Brewery Scene

Brewery Scene

A Coddiwomple to Canterbury Aleworks

Friday, November 17, 2023 Jeff Rogers 0

Another sunny Saturday in November with a clear calendar calls for a good old-fashioned coddiwomple. Wait now, say what? On their website Canterbury Aleworks defines coddiwomple like so: “Wandering intently, going no where in particular.” So already I have misused the word, for on this past glorious Saturday I was going somewhere quite specific — to Canterbury Aleworks to try several of their beers, including one which they call Coddiwomple. (Spoiler alert – it was pretty good!) READ MORE

Brewery Scene

The only Henniker Brewing Company on Earth

Sunday, November 5, 2023 Jeff Rogers 0

This time, Henniker Brewing Company, a scant 26 miles from Manchester. I always forget how close it actually is. Maybe it’s the dramatic difference between downtown Manchester, largest city in New England north of Boston, compared with downtown Henniker, which could easily be Stars Hollow. (Is my inner Gilmore Girl showing?) Or maybe it’s the gradually changing countryside, which goes from city to suburbs to widely spaced homes to farmland to wooded stony hillsides. In any case, the transformation provided by those 26 miles is always enjoyable. READ MORE

Brewery Scene

Apples and Cider and Raptors, Oh My!

Sunday, October 15, 2023 Jeff Rogers 0

The raptor presentation was a collaboration between Climate Action NH (a project of the League of Conservation Voters) and Tailwinds, which is a local NH charitable organization focused on education and conservation centered around raptors (birds of prey that primarily hunt and feed on vertebrates). My wife never tired of joking that we were going to see little dinosaurs. May Michael Crichton rest in peace. READ MORE

Brewery Scene

Manchester Brewfest was a blast!

Sunday, September 24, 2023 Jeff Rogers 0

The ninth annual Manchester Brewfest has now come and gone, but thankfully smiles still come to my face as I think back on it. The rain held off. Many patrons came, with dogs, kids, and adults all happy. Axes were thrown in a safe throwing-cage-on-wheels. Medieval jousting was done for the amusement of all. Delicious smells wafted from meats grilling on open flames. And of course a huge variety of beers were there for tasting. READ MORE

Brewery Scene

The Brewery in Your Backyard

Friday, May 5, 2023 Jeff Rogers 0

Few establishments can make a better claim to being a fixture in Manchester than Backyard Brewery & Kitchen. Its current incarnation as a brewery and restaurant is only about six years old, though family ownership reaches much further back, to when the current owner’s father had it for years and operated it as The Yard Restaurant. Before that, it was The Green Shutter restaurant — that incarnation probably reaches back to the ’70s. The end result of all this history is a place that’s extremely comfortable — for an individual, for a couple, for a family, or for a group from work. READ MORE