Slowing to a crawl: 4 breweries in Beverly reveal similarities and differences

Beverly is blessed with four brewpubs, all within easy walking distance from each other. They are all homegrown businesses, run by local brewers. All four have expanded organically over the past 8 years and they all have a distinct vibe. What better reason to recruit a few friends and make an evening of it? The only qualifications are that they like each other and like beer. 

Let’s take ‘em on one at a time.

Gentile Brewing Company

Gentile (pronounced Gen-tilly) Brewing is Beverly’s first craft brewer, started by Paul and Kristen Gentile in 2015. The small taproom recently celebrated its 8th anniversary. The family-owned business brews on-premises in small batches and specializes in session beers and ales with styles ranging from pilsners to farmhouse to English-style IPA. 

The vibe

Paul envisioned the Gentile taproom as a community gathering space. There are family photos on the wall and they maintain a kid- and dog-friendly policy. On the night we visited, Gentile hosted their weekly Run ABV night which attracts locals who earn their quaffs by running a few k and returning to enjoy each other’s company. Bryn, our bartender, lives nearby and her easy-going personality set the tone for our visit. The small taproom clearly serves as a local hangout for a multi-generation crowd. 

The brews

We sampled their 5 most popular brews and our drinking crew found them flavorful and easy-drinking. Some session ales come off as watered-down versions of their higher ABV cousins, but that isn’t the case at Gentile. The Blonde Ale was crisp with a satisfying cracker finish. We agreed that their Helles was the perfect ‘boat beer’ for a summer outing on the water. Gentile’s Italian Pilsner was light and slightly sweet with a nice balanced hops profile. Their English IPA shared much that we like about Back Beat Brewing’s ales just down the street. Lastly, their Farmhouse revealed a hint of blueberry on tasting, and didn’t overdo the farmhouse ale characteristics that can be cloying to some. 

Location and hours

Gerntile Brewing Company
59 Park Street, Beverly – down the street from Beverly Depot.
Thursday and Friday 6-10pm, Saturday Noon-10pm, Sunday Noon-6pm 

Old Planters Brewing Company

Old Planters was started by two Beverly townies, Matt Sullivan and Ben Garry. The brewpub opened in 2019 in a large open space on Rantoul Street. The name is derived from a term describing early Beverly inhabitants in the 1600s and is a gentle reminder that Old Planters is a quintessential local brewhouse. 

The vibe

The brewpub captures a bit of industrial chic with its concrete floors, high ceilings, good-sized bar,  and tables and couches scattered about. We arrived at the tail end of trivia night, and musical entertainment livens things up throughout the month. The trivia event attracted a young crowd and, unlike some brewpubs that can seem bit bro-ish, there were women enjoying a night out as well. 

The brews

We asked our bartender to pour a flight of their most popular brews to provide a good summer sampling. We liked Tommy John, a summer ale that was balanced and easy-drinking, and OPP, a pilsner, with a tasting profile that moved adroitly from sweetness to a dry, hoppy finish. The two IPAs we sampled, Rhino Tears and Fat Tuna IPA fared less well in our tastings. That said, their Crop Rotation and Little Misery IPAs were not on tap on our visit but are available in cans both at the brewpub and through retail stores in Eastern Massachusetts.

We should mention that Old Planters restless creativity was on display during our visit. You’ll be sure to find an off-the-grid offering on your visit, too, with a Belgian Wit, Ricky Bobby raspberry lime sour and a shandy on the chalkboard when we dropped by.   

Location and hours

Old Planters Brewing Co.
232 Rantoul Street, Beverly MA
Tuesday through Thursday 4-10pm
Friday 4-11pm; Saturday 12-11pm; Sunday 12-8pm

Coastal Mass. Brewing

Coastal was founded by Beverly natives Jake Crandell, Justin Negrotti and Tim Corcoran, and opened in 2019 as Channel Marker Brewing. It came to light that several other beer brands had products with similar names, so with a quick name change, Coastal was born. Their beers, with many riffs on IPAs, have garnered recognition as one of 2020’s 10 best new breweries in the country in a USA Today poll. Billy Costa of Dining Playbook stopped by a while back for a tour as well. 

The vibe

Coastal’s tasting room is compact and unpretentious, with light wood and a nautical flavor. On our visit locals drifted in to watch sports and socialize. Katie, our super-friendly bartender, knows her beers and is happy to recommend something up your alley. The only food they serve are warm pretzels from Eastern Standard Provisions and they are delicious. 

The brews

We sampled a range of brews ranging from hefty DIPAs to an impressive stout. We liked their very popular Tail Fin NEIPA for it’s balanced flavor and were impressed by Coastline, which distinguished itself in a sea of NEIPAs. Its unusual use of Citra, HBC 586 and Simcoe hops hit a “just right” flavor profile – there’s no question these guys know their hops. We were intrigued by their LIR Irish Stout – in our collective opinion it is a coffee stout – the flavor is that pronounced. It could be our go-to on a visit when the weather turns crisp.

Location and hours

Coastal Mass. Brewing
95 Rantoul Street, Beverly MA
Wednesday through Friday 3-10pm
Saturday 12-10pm; Sunday 12-6pm

Back Beat Brewing Company

As Monty Python’s crew said, “And now for something completely different”.  Back Beat was launched by Pete Harkins in 2020 in an effort to offer authentic British Ales to a local crowd awash with IPA options. His hunch that a variety of low ABV, cask-conditioned ales would prove popular proved true. Back Beat brews follow the path forged in England many years ago in reaction to a lost craft – the Real Ale movement. 

The vibe

Located opposite the Beverly Depot in an impressively large, new building, Back Beat has plenty of space for visitors at high tops and large picnic-style tables inside and out. They maintain an active entertainment schedule, and we played ‘guess the tune’ as a talented cover band rolled through their playlist on the night we visited. Back Beat keep games on hand for kids, and their outside seating area is perfect for warm evenings. 

The beers

A few years back I visited a pub in England near where my sister lives called the Leg of Mutton. The beers available at Back Beat may have a ‘leg up’ on that historic English pub. Their cask beers are smooth, malty and just delicious. Monty, their English IPA, is a reminder of where IPA came from, and what it can still be – a sip is like being wrapped in a warm blanket. Bitter isn’t a beer category familiar to many Americans, but it’s a staple in British pubs, Back Beat nails it – with their TCB’s easy-drinking goodness. Their porter, Lord Nelson, is a perfect drinking companion on a cool night. If IPA fans are in your crew, not to worry. Back Beat keeps things interesting with Pinnacle and In The Groove, two American/NE IPAs. 

The food

Back Beat maintains an active kitchen. Come with an appetite and you won’t be disappointed. There’s also a retail store that offers English and Irish specialties, including frozen bangers and meat pies, teas, biscuits, Marmite and jams. You will not find these authentic English items anywhere else! One other thing to mention – they serve breakfast from 6-11AM, Monday through Friday – Bangers and Brioche are on the list for my next visit.  

Location and hours

Back Beat Brewing Company
21A Park Street, Beverly, MA
Monday and Wednesday 4-9pm; Thursday 4-10pm
Friday 3-10pm; Saturday 8am-10pm