My Humble Return

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Hello Hello! Major apologies for the unexpected and unnecessarily-extended hiatus. Not to make excuses, but adjusting to post-college, full-time job life made me sideline Brewnette…until now. I’m back and ready to talk beer, bars and Boston once again.

In thinking about what the proper comeback post should be, I reflected a lot on my (almost over) summer. It was full of adjustments like not being a college student, having a real job, making new friends and trying to find some sort of balance between it all. Perhaps one of the biggest changes was moving to Jamaica Plain (a little neighborhood oasis that’s still in Boston proper) and getting to know this eccentric and oh-so-loveable new town of mine. So I suppose I’ll highlight a few of my favorite JP haunts that have made my transition so smooth.

Costello’s Tavern is what I lovingly refer to as “my neighborhood hole in the wall.” It’s the perfect JP place to play darts (not a skill I have or want) or to watch a game with your friends, which is exactly what I did all through the Celtics path to basketball glory (finally)! They have a decent selection of Harpoon and Sam beers, always carrying the regular and seasonal varieties on tap, as well as the other staples of a great local bar – cheap light beer and Guinness. And the beer is cheap (at least by Boston’s standards). At $4 for a good beer (read: UFO), it certainly makes a good case for staying in JP instead of trekking downtown. Also, the food is really good. My bf goes back over and over again for the steak tips meal (it’s huge, delicious and completely affordable). Costello’s is that kind of bar you hope a new town has and I am a grateful and happy patron.

Another favorite is the way-too-cool-for-me Alchemist Lounge. The Alchemist offers a dimly lit bar area and quiet lounge-y restaurant room. It often hosts DJs and bands, and it hold Jeopardy tournaments and maybe ever Rock Band/Guitar Hero competitions. While I still haven’t been to one, Alchemist hosts a Jazz brunch every Sunday morning. It’s a little bit of a trendy Boston bar, mixed with the eccentricity of JP. More good food and awesome (and always changing) draft and bottled beer selection. Last time I was there, a honey beer (with a name I cannot recall) kept my interest. The all black-attired staff ranges from mildly friendly to constantly pissed off, but I don’t particularly mind, as I know that I am not as hip as they are. And I know this is a blog about beer, but this place has amazing sangria and some of the best mojitos I’ve ever experienced. Not as affordable as Costello’s but worth a visit.

On a rainy night, the bf and I stumbled past Fat Ram’s Pumpkin Tattoo parlor (real name – I could NOT make that up) and into Brendan Behan Pub and immediately fell in love. We were instantly brought back to O’Donoghue’s, a Dublin pub we loved and frequented in our tenure in the Land of Eire. Inside the tiny, dark bar were “Regulars” on bar stools at the end of the bar, a crowd of young hipsters in the corner talking about their skinny jeans and androgynous haircuts, and us, sliding onto a bench and stool around a short table. The vast beer selection was spelled out in chalk on the wall next to the old fish tank. I tried the Long Trail Blackberry Wheat (eh) and he had some Guinness. Adding to our nostalgia was the Irish memorabilia strewn over the walls. I may have said this too many times for it to be believable but this was one of the closest pubs Boston has to those that Ireland has mastered. Oh, and it’s completely dog-friendly.

So that’s my brief recap of the JP bars I have taken as my own. I hope I have done them justice as I enjoy each for very different reasons. Lots more to come…taking time off means lots of ammunition for upcoming posts. Thanks for tuning in and CHEERS!

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Tags: Alchemist Lounge, Bars, beer, boston, Brendan Behan Pub, Costello's Tavern, ireland, jamaica plain, JP