Where to Celebrate Extreme Beer Festival 2017 in Boston

Row 34. / Photo provided

Although this year’s BeerAdvocate Extreme Beer Festival, coming up February 3-4, is sadly sold out, a group of local bars and restaurants are keeping the revelry alive throughout the week and into the weekend. And if Branch Line’s ‘prep week,’ which continues right up through the start of the fest, is any indication of what’s to come, we’re in for some quality pints and snifters. Whether you’re hoping to get in on the festivities, or have EBF tickets and just want a proper pregame, here’s where the beer is.

Extreme Beer Festival is in its 14th year. It takes over the Seaport World Trade Center this week, featuring around 80 craft breweries from across the world and more than 350 different beers to sample.

The Ginger Man

Monday, January 30: In the days leading up to EBF, the bar will tap some limited kegs from out-of-town breweries like Earth Eagle Brewing and Wicked Weed, as well as a few local brews from Springdale Barrel Room and Night Shift. After the first EBF session concludes on Friday, the bar will feature a few Other Half beers to round out the night. And after the third and final session on Saturday, the bar will tap a few special kegs from Firestone Walker and TRVE.

The Ginger Man, 148 State St, Boston, 617-936-4241, gingerman-bos.com.

Lulu’s Allston

Tuesday, January 31, 8-11 p.m.: The TRVE Brewing Co. team, along with founder and Massachusetts native Nick Nunns, will stop by Allston to pour a few of their mixed fermentation beers. If you can’t make this event, don’t worry: the Colorado brewery also plans to stop by Bukowski Tavern and the Ginger Man later in the week.

Lulu’s Allston, 421 Cambridge St., Allston, 617-787-1117, lulusallston.com.

Lord Hobo

Tuesday, January 31: Cambridge’s notorious beer bar will turn its draft lines over to a few New England breweries, like Honest Weight, Stoneface, Hermit Thrush, and more. Then on Wednesday, February 1, stop by for a West Coast takeover from breweries like Green Flash, Epic, and Avery. And on Thursday, Lost Abbey and Port Brewing of California team up to pour a selection of speciality beers.

Lord Hobo, 92 Hampshire St., Cambridge, 617-250-8454, lordhobo.com.

The Tip Tap Room

Wednesday, February 1, 6-11 p.m.: The Boston bar is hosting Finback of New York, along with Kent Falls and Proclamation Ale Company of New England, for a night of friends and East Coast brews.

The Tip Tap Room, 138 Cambridge St., Boston, 857-350-3344, thetiptaproom.com.

City Tap House

Thursday, February 2, 5-11 p.m.: The Seaport’s newest beer hall is lending its draft lines to Jack’s Abby to tap 30 beers spanning the Framingham brewery’s repertoire. The extensive list includes a number of Framinghammer variants, fruited sours, flagships, and the Brewery Maker “lager wine.”

City Tap House, 10 Boston Wharf Rd., Fort Point/Seaport, 617-904-2748, boston.citytap.com.

Eataly Boston

Thursday, February 2, 5-10 p.m.: To prepare for EBF, the BeerAdvocate crew is teaming up with Dogfish Head Brewery’s Sam Calagione to take over Il Pesce and La Piazza. There, Eataly Boston executive chef Jason Neve will design an exclusive menu to pair with the breadth of beers hitting town this weekend. Menu details and beer specifics will be unveiled soon.

Eataly Boston, 800 Boylston St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-236-3100, eataly.com.

Row 34 Boston

Thursday, February 2, 5 p.m.: To kick off Extreme Beer Fest, Other Half Brewing of Brooklyn and Trillium Brewing will be taking over the Row 34 tap lines. Draft highlights include Trillium’s Permutations Number 7 raspberry sour wheat ale, Other Half’s double dry-hopped Space Diamonds IPA, and Other Half’s 3rd anniversary imperial IPA.

Friday, February 3, 5 p.m.: Sip specialty drafts from breweries featured at this year’s festival, such as the Rare Barrel of California, Magnify Brewing Company of New Jersey, Crux Fermentation Project of Oregon, and many more.

Sunday, February 5, 10:30 a.m.: The restaurant will tap a few special kegs alongside brunch service, including pours from New England breweries like Oxbow, Kent Falls, Winter Hill, and Exhibit ‘A.’

Row 34, 383 Congress St., Fort Point/Seaport, 617-553-5900, row34.com.

The Publick House

Thursday, February 2, 6 p.m.: Brookline’s venerable beer bar is tapping a slew of draft specials, including pours from Burley Oak of Maryland and Breakside Brewery of Oregon. Then on Saturday, February 4, the bar will bring out a number of rare kegs from Allagash and Other Half, like the Coolship Resurgam and All Citra Everything double IPA, respectively.

The Publick House, 1648 Beacon St., Brookline, 617-277-2880, thepublickhousebeerbar.com.

Night Shift Brewing

Thursday, February 2, 7-9 p.m.: The Everett brewery is hosting a flight night and guided tasting to help ease into the beer-heavy days to come. Brewery ambassador Derek Fritts will be discussing various beer origin stories, and will leave time for questions. The featured beer offerings are intended to be a surprise, so arrive curious.

$10, Night Shift Brewing, 87 Santilli Highway, Everett, 617-294-4233, nightshiftbrewing.com.

Sunset Grill & Tap

Thursday, February 2, 7 p.m.: All 112 draft lines at this Allston bar will be filled with sought-after beers in preparation for the festival. The full list is still in the works, but expect pours from Banded Horn in Maine, Finback of New York, and Civil Society in Florida, among others. The party (and beers) are expected to flow through the weekend.

Sunset Grill & Tap, 130 Brighton Ave., Allston, 617-254-1331, sunsetboston.com.

Bent Water Brewing Company. / Photo provided

Bent Water Brewing Company 

Friday, February 3: The Lynn brewery is not only pouring at EBF, but also plans to release a beer in its taproom each week in February. First up is Concrete Thunder, a double dry-hopped IPA aged in concrete fermentation tanks. The Tuesday after EBF, Bent Water will tap a fruited wheat beer called Acid Courage, brewed specifically for the festival. In the weeks following, look for new releases like the X-Series chocolate milk stout, Crazy Chester IV blended IPA, and Kathleen double IPA.

Bent Water Brewing Company, 180 Commercial St., Lynn, 781-780-9948, bentwaterbrewing.com.

Pastoral

Friday, February 3, 9:30 p.m.: EBF heavyweights like Earth Eagle Brewery, Banded Horn, and more are taking over the taps at the Fort Point pizzeria for an after-party celebration. Keep an eye on those taps through the weekend, though, as the restaurant will continue to pour whatever doesn’t kick that night.

Pastoral, 345 Congress St., Fort Point/Seaport, 617-345-0005, pastoralfortpoint.com.

The Merchant

Friday, February 3, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.: The DTX bar and brasserie is hosting 10 EBF-bound breweries for a special tap takeover. Each guest brewery is tapping a beer for the occasion, with notable pours like Velvet Merkin oatmeal stout from Firestone Walker of California, and 4th Year quadruple ale from Revolution Brewing in Chicago. The Merchant is also promising a few additional surprises to cap off the night.

The Merchant, 60 Franklin St., Boston, 617-482-6060, themerchantboston.com.

Island Creek Oyster Bar

Sunday, February 5, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: To nurse your inevitable hangover from the week’s debauchery, Island Creek Oyster Bar is hosting a post-festival brunch. The final beer and brunch options have yet to be announced, but expect a number of elusive brews and a celebratory close to this year’s events.

Island Creek Oyster Bar, 500 Commonwealth Ave., Fenway/Kenmore, 617-532-5300, islandcreekoysterbar.com.