Hey guys. I am drinking a beer (sam adams) in all 351 towns in Mass and raising money for childrens cancer. I am looking for fun places to hit along the way. To my surprise there are about 70 towns in Mass that do not have a restaurant or bar. So i will have to improvise on those towns (mostly western part of the state).. Those towns I am looking for a fun place to drink a beer. For example tomorrow I will be in Plympton where there are tons of sheep. I will be drinking a beer next to a sheep on someones property. If anyone has any good ideas for towns I will greatly appreciate it. My journey starts tomorrow. Won't be easy. Have to average a beer per day. Should be a fun way to see the state.
My Twitter is @351SamChallenge
Also opening a FB account tonight if you feel like following
Drinking a beer in all 351 massachusetts towns. Need help with landmarks
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Can you post a list of the towns and I will try to help you. Also, some of those sites may be illegal to drink beer on...
why?
what's your motivation?
are you trying for 15 minutes of fame or a sweet marketing deal with them, like that fat guy that ate Subway subs for a year?
I certainly wouldn't go to nantucket and drink sam adams - I'd drink whales tale ale. And in boston I'd go with the very odd Beerworks Blueberry Ale, and Harpoon IPA, and western MA has some interesting stuff going on
Well there are 8 dry towns (alford,mt washington,hawley,westampton,montgomery,dunstable,gosnold, and some in MV, but i think you can BYOB) Okay here are the ones that I can't find place to have a beer. Also even if there is a place that i can drink, but someone knows a cool place please let me know.
Florida,Monterey,Peru,Richmond,Savoy,Tyringham,Washington, Buckland,Conway,Heath,LEverett,Leyden,Monroe,NewSalem, Northfield,Rowe,Shutesbury,Warwick,Whately,Chesterfield, Cummington,Goshen,Granby,Middlefield,Pelham,Plainfield, Blandford,Chester,Granville,Russell,Tolland,Hardwick,Harvard, NewBraintree,Oakham,Paxton,Petersham,Dover,Ashby,Carlisle, Lincoln,Boxford,Topsfield,Wenham,WestNewbury
ooops, just re read and understand your motivation is a fundraiser. So what is Sam Adams motivation? Why not incorporate the many other wonderful smaller brewers for your fundraiser? Makes it a bit more globally local.
Woods Hole - Captain Kidd
Sudbury - Wayside Inn
a blog would also be nice, as I am not the only one that might be interested, while having no interest in FB and twitter
Hey Looking Glass. To be honest a friend of mine and i were trying to list as many Mass towns as possibleabout a month ago(we struggled to get 150) and i said that'd be cool to have a beer in each town.. I was amazed at all the towns I never herad of. (Gosnold, population 30 in the winter, Mt Washginton, Peru, Florida, etc) And raise money for charity if i can. Sam Adams is my favorite beer so I figured that, but it doesnt' have to be exclusive to Sam Adams. I'd drink any beer really. Theres nothing in it for me. I mentioned it to some people and family members and was kinda shocked that everyone thought it was a great idea.. Also I reached out to a charity that I'd like to raise money to. They are excited too, but they don't want me to say the name of the charity until I'm finished because they have a strict policy for me using their name when alcohol is involved, but its probably not a secret what the charity is (childrens cancer, boston). I dont think ill try the charity thing until i get started and maybe 30-40 towns in. See how it goes and see how the following is.
I will do a blog too
TOO FUNNY!!! BeerWorks blueberry beer is my all time favorite beer!! The only reason i go to sox games
Look forward to hearing more. I am sure people like Cisco Breweries and other small time brewers would love to participate. It's a fantastic idea. I think you should broaden your vision on marketing this and raising money as well as awareness. Email me your blog when you set it up (my profile page)
Sounds good. Im not really familiar with this site. Do you want me to PM you? Is that what you mean by profile page?
How long are you going to be doing this? The reason that I am asking is I would suggest on top of Mt Greylock for Adams but you cannot do that during the winter...
Lanesboro - I would suggest Old Forge as the bar. Great beer selection too. Or Matt Reilly's with Pontoosuc Lake in view.
Whately - Old Whately Inn (http://www.whatelyinn.com/design/index.php?lv=1)
Blandford - Check the ski area that is there to see if there is a bar open during the winter
Richmond - maybe in front of Bartlett's Orchard (not quite legal)
Amherst - Moan & Dove Bar
Heres the website for the Moan & Dove
http://moananddove.com/
I'll post more thoughts as they come to me.
Need help with landmarks ???
You'll need help STANDING UP with all that beer inside you!
All the best
Mt Greylock is a completely out of the box fantastic suggestion!
Rt 7 Grill -Great Barrington does a lot of communal work and might be a great fundraising stop.
I'm writing all these suggestions down.. This will be over a year. My 351st will be the Sam Adams brewery. Lookin Glass I took your advice. I already emailed Cisco Breweries. Also if anyone wants to meet me for a beer that'd be great. On my blog I will be posting the towns I will be hitting in the upcoming days. I will have to be fast. Some days I will be hitting 10-15 towns. I will have a driver.
Cummington: There is a Kingman Tavern Museum, closed in winter. They have a great county fair -- maybe the fairgrounds?
Florida: Its on the top of a mountain, you should be able to get a great view of the valley from a pullout on side of Rt 2.
Leverett: Overlooking Leverett pond, maybe? Or outside the Dakin animal shelter?
Shutesbury: Overlooking Lake Wyola.
Pelham: there is a scenic-looking white building (a church or town hall) and old graveyard on Amherst Road, just west of 202.
Granby: There's a building-sized milk can and milk bottle in front of the Earlee Mug restaurant on 202.
These are all awesome suggestions!! Thanks. Keep em coming!
I think I am going to do all 22 Cape towns including MV and Nantucket in the summer. I will go there for the weekend and do them all friday-sunday. I live in Worcester County. So going to start here. Tomorrow have to go to a wake in Pembroke so going to hit 5-6 towns around that area.
BT's Smokehouse - Sturbridge BYOB
Ha just went to BT's for the 1st time last week.. Great Stuff!
For your summer list on Cape Cod. Hyannis: www.baxterscapecod.com/
For Wellfleet: www.thebeachcomber.com/
Orleans: www.land-ho.com/
Chatham: www.thesquire.com/
Clarksburg, Ma - Golden Eagle restaurant on the Hairpin Turn on Rt 2. http://thegoldeneaglerestaurant.com/ge2011/
What do you have bookmarked for Pittsfield?
are you going to plympon or pembroke tomorrow?
I just left work. List is at work. My list is at work so I will get back to you on Pittsfield.
Ya pembroke tomorrow
For Hancock, Id suggest Christiansens Tavern at Jiminy Peak.
Thank you. Ive added that.
In Cohasset I guess you could indulge at Mr. Dooley's. http://cohasset.mrdooleys.com/
Years ago they had an authentic local tavern, The Red Lion, but out-of-towners bought it and turned it into a wedding destination monstrosity.
I admire your goal which is only slightly diminished by the philanthropical element.
For Stockbridge, Id suggest the Red Lion Inn. I have been trying to suggest iconic places that are very relevant to each town / city with some history.
I appreciate it.
in Cummington you can stop at the Old Creamery Co-op, very interesting. Plainfield has a beautiful pond to stop by, right on 116.
Chesterfield Gorge is beautiful.
Awesome. Im really excited to see all these towns.
toddy, in Cummington the creamery sells sam adams.
Goshen has the DAR state park on a lake known locally as the Goshen Ocean.
Buckland has a pretty decent pizza place downtown.
Are you going to the Lake House in Ashfield? If you do have their fried chicken for dinner with your beer.
The Whately Inn has a bar, it is an old timey kind of restaurant. there's also a strip club in town.
Conway has a gorgeous stone library in the middle of town.
Rooster's in Northfield has beer and live music, right on Main St.
The most interesting thing in Leverett is the Peace Pagoda.
Roadside Cafe in Monterey
Santarella's gingerbread house in Tyringham has closed but it is really wacjy looking and would make a great photo op with its wavy roof
I laughed out loud when I saw Ashby on the list... that's where I had my first (very underage) beers working as a junior counselor at a place called Camp Lampham on South Road. I believe it's still there, and I'm lucky I didn't drown skinny dipping in the lake during that outing! I remember it being a very picturesque drive from the center of town, quintissential New England hillsides and farmland. If nothing else, the village green is pretty and a quiet chug of a paper-bag wrapped bottle won't cause anyone any harm! Good luck on your quest, sir knight!
Love all the responses. Just want to let you know that when someone posts a place to go im literally pencilling it in. You guys know better than me, so if you name it, i will be there.
In Soutborough, you should go to the Oregon Club....it's been around for eons, and was once a speakeasy....literally the only place in town you could get a drink!
In Ashland, John Stone's Inn.
Harvard is tough....I might just have a beer on the town green, but. I'm afraid the cops and open container laws might get you in trouble.
Still thinking about Harvard...there is a cafe at the fruitlands museum in Harvard. Not sure if they have Sam, but it would be a nice place for brunch and they serve mimosas, so they probably have beer too.
Cool. Actually i spoke to someone who lives in Harvard and she wasnt aware of any places to drink.
There's a half French, half Japanese restaurant in Lincoln with a liquor license.
http://www.akabistrolincoln.com
In Carlisle:
http://fernscountrystore.com
Sorry, I hit submit too soon.
In Carlisle you can purchase a beer or wine to have with your meal at the Smiling Duck Cafe in Ferns Country Store. Or, you can bring your own.
http://fernscountrystore.com/ferns/the-smiling-duck-cafe/
Good luck with the rest of your list.
Thanks Sharona. Its been added!! I should be done with my first 15 by sunday. Will post my blog
I know that you're asking about (mostly) western towns but when you're in Lowell you should consider the Old Worthen. Drink where Jack Kerouac drank.
Have a great time! Sounds fun.
I will shaz. Im underway
Already in town #4
AKA Bistro in Lincoln has a bar, where you must order some food, however they do serve Sam Adams (at least their on-line cocktail list mentions the Spring ale.)
Working on blog now
Has anyone ever been to plympton. Wow! Every house is a farm. Got a good pic with llamas for plympton
You may be interested in this couple's blog of visiting all 351 municipalities last year. They were taking photos in front of signs with the town/city name.
http://massachusetts351.blogspot.com/
Cool Thanks
If anyone knows a good site to start a blog let me know. Im having a very difficult time. I'll upload the pics but they are somehow microscopic. Thought it would be easier than it is.
try blogspot.com? a poster from buenos aires uses them and does a great blog
good luck
Well the good news is the wife was very hesitant about this whole thing, but after she saw a couple of the pics and a couple of the companies that have emailed me back to come down and take pics there she is on board now!! YAY
don't call her 'the' wife unless she likes it! I'd take a frying pan to your head!
this could really be a great and interesting and entertaining project. hope you find blog help
I think i have the blog under control now.
Facebook is mass beertour
Once i get my blog looking good ill post that
For the person who asked i had patricks pub pencilled in for pittsfield. Next weekend ill be hitting the south shore. Gonna wait til i have 20 locations to send out blog. I got a good llama pic in plympton
Fb mass beertour
Twitter @351samchallenge
there is only one place in West Newbury to be able to have a beer and that's the West Newbury Pizza Company (your typical Greek pizza and sub place)on Main St in our extremely tiny center of town. You can buy beer at the Food Mart and then perhaps drink it down by the river (though its not legal). Or if you are a member of the American Legion, I think you can have a beer there. I'd wait on WN until the weekend after Christmas and then you can go to one of our Christmas tree farms and cut your own.
Patrick's Pub is a good location for a beer. Was going to recommend that anyways for Pittsfield
Ya I was shocked to see how much trouble I was having with West Newbury. Thanks Bennnie (btw I think thats you i got the FB invite from)
For Great Barrington I am going to try to go to this castle
http://www.luxuryportfolio.com/property/great_barrington/searles_hopkins_castle.cfm
toddy, have you reached out to Sam Adams? I bet they'd like to support your charity endeavor, and it would be great publicity for them lso, a win-win.
For Boston, consider going to McGreveys close to Fenway (I think it is 1200 steps, or something like that, they have it posted at McGreveys). Disclaimer: my husband's cousin, who is leader of the Dropkick Murphys band, owns McGreveys. The place has lot of Boston history associated w/it.
Kenny Casey, the owner, is big into charities. He started the Claddaugh Fund, which holds events to raise $$ (including an annual golf tournament). The mission of the Calddaugh Fund is to support underfunded non-profit orgs that serve vulnerable populations in the Boston area. One of the charities the Fund supports include the Fransiscan Hospital for Children in Boston. Also many youth orgs in Boston area.
If you like, I can check w/Kenny and see if he can offer any support or assistance to your charitable endeavor and give you some publicity, although I know your charity does not want the info publicised due to alcohol involvement, but maybe there is some way around that so they are not named.
http://www.claddaghfund.org/cf/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=170&Itemid=54
http://www.mcgreevysboston.com/
(Look at the "history" section in the above mcgreveys link.)
Thanks EMD that would be great..
The only this is #351 is going to be Boston. At the Sam Adams Brewery!
YEs Sam knows and Im working on a website right now. They are excited abotu it and will be retweeting my pics as i continue through all the towns.
Wow, that is COOL re Sam Adams involvement. I hope they intend to make a big donation to your charity endeavor. What does one call this endeavor? It isn't a beer walk, as you are not walking. What are you naming it? DO you want some ideas?
I see now from reading posts above that your endeavor is called Mass. Beer Tour on facebook, so I assume that is the name...
Beer crawl, perhaps?
The Central House at the Crown - in Provincetown, Ma serves Sam Adams. See if Miss Richfield 1981 will share a beer with you.
http://missrichfield.wordpress.com/
Have you contacted Sam Adams to see who they distribute to? You may get lucky and have them donate something. They're doing a few promos right now for the Sandi victims.
Have fun!
"china_cat on Jan 4, 13 at 5:24am


In Ashland, John Stone's Inn."
Love that tavern, the open night was amazing but not the best place for our GTG
It's been way too long!
toddy - Framingham? No question John Harvards! if like beer it's the place to go and 'wife' can shop while you check out their brews.
https://www.johnharvards.com/
china_cat will back me up on this one.
BTW, there is an IMAX in Framingham so maybe you could turn this into a date night
I dont have a name yet. Twitter is 351samchallenge. Yes for framingham john harvards great idea. Thanks for everyone's input
I have a suggestion for your FB page. Make it so people can subscribe to it. Account settings -> followers. Then we won't have to "friend" you to see your entries on our newsfeeds. Thanks from those of us who don't twitter.
Cripes - that should have been "open mike night"
Good suggestion about fb. Ill check it out. I havent really friended anyone yet. Was gonna wait til i hit 25-30 towns
I know you like Sam (our local liquor store is now selling Alpine Spring - WTH ) but have you looked at the British Beer Company just to mix it up a bit?
http://www.britishbeer.com/
Trust me it's nothing like a 'real' British pub but they have a good range of beers.
Ha i go to BBC all.the time
Where on Fodors is the 'like' button

Our town lost an Applebees and gained a BBC in it's place.
Result!
Ha. Ya BBC is awesome
toddy, why are you waiting til you hit 30 towns or so to get the following ramped up? Case in point - you now have supporters on this board interested in and excited about your charitable undertaking (and the fact that it includes beer in MA.). Why not start posting now? I think you have momentum on this board already.
How do we contribute to the charity donations for your journey? Do we sign up for a certain amt of $ for each beer town you hit? I understand that the charity does not want any publicity since this has to do w/alcohol, but just exactly how are you raising $ then, and how do we contribute?
Hey. I guess i wont wait. The charity thing is really tough. I wish i was more computer savvy to have a website where u can click and donate. I think im gonna wait to see how big it gets. I feel odd asking for $$$$. If anyone wants to follow for now send me a fb invite. Illstart sending them.tomorrow
I have an awesome one im hitting tomorrow. The bar is half in oxford/half in auburn. Ill kill 2 birds with one stone. Maybe in 1 picture
Is this about raising money for kid's cancer treatment? If so, then it is about asking for money for that cause based on your activity to raise the money. Some people walk or swim a certain distance and get donations for each increment they walk or swim for their designated charity; you are drinking beer in different places across the state for it.
If it to raise money for a good charitable cause, then there is no embarrassment in that. How else are you going to raise any money? It is a charity endeavor, right? If it is more about drinking beer across the state and you don't want to deal w/raising money for the charity, so be it.
Waiting to see how big it gets is kind of arse backwards, IMO- it will get as big as you make it and support it getting, and it could go viral if you do this in a way to support that happening. You started by posting here and setting up a page on FB. If someone wants to donate to the charity bcause of your endeavor, give them a way to do it, or people are going to lost interest. Unless they just think it is cool that you are going around to different towns to drink beer and want to follow you due to that, regardless of the cancer kids charity part of this.
Just my two cents; I have done a lot of charity-driven activities and you need to get momentum now on he connection with your activity to the charity and donations before and right as it starts, in my experience.
I think the Berkshire Brewing Co in South Deerfield makes very good beer. You could get a list of places to sample it on their web site (lots of bars/restaurants in small towns in the area sell it)
http://www.berkshirebrewingcompany.com/where2buy_ma_rest.html
and the brewery itself has tours on Saturdays
If anyone is good at making a website or helping me out with a blog let me know. Im losing patience. Everytime i try to make my blog it doesn't look good. I have 3 poeple who are supposedly going to help me with a website, but im not too patient. I want it done ASAP. my email is toddy351@yahoo
adding toddy's blog here in case those who gave recommendations haven't seen the other thread.
http://351beers.tumblr.com/
"Fighting Children's Cancer One Beer at a Time!" Cheers to that!
Following you on Facebook. Keep up the good work. You taking a snow break?
If you want a nice place in Newton, MA, there is the Biltmore Bar and Grille. The food and beer are great.
Thanks.
Newton im going to The Local. They are spinsoring. Matnik im updating FB now. Had FB problens. Been updating blog daily. Www.351beers.tumblr.com
By the time you look at my FB you will see ive been to 47 towns. I have about 80 sponsors so far
Reminder FB Mass BeerTour
Blog www.351beers.tumblr.com
Twitter @351samchallenge
Any ideas lemme know. I am going to be on a worcester radio show soon. I think i have 127 definite locations lined up so far.
Well, I see you've already been to my neck of the woods, I think we live close by


I'll keep a look out for you at my local BBC once you have finished your quest.
Or maybe Coles
OK choice for the local Outback, not much going on in that town - I was going to suggest Egan's Pub but they are too seasonal, good view from their deck though.
Have you been to Medway yet? Mickey Cassidys for their Irish Breakfast maybe
http://www.mickeycassidys.com/index.asp
emd3 - Love the DKMs! Great music, seem like really great guys.
Toddy - good luck and keep up the good work.
Medway yes. Restaurant 45. Got my first press coverage
http://northandover.patch.com/articles/one-man-beer-tour-to-fight-cancer-heading-to-rolf-s-saturday
Strip joint in Whately called Castaways - route 5.
I may have to go there for whately
Perhaps this wild adventure is a practice run for something globally in the future! LOL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRcqrz2LB30
Ha thats pretty cool.
Ive been posting 1 town per day on my blog. Currently finished with 57 towns/47 days
Will be on a radio show march 11 to promote
Ill be on channel 7 tomorrow whdh at noon. They are filming me at 9 am at The Local in Newton
Drinking beer in the morning for the children! LOL!
Itll be on at 6. Whdh
Excellent!!! For anyone that missed it you can find it here - under the title Man bar hops for cancer research! Bravo!
http://www1.whdh.com/video/category/top-video/
now how to turn those gift cards into cash for da kids??????
I saw it! How exciting. Here's another:
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/50913229/ns/local_news-boston_ma/#.USgmZaX3DY0
Ill be raffling gc off.
My facebook is mass beertour
I now have a website www.351samadams.com it shows where i will be, you can donate, see where i've been, check out the contest section too. I am giving away prizes if you can guess where i will be for town #100.
Currently 89/351 raised $6036
Buckland: Try Buckland Pizza (chicken and broccoli pizza rocks) or West End Pub right across the street
Shelburne Falls: Try the Blue Rock. Awesome food and fantastic bar.
In Hyannis: BBC
In Provincetown: Anywhere, anywhere at all
In Chatham: You have to go to the bar at the Squire