Along the Road of Suds, part 2
We recently explored the beery offerings of Easthampton and Northampton. It’s a long list of worthy destinations. But those towns are hardly alone in producing brewed wonders. Look northward and eastward, and you’ll find plenty more.
Deerfield is a rather small town by total population. Despite its smallness, it’s home to three breweries. The oldest among them is Berkshire Brewing Company, which has been busy crafting its beverages since 1994, when microbrews weren’t so easily found. These days, BBC’s beers grace many a New England tap lineup. But tucked away just around the corner from the intersection that forms a very small town center, you’ll find BBC’s taproom and beer garden. In keeping with the brewery’s unpretentious ways, it’s all about the beer. Patrons often bring their own food along to enjoy the musical performances that happen in summer.
On the left end of the massive Yankee Candle Flagship Store on Route 5, you’ll find another straightforward taproom effort, this one with the tasty addition of Hillside Pizza. Powder Hollow Brewery is the Deerfield outpost Connecticut microbrewery, and it’s a pleasant, rustic spot that also features extensive outdoor seating. And, should you so desire, a few thousand scented candles nearby.
The largest brewery in town is Tree House, particularly known for its New England IPAs. It began in the southern end of the Valley, but now boasts locations all over the state. When Tree House came to town, it did so in high style, buying the very large corporate home of Channing-Bete publishers. The building and extensive grounds have been transformed to a destination spot with pizza in-house plus food trucks outdoors. In 2023, Tree House added an outdoor music stage, and has been packing in audiences for national acts. Definitely tasty beer, and definitely a different experience from the beer-focused other local efforts.
In Greenfield, another stalwart of the local brewing scene is the People’s Pint at it for almost as long as BBC. The brewery proper is on Hope Street, but on Federal Street in the middle of downtown, you’ll find the bar and restaurant. It’s a good-sized space, and a very popular local hangout. The emphasis is on good beer, but with its large menu, there’s plenty of attention to locally sourced food.
Even a second installment is just a start when it comes to Valley breweries. There are many newer efforts, and a lot of cider- and wine-making concerns to cover, too. So though we’ll keep moving to cover them, too, we’ll wrap up this episode with just one more, down the road in Turners Falls. Brick and Feather is a very small place, and its well-regarded beers are a fair bit harder to find than others. But it’s well worth a visit to its small outpost to pick up a four-pack or two. You’ll find it off the main drag, right near the Canalside bike trail.
