Weekly Roundup 4/29/26

Hello! My name is Bob, and I just heard that there are people who think I am Allen’s alter ego. I assure you that this is not true! Do you think if Allen wanted to write this newsletter under a pseudonym, he’d choose to call himself “Bob”? Does that sound like Allen? Nope.

Now that we have dispensed with the conspiracy portion of this week’s newsletter, here are this week’s happenings at Amory’s Tomb:

 

FEATURED EVENT

Maynard Spring ArtWalk Returns Saturday, May 2nd

It’s Spring ArtWalk time again in downtown Maynard! On Saturday, May 2nd starting at 4:00pm, you can stroll through the Maynard Cultural District and view all sorts of exhibitions, activities and musical performances. It’s always a good time.

And, of course, Amory’s Tomb will be getting in on the fun with musical performances in the Beer Garden presented by Computer Rock Soundsytem. The first presentation will be Calls From the Help Desk, a Collection of service level training vignettes and ambient field recordings featuring Fungus Joe, Michigan Cortina, Dinosaur Rogers, & the Grizzly Swat.

I have no idea what this means since almost anything could be an ambient noise piece or field recording, if you think about it. Don’t worry, though, this isn’t going to be a live performance of John Cage’s 4’33” (look it up), these are all actual performers and so this should be very cool.

After their set, it will be time for the headline act - Asleep in a Box. Based on the name, you might assume Asleep in a Box is some sort of yacht rock Alice in Chains tribute band, but you’d be wrong! (though, Allen, maybe you ought to consider a yacht rock Alice in Chains tribute band for next year’s ArtWalk…)

Asleep in a Box is actually an electronic jam band with essentially no online footprint from what I can tell. Maybe there’s an an article on the way back machine from 2010, but is there anything more “Amory’s Tomb ArtWalk” than featuring a largely anonymous electronic jam band in the Beer Garden? I don’t think so!

While it is fun to visit all the performers and exhibits in downtown Maynard during Spring ArtWalk, I can pretty much guarantee you won’t hear anything like these acts at any other stop. So be sure to stop by, hang out in the Beer Garden and enjoy the music.

And speaking of alter egos, there’s a rumor that the Beer Garden or lounge may be graced by an appearance from DJ Paul Michael Jeffries at some point during the day.

Oh, and Ben’s Raclette will there, too! I am sure he needs no introduction, but on the off chance that you haven’t tried it yet, I would just say that melted cheese and bread is itself a work of art!

Hosted by the Maynard Business Alliance, the 12th Annual Maynard Spring ArtWalk begins at 4:00pm. Come on down to the Beer Garden!

 

DRAUGHT UPDATE

New Collab Stout, Stories of Our Youth, Available in the Taproom Now!

A few weeks ago I wrote about the great time Allen had at the New England Real Ale Exposition (NERAX) over the last weekend of March. Based on his description, I assumed Allen spent all his time putting together cask taps and sampling beers. But somehow Allen also found time to collaborate on another new beer. And that beer is already here!

Stories of Our Youth was brewed with Allen’s friends from Idle Hands Craft Ales and Hook Norton Brewery! Idle Hands probably needs no introduction to this audience. Their fine craft beers, brewed in Malden, can be found around the Greater Boston area.

Hook Norton may be less familiar. That’s because they are from the United Kingdom and began in the mid-19th century. Allen has visited their brewery, and it sounds really neat. It’s a six story tower that uses gravity as much as possible to move the beer through the different stages of the brewing process.

Stories of Our Youth is a traditional English-style stout. Now, plenty of beers tout themselves as being “traditional”, but this one was literally based on a Hook Norton recipe dating from 1899!

Other than the English hops it uses all local ingredients. Perhaps most surprisingly, Stories of Our Youth was brewed with no roasted barley. The color (as black as you can imagine) and taste (I get dark chocolate) was achieved solely through the use of black malt, brown malt and chocolate malt.

As I have written before, I am typically a UK-beer skeptic. The ales I’ve had in London range from mediocre to awful, and to top it off they insist on spelling the word for beer that comes out of a tap “draught”, which is patently ridiculous. But Stories of Our Youth is terrific! It’s only 4.2%, in keeping with the strength one would expect from an English-style ale, but it packs in quite a bit of flavor.

This is a beer that’s easy to drink on its own, and is also one that I suspect will go exceptionally well with whatever Allen is serving for Sunday Fellowship. I bet it would pair well with “electronic ambient jam music”, too!

As with all AT collaborations, though, supplies are limited, and there are no bottles or cans. There’s no better time than now to get down to the Taproom and enjoy Stories of Our Youth.

 

COMING ATTRACTIONS

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

  • May 2 Maynard Spring Art Walk

  • May 10 Mother’s Day Brunch

  • May 15 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz

  • May 27 Wheat & Water Crafted Dough

  • June 7 Maynard Pride Fest

See you soon at the Tomb!

Weekly Roundup 4/22/26

WEEKLY ROUNDUP April 22, 2026

 

Hello! My name is Bob. I just flew back from California, and boy are my arms tired! That may be the worst joke ever created, and to atone for writing such garbage, I’m also writing this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter. Here are this week’s updates:

 

FEATURED MERCH

Check Out Malen Anderson’s Artisanal Merch in the Taproom!

Have you had a chance to peruse the Taproom’s merch display yet? It’s behind the bar on your left as you walk down the hall towards the restrooms. If you haven’t, I’d encourage you to take a look because there’s some really cool stuff there.

In particular Malen Anderson is offering some of his handmade wares. Malen works with metal, leather and other materials to create really cool stuff. He even forges his own knives, though sadly there no knives on offer in the Taproom. (Yet. We can all dream!)

First up, I’m sure you’ve noticed those nice leather coasters in the Taproom with the AT logo stamped into them. Malen made those! Coaster 4-packs are available in the Taproom. I’ve had leather coasters from another brewery for a long time, and now they are all discolored and hard. Hey, I spill beer sometimes, don’t judge! It’s time for new ones, and I am going to buy Malen’s.

Stamping a logo into leather is easy. (Or at least, I imagine it to be easy. I’ve never done it!) How about stamping the AT logo into metal? Also available in the Taproom are metal bottle openers that Malen stamped the logo into. I already bought one of these things, and it is hard to describe how awesome it feels in your hand.

This isn’t some dumb novelty bottle opener. There’s a real heft and strength to this opener. I fully expect that my bottle opener to be the last bottle opener I will buy for the rest of my life. It feels like it could open anything. Some people have even sabered the cap off of a bottle with this bottle opener, though I can’t say I’d recommend that!

Finally, Malen has a couple of bottle bags on offer in the Taproom. These things are gorgeous. They are made of waxed canvas and leather with studs holding the different pieces of the back together, and leather AT logo on one side. There’s room for up to 6 beer bottles. Honestly, this bag is so well-built that you could probably put 6 bottles of cement in the bag and it would hold!

The coasters, bottle opener and bottle bags are all designed and crafted by Malen, and all very much look like the handmade artisanal products they are. Check them out!

 

DRAUGHT UPDATE

It’s Getting Warmer. That Means It’s Almost Time to Take a Ride Down the Farm Road!

It’s April, the sun is shining (sometimes), you can be outside without a parka and gloves (most of the time) and you’re thirsty for good craft beer (always). It’s time to hit the Beer Garden or maybe the new Taproom! Better yet, it’s time to show your friends the hidden beer gem in Maynard you visit all the time.

There’s just one problem. Your friends don’t really like farmhouse beer, or at least they think they don’t. Maybe they like a lager, maybe they’re into hoppy, hazy beers, maybe they like dark beers. But they are skeptical, if not downright afraid, of beers with “weird” flavors.

If the above describes your situation, Allen and Rick have you covered. Farm Road is about to return to draught! Farm Road is an ideal entry point for the saisonophobe in your life! It is indeed a farmhouse ale - it’s name is Farm Road, after all - but it is very approachable. At 4.6% it’s a table saison that is perfect for any situation. It’s steeped on lemon peel and fermented with wildflower honey, resulting in a crisp and light beer.

If you bring a friend to Amory’s Tomb who professes to dislike saisons, start them off with a Farm Road. I think your friend will like it, and pretty soon they’ll be on to Saison I: Classic. And then before you know it they’ll be bugging Justin to go look for an old bottle of A Quiet Place for Weavers in the fridge!

Farm Road isn’t just for converting people to saisons. It’s a great beer for those of us who are already into saisons, too!

Editor’s note: Farm road needs a few more days in the tank, but we have tons of great beer flowing in the taproom. Last week we released our historic inspired stout collaboration with Hook Norton , Stories of Our Youth, on draught only, as well as a new bottle offering, Unholy Communion.

 

COMING ATTRACTIONS

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

  • April 22 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz (food truck)

  • May 2 Spring ArtWalk with Ben’s Raclette, Asleep in a Box

See you soon at the Tomb!

Weekly Roundup 4/15/26

WEEKLY ROUNDUP April 15, 2026

Hello! My name is Bob, and I got my taxes done and filed a little bit early this year! Now that I have all this free time on my hands, I am writing this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter. Here are the Tomb Happenings:

 

FEATURED EVENT

Unholy Communion Debuting at Widowmakers’ Hoppy Buds Guest Suds on April 18th!

Widowmaker Brewing’s annual Hopsmokerfest will take place on Friday, April 17 and Saturday April 18. The main event of the festival is a concert featuring multiple heavy bands each night, headlined by the amazing Pallbearer on Saturday. Unfortunately, tickets to the concerts are sold out, so if you don’t have one you are SOL.

Even if you don’t have a ticket, though, you can and should still head to Braintree on Saturday, April 18th from 12:00 to 3:00pm for Hoppy Buds Guest Suds. This event will feature 10 of the most metal breweries from around the United States. No, I don’t mean the breweries are literally made of metal! These 10 breweries’ style, ethos and choice of music is metal.

And you’d better believe Amory’s Tomb is one of the 10 breweries who will be there! Better still, Amory’s Tomb will be debuting a collaboration beer made with Widowmaker Brewing! It’s called Unholy Communion, and it was brewed with Pilsner Malt, Rice, Lemondrop Hops, Sake Yeast and Nashoba Valley Cab Franc Grapes. The beer was aged in wine barrels before being bottled.

I snagged a sample of this one when Allen was doing QC testing on it. Unholy Communion pours red and tastes like a (perhaps unholy) combination of a dry wine and sake. If you like tart saisons, you’ll like this one.

While it’s debuting at Widowmaker next Saturday, Unholy Communion will then also be available in 750ml bottles at Amory’s Tomb. And the label might be the best AT label yet. I won’t spoil the surprise, but it’s a pretty literal interpretation of the beer’s name!

As for Hoppy Buds Guest Suds, this sounds like an crazy event in its own right. All 10 of the most metal breweries are pretty renowned, but if Unholy Communion and the other breweries aren’t enough, DJ Nothing Means Nothing will be spinning tunes at the fest! Sounds like an awesome time!

 

DRAUGHT UPDATE

Maynard’s ESB Returns!

If you ask me, this beer is the real illustration of how skilled Allen and Rick are as brewers. Prior to visiting Amory’s Tomb, I would have said Extra Special Bitter was among my least favorite styles. Inarguably, it has the most misleading style name. ESB’s are not bitter and are definitely not special, let alone “extra” special. Pretty much anywhere else I’ve had an ESB, I’ve found it to be bland, unmemorable, middle-of-the-road brew of no distinction.

Maynard ESB, though, is terrific! It was a mainstay in the old taproom and I am so glad to see in back in the new one too. Unlike most other ESB’s, this one actually has flavor. It’s malty with a little bit of earthiness. I’d go as far to say it’s the best ESB I’ve ever had, and I also think that every time Allen and Rick have brewed it, it gets better.

In addition, I would recommend it as the perfect accompaniment to whatever Allen is serving for Sunday Fellowship. Maynard ESB goes well with doughnuts, biscuits, bacon, and any other brunch-type food.

I do have one out-of-the-box idea, though. I want to convince Allen to put Maynard ESB on the Lukr tap. I know Broken Latch has been great on it, but wouldn’t the maltiness of Maynard ESB also be terrific with a bit of that Lukr foam on top? Feel free to annoy Justin by asking for Maynard ESB on Lukr, as if he can just switch which beer is on Lukr whenever you ask. If enough of us ask, maybe they’ll buy another Lukr tap!!

Maynard ESB is available now in the Taproom and also in cans, featuring the visage of Amory Maynard himself. The can is beautiful!

 

COMING ATTRACTIONS

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

  • April 18 Buds & Suds Market @ Widowmaker, Braintree

  • April 22 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz (food truck)

  • May 2 Spring ArtWalk with Ben’s Raclette

See you soon at the Tomb!

Weekly Roundup 4/8/26

WEEKLY ROUNDUP April 8, 2026

 

Hello! My name is Bob, and with the snow finally gone I’m thinking all those potholes ought to be filled in the next week or so, right? Right? While I wait, I decided to write this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter!

Before we dive into AT news, a word about Perico’s. The very good news is that Perico’s has secured a permanent location for their truck in the close proximity to downtown Maynard! Unfortunately, this means they will not be serving tacos at the Beer Garden this summer.

While it is a bummer that they won’t be at the Beer Garden anymore, I am truly very happy for them. Perico’s tacos are easily the best tacos I have tasted in the Metrowest. Once they open, I can easily envision myself picking up tacos to-go and bringing them to the Beer Garden myself. And if I forget to do that, there are still plenty of other food options in downtown Maynard.

No doubt Perico’s will share more details when they are ready to do so. In the meantime, I am sure you will join me in wishing them much success with their permanent location. They deserve it!

On to the news:

 

FEATURED EVENT

Didn’t Make it to NERAX? Taste a Cask of Granny Claw This Friday, April 10th!

A few weeks ago, I wrote extensively about the New England Real Ale Exhibition (NERAX) which took place in Boston during the last weekend of March.  I wanted to go, but unfortunately I had complications from my dental surgery the week before.  (You don’t want to know…)  I didn’t think all that real ale would mix well with the hydrocodone I was on at the time.

Allen reported that it was the best NERAX in the last decade or perhaps even longer.  They had more people attend and, not coincidentally, less beer left at the end.  Allen said the quality of the beer this year was really high, too.  

If you were like me and missed NERAX, this Friday in the taproom at 4:00pm you have a chance to taste one of the beers from the expo.  Time & Materials Beer Co will be on hand to tap the absolute last cask of “Granny Claw”, their collab with Amory’s Tomb!  Granny Claw is a Smoked English Golden Ale made with Blue Ox and Valley Malt.

And once the firkin’s kicked on Friday, Granny Claw is gone for good!  Personally, I really like smokey beers, and I’m off the hydrocodone now, so you bet I’ll be there!

Oh, and one more thing on NERAX.  Allen also reported that during NERAX he brewed yet another collaboration with Hook Norton Brewery of the UK and Idle Hands Brewery.  More to come on this one in a few weeks!

 

DRAUGHT UPDATE

Photo credit: @randumink

Saison I: Classic is Back!!!!

A new batch of Saison I: Classic is finally of draught at the Taproom. Classic is the OG Amory’s Tomb Saison, the Alpha, the saison from which all other Amory’s Tomb saisons came. It’s the true flagship beer of Amory’s Tomb, and I am thrilled that it has returned.

Classic is brewed with 2-row pilsner malt, wheat and oats alongside Czech Saaz hops. It’s crisp, but not dry, and while it isn’t too funky, it is decidedly a farmhouse ale. If you are a middle-aged or older beer nerd (hey, I resemble that description!) you might remember Pretty Things Beer’s Jack D’Or. That beer is a clear antecedent to Classic, but I think Classic is even better.

In the Taproom, Justin pours Classic with a good amount of foam in one of those cool AT stem glasses, and I really think that’s the best way to experience it. It smells so good, and tastes even better. If you’ve never had Classic before, get yourself to the Taproom to try it now. And if you’ve had it before, come reacquaint yourself with your old friend - the OG Saison I: Classic!

 

COMING ATTRACTIONS

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

  • April 8 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz (food truck)

  • April 10 Granny Claw Cask Tapping w/Time & Materials

  • April 18 Buds & Suds Market @ Widowmaker, Braintree

  • April 22 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz (food truck)

  • May 2 Spring ArtWalk with Ben’s Raclette

See you soon at the Tomb!

Weekly Roundup 4/1/26

WEEKLY ROUNDUP April 1, 2026

 

Hello! My name is Bob, and I just registered my 15,000th beer on Untappd. To celebrate what is without question my life’s greatest achievement, I am writing this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter! It’s a new month, so let’s see what’s new at the Tomb:

 

FEATURED EVENT

Post Malone Night Friday, April 3rd!

Look, it was fun for awhile, but face it, we’re all getting tired of the whole “gray walls, doom metal” thing in the Taproom.  I mean, I like loud distorted guitars and shrieking vocals as much as the next person, but enough’s enough already.  Lighten up!

Fortunately, Allen and Rick agree!  It’s time for the Taproom to feature something more upbeat.  Something simpler.  Something, well, more popular.  Something likely to draw a bigger and younger crowd.  

That’s right!  On Friday, April 3rd, come to the Taproom for Post Malone Night!  It’ll be all Post Malone music, all night!  Will Allen and Rick favor his earlier era rap music or his more recent turn as a country artist?  There’s only one way to find out!

And for one night only, the draughts in the Taproom will be served in red solo cups, just like Postie carries onstage!   There will even be black makeup sticks and mirrors around for you to make your own (temporary) Post Malone face tattoos!  So cool!  

I can’t wait to hear amazing hits like “I Had Some Help (feat. Morgan Wallen)”,  “Psycho (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)”, “Losers (feat. Jelly Roll)” and “Goodbyes (feat. Young Thug)”.  Is there anyone Post Malone can’t get to collaborate with him on a song?

Check the Amory’s Tomb feed on Instagram and Facebook for more details on Post Malone Night.  Oh, did I mention that Allen has decided to return to social media?  They have, and with a vengeance!  Amory’s Tomb even has a TikTok now! 

It’s certainly going to be a Good Friday on April 3rd in the Taproom with Post Malone Night!

 

DRAUGHT UPDATE

New Milkshake IPA Released Today!!!

Allen and Rick have surprised us by releasing a new IPA today, and it’s a milkshake IPA! For those unfamiliar, a Milkshake IPA is a New England-style hazy IPA brewed with lactose sugar! Milkshake IPAs are thick and creamy, and usually have fruit added to them. I’ve heard Allen talk about brewing with lactose sugar since I first met him in the Taproom years ago, and now he’s done it!

The new beer is called “Pastel Neon Dragon”, and it’s brewed with a blend of proprietary hops sourced from South Dakota! It’s brewed with lactose sugar, of course, and then Allen and Rick added a ton of strawberries and bananas!

The result is a beer with a mouth feel that is thicker than Justin’s beard but Pastel Neon Dragon is not at all bitter. No more need to walk down the street to the McDonald’s for a strawberry milkshake. Amory’s Tomb’s got you covered!

Pastel Neon Dragon will be coming soon in cans, too! I’ve seen a mockup of the label and it is terrific. It has a cute, Yoshi-esque dragon flying in the center with all sorts of brightly colored stars and and smiley faces all around. Beautiful!

IPAs are always popular, hazy ones even more so, and it’s about time Allen and Rick jumped on the admittedly crowded bandwagon! Pastel Neon Dragon is sure to be a hit and the first in a rotating series of Milkshake IPAs. Enjoy a draught in the Taproom now!

Oh, and one more thing:

APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Did I get you at all? Did you at least for a second think AT was hosting a Post Malone night? Or that Allen and Rick had started brewing with lactose sugar?

Don’t worry! Everything above is a complete lie! Well, except for the part about Allen talking about brewing with lactose sugar ever since I first met him. That’s true. He’s talks about how much he hates the idea of brewing with lactose sugar! Sorry if you got your hopes up, but there won’t be any Milkshake IPAs in the taproom any time soon!

 

COMING ATTRACTIONS

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

  • April 5 Open Easter Sunday - Sunday Fellowship

  • April 8 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz (food truck)

  • April 18 Buds & Suds Market @ Widowmaker, Braintree

  • April 22 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz (food truck)

  • May 2 Spring ArtWalk with Ben’s Raclette

No jokes here, just a solid lineup for the start of Spring. See you soon at the Tomb!

Weekly Roundup 3/25/26

WEEKLY ROUNDUP March 25, 2026

 

Hello! My name is Bob, and I remember when the baseball season started in the early April, not the last week of March. It’s too early! But I’ll save the rest of this take for my other newsletter, “An Old Guy Tells You Why Baseball Was Better 40 Years Ago”. I have 5 subscribers.

The Amory’s Tomb newsletter’s subscription base is over 100 times larger. So let’s get to the news of the week at the Tomb.

We’ll start by reminding you that today (March 25th) is the start of the New England Real Ale Exhibition in Boston. We covered this event in great detail in last week’s newsletter, so dig that one out of your Inbox, Trash or Spam folder. And if you want even more info, click this link:

 NERAX 

March 25th might be a ridiculous date to start the baseball season, but it is a great date to be trying out the best properly cellared US and UK cask ale you’ll find in the America!

 

FEATURED MERCH

Have You Checked Out Amory’s Tomb’s Online Merch Store?

In the old taproom, Allen and Rick used to have a selection of AT-branded merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies and the like) available for sale. After the old taproom closed, they didn’t bother with merch much because it was difficult to sell in the Beer Garden.

Now that the new Taproom is open, you may be wondering where all the new AT merch is. It turns out Allen and Rick have moved it all online. I didn’t realize they’d done this until Allen pointed out that he’d updated the website and is working with a company that prints merch on demand. So I went to the online store, and the selection is great!

Remember that hoodie from the old taproom with the skeleton guy holding a scythe? That guy was gnarly and the thing sold out almost instantly. Well, with the online store you can once again get a “Dead Punk” (apparently, that’s what he’s called. I had no idea!) hoodie, and now you can get a Dead Punk t-shirt or tank top, too! Other classics are available too, such as the “Saison Modern” t-shirt and the “Rotting Skull” t-shirt. I know it sounds gross, but you’ll recognize this last one when you see it.

I decided to order something new - a hoodie with the words “None More Gray” on the back. Where’d that phrase come from? Perhaps you, like me, thought the walls of the new Taproom were painted black. It turns out that’s wrong. Allen informed me that the walls are gray, the darkest gray imaginable. Hence, “None More Gray”.

Maybe the best part of the “None More Gray” hoodie is that it comes with an “AT” stitched into the end of the white sleeve. It’s a little touch, but it looks really sharp.

I was also pleased that Allen decided to go American spelling rather than British this time, spelling it “Gray” rather than “Grey”. We don’t need another draft/draught controversy!

My order arrived in less than 2 weeks. If anything, I would say the quality of the merch is higher than the old stuff. The hoodie feels great. I’ve worn it multiple times already, including to a Nine Inch Nails concert, where “None More Gray” was an entirely appropriate sentiment!

I’ll probably place another order when the weather gets warmer, too. I am definitely getting a Dead Punk t-shirt. That “Rotting Skulls” t-shirt looks great, even if the name is slightly, um, off-putting. And while I am not a hat person, they’ve got some really sweet look AT hats available.

So if you’ve been itching for some new Amory’s Tomb merch, particularly as we are rapidly approaching Beer Garden season, check out their new online store here:

 ONLINE SHOP 

 

DRAUGHT UPDATE

Robust Porter is the #1 English-Style Porter in the United States According to Untappd Users!!!

Ever since the new Taproom opened, we’ve been nearly overwhelmed by the array of old and new saisons plus a great new IPA. Heck, I spent last week’s newsletter gushing about the Lukr tap itself.

All this razzle-dazzle (relatively speaking, of course. This is still Amory’s Tomb we are talking about) is terrific, but it’s time to acknowledge what may be the true workhorse beer of Amory’s Tomb over the past 12 months, Robust Porter. Seriously, I think it’s been AT’s dark beer draught offering since last summer in the Beer Garden.

Well, its days in the shadows may be over! Robust Porter has just been named the #1 English-Style Porter in the entire United States by Untappd. For those who keep tabs on such things, it finished #1 in Massachusetts in 2024 and #2 in Massachusetts in 2025. Personally, I was hoping it would regain its state crown in 2026. Obviously it went even higher!

I had a draught of Robust Porter the other day in the Taproom before reading about the 2026 Untappd ranking. Man, it was good! It has that roasty flavor you look for in a porter or stout, with hints of coffee and chocolate, though to be clear, this beer contains neither coffee nor chocolate. It’s just Allen and Rick’s skill plus good ingredients that are creating those flavors.

If you are like me, and you’ve been ignoring Robust Porter, now seems like the perfect time to renew acquaintances with the #1 English-Style Porter in the whole dang US-of-A!

 

COMING ATTRACTIONS

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

  • March 25 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz (food truck)

  • March 25-28 NERAX 2026 Festival, South Boston

  • March 28 DSS Member Release

  • April 5 Open Easter Sunday - Sunday Fellowship

  • April 8 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz (food truck)

  • April 18th Buds & Suds Market @ Widowmaker, Braintree

  • April 22 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz (food truck)

See you at the Tomb!

Weekly Roundup 3/18/26

WEEKLY ROUNDUP March 18, 2026

 

Hello! My name is Bob, and I just had oral surgery a couple of days ago! You better believe I could use a draught or four of Double Oak Classic! To distract myself from how my mouth is feeling, I am writing this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter.

Phew! The past week was super-busy with Mass Beer Week events and then the awesome Full Irish Breakfast. Things will be a little more sedate in the Taproom this week, although I would draw your attention to the “unsanctioned” (?) Wurst Nacht on Thursday, March 19th and first return of the new year for Ben’s Raclette during the day on Saturday, March 21st. You can find more details on the AT website calendar or by clicking the hot-links below.

For those craving more of the excitement of the past week, the next big Amory’s Tomb-related event will be occurring in Boston towards the end of March. Here’s more:

FEATURED EVENT

NERAX is Returning to South Boston March 25-28, and Amory’s Tomb is a Sponsor!

NERAX stands for the New England Real Ale Exhibition, which bills itself as the longest running Cask Festival in the United States. It’s been around since 1997, and (according to Allen) is the Gold Standard cask ale event in the US!

The festival runs from Wednesday, March 25 through Saturday, March 28th at the South Boston Lithuanian Club, 368 W Broadway in Boston. There’s one session each evening on Wednesday through Friday, and then two sessions on Saturday.

We’re featuring NERAX in this week’s newsletter because Amory’s Tomb is the glassware sponsor. Their logo will be on the Imperial Pint glasses used during the festival and available for purchase at the event.

Of course, Amory’s Tomb will also have two collaboration beers available at some point during the festival. The first of these will be a collab with Clover Road Brewing. It’s a Black Country style bitter inspired by a beer Allen “fell in love with” (his actual words!) during his trip to the UK last year, Batham’s Bitter. It’s a blond colored, malt forward bitter that uses softer water to bring forward the esters in the beer.

The second collab brew is a smoked golden English ale brewed with Time and Materials Beer Company. It’s brewed with lightly smoked pilsner and maple-smoked pilsner malt, caramel malt and Quebec Riel hops. This one sounds super-interesting to me.

In addition to sponsoring the glassware and brewing two special collaborations, Allen is on the Cellar Team for this event. There’s a ton of work that falls to the Cellar Team in order to set the whole expo up, but once the setup is complete the real work of the Cellar Team begins. That’s because every day the Cellar Team does testing and QC on the each beer to make sure it is at its peak before it’s put on tap.

Oh, did I mention there are roughly 115 different beers? Yes, 115. (Though I will note that “only” 35 - 50 will be available at any one session.) How the cellar team tastes 115 different beers and is still able to distinguish anything is beyond me. I think by about beer 15 my palate would be wrecked and I would be tapping out. Or falling over. Forget the brewers themselves, the Cellar Team sounds like the real heroes of NERAX!

I will freely admit to being a skeptic when it comes to English-style cask beer. Frankly, most of the cask beers I had in London tasted bad or tasted like nothing at all. The fact that they were warm and flat was the least of their problems. Now, I know I mostly went to pubs owned by a well-known chain (we won’t slander them here, but if you’ve been to London you know who I am referring to) and drank their pretty mainstream options. I am sure I was not sampling the best beer, or beer that was cared for in the ideal manner.

NERAX, on the other hand, sounds fantastic! The two Amory’s Tomb collabs alone make it worth your time, but it sounds like there is so much more. As Allen says, this is a traditionalist beer festival with great examples of properly cellared US and UK cask beers. If you are like me, and you think virtually all cask beer is overrated, this might be the festival to change your mind!

You can find much more information on NERAX at their website:

 VISIT NERAX.ORG 

 

DRAUGHT UPDATE

Have You Had a Broken Latch Lukr Pour Yet?

In case you haven’t noticed, the AT Taproom has a Lukr tap! What’s a Lukr tap, you ask? It’s a Czech-made tap that allows the beer to be poured with an extra thick, creamy head. The faucet is actually set in such a way that one can regulate the amount of foam in the glass - all the way to a glass filled entirely with foam!

“What’s the big deal?”, I hear you asking, “if I want more foam can’t I just shake my glass a bit?” No, it’s not the same thing! The Lukr tap’s foam is so rich and dense that it actually changes the way a beer tastes.

The first beer that comes to mind for a Lukr tap is, of course, a Czech pilsner. But Amory’s Tomb doesn’t have one of those at the moment (Hint, hint, Allen and Rick! Make more Man Bun!) So they’ve put Broken Latch, their rustic amber lager on the Lukr.

And you know what? It tastes great! Broken Latch was already a terrific beer. There’s a reason it is AT’s go-to fall lager. But the Lukr somehow smooths the beer out even more, changing its flavor in subtle ways.

It’s tough to describe, so the best I can do is simply encourage you to try one for yourself next time you are in the Taproom. If you like regular Broken Latch, I think you’ll really like this one. Plus, Broken Latch comes in the dimple mug, which I think is the coolest looking taproom glass!

 

COMING ATTRACTIONS

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

See you at the Tomb!  I’ll be the one holding a cold can of Rolling Through Outer Space against my jaw!

Weekly Roundup 3/11/26

WEEKLY ROUNDUP March 11, 2026

 

Hello!  My name is Bob, and it took me something like 50 years to realize it’s “Daylight Saving Time” and not “Daylight Savings Time”.  The missing “s” is for the sleep you lost!  Because I enjoy pedantic word facts like this one, I’m writing this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter!

First off, here’s a reminder that we are in the midst of Mass Beer Week, which runs through Saturday, March 14th.  Amory’s Tomb has a special event planned for literally every day right through Saturday.  We’ve covered the events in detail over the last two emails, but in case you’ve forgotten them already, a complete listing is at the bottom of this newsletter.

But the fun at AT doesn’t end when Mass Beer Week does!  Here’s what’s coming up in the Taproom:

FEATURED EVENT

Allen’s Serving a Full Irish Breakfast in the Taproom on Sunday, March 15th!

St. Patrick’s Day is on a Tuesday this year which is inconvenient for a Taproom that is closed on Tuesdays.  Well, who cares about exact dates?  Not me!

On Sunday, March 15th, two days before the Wearin’ O’ The Green, you can start celebrating early with the Eatin’ O’ The Big Breakfast in the Taproom.  That’s right!  AT will be serving a Full Irish Breakfast.  

You may remember this same event back in the old taproom days.  I sure do.  Allen exceeded his usual high Sunday brunch standards back then, and it sure looks like he’s going all out this year.  

There won’t be any doughnuts with green frosting or bowls of Lucky Charms being served this Sunday.  No, this will be a full, authentic Irish Breakfast.  Check out this lineup: 

  • Donnelly Black and White Puddings

  • Donnelly Rashers and Bangers

  • Batchelors Baked Beans

  • O’Donnell’s Wild Atlantic Wheaten Soda Bread

  • Grilled Tomatoes

  • Grilled Mushrooms

  • Hard Fried Eggs

  • Kerry Gold Butter

  • Marmalade

Wow!  That menu is incredible!  If you haven’t been attending Sunday brunches in the new Taproom yet, I strongly suggest you make time for this one!  I’m willing to predict a lot of Robust Porter is going to be poured on Sunday, too!

 

DRAUGHT UPDATE

New Release: Foeder XLII Joins Saison XLII!

Saison XLII has been anchoring the farmhouse ale offerings in the Taproom since it opened in December.  If you ask me, Saison XLII is a saison for everyone.  It hits the sweet spot of farmhouse flavors that make it enjoyable for both folks who’ve never had a saison before and folks who are up for the most adventurous beer.   

Well unbeknownst to us, Allen and Rick dumped a batch of Saison XLII into their foeder, and the result is surprise release for the start of Mass Beer Week - Foeder XLII! 

Before describing the beer, let’s have yet another pedantic moment to discuss pronunciation.  The first syllable rhymes with dude, not toad.  It’s pronounced “fooder” not “foader”.  I have no idea why it’s pronounced that way when it is spelled “foeder”, but then again I still say Allen and Rick spell the word “draught” wrong, so what do I know?

As for the more important topic - the beer itself - Foeder XLII definitely tastes different from Saison XLII.  It’s funkier, oakier, and more tart.  It’s definitely a more adventurous farmhouse ale experience, but well worth your time to enjoy.  

Actually, if you come to the Taproom with a friend, I’d recommend ordering a Saison XLII and Foeder XLII at the same time (or as I like to say, order a Saison LXXXIV) so you and your friend can do your own taste comparison.  I think it’s really amazing how much the foeder has changed the base beer.  

Don’t ask me which I prefer -  Saison XLII or Foeder XLII.  That’s like asking me which of my children I prefer!  Both beers are great, but they are great in different ways!  

Foeder XLII probably won’t be on draft for very long, so enjoy either a Foeder XLII or a Saison LXXXIV while you can!

 

COMING ATTRACTIONS

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

This coming week is stacked! See you there!

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