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)