Weekly Update 10/21/2026

WEEKLY ROUNDUP October 21, 2026  

Hello!  My name is Bob, and I’m really enjoying the peak foliage around here!  Check out this photo I took last Sunday:

That photo qualifies me to write this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter!

There’s a lot going on at the Tomb this weekend, and we’ll unhelpfully cover it in reverse-chronological order.

First (or is it last?) up, on Sunday, October 25th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, there will be a special performance by the Dan Miller Duo in the Beer Garden!  James Chiarelli and Dan Miller will be performing an acoustic set together.  

You can find Dan’s music on the usual streaming platforms if you want to sample what you’re likely to hear, which I would characterize as old-school country.  James may be more familiar to you, as he has performed multiple times at Amory’s Tomb, including sets that also lean towards country.   

Listening to these 2 perform together ought to make for a great afternoon!  If a lovely acoustic set isn’t your thing, though, perhaps I could interest you in an electronic music curated by a possessed DJ…

FEATURED EVENT

Demon Knight Rises from the Dead For a DJ Set on October 24th! 

Once upon a time long ago, a man named Michael Knight (a pseudonym - some people are smart enough to use those…) hosted a weekly synthwave radio show called “RETROFUTURISM 101” on multiple platforms.  Michael did this show every week for 5 years, and during that time he had some challenges with the spooky season.  

It turns out every Halloween he’d become possessed and morph into the Demon Knight!  The Demon Knight’s “RETROFUSION 101” show would focus on dark synthwave, dark wave and cyberwave - in other words, electronic music heavily influenced and inspired by the horror and science fiction films of the 1980’s!   

It was pretty cool, but there was a downside.  Becoming possessed once a year can take a lot out of a person.  And it turned out that Michael’s medical insurance wouldn’t cover those annual exorcisms!  So Michael decided to retire RETROFUSION 101 in 2023, and happily moved on with his life.

Then came Dungeon Synth Night in the Beer Garden in August.  Michael was there, minding his own business and enjoying a cold draught when those medieval, potentially sinister tones from headliner Sombre Arcane started playing.  Pretty soon, something stirred inside of Michael, a strange, vaguely-disturbing sensation he hadn’t felt since October of 2023.  He tried to fight the urges, but they were too strong.  As Sombre Arcane kept playing, a feeling welled up inside of Michael that could not be suppressed.  By the end of the evening, it had happened!  The Demon Knight had returned!!!

I guess that’s tough for him but, fortunately, Michael’s re-possession is our gain!  On Saturday night, October 24th, starting at 7:00pm, presented by the Analog Basement, the Demon Knight will be presenting a live DJ set!  He’ll once again be spinning electronic music heavily influenced and inspired by horror and science fiction films of the 1980’s!  

So come on down to Amory’s Tomb on Saturday.  Enjoy some dark beers (AT has plenty of them) and dark wave!  After all, ’tis the season to be possessed!

FEATURED CAN

Limited Edition Robust Porter Can Drop on Thursday, October 22nd to Benefit Maynard Holiday Parade  

Two days before the Demon Knight invades Amory’s Tomb, on Thursday, October 22nd, AT will be holding a special evening to benefit the Maynard Holiday Parade!  As mentioned last week, the highlight of the evening will be the release of a Limited Edition can for Robust Porter, Amory’s Tomb’s highly-decorated English-style porter.  One dollar from each Limited Edition can sold will go to the Maynard Holiday Parade! 

Because you are one of the few who reads all the way through the newsletter (I assume most people simply delete it after reading the phrase “Hello, my name is Bob…”) you deserve a sneak peak at the label on the Limited Edition can.  Check out this beauty:

Isn’t that great?  It’s mostly a watercolor of the parade itself by noted Maynard Artist Denise Shea.  You can even see the helicopter, presumably with Santa in it, on top!

I don’t think Allen and Rick have ever done a special version of one of their labels before  And let’s just say a cheery holiday scene isn’t exactly consistent with the usual Amory’s Tomb motif.  

The point is that this Limited Edition can is definitely a rarity, and something you’ll want to pick, particularly given that the beer contained within is Amory’s Tomb’s highly-acclaimed Robust Porter!  Remember, $1 for each and every can goes to benefit the Maynard Holiday Parade. 

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Here’s what’s coming soon at Amory’s Tomb

• Oct 22 Wurst Nacht (Unsanctioned by Amory’s Tomb!!)

• Oct 22 Maynard Holiday Parade Fundraiser

• Oct 23 Friday Night Dance Party Hosted by MATTY B

• Oct 24 Analog Basement Presents Demon Knight Live DJ Set

• Oct 25 Dan Miller Duo

• Oct 28 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz

See you at the Tomb!  

Weekly Update 10/14/2026

Weekly Update October 14, 2026

Hello!  My name is Bob, and a couple of nights ago I went to a drone metal concert wearing this shirt:

If anything, this means I am overqualified to write this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter!  

FYI - You can get this shirt on the merch section of the Amory’s Tomb website.  It’s pretty creepy!  ’Tis the Season!:  

https://www.amorystomb.com/shop/dead-punk-tee

First, a quick heads-up that Amory’s Tomb will be pouring at the 3rd Annual Maynard Bocce Tournament this Saturday, October 17th, from 12:00pm to 6:00pm at Memorial Park.

As should be obvious from the venue, this is a casual tournament.  Memorial Park is very nice and all but, let’s face it, the grounds aren’t exactly smooth and well-manicured.  Random wonky rolls are going to the rule rather than the exception, and the ethos of the tournament is much closer to a “let’s have a good time” vibe rather than “let’s see who could go pro at bocce”.  

In other words, this is definitely the type of bocce where you could, and probably should, roll your ball with one hand while holding a beverage in the other.  And that’s where Amory’s Tomb comes in!  There will be food and water available, too.   

Honestly, it sounds like a fun thing to just watch even if you don’t want to play!  To learn more, and to sign up, follow this link:

https://www.maynardbocce.com/

FEATURED EVENT

Watercolor by Maynard Artist Denise Shea

Maynard Holiday Parade Fundraiser in the Taproom on Thursday, October 22nd

The Maynard Holiday Parade began in 1966 (a good year for beginnings!) which means it’s celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The parade has been enjoyed by generations of local residents. It’s evolved over the years, and in recent decades it has taken place on a Sunday afternoon in early December.

The highlight of the parade is undoubtedly Santa Claus flying overhead in a helicopter! Of course he’s flying in a helicopter!

You can’t expect the reindeer to fly down from the North Pole a few weeks early, can you? They need to rest up for the big night!

On Thursday, October 22nd (i.e. a week from tomorrow) Amory’s Tomb will be hosting a fundraiser in the Taproom for the Maynard Holiday Parade. One dollar from every draught pour of any AT beer that night will go to the Holiday Parade!

In addition, Allen and Rick will be releasing their best-in-the-USA-don’t-take-my-word-for-it-Untappd-says-so Robust Porter in a special Limited Edition can on the 22nd! And $1 from every Limited Edition can sale will also go to the Holiday Parade!

Do you have a few too many ticks in the “naughty” column on Santa’s list in 2026? Are you at risk of getting a lump of coal (again?!) this year? If so, here’s your chance to get back on Santa’s good side by helping to support his helicopter ride!

More seriously, it should be a fun evening in support of a great community event. Come on down to the Taproom on Thursday, October 22nd to enjoy a draught take and home a Limited Edition Robust Porter 4-pack.

FEATURED DRAUGHT

Can’t Choose Between a Great AT Farmhouse Ale and a Great AT Dark Beer? Just Order an In the Darkness of Shadows!

It’s very obvious that Allen and Rick are passionate about all the beers they brew, but at the risk of putting words in their mouths, I think saisons are the ones that get their blood boiling the most. After all, Amory’s Tomb was more or less founded as a farmhouse ale brewery.

Throughout most of 2026, though, Allen and Rick have been brewing and serving an absolute murderer’s row of incredible dark ales. For all I know, maybe back in February they accidentally roasted 5 times the amount of malt they meant to, and they’ve just been creating one great dark beer after another to whittle down the excess. If that is what happened, I’m not complaining!

This largesse of dark beer on the draught menu does create a conundrum though. Should you go for a dark, malty beer or should you go for something more farmhouse-y? Decisions, decisions!

Fortunately, there is one beer currently on the draught menu that will let you have your cake and eat it too. It’s “In the Darkness of Shadows”, AT’s Belgian Strong Ale!

To me, In the Darkness of Shadows really is the perfect balance of roasted maltiness which has been the AT calling card here in 2026 with saison flavors that have always been Allen and Rick’s specialty. In the Darkness of Shadows was a highlight of the old taproom 4-5 years ago, and it’s been a very welcome returning part of the AT lineup.

Even though it’s a Belgian-style Strong Ale, it isn’t the darkest draught available, though. Amory’s Tomb’s Porter, IPA (?) and brown ale (??) are all pretty much jet-black beers, while In the Darkness of Shadows does have some chestnut hues if you hold it up to the light. In the Darkness of Shadows is the strongest beer on draught, though, at an 8.0% abv, and it’s the one with a true farmhouse flavor profile. If that sounds good to you, I recommend trying In the Darkness of Shadows next time you are in the Taproom!

In the Darkness of Shadows is available on draught or in cans in the Taproom now.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Here’s what’s coming soon at Amory’s Tomb

• Oct 15 Wheat And Water Crafted Dough (rescheduled)

• Oct 22 Wurst Nacht (Unsanctioned by Amory’s Tomb!!)

• Oct 17 Bocce Tournament at Memorial Park

• Oct 22 Maynard Holiday Parade Fundraiser

• Oct 24 The Analog Basement Presents Demon Knight

• Oct 25 Dan Miller Duo

• Oct 28 Wheat And Water Crafted Dough

See you at the Tomb!

Weekly Update 10/7/2026

Weekly Update October 7, 2026

Hello!  My name is Bob.  I went to the dentist again today and…nothing exciting happened!  The hygienist cleaned my teeth, and I left!  There was none of the “drama” I’ve referenced in prior weeks.  That means I am in a good enough mood to write this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter!

First a quick reminder that Friday night, October 9th, will see the return of the Metrowest’s Only Outdoor Dance Party to the Beer Garden!  MATTY B will once again be hosting, and this week he will be joined by a returning DJ - Rickee Live!  

Who’s Rickee Live, you ask?  I’ll give you a couple of clues: 1) It’s someone you definitely know, and 2) It’s definitely not me!  Can you figure it out?  

Also returning on Friday Night will be Ben’s Raclette!  Fall is the perfect time to enjoy melted cheese. (Ok, there isn’t really a bad time to enjoy melted cheese, but you get the idea.)  He’ll be there between 5:30 and 8:00, or until the cheese wheel runs out!  

Oh, and while you are ordering your raclette on Friday, ask Ben about the Alpine Cheese shop he’s opening right around the corner on Nason Street in November!

It’s still warm enough to be outside, and Friday’s weather looks good, so enjoy the combined goodness of dancing and melted cheese!

FEATURED EVENT

Octoberfest in the Beer Garden on Saturday, October 10th!!!

Let me paint a picture about how this event came about.  I’m sitting with Allen in the Taproom last Friday, going over upcoming events for the newsletter.  Allen was unsure whether or not he could pull together an Octoberfest food menu this coming Saturday.  He’s a really, really busy guy!

As we were talking, Allen received an email from his meat vendor (Of course Allen has a meat vendor!) telling him he needed to get his order in by next Tuesday to have it delivered for the upcoming weekend.  “That’s it!  It’s a sign!”, says Allen, “We’re doing Octoberfest!”

Have you ever seen that gleam in his eye when Allen’s getting exciting thinking about something?  Get him to talk to about a new beer he’s either just brewed or - better yet - is thinking about brewing.   Or, as in this case, get his mind going on an exciting menu he could serve.  If you get him going on either of these topics, that gleam in Allen’s eye will appear!  You can see the wheel’s turning, the creative juices flowing!  

It’s a wonderful thing to see!  And in this case it’s good news for all of us because it means Amory’s Tomb will be serving an Octoberfest menu in the Beer Garden on Saturday, October 10th!

The Octoberfest menu will include bavarian pretzels, brat plates (from the aforementioned meat vendor!), potato salad, sauerkraut, and maybe a few other offerings, too.  Allen is still working through the menu, but he said it will be inspired by Broken Latch, AT’s rustic lager that is Allen and Rick’s answer to Octoberfest beers.  Yes, you’ll also be able to get a pumpkin sugar-rim (in the Beer Garden only) on your draught of Broken Latch!

Editor’s Note: Spice rims may be unavailable during some periods due to the persistence of late season honey bees. When all the vendors packed up from Maynard Fest last Saturday every bee in town descended on the beer shed over the course of a few minutes. They didn’t actually bother anyone but the swarm definitely sent a few folks running and we stopped serving rims until the cooler temps returned.

Allen’s food events are always amazing, and I am sure Octoberfest will be too!  So come on down to the Beer Garden (I am sure you can take your food into the Taproom, too.) on Saturday, October 10th from 12:00 to 4:00pm to enjoy Octoberfest! 

FEATURED DRAUGHT

The #1 English-Style Porter in the Whole Dang U-S-of-A is Back on Draught!  

Robust Porter is back on draught! A straightforward sentence for a straightforwardly named beer!

I almost always use this section of the newsletter to extol the virtues of one Amory’s Tomb beer or another, and the more cynical among you might think I’m sometimes a little hyperbolic in my descriptions. Well, this time you don’t need to take my word for it. Just check out Untappd!

Amory’s Tomb’s Robust Porter was awarded a Gold Medal by the Untappd community as the #1 Ranked English-Style Porter in the entire United States in 2026! This isn’t a complete fluke, either, as it ranked either #1 or #2 in Massachusetts from 2024 to 2026, and Untappd didn’t do rankings before then! So pretty much everybody thinks this is a terrific beer.

The only downside to these accolades is that the remaining kegs of this beer were drained out of the Taproom very quickly after the #1-in-the-USA announcement was made in March. I think it was gone before the trees had all their leaves!

We’ve waited patiently since then, and Allen and Rick have finally brewed a new batch of Robust Porter. This version contains some modest tweaks to the ingredients. As has been the case for a number of recent Amory’s Tomb releases, Allen and Rick have gone to all New England malts. They’ve also switched to English hops, which totally makes sense to me since it’s the #1 English-style Porter.

Robust Porter is on draught now. I had one during Maynard Fest last weekend, and I am happy to report that, if anything, it tasted better than I remembered it from the spring! Befitting its simple name, Robust Porter isn’t flashy, but it’s extremely well-made, with a, well, robust maltiness as its backbone.

Robust Porter is another great Fall offering from Amory’s Tomb, and it’s well worth your time to enjoy one on your next visit. And look out for a special event later this month involving Robust Porter!

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Here’s what’s coming soon at Amory’s Tomb

• Oct 9 Friday Night Dance Party Hosted by MATTY B with Rickee Live

• Oct 9 Ben’s Raclette

• Oct 10 Octoberfest!

• Oct 15 Wurst Nacht (Unsanctioned by Amory’s Tomb!!)

• Oct 16 Friday Night Dance Party Hosted by MATTY B

• Oct 17 Bocce Tournament at Memorial Park

• Oct 22 Maynard Holiday Parade Fundraiser

• Oct 23 Friday Night Dance Party Hosted by MATTY B

• Oct 24 The Analog Basement Presents Demon Knight

• Oct 25 Dan Miller Duo

See you at Maynard Fest!

Weekly Update 9/30/2026

Weekly Update September 30, 2026

Hello!  My name is Bob, and I’ve been fighting a cold.  My sinuses feel like they are going to explode!  With a surefire attention-getter like that as my lead-in, you better believe I am qualified to write this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter!

Right up front, here is a reminder that this Saturday, October 3rd, is the 34th Annual Maynard Fest!  In case you haven’t attended before, Maynard Fest essentially takes over the whole Maynard Cultural District with various vendors lining the street and entertainment in the park.

Maynard has a number of different festivals and events throughout the year, and they are all enjoyable, but if you ask me Maynard Fest is the best one of them all.  I really feel like Maynard Fest best shows off the vibrancy and growth of our local area.  There’s just so much to see and learn about, and this is even more the case if you have children.  

There’s so much to see that, frankly, it can be a bit overwhelming.  Fortunately, when you get burned out on smelling fancy soaps and candles, talking to various advocacy groups and tasting food samples, the Amory’s Tomb Beer Garden will be open and ready for you!  Stop in and have a cold one!  

Editor’s Note: Parking and traffic can be a challenge during the busiest hours of the fest. Please use Walnut St to River St (the wrong way) to access our private parking lot, or park up in the big lot on Walnut Street and walk down.

Here’s a tip: There are usually a lot of really good food vendors pretty close to the entrance to Amory’s Tomb.  Grab something from whatever sounds good, and head into the Beer Garden and order a draught to wash it down!

Maynard Fest runs Saturday, October 3rd from 9:00am to 3:30pm.  Looking for something to do on Maynard Fest Eve?  Here’s an idea: 

FEATURED EVENT

Music & Beer Event at Concord Conservatory

We’ve highlighted some interesting events in this newsletter, but this might be the most intriguing yet. On Friday, October 2nd at 7:30pm, the Concord Conservatory is presenting The Perfect Harmony of Beer and Music.

Here’s how it’ll work. You’ll be seated at tables of 8 people. Allen will serve one of the Amory’s Tomb beers that has been selected to be paired with a piece of chamber music that will then be performed live. Allen and Keith Kirchoff, the founder of Original Gravity and curator of the music, will discuss what you are hearing and tasting. There will be multiple pairings over the evening.

The idea, according to the website, is that, “Together we’ll explore how rhythm, tempo, and tone completely transform how we experience flavor.” (Note, the Oxford Comma is from the original text. We never have typos in this newsletter!)

This sounds really cool! I enjoying listening to Allen talk about AT beers on his own. The idea of marrying the beer with music and that one could actually enhance the enjoyment of the other is something I hadn’t really considered before.

Wait, you’re allowed to drink Amory’s Tomb Beers with chamber music?? Really? Based on my (many) visits to the Taproom and Beer Garden I thought the only music you were allowed to listen to while drinking AT beers had to fall into one of the following categories:

• Doom/Death Metal

• Dungeon Synth

• “Asleep in a Box” jams

• Slightly More Accessible Doom/Death Metal (if Justin is controlling the music)

• MATTY B Sets (He’ll be in the Beer Garden on Friday night, too, by the way!)

• Fattie Bones (Playing psychedelic ambient alongside MATTY B this Friday in the Beer Garden!)

• Alt-Rap

• Yacht Rock (if it’s Sunday and Rick is controlling the music)

• The Complete Discography of the band “Nest of Infection”

So the experience of listening to live chamber music while enjoying Allen and Rick’s beers is, in and of itself, a unique experience. Getting to hear Allen’s and Keith’s comments should make it quite a memorable evening! Here’s a link for more information and tickets:

 TICKETS 

FEATURED CAN

Let Us Speak About Unspoken Emoji, The Forgotten Amory’s Tomb IPA in a Can

I’ve spent the last 2 weeks discussing ad naseum Royal Cavalcade, Allen and Rick’s new Black IPA. And it hasn’t been that long since I wrote about the other, more traditional, IPA on draught, A Great Cosmic Wave.

Both of those IPAs are good ones, but I’m here to tell you not to forget about Unspoken Emoji! This one’s only available in cans but that’s ok! It still tastes like a fantastic West Coast-style IPA!

Coming in at 6.0%, Unspoken Emoji is brewed with 100% Northeast grown floor malt from Blue Ox Malthouse and Aurora Mills & Farm flaked oats. Allen and Rick then added in Columbus, Cascade, Simcoe and Four Star Crystal hops!

Being a West Coast style beer, Unspoken Emoji is definitely hoppy, but it isn’t one of those old-school West Coast IPAs that would leave you unable to taste anything else for the rest of the evening. We drank all the draught of Unspoken Emoji a while ago, but the cans are still there in the cooler waiting for you!

The next time you are in the Taproom, grab an Unspoken Emoji to enjoy there, or take a 4-pack home. Unspoken Emoji also comes in a colorful can, just like all AT IPA’s do!

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Here’s what’s coming soon at Amory’s Tomb

• Oct 2 Concord Music Conservatory Beer & Music Pairing (Concord)

• Oct 2 Friday Night Dance Party Hosted by MATTY B with psychedelic ambient from Fattie Bones

• Oct 3 Maynard Fest

• Oct 9 Friday Night Dance Party Hosted by MATTY B

See you at Maynard Fest!

Weekly Update 9/23/2026

Weekly Update September 23, 2026

Hello! My name is Bob, and I’m wearing shorts today. Shorts season was too quick for me, so I choose to extend it no matter what the weather is! In order to keep myself from thinking about my cold legs, I’m writing this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter!

First off, here’s a quick heads-up on the Sudbury Valley Trustees’ annual Beer in the Barn event, this Friday, September 25th, from 6:30pm to 9:00pm at Wolbach Farm in Sudbury. The “Beer” in “Beer in the Barn” is being provided by Amory’s Tomb.

A ticket entitles you to one Amory’s Tomb beer or one flight trio (!) as well as 2 hotdogs from Ye’ Olde Farm Stand! There will be music and a stein holding competition, too. A portion of every Beer in the Barn ticket helps support Sudbury Valley Trustees’ mission to protect natural areas and farmland in the 36 communities that surround the Sudbury, Asset and Concord Rivers.

You can learn more and purchase a ticket here:

https://events.humanitix.com/beer-in-the-barn

Don’t want to drive all the way to Sudbury on Friday Night? Then come to the Beer Garden for the Metrowest’s Only Open Air Dance Party! MATTY B will be hosting, this time with returning AT favorites Acid Basket as his guest!

As for the rest of the news, things are relatively quiet this week. Allen is foraging in the wild and writing songs. The foraging is for ingredients that will appear in a beer to be released in conjunction with Mass Beer Week. The songs, who knows? Maybe he’ll perform them during Mass Beer Week, too!

While there are no other special events this week, there is a lot more to discuss about that Black IPA:

FEATURED EVENT

What’s Behind the Name, Royal Cavalcade?

Last week I wrote at length about whether or not Royal Cavalcade should be referred to as a Black IPA or a Dark Cascadian Ale. Allen’s very strong position is that it should be called a Black IPA.

So the name of the style is settled. But I didn’t get into why this Amory’s Tomb’s Black IPA is named Royal Cavalcade.

A Royal Cavalcade is a procession of horses that pulls the carriage containing the casket of a deceased king or queen. But to answer the question of why Allen and Rick chose Royal Cavalcade, I need to take you back to the early years of Amory’s Tomb.

If you visited the old taproom or the Beer Garden in the early years, you no doubt ran into Red Holmes. Red was instrumental in helping Allen and Rick get things going back then. I had always assumed that he was related to Allen or Rick, but it turns out this wasn’t really true.

While not related, Allen describes Red as “everyone’s adopted uncle”. He was totally a fixture of the place, and Allen told me he’s not sure Amory’s Tomb would have ever started without Red’s help.

I became particularly aware of Red during the pandemic era. One of the few things you could go out and do during the summer of 2020 was hangout in the Amory’s Tomb Beer Garden, which I did frequently.

It seemed like Red was always there, in the shed (which he literally helped Allen build) dispensing draughts from the tap. He was such a presence in that shed that I half-assumed he had a cot in the back and just slept there! He was a fun guy to talk to!

Red also had very strong opinions about beer. Among them was the question, “What kind of a nitwit would brew a Black IPA?” I think that’s a fair question!

Naturally, in response Allen and Rick brewed a Black IPA in 2019 and again in 2020 and called it…Nitwit!

Red had a stroke in 2021 and passed away in 2022. Since then, Amory’s Tomb hadn’t brewed another Black IPA. It just didn’t feel right.

This year, Allen and Rick felt it was time, and brewed the new Black IPA with a slightly different recipe, and they decided to name it Royal Cavalcade. The name is intended to be a nod to the past and a nod to Red’s role in the early days of AT, as well as a look to what Amory’s Tomb is now and will be in the future.

Royal Cavalcade is an excellent beer. I enjoyed a few last weekend, and will enjoy a few more coming up. Royal Cavalcade is so good that I have to admit that you wouldn’t really be a nitwit if you brewed one.

FEATURED DRAUGHT pt 2

Royal Cavalcade on Cask Now!  Get It Before It’s Gone!

A few months ago, Allen and Rick started offering draughts hand-pumped from a cask. At the time, Allen called it an “experimental program” because he wasn’t sure how it would be received.

Well, the cask offerings have been a raging success! Pretty much everything that they have put on cask flies out of the Taproom faster than they anticipated.

I think the reason for the cask program’s success is that Allen and Rick have developed a real knack for selecting beers for their cask program that will taste really good when hand-pumped out of their janky-looking tap. It’s not like any of the cask beers taste radically different from their CO2 versions, but you could indeed taste a small and interesting differences in each one that they’ve offered.

Royal Cavalcade is the latest cask offering. The first cask of it was tapped one week ago. It was a special version of Royal Cavalcade with fresh Estate Grown Maynardian and Boltonian (What do you mean those aren’t real words??) hops added to the keg. That keg was drained by Sunday!

A second Royal Cavalcade - this one in original form without the extra hops - is slated to be tapped today. Maybe if we’re lucky, this one will last 2 whole weeks. Consider yourself warned!

In summary, Amory’s Tomb’s Black IPA, Royal Cavalcade, is available in the Taproom now on regular CO2 draught and cask.

It’s also available in cans. See if you can find the typo on the label. I won’t reproduce the typo here because, as everyone knows, we never have typos in this newsletter!

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Here’s what’s coming soon at Amory’s Tomb

• Sept 25 Sudbury Valley Trustees Beer in the Barn (Sudbury)

• Sept 25 Friday Night Dance Party Hosted by MATTY B with Acid Basket

• Oct 2 Concord Music Conservatory Beer & Music Pairing (Concord)

• Oct 2 Friday Night Garden Party Hosted by MATTY B

• Oct 3 Maynard Fest

• Oct 3 Friday Night Dance Party Hosted by MATTY B

See you at the Tomb!

Weekly Update 9/16/2026

Weekly Update September 16, 2026

Hello! My name is Bob, and I’m well-caffeinated at the moment. That jittery feeling qualifies me to write this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter!

First, a quick heads up that Amory’s Tomb will be pouring at Saturday’s Second Annual Maynard Country MusicFest. The festival runs from 1:00pm to 4:00pm in Memorial Park. More information can be found on social media.

First it was Jazz Fest, and now Maynard has added Country Fest. What’ll be next? Emo Fest? Prog Rock Fest? Alt-Rap Fest? Drone Metal Fest? Oooh, please let it be Drone Metal Fest!

While we wait for word of the next genre to be the subject of a festival, let’s turn our attention to this week’s other news:

FEATURED EVENT

Ben’s Raclette Celebrating 3rd Anniversary in the Beer Garden on Friday, September 18th!

It sure seems like Ben’s Raclette has been around forever, but it’s actually only been 3 years since he first appeared in the Beer Garden with a wedge of cheese, a really strong heat lamp and a dream.

Look at him now! He’s everywhere! And on Friday, September 18th from 5:00pm to 8:30pm, Ben will be celebrating his 3rd Anniversary at Amory’s Tomb!

For the uninitiated, Ben’s Raclette serves melted cheese on a baguette. Only it isn’t just any old cheese you can buy at the supermarket. No, this is Raclette du Haut Livradois, a cheese from France that Ben fell in love with because it’s the perfect cheese for raclette.

Ben’s Raclette is always served on a slice of fresh baguette. Of course, melted cheese and bread is an amazing combination by itself, but Ben usually has a few options for add-ons. Personally, I tend to go for the OG raclette option, Fig Jam and Prosciutto. There’s something about the saltiness of the prosciutto combined with the sweet of the jam topped by gooey melted cheese that is just so satisfying.

I’m also hoping Ben will be offering Apple and Honey Raclette on Friday. I find this one to be just a little bit sweeter, so after my first raclette, I like to order this one to have for dessert. That’s right! I said it! I have raclette for dessert after my raclette dinner! Don’t judge me!

Whatever combination you choose, I am sure you will love it. And while melted cheese goes great with any beer (duh!) it goes particularly well with farmhouse ales. I recommend a Saison Classic or, if you have a friend with you, a bottle of Puncheon Classic to pair with your melted cheese. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Come on down on Friday to congratulate Ben on 3 years of Raclette! And if you are concerned about those extra calories from all the cheese and bread, you can dance them off at the Metrowest’s Only Open Air Dance Party! MATTY B returns to host Amory’s Tomb’s Friday Night Dance Party in the Beer Garden!

Cheese! Beer! Good tunes! What’s not to love?

FEATURED DRAUGHT

Allen and Rick Brew Controversial Black IPA and it’s…Really Good?!

Allen and Rick Brew Controversial Black IPA and it’s…Really Good?!

Throughout its over seven-and-a-half year run, Amory’s Tomb has repeatedly taught me to appreciate beer styles I didn’t before. It started on the very first night with farmhouse ales, a style I kind of turned my nose at before AT came along. Then there’s the ESB, a style I’ve found boring elsewhere.

And now Allen and Rick have done it again with Royal Cavalcade, their Black IPA. It’s a really good beer, but boy does it come with some controversy!

Let’s start with the style name. You might know Black IPAs by its less familiar west coast term, “Cascadian Dark Ales”. The two terms are used more or less interchangeably on, say, Untappd. The Black IPA label kind of makes sense in that it’s supposed to be a beer that combines dark roasted malts like you’d find in a stout or a porter with the stronger hop taste of an IPA. I have no idea why brewers don’t just call it a “Hoppy Porter” or “Hoppy Stout” since that’s kind of what they are, but I don’t make the rules.

Editor’s Note: Cascadian Dark Ale, while descriptive, is a blatant attempt at thieving a style popularized by Vermont Pub’s own Greg Noonan, right here in the Northeast. Black IPA is as much a misnomer as Pale Stout, but the name is descriptive enough to give the reader an expectation of what they are ordering.

Here’s the thing though. Whether you call them Black IPAs, Cascadian Dark Ales or something else, whenever I’ve ordered them on the menu I’ve been disappointed. I read the description, think “I like roasty stouts. I like hoppy IPAs. I should like this one.” And then I am disappointed.

It’s like tomatoes and maple syrup. I like tomatoes. I like maple syrup. But I definitely do not want maple syrup on my tomatoes! Two great tastes do not always taste great together!

Royal Cavalcade, the Amory’s Tomb’s newest offering, is different. Coming in at 7.5% abv, Royal Cavalcade is brewed with 100% Northeast grown floor malt from Blue Ox Malthouse accompanied by Michigan Chinook, Centennial and Citra Hops.

Allen and Rick have, as usual, crafted a really interesting and tasty beer in a style that I wouldn’t normally care for. Royal Cavalcade really is a beer that incorporates the richness of a dark ale, but the hops have the affect of blunting the sweeter chocolate flavor that is often present in a stout or porter, so that this one has more of a dark chocolate taste.

On the other hand, despite the presence of the hops I would not describe Royal Cavalcade as a hoppy beer. You’ll get a bit of hop taste, but not the tongue-buckling, bitter flavor you may associate with IPAs.

Folks who typically shy away from hoppy need not fear this one! Royal Cavalcade doesn’t really taste like a classic IPA at all, despite AT’s chosen style name.

This confusion of the name of the style - Black IPA vs. Dark Cascadian - is also a source of ongoing Amory’s Tomb controversy! By offering something called a Black IPA on the menu, Allen is violating is previously sacrosanct (though highly questionable from a business perspective) edict: “Thou shalt only have one IPA on draught at at time!”

Aha! Allen’s hoisted himself by his own petard! How can he look at himself in the Taproom bathroom mirror - with Tony Iommi looking over his left shoulder, no less - and say he is being true to his own “One-IPA” principle?

Editor’s Note: We claim to never have two IPAs on draught at the same time but this is an exception, saved only by the Cascadian Dark Ale style reference. I still can’t bring myself to type Cascadian Dark Ale on the menu however. That name is blatant theft, as noted above.

If the “One-IPA” rule is out the window, what’s next? Are we going to start seeing lactose beers on the menu? (Note: It’ll snow in Maynard in July before we see a beer brewed with lactose on the AT menu.)

Style name controversies and enigmatic draught menu rules aside, Royal Cavalcade is a really great beer. I’d definitely recommend ordering one, especially if you, like me, have previously been a Black IPA sceptic.

Royal Cavalcade is on draught in the Tap Room and available for take out in cans right now.

And believe it or not, I actually have a whole lot more material about this beer to share with you next week, including the cool story of Amory’s Tomb’s history of Black IPAs and why this one is named Royal Cavalcade.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Here’s what’s coming soon at Amory’s Tomb

• Sept 16 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz

• Sept 18 Ben’s Raclette 3rd Anniversary Celebration

• Sept 18 Friday Night Garden Party Hosted by MATTY B

• Sept 19 Maynard Country Fest

• Sept 25 Sudbury Valley Trustees Beer in the Barn (Sudbury)

• Oct 2 Friday Night Garden Party Hosted by MATTY B

• Oct 2 Concord Music Conservatory Beer & Music Pairing (Concord)

• Oct 3 Maynard Fest

See you at the Tomb! Go Birds!!!

Weekly Update 9/9/2026

Weekly Update September 9, 2026

Hello!  My name is Bob, and I am very excited for the start of the football season!  Do you know what goes great with football?  Beer!  This exceedingly unoriginal observation qualifies me to write this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter! 

It’s a full weekend of events at the Tomb coming up.  First, on Friday Night, MATTY B will be hosting another Friday Night Dance Party, this week will feature DJ La-Z-Boy spinning should funk and hip hop for the first hour.  The Metrowest’s Only Open Air Dance Party is happening every Friday at the Tomb throughout the Fall!  And don’t forget MATTY B’s BYOUSB offer.  If you are interested in DJing one week, please let Allen know.

Then on Saturday, it’ll be the return of Amory’s Tomb’s house electronic jam band, Asleep in a Box!  After their triumphant John Williams Tribute last time out, what will they do for an encore on Saturday?  I asked Allen (who is part of Asleep in a Box) and all he would divulge was that this Saturday’s set would have something to do with “weather manipulation”.  WHAT???   

Assuming Allen’s “weather manipulation” doesn’t kill us all, on Sunday there will be a special pop-up in the Beer Garden, which is our Featured Event: 

FEATURED EVENT

Craft More. Rage Less. Pop-Up Sunday, September 13th!!

Craft More. Rage Less. is bringing handmade art on rescued textiles to Amory’s Tomb! They’ll have one-of-a-kind hand stamped up-cycled clothing, handmade totes, and paper prints available for purchase. In addition, you can bring your own clothing and choose a design to “tattoo” right onto it! Note that natural fiber works best. Everybody has at least one piece of old clothing in their closet that needs to be given a new life, right?

Speaking for myself, I have a ridiculous number of t-shirts and sweatshirts, but most of them fall into one of 3 categories: breweries, musical artists or sports teams. I need to diversify! I’ve already been looking at Craft More. Rage Less.’s posts on social media to see what stamps I might want to add to a t-shirt or sweatshirt that I own. Right now, I’ve got my eye on that bee stamp, but I think I need to see everything in person to make the right choice!

So come on down to Amory’s Tomb on Sunday, August 13th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm to see all the cool offerings from Craft More. Rage Less. or maybe even create your own one-of-a-kind item by choosing from their collection of stamps to add to your own clothing. Hang Out. Drink Beer. Craft More. Rage Less.

And for those of you wondering if, given my football comments up top, I will really be at Craft More. Rage Less., the Philadelphia Eagles don’t play until 4:25pm. You bet I will be there! The Patriots will have already played on Wednesday, by the way. That means many of you are free as well! What are you going to do? Watch the Jets???

Editor’s Note: Rick is very sensitive to any negative comments about his beloved NJ, err, NY team, so the appropriate answer is always Go Jets!

(By the way, the periods in “Craft More. Rage Less.” are intentional. As you know, we never have typos in this newsletter!)  

FEATURED DRAUGHT

Broken Latch Returns for Fall!

I don’t care if the calendar says the equinox is not for another 13 days, you can see the leaves just beginning to turn and feel just a bit of coolness to the air. That means Fall is here!

The beginning of September is the time when many breweries roll out their Octoberfest beers. The problem is that Märzen beers are more like Meh-zen beers, if you ask me. Octoberfest beers range from pretty average at best to not very good.

Editor’s Note: I, for one, welcome the abundance of amazing festbier, Oktoberfest lagers and Märzens this time of year. The minute I see Sierra Nevada’s annual collab or Jack’s Abby Copper Legend I get all nostalgic for the autumns of yore.

Fortunately, at Allen and Rick do not typically greet the Fall with an Octoberfest beer. Instead, the Fall marks the return of their terrific rustic lager, Broken Latch! A fresh batch has just been put on tap!

Broken Latch is perfect for the Fall. Its coloring is just a shade lighter than the average Märzen beer, but Broken Latch comes with a lot more flavor!

Coming in at 5.9% abv, Broken Latch is made with local grain and malts from Blue Ox Malthouse, Valley Malt and Aurora Mills. To those malts, Allen and Rick add in Czech Saaz hops. To me, it’s always tasted like a maltier version of my beloved, and currently not on draft (Allen and Rick, get on this!), lager Man Bun Pilsner. That’s the perfect blend for a crisp Fall evening!

As I said, Broken Latch is back on draught at Amory’s Tomb now. If it isn’t already, I am sure it will be back on the Lukr tap in the Taproom pretty soon, too! You know what that means? “Burg and a Latch” will be coming back, too! So be sure to ask Justin when they are going to switch over to Latch Lukr’s, and then enjoy some of that sweet Broken Latch foam!

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Here’s what’s coming soon at Amory’s Tomb

• Sept 11 Friday Night Garden Party Hosted by MATTY B

• Sept 12 Asleep in a Box Live at Amory’s Tomb

• Sept 13 Craft More Rage Less Pop-Up in Beer Garden

• Sept 16 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz

• Sept 18 Ben’s Raclette 3rd Anniversary Celebration

• Sept 18 Friday Night Garden Party Hosted by MATTY B

• Sept 19 Maynard Country Fest

• Sept 25 Sudbury Valley Trustees Beer in the Barn (Sudbury)

• Oct 2 Friday Night Garden Party Hosted by MATTY B

• Oct 2 Concord Music Conservatory Beer & Music Pairing (Concord)

• Oct 3 Maynard Fest

See you at the Tomb!  Go Birds!!!

Editor’s note: I am team agnostic for the sake of political neutrality in the taproom and household.

Weekly Update 9/2/2026

Weekly Update September 2, 2026

Hello! My name is Bob, and I don’t have any school-age children. That means I don’t need to spend this week scrambling for back-to-school clothes and supplies at the last minute. Instead, I can spend that time writing this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter!

As you’ll see at the bottom, the calendar is pretty full for September. Here’s a quick heads-up on a few of the many upcoming events:

Thursday, September 3rd: Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz - No, that’s not a typo!  (We never have typos in this newsletter!)  Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz will be at the Beer Garden on a Thursday this week.

Saturday, September 5th: Assabet Craft Beer and Food Truck Fest at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Stow from 12pm to 4pm - Amory’s Tomb is pouring, of course.  This festival is a little different from other ones AT has poured at recently.  It’s closer to Maynard, more family-friendly and not quite as large.  If those sound like good things to you, then you’ll definitely want to attend!  

Sunday September 13th: Craft More Rage Less in the Beer Garden 12pm to 4pm - We’ll have more on this one in next week’s newsletter, but for now just mark your calendar because Craft More Rage Less will be offering “handmade art on rescued textiles” in the Beer Garden.  Sounds really cool!

On to the features for the week: 

FEATURED EVENT

The Metrowest’s Only Open Air Dance Party Returns on Fridays in September and October!

We’ve finally reached the time of the year where the weather is more conducive to actually dancing as opposed to simply sweating profusely while sitting at a picnic table.  That can only mean one thing.  Amory’s Tomb Friday Night Dance Parties are back for September and October!  

MATTY B (The all caps are not a typo.  Again, we never have typos in these newsletters!) will be hosting the Metrowest’s Only Open Air Dance Party every Friday going forward.  With the exception of Dungeon Synth Night, I think MATTY B has DJ’d at just about every music event in the Beer Garden, so you may be familiar with him already.  If not, well Allen and Rick keep inviting him back for a reason - he’s really good!

MATTY B will be joined each week by a revolving cast of guests.  This Friday, he’ll be joined by Acid Basket, a DJ collective out of Cambridge and Somerville.  In addition to having an awesome name, Acid Basket has performed at the Beer Garden a few times this year already, and their set also promises to be terrific.

MATTY B is still trying to figure out exactly who his guests will be for dance parties for the rest of the Fall, and one of his ideas is the DJ equivalent of “Open Mic Night”, which he is calling BYOUSB - Bring Your Own USB.  

It’s 2026!  Live instrumentation is so-20th Century!  Instead of a guitar, you need a USB stick to be a DJ at this version of Open Mic Night!   If you’re interested in DJing a set during one of the dance parties, please let Allen know (either via email or when you see him).   

So start your Labor (or maybe Labour for those of you who spell it “draught”) Day weekend this Friday with MATTY B, Acid Basket and the Metrowest’s Only Open at Dance Party!  

FEATURED DRAUGHT

A New IPA is on Tap!

As you may know, Allen has a strict “One IPA on Tap at a Time” rule. I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t teach that policy at Microbrewery Business School if Microbrewery Business School were an actual thing. But since it isn’t (Boy, I hope it isn’t!) Allen and Rick are free to set the policy any way they darn well please!

Anyway, A Great Cosmic Wave, Allen and Rick’s most recently brewed IPA, is now on draught. It’s been available in cans for well over a month now, but only showed up on the draught list a couple of weeks ago.

Coming in at 7.5%, A Great Cosmic Wave is brewed with Northeast-grown floor malt from Blue Ox Malthouse and Aurora Mills & Fram flaked spelt. Being an IPA, the hops are prominent in this one as well. It was brewed with Azacca®, Cashmere and ErebusTM hops.

It’s a hazy IPA, but doesn’t come with the cloying sweetness and overtly fruity tastes that some hazy IPAs do. To me, A Great Cosmic Wave is reminiscent of the “Wizard” series of IPAs that Allen and Rick used to make. Your mileage may vary on that opinion, but either way I am sure you will like it!

A Great Cosmic Wave is available now on both draught and in cans in the Taproom.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Here’s what’s coming soon at Amory’s Tomb

• Sept 3 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz

• Sept 4 Friday Night Dance Party Hosted by MATTY B

• Sept 5 Assabet Craft Beer & Food Truck Fest - Stow, MA 

• Sept 11 Friday Night Dance Party Hosted by MATTY B

• Sept 12 Asleep in a Box at Amory’s Tomb

• Sept 13 Craft More Rage Less Pop-Up in Beer Garden

• Sept 16 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz

• Sept 18 Ben’s Raclette 3rd Anniversary Celebration

• Sept 18 Friday Night Dance Party Hosted by MATTY B

• Sept 19 Maynard Country Fest

• Sept 25 Sudbury Valley Trustees Beer in the Barn

• Oct 3 Maynard Fest

Wow!  That’s a lot!  See you at the Tomb!