Malt Madness 2019: Round 3 Begins
We're down to the "Sudsy Sixteen." Find out who is still in the game.
Photo by Toan Trinh
Malt Madness rolls on, and the bracket is tightening. Thanks to your votes, Boston magazine’s friendly competition to find New England’s best brewery is down to 16 contenders. Voting for Round 3 is now open through Tuesday, March 19. Who is left standing? We tallied about 1,500 votes for each match-up in Round 2, and here’s how the results shook out.
In the North Conference, Hill Farmstead Brewery barreled its way toward another strong victory, this time over Oxbow Brewing Co. It’ll take on Bissell Brothers, which bested Maine Beer Co. in a face-off between Pine Tree State makers. Separately, microbrewery Lawson’s Finest Liquids is now up against the larger legends at Allagash Brewing Co. Will size matter? We’ll see.
In the West Conference, Tree House Brewing Co. trounced Honest Weight Artisan Beer. (Sorry, just being–er, honest.) For Round 3, it’ll face Fiddlehead Brewing Co., which scored a similarly decisive victory over Beer’d Brewing Co. (It’s about to get interesting.) Much closer was the match-up between Fort Hill Brewery and New England Brewing Co.; the latter edged it out, and will now take on Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Co.
In the East Conference, Austin Street Brewery goes to battle with Night Shift Brewing (who, incidentally, open a West End taproom next week). But the closest race of Round 2 was Lamplighter Brewing Co. vs. Idle Hands Craft Ales. This one was a real squeaker, but Lamplighter managed to pull ahead with 51 percent of the votes.
In the South Conference, Vitamin Sea Brewing proved age ain’t nothing but a number; the still-young brewery bested Backlash Beer Co., which launched in 2011. Now it’s up against Springdale Beer, which gave Clown Shoes the boot. And separately, Jack’s Abby and Trillium Brewing Co. will duke it out. Fans, to your corners.
Which of these breweries will survive Round 3 to place among the elite eight? Get to clicking, and let us know. And remember, one lucky voter will win a gift card to Craft Beer Cellar-Fenway.
Check out the Round 3 matchups below. Click the caption to enlarge the bracket, or the graphic to skip straight to voting.
Click here to enlarge the bracket.
