Cheers to Craft Beer in Cozy NH Breweries
If you’re a beer-lover who’s been to New Hampshire, you know we’ve got over 80 breweries, microbreweries and brew-pubs across the state. They’ve all got a unique flavor and each one is worth visiting, so where should you start? We’re here to make the decision easier and the cold winter a bit warmer with six of the coziest breweries in the Granite State.
Canterbury Aleworks
305 Baptist Hill Rd., Canterbury
Canterbury Aleworks feels just like an English village pub, complete with a red phone box out front. In fact, they describe themselves as “a one barrel, water powered and wood fired British inspired nano-brewery.” That sounds pretty cozy to us. Stay awhile and get comfy in an oversized leather chair beside the roaring fireplace. Their handcrafted beers include a whiskey-barrel aged imperial stout called Long Winter’s Nap, which is exactly what we’re in the mood for.
Granite Roots Brewing
244 N. Main St., Troy
Crafting ales and fruit beers with berries grown on their family farm, Granite Roots Brewing is the nano-est of nano breweries with just three tables inside the taproom. If you visit in summer, you’ll find ample room to spread out on the patio, but winter might be even more fun inside one of their heated beer domes. Beer flights are served in muffin tins, which perfectly captures the brewery’s rustic, downhome personality.
Kelsen Brewing Company
80 North High St., Derry, NH
Originally offering just two beers in a tiny taproom, Kelsen Brewing Company has since expanded to 12 beers and a restaurant serving hand-tossed pizza. It’s certainly still small and cozy, with many of their unique ales and lagers available only in the tap room. But the real reason Kelsen made this list is their top-rated Vinátta Russian Imperial Stout, a bold cult favorite made with Guatemalan coffee roasted locally. It's only brewed once each winter in limited quantities so get your taste today!
Millyard Brewery
25 E. Otterson St., Nashua
Located in the 200-year-old textile mills of Nashua, Millyard is the only nano brewery in town. The cozy spot makes the most of its small space with live music and unique comfort food, including New Zealand meat pies. And if you need something winter-friendly to do before you settle in for a few beers, hit the rock climbing gym right next door. Bonus: You’ll work off those beers before you even drink ‘em!
Rek-Lis Brewing Company
2085 Main St., Bethlehem, NH
Proudly brewing “mountain-town beer” in a converted quintessential New England home, Rek-Lis Brewing Company has an adventurous personality offset by its small-town vibe. Inside, you’ll find dark wood and glowing Edison bulbs, along with heaping portions of comfort food. Beer-wise, they offer a good variety with names that reflect the brewery’s uniqueness, like Clouded Judgment and Rickey-Tickey-Tavi.
Woodstock Inn Brewery
135 Main St., North Woodstock, NH
The Woodstock Inn Brewery has been making beer for over 20 years at their distinct White Mountains inn. That means you can not only take a tour and sample beers at one of their four pubs, but you can stay the night in a rustic guest room. The Tap Room has all the charm of a mountain cabin tucked away in the woods, plus a natural stone fireplace to keep you warm when the weather is frightful.