AT Newsletter 11/26/25

Hello!  My name is Bob, and I don’t mind drinking a beer while wearing gloves.  That qualifies me to write the November newsletter for Amory’s Tomb Brewing Company.  I usually write the whole thing by myself, but this month you’ll definitely want to check out Allen’s update on the taproom at the bottom.  Hell’s about to freeze over!!!  

Amory’s Tomb Hits It’s Copper (aka 7th) Anniversary!

I remember visiting the old Amory’s Tomb taproom on their first night official open, “Thanksgiving Eve” of 2018. 

First impressions were a little underwhelming.  The old taproom may have been a bit warmer than our current accommodations, but it certainly wasn’t cozy.  There were minimal frills, and by minimal I mean it had no frills.  I don’t think there were any decorations on the wall yet, not even the ladder that was soon hung up on one side.  You ordered your beer from a paper menu that Rick handed you at a gray cement slab in the center that served as a bar - again, not exactly warm!  Then you sat down at picnic tables to drink your beer.  OK, some things haven’t changed.

The beer menu also threw me off at first.  I’m willing to confess that at the time I drank a lot of IPA’s.  I liked IPAs.  I still like IPAs.  But for me in 2018 to see a beer menu at a brewery that had one - and only one - IPA on the menu (it was The Golden Rule) but multiple farmhouse-style ales was a real shock.  The IPA/non-IPA balance is probably still a bit of a surprise to anyone visiting Amory’s Tomb the first time today.

Anyway, I remember thinking to myself when I left, “Well that wasn’t what I was expecting!”  I wasn’t totally sure what to make of the place, to be honest.  It was like drinking beer in somebody’s basement, if that basement happened to be in Brussels.    

But a funny thing happened.  I kept coming back.  And the place kept growing on me.  The beer got better and better, and more interesting.  One year led to another, a pandemic came and went, food and death metal concerts were added to the fare, the taproom closed, the glorious beer garden kept the Amory’s Tomb flame alive, the taco truck and dance parties became a weekly Friday appointment, I learned about raclette, great beer continued to flow, and I got to know some fun and interesting people (and dogs!) too.  Seven years later, I can’t imagine a world without Amory’s Tomb.

2018 sure seems like a long time ago, doesn't it?  Thanks to Allen and Rick, my beer preferences have completely changed.  Oh, I still enjoy a really, really good IPA, but frankly I have become bored by the merely decent ones, of which there are far too many.  If I am out somewhere, I’ll just as often opt for a farmhouse ale or Czech-inspired lager, and it is Allen and Rick who set me on that path.  

Allen and Rick don’t like to toot their own horns, but I’m writing this, not them.  I really admire how much Allen and Rick have persevered through challenges that would have knocked down a lesser brewery making uninspiring beer.  Not only have they survived, they’ve thrived (ask Allen how much beer they will brew in 2025 versus 2018) and at the same time created a great local hangout right in the heart of downtown Maynard.  

So as Amory’s Tomb hits its 7th anniversary, and we inch ever closer to the opening of the new taproom, let’s all raise a glass - or maybe just a biodegradable plastic cup - to Allen and Rick in celebration of 7 years of  great beer and great friends!

7th Anniversary Celebration November 26th to 30th!

Enough with the sentimental stuff!  Allen and Rick will be celebrating their anniversary all next week.  The celebration will begin on Wednesday, November 26th.  As I mentioned above, it was on a Wednesday before Thanksgiving that AT first officially opened for business in 2018.  

There will not be a dedicated anniversary-related beer release this year - Allen and Rick have been putting all their efforts towards the taproom - but they will be releasing bottles of Decopaged 4 and Tea Service 1, both of which I described in the last newsletter, for consumption in the Beer Garden on Wednesday.  Trust me on this one, farmhouse ale goes great with turkey, so be sure to load up on supplies for Thanksgiving.

Next day, on Thanksgiving itself, Amory’s Tomb will be hosting its annual Thanksgiving Breakfast Celebration!  As is tradition, the Beer Garden will be open from 8:00am to 11:00am and beer will be available for onsite consumption only.  (The Commonwealth of Massachusetts prohibits the sale of alcohol to-go on Thanksgiving for reasons which elude me.)  And of course, there will be breakfast sandwiches containing eggs and special pork products.  Some of us may argue that all pork products are special, but Allen has promised that these will be extra special!  Yum!

Amory’s Tomb will also be open on Black Friday in case you need a beer or two after shopping and aren’t planning to watch my Philadelphia Eagles that afternoon.  (If the Birds play the way they did last Sunday, I might need a beer or two after the game!)  The celebration will continue throughout the weekend, so be sure to stop by.  Fingers crossed that Allen and Rick bust out older AT bottles from their cellar for anniversary weekend, too.  If they do, I’m calling dibs on any leftover bottles of “A Quiet Place for Weavers”, should one miraculously appear!

Holiday Stroll and Krampus Market on December 6th

The Maynard Business Alliance will be sponsoring the annual Holiday Stroll throughout downtown Maynard on Saturday, December 6th from 5:45pm (when the event starts with a lighting in Memorial Park) until 8:00pm.  It’s a great opportunity to pick up some unique gifts for the holidays.

Of course, Amory’s Tomb will be open, too.  In fact, AT will be holding a Krampus Market in the Beer Garden from 12:00 to 6:00pm!  In case you are unfamiliar, Krampus is a Central European tradition.  The idea is that he accompanies St. Nicholas, and while St. Nick gives gifts to good children, Krampus beats bad children with sticks!  Geez, I guess the classic “lump of coal in your stocking” isn’t enough of a punishment over there?

For the avoidance of doubt, there will be no stick-beatings in the Beer Garden on December 6th, no matter how poorly-behaved your children (or you, for that matter!) have been in 2025.  But there will be artisans peddling their wares.  That sounds nicer, frankly.  

And Krampus will indeed be there.  He’s a pretty creepy looking guy or monster or whatever he is!  While Allen may bear more than a passing resemblance to Santa Claus, it’s actually Krampus who looks like an appropriate Amory’s Tomb Holiday mascot!  Personally, I’ve never seen Krampus in person, so I am looking forward to it.  Should be fun!

Taproom Opening Imminent!  For Real This Time!!!

Editor’s Note: We received final approvals this week and completed our Draught installation. All work is now complete, and we are just waiting on a single piece of paper in order to open our doors. It could be today, it could be in a week or two, but the minute we get it our doors will be open and posts will be made!!

Inside or outside (or both?) Allen and Rick continue to work on fun events for the holidays.  Allen didn’t really share much or really anything with me in the way of details, but he did at one point mutter something about “black metal concert”?  What???  He must have had a few too many Underbergs at that point, right?  

It should be a great time at Amory’s Tomb as we hit the Holiday Season.  

Gray Walls, Doom Metal, Beer and Regret Forever!!!

AT Newsletter 10/25/25

Hello!  My name is Bob and no, I don’t want sugar on the rim of my Broken Latch, thank you very much!  To make up for my refusal to engage in this fall beer tradition, I am writing this month’s Amory’s Tomb Brewing Newsletter!  Here’s what’s happening at the Tomb:

New Farmhouse Ales - in Bottles!
Are Coming

If you are like me, you’ve enjoyed the abundance of really top-shelf lagers at the Beer Garden recently.  Man Bun Pilsner, Broken Latch and whatever they are calling their Italian-style Pilsner this week have all been in regular rotation recently.  It’s an embarrassment of riches!

But while Amory’s Tomb makes excellent and, if anything, underrated lagers, we all know that Allen and Rick’s true passion is farmhouse ales.  Heck, in the early days of the old taproom the only beers you could purchase to-go were bottles of farmhouse ales.  

As much as I have enjoyed the Amory’s Tomb 2025 Beer Garden Lager Bonanza, something’s been missing in my Beer Garden life recently, and I think it is the pleasure of drinking a great saison out of the bottle.  Well, things are changing in a big way!  Allen and Rick have not 1, not 2, but 3 new bottle offerings coming!

First up, and already available, is the second batch of Puncheon Classic.  Puncheon Classic is the most straightforward name Allen and Rick have given one of their beers since they decided to call their robust porter “Robust Porter”.   It’s exactly what the name says it is.  It’s the Amory’s Tomb OG farmhouse ale, Saison I: Classic, aged in puncheon barrels.   

Puncheon Classic is also the first beer to “graduate” from the Dead Sparrow Society (see below) to wider release, and it isn’t hard to understand why.  Saison Classic has always been a great beer, and aging it in puncheon barrels changes the flavor a bit from regular Classic, but not too much.  It’s really great!

Next up is Decopaged Volume 4.  The Decopaged series of beers dates back to the later years of the old taproom.  Each version of the Decopaged series has been different from prior ones, though all are blends of different ales combined with other ingredients.  For Decopaged 4, Allen and Rick have blended 28-month barrel-aged saison with fresh saison, then conditioned the whole thing on passionfruit.  Wow!  Decopaged 4 will be available in bottles very soon.  As for why it’s “Decopaged Volume 4” and not “Decopaged Volume IV”, you’ll have to ask Allen.

Finally, Amory’s Tomb will soon be releasing its first in a series of beers that use tea as ingredients, Tea Service Volume 1.  Tea Service Volume 1 is conditioned on blueberries and jasmine tea with a tea simple syrup.  I’m really intrigued by this one since two of my favorite beverages are tea and beer, though not necessarily in that order.  I can’t wait to give it a try!   

The lagers (and porters, and IPAs) in the Beer Garden have been great.  They all go wonderfully with Perico’s on Fridays and Saturdays and Ben’s Raclette on Thursdays.  But saisons are Amory’s Tomb’s true speciality, and I am excited that they will have an array of offerings available soon.  

Who knows, I might choose to wash down my Perico’s Tacos with a bottle of farmhouse saison just like they do in Belgium!  At least that is my understanding of what they do in Belgium.  Surely they have tacos in Belgium, right?  Maybe made with a waffle instead of a corn tortilla?  No?  

Speaking of bottled beer…

2025-26 Dead Sparrow Society Waiting List Open Now

The Dead Sparrow Society is Amory’s Tomb’s beer subscription program.  It’s simple.  You sign up at the start of the year, and then you receive bottles of Allen and Rick’s most adventurous and interesting beer.  You also get a cool t-shirt and glass, too.

The current season is ending this Autumn (if you are currently a DSS member, be on the lookout for a separate email from Allen.) and the final season bottle drop looks like it will be a doozy.  At the risk of stealing Allen’s thunder, it’ll include: 

• A whiskey barrel aged imperial ESB

• A Brett IPA

• A farmhouse ale barrel-aged 2 years with rhubarb

• A barrel-aged rye farmhouse ale aged on blueberry and lychee

Do those beers sound intriguing to you?  If so, you’re in luck because it is almost time to sign up for the new season of the Dead Sparrow Society!  If you are already a member, you’ll receive information on the new DSS year sometime in November from Allen.  

However, if you aren’t yet in the DSS, now is the time to put yourself on the waitlist for the new year.  There is always some turnover from one year to the next, and the wishlist is the first place Allen and Rick look in order to add new members.  

If you like Amory’s Tomb’s farmhouse ales - heck, if you like well-crafted, adventurous beer of any type - I heartily recommend signing up.  The DSS beers for the first 2 years have all been excellent, and I would imagine the new year will be just as good, if not better.  You can use this link to put yourself on the waitlist.

https://www.amorystomb.com/dead-sparrow-society

Halloween in the Beer Garden

In case you hadn’t guessed from the brewery’s name, their logo the name of their beer subscription plan, the general vibe of their merchandise, the dark color scheme of the tap room, the music, or that plastic gravestone next to the shed in the Beer Garden, Halloween is a big deal to Amory’s Tomb.  

There will be a couple of special events to celebrate spooky season this year.  First, Maynard will be having its Annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat on Thursday, October 30th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.  Of course, the Amory’s Tomb Beer Garden will be open with candy for the kids.  And of course, Mom and Dad deserve a treat, too!  Stop in for a draught!

October 31st brings the final Friday Night Garden Party of 2025, with a spooky set of dance music beginning at 6pm.

Then on Saturday, November 1st, it’ll be the annual Amory’s Tomb Halloween Movie Night!   This year’s double bill will begin with Messiah of Evil from 1974.  

IMDB describes Messiah of Evil’s plot as “A young woman goes searching for her missing artist father. Her journey takes her to a strange Californian seaside town governed by a mysterious undead cult.”  Ah, a good wholesome movie about an adult daughter reconnecting with her estranged dad.  I’m sure it will be heartwarming!

Second up will be Savage Weekend, from 1979  Here’s IMDB’s description of this one:  “Several couples head upstate to the country to watch a boat being built. Unfortunately they are stalked by a murderer behind a ghoulish mask.”

OK, reading that description, this must be some sort of romantic comedy with a “city slickers end up stuck in the country and learn about themselves” twist.  Sort of a “Sleepless in Seattle meets My Cousin Vinny” vibe, maybe.   

Come on out and see for yourself whether my descriptions are accurate.  The movies start at around 7:00pm on November 1st.

Toss on a costume and grab a blanket or two. We’ll be giving out prizes for best costume each night!

The New Cans Are Finally Here

If you remember last month’s newsletter (c’mon, throw me a bone and at least pretend you remember!) you will recall that I wrote about all the new cans coming for sale at the Beer Garden.  And then if you went to the Beer Garden for the next few weeks after this newsletter, you noticed there were…no new cans. 

It turns out there was a water main break at the production facility where Amory’s Tomb brews their canned beers.  How’s the facility doing?  I have no idea!  I didn’t even ask!  But I did ask Allen about the cans, and he assured me that no beer was harmed, it’s just they couldn’t get the cans as quickly as they had wanted.  Thank goodness!  

Well, the cans are now safe and sound, and available for your consumption on premises in the Beer Garden or to take home, including new Broken Latch, Robust Porter and Saison XLII.  I am sure Broken Latch and Robust Porter need no introduction, but Saison XLII is a true surprise.  

Saison XLII is a farmhouse ale brewed with pilsner wheat and Munich malts and flaked spelt, as well as crystal and meridian hops.  It tastes like a proper Amory’s Tomb beer, and is never something I thought Allen and Rick would make available in a can.  This one is definitely worth getting your hands on!  

In fact, I might need to head down to the Beer Garden right now to get a can of Saison XLII, so that’s it for this update.  See you at the Tomb.

AT Newsletter 9/15/25

Hello!  My name is Bob and I’m baaaaaaacccckkkk!  It’s been over 3 months since I last wrote an Amory’s Tomb monthly newsletter, and that somehow qualifies me to write this month’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter!  Did you miss the monthly discourse on Roman Numerals, digestifs, Man Bun Pilsner and the proper spelling of the word “draught”.  (Side note, that isn’t it.)

What was I doing throughout the late spring and summer?  Trust me, you don’t want to know!  But now I’m back, and boy am I thirsty!  Let’s dive right into happenings at The Tomb, shall we?

Taproom Update

I visited the Beer Garden for the first time in a long time last week.  You can imagine how excited I was to finally go again because when I wrote my last newsletter in early June, the Taproom was just about ready to open.  I was really looking forward to seeing how the place finally came together and to sipping a well-crafted farmhouse ale from an actual glass.  Maybe I’d even use a facility with running water!  What would the new taproom look like?

Yeah, about that…

Many of you already know this but if, like me, you haven’t been to the Beer Garden in a while, it seems the taproom hasn’t opened yet.  Allen and Rick hit some (more) snags over the summer.  Last year poor Allen promised not to shave his beard until the taproom opened, and now it’s gotten to the point where he can double-braid his beard.  I figure he’ll be at ZZ Top stage by Thanksgiving!  

If you look in the windows in the front, it sure looks like Amory’s Tomb taproom in there.  There are plenty of tables and a bar, and even a fireplace with a couple of comfy chairs positioned around it.  But the taproom isn’t ready to open yet, and when I pressed them, Allen and Rick were not ready to commit to a timeline to open.  I know looking for a way to get it open as quickly as possible, though.  

Stay tuned to this space for further updates.  On to happier news.

Allen and Rick Keep Brewing Italian Pilsners, And Now They Put One in a Can!

Farmhouse Ales are Amory’s Tomb’s calling card, of course.  But over the years their lagers have been also been top notch.  I’ll always be very partial to Man Bun, their Bohemian style pilsner and Amory’s Tomb’s most popular (I think) beer. It’s a winner!

But Allen and Rick have also become quite adept at brewing Italian Pilsners.  If you are like me, when you hear the phrase “Italian Pilsner” you probably think of that imported pilsner that comes in green bottles and tastes like pureed cardboard with a hint of skunk.  Not appealing.

It turns out the Italian-style pilsner can be very good when made by skilled brewers who care about the product they are putting out.  In fact, 2025 might be the Year of Italian Pilsner for Amory’s Tomb.  First, they started offering an Italian-style Pilsners exclusively on draught at all Evivva Tratorria’s, including the one in Maynard.  Then they started offering another Italian-style Pilsner on draught at the Beer Garden.  

And now, they’ve brewed yet another Italian-style Pilsner and put the thing in cans.  Naturally, Allen and Rick have given this beer a phonetically Romanian name. It’s called Giōrgü, which according to Allen roughly translates to “earth worker”.  I asked Allen why they gave a Romanian name to an Italian-style pilsner.  His response:  “Naming beers is hard.” What, were all the Roman Numerals taken?

Name notwithstanding, Giōrgü is a terrific dry-hopped Italian-style pilsner.  The differences between it and the other Italian-style pilsners Allen and Rick have brewed this year are very, very subtle.  And that’s a good thing!  If you liked the other ones, you’ll like Giōrgü.  And if you haven’t tried any of them because of unpleasant memories of that green bottle beer, give the Amory’s Tomb version a try!

New Batches of Old Favorites Coming in October

Allen and Rick have a trio of fresh batches of your favorite Amory’s Tomb beers coming in October.  

First up is Robust Porter.  This batch of Robust Porter is made almost exclusively with New England ingredients.  Robust Porter is a two-time Untappd medal winner, and it is the perfect beer for these colder nights in the Beer Garden.

Second up is the return of a fall classic, Broken Latch!  Over the years, Broken Latch has become Amory’s Tomb’s answer to the overabundance of Oktoberfest beers you’ll find out there this time of year.  Unlike those beers, though, there really isn’t much sweetness to Broken Latch.  It’s a good-tasting amber lager.  To me, it tastes like a slightly earthier version of Man Bun, so you know I like it!

Finally, we have a stunner - Saison XLII returns, and this time it is in cans!!  It seems like it has been forever since Allen and Rick brewed one of their Roman Numeral saisons, and even longer still since they put one in a can.  I am very excited for the return of this one!  Just don’t ask about the significance of the number XLII.  You are bound to be disappointed!

Everything Old is New Again: Metal Wednesdays Are Back!!!

Way back 5-6 years ago, in the early days of the old taproom, Amory’s Tomb would be open on Wednesdays.  Wednesdays were typically dubbed “Weed Metal Wednesdays” because that’s what was playing.  On a very rare occasion they got bored with that and held an ultra rare “Black Metal Wednesday”.  The taproom was always a little bit calmer on Weed or Black Metal Wednesdays than on the weekends, and it was a great time to just chill and enjoy a couple of fine draughts.

Then the pandemic hit, and just like everything else in the world, the taproom was never the same again.  Gone were Weed Metal Wednesdays, Black Metal Wednesdays, and eventually even the old taproom itself.  I miss them.

So imagine my surprise when I found myself able to return to Amory’s Tomb for the first time in a few months last week and discovered that they were open on a Wednesday!  And it’s wasn’t just some random event.  Amory’s Tomb is now open every Wednesday for Metal Wednesday!!  The world is right again!

Right now, they are just Metal Wednesdays, no sub-genre specified.  So if you want something more specific like Grindcore, Death-Doom Metal, Drone Metal or whatever category Deafheaven is supposed to be in, take it up with Justin!

Raclette Thursdays Return for the Fall

I’ve said it before - in a newsletter from last year, even - and I will say it again.  There are few foods that are better for a crisp fall evening than melted cheese!  

That’s right!  Every Thursday in September and October (except for October 16th) is Raclette Thursday at AT!  Ben’s Raclette will be serving up  gooey melted cheese with hand-selected ingredients on top of a piece of french bread.  What’s not to love?

Personally, I go for the classic prosciutto, but Ben always has a few interesting options.  I’ve found his honey and raclette combo makes an excellent dessert raclette.  Yes, I say dessert raclette is a thing!  Don’t judge me!

Fall is Festival Season, Including Maynard Fest on October 4th

There are a ton of festivals this fall at which Amory’s Tomb will be pouring.  So many, in fact, that I don’t want to make this newsletter even longer by attempting to list them all.  I’ll just suggest you follow AT’s social media accounts for details on them.

One festival I do want to specifically call out, though, is the annual Maynard Fest, taking place in the Maynard Cultural District on Saturday, October 4th from 9:00am to 3:30pm.  Maynard Fest is always my favorite of the many events that happen in the center of Maynard.  

Maynard Fest is a street fair with over a hundred vendors, including those with stores along the streets in the center of town, offering their wares.  It’s a great time for the whole family.

But there are only so many face-paintings, hand-knit scarves and homemade soaps you can look at before you suffer from sensory overload and need to take a break.  When you reach your saturation point, it’s time to stop into the Beer Garden for a cold one.  The Beer Garden is right in the middle of the whole festival, so stop by and enjoy your favorite beer on Maynard’s biggest day of the year.  Perico’s Tacos will be there too!

Well, that’s about it for now.  I hope to see you in the Beer Garden again!

AT Newsletter 6/5/25

Hello!  My name is Bob, and I totally missed writing a May newsletter.  Life happens!  But there’s a lot going on at the Tomb, so here’s your June update:

Taproom Perilously Close to Completion

I’m not burying the lead here!  Allen and Rick can finally see the light at the end of the (long, long) tunnel!  You may recall that for awhile the big holdup was the sprinkler system.  At long last, sprinkler repairs finally commenced a few weeks ago, and as I write this the last sprinkler head has arrived to be installed.

Better yet, the plumbing is done and has been signed off!  If you are like me, I bet you’ve forgotten what it’s like to visit Amory’s Tomb, order a draught beer and have them use that washing thing they use to spray water on the glass before giving you your beer.  Heck, you’ve probably forgotten what it’s like to drink an Amory’s Tomb draught out of a glass!  Maybe even one that is freshly out of the dishwasher!  Running water all the through the whole Amory’s Tomb facility, imagine that!

The hardwood floors are being refinished this week, too.  There’s a few other final touches Allen and Rick need to handle, and you never know what unforeseen challenge can pop up, but it sure sounds like the long wait is nearing an end.  

When the taproom is ready, expect an email directly from Allen and Rick announcing the big day!  I don’t want to jinx things, but I think it’s really coming this time!

Amory’s Tomb Hires A New Team Member - Justin Suarez

As if you needed any further indication that Allen and Rick think the taproom is close to completion, they’ve hired a new team member to run the front of the house as they head towards opening.  When was the last time they hired a new team member???

Better yet, the new team member is Justin Suarez.  If you are like me, when you heard his name you said, “Wait, that Justin?”  Yes, that Justin!  Even if you didn’t know his name (or if you are like me, and only knew Justin’s first name) you’ll probably recognize him.  

Justin’s been working in craft beer service and management for over a decade, so it’s quite possible you’ve encountered him at another local craft brewery.  Or perhaps you’ve seen him hanging out in the Beer Garden (and before that, the old taproom.)  If you did see him, you’d remember because Justin has quite possibly the thickest beard I’ve ever seen.  Seriously, I think you could hang Christmas ornaments from it, and not just those light glass balls!

Justin’s a great guy, and a terrific addition to the Amory’s Tomb family.  Be sure to welcome him when you next see him.

Amory’s Tomb Pouring at Numerous Events in June

One of the great things about Amory’s Tomb - I mean, besides the beer and the people - is that Allen and Rick have always made a commitment to the community part of their mantra.  To that end, Amory’s Tomb will be pouring at multiple events on Saturdays in June.  Here’s what they have on tap (heh):

June 7 - Maynard Pride Fest

This Saturday from 12:00-5:00pm at Veterans Memorial Park is the annual Maynard Pride Fest.  There will be music, food, and even a Pet Parade to kickoff the festivities!  And of course, Amory’s Tomb will be pouring on-site.  More details here: https://www.maynardpride.org

June 21 - Maynard Jazz Fest

Then, two weeks later, again at Veterans Memorial Park, the Maynard Cultural Council will be presenting the 4th Annual Maynard Jazz Fest from 12:30 - 5:00pm.  Amory’s Tomb will be pouring at this festival, too.

June 21 - Nashoba Rock N Brewfest

On the same day as Maynard Jazz Fest is the 4th Annual Nashoba Rock N Brewfest in Lancaster sponsored by The Joseph and Leslie Carr Foundation.  Over 25 different brewers, including Amory’s Tomb, will be pouring samples of their finest from 2:00 - 6:00pm.  All proceeds go to help families in need across Massachusetts.  Here’s some information on this festival: https://events.beerfests.com/e/nashoba-rock-n-brewfest

June 28 - Nashua River Brewers Fest

Finally, Beers for Good’s Nashua River Brewers Festival 2025 is on June 28th from 1:00 - 5:00pm in Fitchburg.  As the name implies, this annual festival raises money for good causes that are local causes.  The festival has been around since 2008 has delivered over $100,000 to nonprofits in and around Fitchburg since then.  Wow!

This year’s primary beneficiary will be Ginny’s Helping Hand & Food Pantry.  This festival sounds really cool!  Of course Amory’s Tomb would be pouring at an event like this!  Here are more details: https://www.beersforgood.com/

Phew!  Allen and Rick are going to be busy in June!

Underberg Industry Night in the Garden Tuesday, June 17 - Open to All

Amory’s Tomb is partnering with their friends at Underberg for a special event on Tuesday night, June 17th (as an aside, has AT ever been open on Tuesday??) from 6:00 - 9:00pm!  There will be Underberg “bingo” cards and Underberg giveaways.  In case you aren’t familiar with Underberg, here’s a link that explains it all:

https://underbergamerica.com

That website is great.  My favorite part is that Underberg has…a Loyalty Program???  For only 672 caps, you can get an Underberg pocket watch!

At this point, Underbergs are part of the fabric of the Beer Garden.  People drink those little bottles of digestif on their own, and the more adventurous dump them into their beers to create such unholy creations as “Under Latch” and “Maynard’s New England Berg”.  

I will be particularly curious to see if anyone dares to mix an Underberg with some AT’s new releases to create “Under Klassique” or “Game Don’t Berg”.  It should be a great time!

Allen and Rick Sending a Cask to the Great British Beer Festival

If you’re looking for Amory’s Tomb a little farther away from home, may I suggest the Great British Beer Festival in Birmingham, running from August 5-9?  Allen and Rick are sending a special cask over for the event!  

OK, here’s my hot take of the month.  I think British beer is highly overrated.  The best beers I’ve ever had in the UK wouldn’t pass muster at a dive bar over here, although that likely has something to do with the fact that I spent most of my UK time at Wetherspoons establishments.  

Plus they spell it “draught” and you know how I feel about that!  

My point is, Amory’s Tomb’s keg should go really fast at this event!  Still, I bet this festival looks like a really good time.  If I was somewhere in the UK in early August I’d find a way to get there.  Here’s a link:

https://greatbritishbeerfestival.co.uk/

And that’s about it!  Sorry again for being delinquent on last month’s newsletter.  I am sure if you ask you can get a refund on your newsletter subscription fee from Allen, unless you are one of the lucky ones who gets this sterling example of journalism for free!  

Here’s hoping we get the really big announcement from Allen and Rick soon!  

AT Newsletter 4/28/25

Hello!  My name is Bob, and I still have a couple of cans of that great 6th Anniversary Brett IPA, “Broadcast Interrupted”, in my refrigerator.  That qualifies me to write this month’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter!  Here’s the latest from the Tomb:

Celebrating Perico’s Anniversary on Cinco de Mayo!

Yup, you read that right, Perico’s is celebrating their first year in business with a very special Cinco de Mayo celebration at the Amory’s Tomb Beer Garden! We will be opening from noon to 8:00 pm on 5/5/25 with a special lineup of treats from Victor and crew. Expect Man Bun Micheladas made with Victor’s own  recipe (hot beers are coming back soon too, I promise!), delicious tacos, tortas and an all around great celebration!

Call in sick now, and we’ll see you there!

Farm Road is Back!

The weather must be getting warmer out now because Allen and Rick have just brought back Farm Road.  They describe it as a “bright and delicate farmhouse ale brewed with 100% New England grown barley, oats and wheat, Merrimack Valley wildflower honey, and dried lemon peel. Delicate lemon and floral aromas wash over a biscuity grist and finish with a touch of phenolic spice.”

Amory’s Tomb makes great farmhouse ales.  Since you subscribe to this newsletter, you likely already knew that!  But not everyone likes farmhouse ales, or has even tasted one.  Farm Road is a great beer to use to introduce the uninitiated to the style.  It’s really quite approachable and goes well with food, especially tacos and raclette.

So if you have a friend who is a farmhouse skeptic or whose lips have never touched a farmhouse beer, bring them down to the Beer Garden and buy them a Farm Road!  Sixteen ounce cans were released last weekend in the Beer Garden, and no doubt it’ll be on draught soon.    

Maynard New England Bitter Available Now, and It’s More Local Than Ever!

Another new beer was released in the Beer Garden last weekend!

Maynard’s New England Bitter is the close cousin of Amory’s Tomb mainstay Maynard’s Finest Extra Special Bitter.  What’s the difference, you ask?

Both versions are amber-hued pub ales brewed with Blue Ox Malthouse

Pale, Munich and Crystal malts and William Crisp Brown malt.  But this new batch was brewed exclusively with Massachusetts-grown Magnum, Crystal and Teamaker hops from Four Star Farms in Northfield, Massachusetts.  Hence the name New England Bitter!

I’ll be honest with you.  For a long time, the Extra Special Bitter might have been my least favorite beer style.  Part of the problem is the name.  There’s nothing “bitter” about an ESB.  And I’d never had an ESB that I would in any way have considered special, let alone extra special.  ESB’s always seemed pretty bland and flavorless to me.  

But Maynard ESB opened my eyes to the possibilities.  I first had it on draught in the old taproom and it immediately became a go-to for me!  So now I can’t wait to try the New England version.  Allen describes its flavors  as “nutty toasted malt and praline supported by notes of candied grapefruit peel, spiced orange and black tea”.  This actually sounds like a pretty apt description of Maynard ESB to me!

If you are like I was, and think ESB’s taste like muddy water, challenge your assumptions by having a Maynard’s New England Bitter.  It’s available now in cans in the Beer Garden and, like Farm Road, will also be on tap soon.

Maynard 2025 Spring ArtWalk Saturday, May 3rd

The Maynard Business Alliance is sponsoring its 11th annual Spring ArtWalk on Saturday, May 3rd from 4:00 - 7:30pm.  There will be a concert in Memorial Park from 4:00 - 5:00 and then from 5:00 to 7:30 a number of business in town will be sponsoring activities and performances.

And you’d better believe Amory’s Tomb’s Beer Garden will be open for ArtWalk!  Perico’s Tacos will be there.  Their tacos are amazing, of course, but next time you order take a glance at the pork adobada rotating on a stick in their truck.  What beauty!

Ben’s Raclette will be in the Beer Garden for ArtWalk from 12-4pm as well!  If you ask me, melted cheese is one of the highest forms of art that humans have ever created!

If 2 yummy food options are not enough for you, Amory’s Tomb will have a number of special performances that night as well, including remote performance from artwalk mainstay, DJ Paul Michael Jeffries, a lean-house/generative sound exploration from rotating crew members, and some proper dance music to close out the evening.

PINTwood Derby Saturday May 10 - Register & Get Your Kit Now!

Yes, you read that right.  Amory’s Tomb is hosting an Adult (21+) Pinewood Derby on Saturday, May 10th, to raise funds for Scouting America.  In case you are unfamiliar, the Pinewood Derby is a Scout function where the scouts receive a standardized wood car kit, make a little car, decorate it, then race it against fellow Scouts.

I did the Pinewood Derby 3 times when I was in the (then) Cub Scouts.  I even received a trophy the first year for finishing 2nd place.  The concept of “participation trophies” didn’t exist when I was a kid, so that was the only trophy I received as a child!  I can still clearly describe those 3 cars to you.  What memories!    

Of course, it was my dad who really built those Pinewood Derby cars.  Oh, I might of done a little sanding and some base painting.  Maybe I nailed the wheels on.  But it was my dad who designed the cars, operated the saws, added the weights and did the detail work.

Maybe you either had a parent who did most the work on your Pinewood Derby car as a kid, or maybe you have done it more recently for your child, only to see them hog all the glory!  

Or maybe you never heard of the Pinewood Derby but now that you’ve read about it, it sounds like fun.  

Whatever your motivation, here’s your chance to legitimately build a Pinewood Derby car for yourself and race it against others.  You can register for the Amory’s Tomb Pinewood Derby here:

Register for Pintwood Derby

Once you register, you can pick up your kit at Amory’s Tomb anytime before May 10th.  To make your car, you follow the rules provided in the kit.  

On May 10th, the weigh-in will be between Noon and 1:00pm.  Racing will be between 1:30pm and 3:00pm.  

The award categories are “Overall Speed, Safest Driver and Best in Show”.  Speed makes sense.  Overall Speed is self-explanatory, and Best in Show refers to the best looking car.  I have no idea what “Safest Driver” means.  They didn’t have “Safest Driver” when I was growing up!

Winners will be awarded trophies…and beer!  They definitely weren’t awarding beer when I was growing up!

This sounds like a lot of fun to either participate in (if you have handy skills) or to simply watch (if you are like me, and should not be trusted with an electric saw.)   Register now!

Follow Up From Last Month #1: Game Don’t Change

Last month, I wrote about Amory’s Tomb’s new IPA, Game Don’t Change.  In case you don’t recall, AT describes Game Don’t Change as “made with barley and wheat from Blue Ox Malthouse and Aurora Mills & Farm organic oats alongside Simcoe® and Whakatū Kōura thiol enriched hops from New Zealand’s Pikimai Hops.”

Wow!  I recognize at least some of those words!  Allen says it has “Bright notes of floral citrus, lime zest and melon rind backed by resinous and earthy pine.”  Sounds good to me!  

Game Don’t Change is now available on draught at the Beer Garden and, shockingly, is also available in cans to-go.

Follow-Up From Last Month #2: What’s the Deal With The Roman Numerals?

In the previous newsletter, I went into a long discourse on Amory’s Tomb’s Roman Numeral numbering system for its saisons, with Saison XVII: Petit Klassique being the most recent entry.  I wondered how different saisons received their numerals, and speculated on the reasons why certain Roman Numerals had been released while others have not.

Well, I got to the bottom of what is going on.  It turns out they just pick whatever number they think looks good when they brew a new beer!  

There’s no system.  There’s no secret book of recipes with only some released.  There is no tie to obscure pagan numerical tradition or anything.    There is no method at all to Allen and Rick’s numbering system, and any attempt to derive meaning from their numbers is futile.  

That bleak, unsatisfying answer causes me to want to drink even more Petit Klassique.  Wait.  Maybe that’s just what they want me to think!  Maybe Allen and Rick gave me a depressing, existential answer to a) make me want to drink more beer and b) throw me off the scent of whatever secret they are hiding with these Roman Numeral beers!  

I am sure that is it!  Maybe this thing is bigger than Allen and Rick!  Maybe there’s a whole secret society of people who use Roman Numerals to secretly signal their nefarious plots to their co-conspirators!  Who else uses Roman Numerals when they clearly don’t need to?  The National Football League!  Aha!  There’s layers to this, people!  [Note - the rest of this paragraph has been redacted by the editors.]  

Taco + DJ Dance Party Fridays are Coming in May

If you’ve been to the Beer Garden in recent weeks you already know that Perico’s Tacos are back on Fridays (and most Saturdays too) serving up their amazing tacos!  

The latest news is that DJ Party Fridays will also be coming back some time in May.  Allen and Rick still need to work out the exact details, but the Metrowest’s only open air dance party will be resuming in the next month!  Watch AT’s social media for details.

And that wraps up this month’s newsletter.  I still can’t get much of a taproom update out of Allen.  I do have one comment, though.  If you are one of the (no doubt many) tech billionaires who read this newsletter and are looking for a new business to “disrupt”, may I suggest sprinkler system repair?  Surely there’s a better way!  

See you at the Beer Garden!  I will be cheering for the blue car!

Spring Hours Update

I know we just sent out an update last week, but this one was too important not to share right away…. Our friend’s at Perico’s Taqueria are all fired up after a great start to the season last week, so we are throwing Friday hours into the mix earlier than anticipated!  We can’t hoard Victor and his crew all to ourselves, so they will be here each Friday & Saturday, then floating around to some other great spots in the region on Sundays. We are working on a couple of special events and ideas for Sunday pop-ups, but wanted to make sure all of our business  friends could get their fill during the work week, and we have already had a ton of requests for a return to Friday lunch hours. Please follow Perico’s directly for updates to their weekly schedule due to weather and other bookings, and we will see you in the garden!

UPDATED SPRING HOURS

Friday 12-8pm (with Perico’s Taqueria)

Saturday 12-8pm (with Perico’s Taqueria)

Sunday 12-6pm (Beer Garden Only)