Better beer: A six-pack of New England craft brews

From the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine:

The business of artisan-made small-batch beer, known as craft beer, is booming. There are close to 1,500 craft breweries in the country, with 108 in New England that meet the National Brewers Association's definition: independent owners producing less than 2 million barrels annually. Even in a recession (perhaps because of it?) sales are growing, according to association numbers. At Downtown Wine and Spirits in Somerville's Davis Square, manager Dan Parsons says that the popularity of hand-crafted brews has two things driving it. "It's not just demand from customers," he says, "it's an increase in people brewing the beer."

You could spend weeks sampling every beer made in New England, from Vermont's Magic Hat Circus Boy to Rhode Island's Newport Storm Hurricane Amber Ale. Here's a six-pack to get you started: unique local brews that are delicious right now.

Read Boston Globe Sunday Magazine's full story

— Courtney Hollands, Boston.com

(Photo by Joel Benjamin)
From the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine : The business of artisan-made small-batch beer, known as craft beer, is booming. There are close to 1,500 craft breweries in the country, with 108 in New England that meet the National Brewers Association's definition: independent owners producing less than 2 million barrels annually. Even in a recession (perhaps because of it?) sales are growing, according to association numbers. At Downtown Wine and Spirits in Somerville's Davis Square, manager Dan Parsons says that the popularity of hand-crafted brews has two things driving it. 'It's not just demand from customers,' he says, 'it's an increase in people brewing the beer.' You could spend weeks sampling every beer made in New England, from Vermont's Magic Hat Circus Boy to Rhode Island's Newport Storm Hurricane Amber Ale. Here's a six-pack to get you started: unique local brews that are delicious right now. Read Boston Globe Sunday Magazine's full story — Courtney Hollands, Boston.com
A note on bar and shop picks: Taps rotate and stocks run out, so call ahead if you’re looking for something specific.