Hard as it is to believe, I’ve been on the Boston beer beat for over a year now. I love thinking about all the milestones — my first live brewer interview (Backlash), my first tap takeover (Stoddards), and my first craft event, reporting on the music, food and people that made 2013’s Brewers Helping Neighbors a success. I was honored to cover the gathering again last week as a guest of the United South End Settlements (USES), coming full circle from where I began as an amateur reporter.
 
For those not familiar, USES is a community jack of all trades, bringing childhood education, senior services, an art center, a computer lab, after school tutoring, and leadership training to the unemployed and disadvantaged. The ten breweries who donated supplies and silent auction items to Thursday’s sold out event ranged from brand-new (Banner) to middle-aged (Mayflower) to old-school (Sam Adams). They were accompanied by a live, New Orleans-style band and food samples like steak tartare deviled eggs, pork belly sliders, and chocolate cupcakes topped with Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout frosting (yes, they were as delicious as they sound).
 
To sum it up: you’ve got neighbors coming together for a great cause, tasty eats, and a whoooole lot of beer – a veritable trifecta of good feelings. In case you couldn’t be there this time, here’s a craft snapshot of BHN 2014 (standouts in bold):

Harpoon, Boston MA
On Tap: Long Thaw White IPA (spring seasonal), Classic IPA
What’s to come: Harpoon St. Patricks Day Festival, March 8
4th Annual Harpoon Helps Cupid Splash, March 29

Berkshire Brewing Company, South Deerfield MA
On Tap: Dean’s Beans Coffeehouse Porter, Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale
What’s to come: Lost Sailor IPA in cans come March

Mayflower, Plymouth MA
On Tap: IPA, Oatmeal Stout, Porter, Golden Ale
What’s to come: Rye IPA releases this week (draft, MA only)
Spring Hop Ale releases next week (their most popular brew)

Wormtown, Worcester MA
On Tap: Be Hoppy IPA (flagship, in funky cans since January)
What’s to come: Moving to a new production brewery this summer!

Blue Hills Brewery, Canton MA
On Tap: Dunkelweizen (winter wheat), Quarter Mile Double IPA, Three Peak Milk Stout, Scotch Ale
What’s to come: Blue Hills Ski Area Winterfest, February 25

Cape Ann Brewing, Gloucester MA
On Tap: Fisherman’s Navigator (winter seasonal)
What’s to come: The Singles Ball – live music at the brewery, February 15

Sam Adams, Boston MA
On Tap: Imperial Stout, Golden Yuzu, Oaked Dunkel, American Kriek, Cold Snap (spring seasonal), Boston Lager
What’s to come: Rebel IPA nationwide in 6/12-packs, 30th Anniversary Boston Lager

Beer frosted cupcakes, courtesy of the mad geniuses at South End Buttery

Banner Beer Company, Western MA
On Tap: American Ale, American Rye, All Nighter ESB
What’s to come: All cans, all session, always

Baxter Brewing Company, Lewiston ME
On Tap: Pamola Xtra Pale Ale, Amber Road Amber Ale, Stowaway IPA
What’s to come: Tarnation, Baxter’s very first lager, is rolling out in March and will be available year-round
A collaboration beer with DCBrau is slated for May!

RiverWalk Brewing Company, Newburyport MA
On Tap: Uncle Bob’s Bitter, Gnomad American Farmhouse, Winter Porter  
What’s to come: Two 15-barrel tanks installed next week, doubling output (fingers crossed)
Son of Gnomad, a white ale/saison hybrid to release at the beginning of March

Can’t get enough photos? Check out the whole album [view Melissa Pocek’s album], courtesy of photographer extraordinaire Melissa Pocek [www.melissapocek.com].