Beer – Mystic Wine Shoppe

Brewery Spotlight: Smuttynose Brewing Co

Hit the road and take a day trip to visit one of our favorite local breweries, Smuttynose Brewing Co. Located in Hampton, NH, this inviting brewery will not leave you disappointed. With a 9-hole disc golf course, tasting bar/beer garden, retail store, and restaurant, you will find something for everyone to enjoy!

Can’t make it all the way to NH? We carry many of their seasonal brews!

Location: Located just across the border of MA, in Hampton, NH, Smuttynose is the perfect destination for a day trip with lots to do in the surrounding area as well. You could even make it a weekend trip to Hampton, NH, for a getaway during these cold winter months!

Variety: Smuttynose has a wide variety of beers depending on what you are looking for that day! With year-round options, seasonal, sours, and more, you will not be disappointed in the beer selection available at Smuttynose.

Food: Located across the parking lot from the brewery, The Restaurant at Smuttynose will leave you feeling full after you enjoy your day walking around the brewery and enjoying some beer tastings. With daily and weekly specials, the food at Smuttynose will be the perfect way to end your visit. In addition, the new, revamped Heritage Room is located directly above the restaurant. This loft space is a great option to hang out with friends, or you could reserve this space for a party or function you are hosting!

We love when we can support our local New England Breweries. If you find yourself unable to make the trip to NH this winter? Stop into Mystic Wine Shoppe to shop our selection of beers from Smuttynose!

Photo Credit: Smutty Nose Brewery Website

December 10, 2021/by Eric Faiola

Beer, Holidays

Pumpkin Beers We’re Loving This Fall!

The weather is cooling down, and Fall is right around the corner… yup, it’s officially pumpkin season! We’re celebrating all season long with some amazing pumpkin beers. So stop in and grab some great pumpkin brews – you won’t be disappointed.

Here is a sample of the pumpkin beers we are carrying this season!

From Heavy Seas Brewery, The Great Pumpkin Beer is the perfect way to kick off fall! A pumpkin ale brewed with pumpkin and spices aged in Bourbon barrels; The Great’er Pumpkin is bound to put you in the fall mood!

From the Southern Tier Brewing Company, Pumking will recreate your favorite Thanksgiving dessert, Pumpkin Pie, in this beer. You will have to try this Imperial Pumpkin Ale and see how it compares to a true pumpkin pie!

Even more exciting than the Pumking beer from Southern Brewing Company is their Pumking Nitro Cans! The King of Pumpkin Beers is now in cans and on nitro! Pumking’s magical spell will electrify your senses as you hear, see, smell and taste Pumking Nitro.

The pumpkin beer options don’t stop! From Dogfish Head Brewery, this pumpkin ale is full-bodied with smooth hints of pumpkin, brown sugar, and spice! The perfect combination to create a pumpkin beer to enjoy when the weather starts to cool!

To celebrate the fall season, Shipyard Brewing Company has brought back their Pumpkinhead beer! With a blend of spices, including cinnamon and nutmeg, this beer is a must-try!

Cisco Brewers, a Massachusetts favorite, has created their Pumple Drumkin beer this fall season! Brewed with pumpkin and spice, it is a great option to get you in the fall mood.

Last but not least, we have Wormtown Brewery’s Fresh Patch Pumpkin Ale in stock for the season. With pumpkin, spice, and a fun Halloween can, you will feel ready to take on the cold weather ahead while drinking this beer!

As you can see, we’re is stocked on all of the pumpkin beers you could want! So come stop by and pick some up for you and some friends to try and let us know what your favorite is!

September 14, 2021/by Eric Faiola

Beer, Monthly Brewery

Brewery of The Month: Idle Hands Brewer

The August sun is out… let’s go grab a beer! Based out of Malden, MA Idle Hands Brewery is the perfect option for a fun (& beer) filled summer’s day. Have you been?! We have been loving it and want you to as well!

Location: Conveniently located in Malden, a four-minute walk from the Malden Center stop on the MBTA Orange Line (20-minute ride from downtown Boston) and Haverhill Commuter Rail (10-minute ride from North Station.) This brewery is in the heart of Boston and is a perfect place to meet up with friends no matter where you are coming from.

Variety: At Idle Hands Brewery, they have a wide variety of in-house beers. Varying from their seasonal Endless Summer West Coast IPA to their Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout–there is a beer for everyone at your party. They currently have 11 beers on tap.

Food: Cold beer and fried chicken…does it get any better than this? Every weekend at Idle Hands Brewery, they serve Hot Chix Boston (a local fried chicken restaurant) to be paired with their beers. It most definitely does not get better than that!

We Carry It: Want to give it a shot before going to the brewery? No problem. Here at Mystic Wine Shoppe, we carry their Four Seam Ale! Come by and pick up a 4-pack!

Brewery photos by: Idle Hands Brewery

August 18, 2021/by Eric Faiola

Beer, Events

Beer and The Blues at Newburyport Brewing Co

Beer and the blues go together like face masks and hand sanitizer. So, when my band, Bees Deluxe, was invited to play outdoors, on a socially-distanced stage at the Newburyport Brewing Company, we jumped at the chance. Especially since, along with being paid, the brewery promised us free beer and a six-pack to take home.

Chris Webb, owner of NPBC gave us a choice of dates. We picked the earliest one, betting on sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures. Good thing we are musicians and not professional gamblers because when we pulled into the parking lot at the brewery, the sky was steely gray and Weather.com said it was 45 degrees in Newburyport.

“No one is going to come to sit in the cold, drink beer and listen to us, “ I grumbled as I positioned the tip bucket at front of the stage.

I was wrong. People started filling in seats at the well-spaced picnic tables. The brewery staff pulled out propane heaters and fired them up. People wrapped up in blankets. And people drank beer. Anchor Pizza’s truck pulled up and slices of gooey, hot pizza were passed around.

The crowd was great. They left their blanket cocoons and got up to dance. They bought CDs. They wore their masks! They tipped! We made new friends, saw a few familiar faces, and, after the first set, decided to sample some beer.

I’ve been a big fan of the NPBC’s Greenhead IPA— it’s my go-to where ever it’s on tap. Hoppy and bright, without being too grapefruity, Greenhead delivers a delightful bite. Plus I like the name. So, I was delighted to discover that they carry it, and several other NPBC brews, at Mystic Wine Shoppe. And, fresh from the tap, just feet from where it’s brewed, the Greenhead didn’t disappoint. Sitting under the heater, with the fragments blowing in the breeze behind me, I felt almost transported to a summer day on Plum Island. Almost. Paul, the drummer, and bass-player, Aldo, both chose the hazy Plum Island Belgian White.

The Belgian White has hints of coriander and citrus. It won a Bronze medal at the 2016 World Beer Cup. The guys concurred that it was award-worthy. Our lead man, Conrad, went with the Joppa Grande Stout. A hardy coffee stout that pours dark with a tan head, it impressed even our resident Brit.

It was hard for us to put down the beers, go back on stage and pick up our guitars and harmonicas, but the crowd was ready for more music and we aim to please.

We played for two more hours and were surprised that most everyone there stayed for the entire show. Maybe they were grateful for the rare chance to hear live music or maybe… it was the beer.

You don’t have to travel all the way to Newburyport or brave the cold to sample their beer or hear great acid blues, you can pick up Newburyport Brewing Company beers at Mystic Wine Shoppe — including my favorite, NPBC’s Greenhead IPA and for music to go with the beer, check out www.beesdeluxe.com.

Thanks for reading!

Carol, your MWS beer & wine enthusiast

November 25, 2020/by Eric Faiola

Beer, Monthly Brewery

Brewery of the Month: Peak Organic Brewing Co.

Local, local, local! Peak Organic Brewing Co. is dedicated to creating the most fantastic brews straight from their designated, local farmers from all around New England. “The idea is simple. Find the best ingredients being grown to create amazing flavor and truly delicious beer.” Each farm that Peak utilizes focuses on quality versus quantity. Peak has a passion for sustainability rooted in the way they run their company.

Peak likes to participate and dedicate its efforts to innovating new flavors that have never been done before. They achieve this by collaborating directly with their local farmers, chefs, and other organizations connected to sustainability as well. This company background and passion for being different, guarantees a unique, well-crafted taste when you give their brews a try! (If you’re a fan, you know that already!

Here are some of the delicious, specialty beers Peak Organic Brewing Co. has to offer!

Peak IPA: This is Peak’s classic, signature brew. Their India Pale Ale contains a flavorful initial taste thanks to the Amarillo and Simcoe dry hop. No bittering needed, just an abundance of floral and citrus flavors.

The Juice: This WICKED dry-hopped pale ale provides aromas and strong zests of tangerine and berry notes. The carefully brewed mix contains amarillo, simcoe, and hints of Azacca hops.

Happy Hour: Here we have Peak’s signature pilsner. Crisp and clean, this light brew makes it impossible to pass up more than one. “This beer is easygoing and pairs well with everything, including another beer! With this new pilsner, it’s always Happy Hour.”

Sweet Tart Cranberry: We’re drooling just at the name of this brew. This Cape Cod Sour Ale ties together tangy, cranberry, and sour flavors into a refreshing first sip. The locally sourced Cape Cod cranberries provide a special rose-like effervescence for this perfect, light-bodied brew.

Winter IPA: ‘Tis the season! Peak’s hazy, New England Style IPA was created to lighten things up as the cold weather starts to hit. With a bright, juicy mix of Calypso, Azacco, Simcoe, and Citra hops, this brew will help you survive the winter by hinting at springtime.

The story behind Peak Organic Brewing Co. is an inspiring, lovely New England story. By choosing their brews for your next holiday or tailgate, not only are you supporting sustainability, but you’re guaranteed to find a light, new favorite. Stop into Mystic Wine Shoppe to pick up a pack to try! It’ll be the ~peak~ of your day 😉

(all photos and quotes taken from Peak Brewing)

November 8, 2018/by Eric Faiola

Beer, Monthly Brewery

Brewery of the Month: Ipswich Ale Brewery

Located in Boston’s North Shore community, Ipswich Ale Brewery has been a bean town classic since 1991, making them one of the oldest craft brewers in New England. They are a well-known, household name to beer lovers all over Massachusetts and in New England in general. The overall vibe and image of the brand and brewery is just timeless, fun, and classic Boston. It is the perfect environment and brew selection for the exemplary beer lover.

The team at Ipswich Ale Brewery is jam-packed with industry experience and Boston culture. Their president started with the company back in 1994 as just a plain-old volunteer! Over the years, he had worked his way up from delivery guy, productions, and to Director of Operations! In 1999, he bought the brewery and molded and showcased it into the reputable, lovable brand we see today.

Now, what you’ve all been waiting for, the beer selections! Ipswich Ale Brewery offers 8 year-round beers at all times. Throughout the year they release 14 different seasonal beers. Along with these, they offer a special 3 types only available on tap at their on-site restaurant, the Brewer’s Table!

Here are some descriptions of some classics, limited, and on-site offerings!

“Original Ale” Pale Ale: This original Ipswich classic provides a caramel malt accent with a bitter finish. This beer was created for drinkability, leaving you craving more than one (or two). Year-Round
“Pesky Pils” Pilsner: This carefully brewed Pilsner has a proper German malt, Czech Saaz hops, and lastly, a bright, uplifting touch of Lemondrop hops. This beer is known for its refreshing, light taste. Year-Round
“Oatmeal Stout” Outmeal Stout: This dessert-type beer is a deep, rich malt enriched with flavors of coffee and chocolate. “It’s what espresso would be if it had the gumption to be beer.” Year-Round
“Pumpkin Porter” Brown Porter: This is a traditional brown porter brew with actual, real pumpkin and a pinch of pumpkin spice. This festive choice includes sweet caramel malts, cloves, and nutmeg. Seasonal
“Blueberry Shandy” Blueberry Shandy: This brew will change all the shandy-hater’s minds. Zesty and sweet, this lemon and blueberry combo will leave you begging for more! Seasonal
“Revival” Belgian Style Saison: A beer for the working man and woman, this golden-hued brew contains fruity yeast esters and a hop aroma. Seasonal

Make sure to add Ipswich to your list of breweries to visit! Along with tasty brews, you can also grab a bite to eat at their restaurant! Being huge fans of Ipswich Ale Brewery ourselves, we at Mystic Wine Shoppe also carry their year-round and seasonal beers! Make sure to stop in and pick up a pack. You can’t go wrong with this timeless, New England classic!

October 15, 2018/by Eric Faiola

Beer, Monthly Brewery

Brewery of the Month: Lamplighter Brewing Co.

The vibe that Lamplighter Brewing Co. embraces is a modern, funky environment that allows visitors to experience a unique twist on their basic brewery trip. This eclectic brewery, located in in downtown Cambridge, Massachusetts, focuses in quality, community, and craft. With a saying such as “I Love Lamp,” a reference from the comedy hit, Anchorman, it comes as no surprise that this location meets its goal by being a fun, hip place to be.

The team at Lamplighter is an energetic mix of different backgrounds in education and expertise who all share a strong passion for producing delicious beer. This team makes for a very fun, welcoming environment from the minute you enter the brewery. The space has a very modern, industrial look to it. From the exposed pipes to the classic Boston brick work, this brewery is a neighborhood favorite.

Now for the most important part, the beer. All together, Lamplighter creates 44 different types of brews. Impressive, right? Within these 44 unique choices, they focus on aroma-packed and flavor-driven ales, with an emphasis on New England IPAs, barrel-aged sours, and unique seasonals.

To help narrow down your possible selection, we’re going to provide you the info on the 13 brews that happen to be on tap today!

“Alyosha” Abbey Ale: low ABV, and light body allow hints of fruit and spice to shine, while the addition of wheat and pilsner malts leave each sip soft and approachable.
“Brothers Antitoi” Brettanomyces Fermented Wild Beer: smooth and bright acidity is complemented by subtle underlying funk, layered atop flavors of fresh strawberries, ripe pineapple, and candied peach rings.
“Cuppa” Brittish Ale with Cold Brew: light and fruity hot bloom roast is added at the end of the brewing process to preserve as much coffee flavor as possible. The finished beer is made up of about 10% coffee.
“Ele” Saison: citrus forward flavors, hints of clove and spice, and a dry and peppery finish. Inspired by the character Eleven from “Stranger Things.”
“Finnegan’s Wake” Irish Dry Stout: akin to a smooth and creamy Guinness, with each sip bringing forth waves of bitter chocolate and freshly roasted coffee.
“Gestalt” Altbier: bright copper in color and exceptionally smooth, balancing assertive hop bitterness with warm malt character.
“Group Theory” Wheat Ale with Chamomile and Honey: despite the addition of syrupy raw honey to the brew, Group Theory has a lovely, dry finish as a result of the fermentation of its simple sugars. It takes its name from a central concept of abstract algebra, which pays homage to both the math background of one of their co-founders, and to their brewery name (a small math reference itself).
“Looking Glass” Extra Special Bitter: balanced notes of dark bread, toasted hazelnut, and a robust earthiness. The beer is then lightly hopped with Target and Challenger to accentuate those flavors.
“Luminati” India Pale Ale: each batch of this hoppy beer highlights a different hop addition, presenting ever-changing flavors atop the same bold, brash base beer. (citra, mosaic, bru-1)
“Metric Systems” Gose: this tart German wheat ale is refreshing and light, with notes of orange peel and lemon.
“Rabbit Rabbit” Double India Pale Ale: veritable juice bomb, boasting huge hop flavors of mango, melon, and ripe fruit.
“Space Monster” West Coast Style IPA: fresh departure from smooth and juicy New England-style IPAs, instead boasting a prominent bitterness and slight sweetness. From that base emerges omnipotent and monstrous flavors of sweet cedar, prickly pine, and ripe pineapple.
“Speedwagon” Kolsch: fermented with ale yeast, but then finished in cold temperatures like a lager. The resulting beer exhibits some of the best characteristics of both categories – light and quaffable, with a touch of muted fruitiness and a crisp, clean finish.

Find something you’d like to try? No surprise there! Lamplighter Brewing Co. has something for everyone! Make sure to stop into Mystic Wine Shoppe to pick up one of their brews on the go. If you need another excuse to try them, they hold trivia nights every Tuesday from 8pm – 10pm. Check their website for more upcoming events! With all the options they have to offer, the fun, funky environment, and the amazing location, make Lamplighter your next brewery must-see and the next pack you pick up from us!

September 6, 2018/by Eric Faiola

Beer

Brewery of the Month: Stony Creek Brewery

The culture Stony Creek Brewery embodies is one of creating high quality beer that inspires people across the region. Located in Branford, Connecticut, their modern brewery is a sight to be seen. They have a stunning indoor/outdoor taproom, game pit, dock access, and a first-hand look at their canning and bottling lines right from the taproom.

Stony Creek believes that this is the time for Connecticut craft beer. Their team is comprised of local residents that are working alongside some of the industry’s best.

Stony Creek offers multiple styles of beer including The Crankies, an IPA selection, Lagers, Ales and their Seasonal collection. They also offer a limited series called “Flip The Bird”, basically flipping traditional beer styles on their heads.

“No Egrets” American Imperial Stout: bold, pitch black brew is loaded with decadent notes of dark chocolate and roasted barley. Extended aging on White Oak contributes subtle layers of vanilla and caramel that lend a smooth complexity.
“Sour Silhouette” Sour Stout: What presents as a traditional stout is then kettle soured and aged on cabernet oak. The result is a beer that opens impeccably tart and finishes smooth, rich and roasty.
“Imperial Stony Joe” Imperial Golden Mocha Stout: Burundi Mpanga coffee lends complex notes of cocoa, spice, and fruit while Guatemalan coffee contributes a dark roast finish.
“Chahklit” Baltic Port: Chahklit is a Baltic Porter brewed with almonds and earthy Ceylon Cinnamon. Cacao Nibs impart rich chocolate depth. It ages in Caribbean Rum Barrels to lend oak complexity and subtle Rum nuance.
“Crimsang” Soured Double IPA: Adding fresh Blood Orange Juice, and then souring the wort. It is fermented with our their Saison Yeast Strain, lending spiciness, and a lush texture. In the end, you get an aggressive, west coast IPA with a refreshingly tart dry finish.
“Reposado Negro” Black Wheat Wine: Reposado Negro is A Black Wheat Wine aged in Tequila Barrels. A marriage of sweet alcohol warmth, smooth bready texture, and roasted malt “charred” flavors, this jet black brew will have you swearing you are sipping a top-shelf tequila.
“Lichtenlizzy” Hybrid of a Berliner Weiss and a smoked Rauch: A low alcohol wheat beer is lightly soured to contribute a tart finish. Balancing this are two types of smoked malt (Beachwood and Oak) combining to offer an incredibly soft, yet ever-present smokiness. Smooth and smoky, yet tart and refreshing. Intricate and distinct.

After reading through the list of Stony Creek’s “Flip the Bird” series, if you need another reason to visit the Brewery, they have a long list of events to attend, including live music and good eats. You can also check out their gift shop and flaunt their apparel, as well as checking out their blog posts on their website. With great craft brews and good company, Stony Creek is a proud establishment that everyone can rally around.

August 10, 2018/by Eric Faiola