are visible from the large windows in the hall-the harbor and skyline can also be seen from each bathroom. “It looks like a huge living room with a scaled distortion,” she says. A reclaimed oak floor complements the metal accents in the columns and ceiling. Local fabricators produced the long tables with salvaged butternut wood from Vermont, and a metal craftsman created the massive circular chandeliers that light the space. Beyond a machine for filling up growlers, the expansive beer hall comes in view.Īlong with a communal drinking space, the hall comprises a lounge area, retail space, bar, and pretzel bar. “Our task was to be discrete about the place but also make people aware that something is happening in there,” Barraza says. The wall carries through the first floor to the lobby, and then moves upstairs to the beer hall itself. Through the entry, a large glass wall crafted from Harpoon beer caps greets visitors. “They wouldn’t want a very expressive and in-your-face type of façade.” ![]() “A lot of the clientele are young, following craft beer, and part of an underground sort of culture,” says Barraza. The team started with a simple red canopy and a sign to indicate the entrance. Set in the city’s Seaport district, the building itself has a plain exterior that blends into the industrial neighborhood. “What we took from the beer garden is the collection of people,” she adds. “What’s really unique about beer halls is that they are a very communal experience,” Barraza explains, describing German-style long cafeteria tables and simple menus. “They were really specific about not taking away from the experience of the beer,” says Barraza, who is a founder of Boston-based Studio Luz Architects.ĭrawing inspiration from traditional German beer gardens, the expansion of the property keeps the focus on the brew. With the venue’s popularity, the owners needed a space for guests to taste and view the production before and after their tours. ![]() That experience includes a fully functioning brewery complete with tours through the brew house. “They wanted to expand on the experience.” “The owners then wanted to have a beer hall where they could celebrate the people that enjoy drinking their beer,” says designer Hansy Better Barraza. As the first brewery licensed to craft beer in Massachusetts, Harpoon Brewery already had an established reputation and clientele. ![]()
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