The South Shore of Massachusetts has quickly established itself as a beer destination. From veterans such as Mayflower Brewing Company to new uber-popular breweries like Vitamin Sea, it seems as if almost every town in the region has a brewery! Of course, the South Shore has other reasons to visit too. Plimoth Plantation anyone? Oh, and the beach, lots of it. From beer to the arts, community spirit on the South Shore is thriving!
The cuisine is also at an all-time high in the South Shore. Downtown Plymouth these days has so many superb spots to get a delicious meal. Scituate, Hingham, Marshfield–plenty of good spots to choose from as well.
In addition to all of this, there are lots of really cool things going on. In a few short years, skate and surf brand Levitate out of Marshfield has exploded into a highly recognized brand. They host a festival annually in the summer, as well as other shows throughout the year. Quickly, the Levitate Fest has morphed from an afternoon of music to a three-day-affair with international acts, with past performers including Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Trey Anastasio, and Michael Franti and Spearhead. Levitate also opened up the Rexicana Cantina, a restaurant, and a music venue. Another music venue, The Spire Center in Plymouth, is attracting national acts too. Their acts tend to be on the folkier side of things.
Bramhall’s Beer Garden
Speaking of really cool things, one of my favorite South Shore events to come out of the last year was the beer garden hosted by Bramhall’s Country Store. Bramhall’s is in the Chiltonville section of Plymouth. Bramhall’s certainly isn’t new to the South Shore scene. It opened in 1828, but the fall of 2019 saw the general store and farmstand play host to a weekly beer garden.
Beginning in late September, Second Wind Brewing Company, a great-tasting and community-minded brewery located in downtown Plymouth, started a series of beer gardens. What better to pair a Second Wind beer with than a lobster roll or a lobster grilled cheese from Bramhall’s? I was able to make it to the initial beer garden. What a success!
In addition to their own beer, Second Wind either collaborated, featured a guest tap of, or both, with other South Shore breweries including Widowmaker, Mayflower, and Vitamin Sea. With Untold Brewing (from Scituate, MA) their collaboration was a black IPA. I, unfortunately, wasn’t in town for this collab, but if it’s like other beers from Untold, I’m sure it was tasty!
The community feel has been unprecedented. In the literal sense, attending most of these events, I’ve always seen people that I know. The location of Bramhall’s in the middle of the postcard-perfect Chiltonville also represents community. The general store is the focal point, along with the New England white-steepled church across the street. Community is also shown in the collaboration of South Shore breweries. Instead of competing, these breweries work hand in hand promoting each others’ products.
Second Wind could have chosen to use these solely as a showcase for their own beer since they were the ones making arrangements with Bramhall’s. Not in the South Shore though; the community-minded spirit thrives.
On tap for 2020: More community spirit on the South Shore
Given that it is currently January in the South Shore, it limits out of doors activities so Bramhall’s and the beer garden are closed for the season. (Second Wind, Untold, and all of the other breweries mentioned are open year-round though!) I am excited to see what Bramhall’s and Second Wind have on deck for 2020 (in addition to Second Wind opening a second location on Main Street in Plymouth). I do know that lobster, fresh produce, and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream will be on the menu at Bramhall’s in 2020!
