I'm a little late to the party on this, but did you know that Craft Brewed is really kind of awesome? The bottle shop and taproom opened four years ago on Franklin Road in Melrose and has been a consistently popular place for beer lovers to hang out.
But I'm not a beer lover, so it's never been on my radar. I recently wanted to meet up with a friend, though, and needed a centrally located place to hang for a while. Most people like to do this in coffee shops, but I'm not a coffee drinker, either (and they can be annoyingly cold, loud, and busy). Also, I wanted some food, but not lunch. My needs were pretty picky, but it worked out rather well at Craft Brewed.
First, the vibe at Craft Brewed was really laid-back. You just want to hang for a while and chat with a friend? No problem. When you want a beverage, just go up to the bar and get one. There's no one hovering around your table wanting you to clear out for new customers. You want food? They don't have a kitchen, but they do have a refrigerator stocked with locally made Daddy Bob's Pimento Cheese (veggie and bacon versions) to eat with some Ritz crackers. Perfect snack. And it's the best pimiento cheese I've ever tasted (aside from the usual ingredients, Daddy Bob's version of pimento cheese is augmented with scallions and jalapeños). But if that's not your thing, Craft Brewed is happy to let you bring food in with you.
Second, there is plenty to be enjoyed about the beers at Craft Brewed, even if you are not much of a beer drinker. Many of the beers on tap are unusual and interesting, including the Ace Pineapple Cider (a favorite of mine) and New Belgium's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ale (a collaboration with Ben & Jerry's). Of course, there are dozens of other beers on tap for more seasoned beer drinkers, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I could enjoy. They'll gladly let you sample a beer before committing, and they offer small and medium sizes along with full pints of beers, so you can manage how much you drink.
Lastly, they offer an impressive selection of all types of beverages (beers, ciders, soft drinks/mixers, wine and spirits) for you to take with you. This is good to know for folks who need to pick something up for holiday parties. There are refrigerated and non-refrigerated sections, plus growlers available to take home. There's something for everyone to enjoy. Pretty awesome.
