Craft Beer Week 2021: See Worcester Area Patios, Beer Gardens

WORCESTER, MA — Eighty-five percent of adults age 21 or older live within 10 miles of a brewery, according to the Brewers Association. The Worcester area is no exception, and it just so happens May 10 to 16 is the 15th annual American Craft Beer Week — a perfect time to sample some local concoctions.

American Craft Beer Week in 2021, which takes place 14 months after the coronavirus pandemic began its significant financial impact on local businesses nationwide, presents a prime opportunity to support local brewers, association officials said.

“America’s small and independent craft breweries have faced many hardships over the past year,” Brewers Association marketing director Ann Obenchain said in a statement.

In recent decades, craft beer has become the more popular choice for Americans. Craft breweries in the United States date back to the late 1970s, the first opening shortly after President Jimmy Carter signed legislation that made home-brewing legal in 1978.

Now, craft breweries are opening in communities across America. Small and independent brewing companies accounted for 40 of the top 50 top producing craft brewing companies in 2020 based on beer sales volume, according to the Brewers Association.

Even as in-person craft beer consumption and unique local events were shut down for months following the pandemic’s start, craft breweries in the country provided more than 138,000 full- and part-time jobs in 2020, according to the association.

Since warm spring weather is upon us — and due to the lingering coronavirus pandemic — we've put together a guide to local brewers that have outdoor space, everything from pop-up beer gardens to patios overlooking rolling farmland.

Enjoy an outdoor beer or snack during craft beer week at these local breweries:

7th Wave Brewing, 120 N Meadows Road, Medfield

7th Wave has an outdoor seating area right now, but check this out: the brewer is renovating an Airstream trailer to serve as a mobile kitchen for the outdoor seating area. Watch for it coming this summer.

Bay State Brewery, 112 Harding St., Worcester

The brewery offers a dog-friendly outdoor area featuring picnic tables. You can call ahead about seating, but they don't take reservations.

Beer Garden Worcester, 64 Franklin St., Worcester

Not technically a brewery, but this downtown Worcester beer bar features lots of beer choices from near and far. There's also an outdoor area facing Franklin Street.

Cold Harbor Brewing, 108 Milk St., Westborough

There's covered outdoor seating behind Cold Harbor, and the brewery hosts a rotating assortment of food trucks.

The Corner Spot, 1-19 Pleasant St., Ashland

ZēLUS Beer (see below) is hosting a beer popup on May 13 at this outdoor event space in downtown Ashland featuring three local food trucks. The Corner Spot didn't open in 2020 due to the pandemic and is celebrating its return this spring.

CraftRoots Brewing, 4 Industrial Road, Milford

The dog-friendly beer garden is open Wednesdays through Sundays if the weather permits, and no reservations are required. The brewery also hosts musicians performing outdoors on Fridays and Saturday, and sometimes on Sundays. Check out the Facebook page for upcoming performances and a food truck schedule.

Exhibit 'A' Brewing, 81 Morton St, Framingham

The dog-friendly downtown Framingham Exhibit 'A' beer garden opened in April, just in time to catch those few days of 80-degree weather. The garden is closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Flying Dreams Brewing, 277 Main St., Marlborough

Pet-friendly outdoor seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Worcester taproom remains closed.

Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company, 55 Millbrook St., Worcester

Greater Good offers shaded outdoor seating. The brewery also has its own kitchen serving barroom classics and small bites.

Ground Effect Brewing, 312 Main St., Hudson

Reservations are highly recommended for Ground Effect's pet-friendly outdoor seating area. Groups are limited to a maximum of six this spring.

Jack's Abby, 100 Clinton St., Framingham

It's been a few months since Jack's has offered sit-down service, but the brewery is opening its patio on May 14 in time for craft beer week. Jack's does take reservations.

Lost Shoe Brewing and Roasting, 19 Weed St., Marlborough

This is another very popular patio, and Lost Shoe does take reservations. Some tables feature fire pits, plus umbrellas for spring showers.

Medusa Brewing Company, 111 Main St., Hudson

Medusa's dog-friendly beer garden features a shaded seating area, music and tacos, and tables can be reserved online.

Milk Room Brewing Company, 80 Hillside Road, Rutland

This relatively new brewery offers plenty of outdoor seating with picnic tables set up in farm pastures and a brand-new deck. Apart from the beer, food trucks are a staple, and there's livestock from goats to bison roaming around.

Purgatory Beer Co., 670 Linwood Ave., Whitinsville

There's a dog-friendly outdoor area outside this brewery located a stone's throw from the Mumford River.

Redemption Rock Brewing, 333 Shrewsbury St., Worcester

Get there early. The outdoor deck area, installed last summer, is extremely popular. The indoor taproom is also open and dog-friendly.

River Styx Brewing, 166 Boulder Drive, Fitchburg

The dog-friendly outdoor patio and indoor taproom are open now, and food trucks from Two Foxes Farm Pizza and others are available on Saturdays and Sundays.

Seven Saws Brewing, 1148 Main St., Holden

With limited outdoor seating, Seven Saws recommends visitors reserve a dog-friendly outdoor seat via Opentable.com. The brewery also has a selection of local wine and hard cider.

Start Line Brewing Company, 151R Hayden Rowe St., Hopkinton

Start Line does have patio seating, but is in the process of enlarging the space. Work should be complete sometime in June, according to the brewery.

Tackle Box Brewing Company, 416 Boston Post Road, Marlborough

There's outdoor seating with room for about seven people and accompanying dogs, and Tackle Box does take reservations if you call ahead. The brewery is planning to expand outdoor seating up to 14 later this season.

Timberyard Brewing Company, 555 E Main St., East Brookfield

This brewery's beer garden is open weekly Thursday to Sunday. Food and music also occur regularly.

Tree House Brewing, 129 Sturbridge Road, Charlton

The most lauded brewery in the state closed to sit-down service last March and hasn't indicated when it will begin pouring again. A satellite location in Deerfield just got approval to open, but Tree House hasn't said when that will happen, and hasn't said if sit-down service will be available.

Wormtown Brewery, 72 Shrewsbury St., Worcester

Wormtown recently expanded its Shrewsbury Street brewery in a big way, and it's getting ready for another expansion. The brewery is planning to open its (dog-friendly) beer garden within the next week outside the Shrewsbury Street HQ.

ZēLUS Beer Company, 1 Green St., Medfield

They won't make craft beer week, but ZēLUS is planning to reopen for in-person service, including dog and kid-friendly patio, beginning in June. ZēLUS also hosts pop-up beer gardens regularly at Meeting House Park in Medfield with live music. There's also a pop-up planned for Medfield State Hospital on May 14.