Hello! My name is Bob and I like to drink Man Bun Pilsner. That’s apparently qualifies me to write the Amory’s Tomb Newsletter! Here’s the latest:
Major Taproom Milestone (No, It’s Not Open Yet!)
There’s big news regarding the taproom build out. The walk-in refrigerator arrived and was assembled. This fancy new model is plug-and-play too! First and foremost, that means Allen and Rick can keep most of their inventory cold so they are prepared for the next time there’s a run on Maynard ESB cans.
The fridge is more-or-less the center of the floor plan, meaning that it needed to be installed first. With the fridge in place, they can start on the bar itself and the taps. Although it’s hot enough out that I wouldn’t mind if Allen and Rick simply served beers inside the walk-in fridge right now!
Getting Allen and Rick to commit to a date by which the taproom will open is a little like trying to nail Jello to a wall. But it does feel like we may finally be headed to the big day sometime soon, right? Right??
Hot Beer Being Served in the Beer Garden
When the urge hits me, I like to make things a little spicy in the Beer Garden. Calm down! I am referring to the fact that it is Hot Beer Season in the Beer Garden!
As I mentioned up top, I like Man Bun Pilsner, and usually start off my visits to the Beer Garden with the pure, unadulterated version . But sometimes I want something a bit different, and that is when I order a Hot Beer. The Hot Beer is Man Bun with a BLIS Hot Sauce Topper, a lime wedge and seasoned salt. It’s traditionally served right in the can (the hot sauce sits on the top) though you can get it in a cup if you prefer.
The experience of drinking a Hot Beer differs from one sip to the next. At the start it is spicy (nothing crazy, though) from the sauce on the top of the can, and then later you get more of the beer and lime flavor. It’s a terrific change of pace from the regular version of Man Bun.
The Wax Galaxies Lime Shandy is deservedly getting a lot of love this summer, but the next time you are in the mood to be a little spicy in the Beer Garden, I recommend giving the Hot Beer a try!
Photo credit @randumink
Is It “Draught” or “Draft”? - A Spelling Controversy
Allen and I had an argument a few weeks ago, and we need your help to settle it. If you paid careful attention to the last news letter, you may have noticed a reference to the Beer Garden’s “fraught list”. I write the newsletter, but Allen, of course, gets the final edit and sometimes adds some additional items.
The “fraught list” was his addition. I was appalled! Not because of the typo. Everyone can make typos. There’s probably a half dozen of them I didn’t notice in this edition, too! No, I am appalled because people will think I spell what comes out of the tap “draught”.
Allen thinks “draught” is the correct spelling. He says a “draft” is something that comes in your windows in the winter if the seal isn’t tight. He adds that “draft” can also refer to people being forced to enlist in the military. And so to distinguish what comes out of the tap from those connotations, he spells it “draught”. These are strong points!
However, I say this is America! We fought a revolution nearly 250 years ago so we didn’t have to spell words the same way the King does! Maynard, Massachusetts is barely a stone’s throw away from Lexington and Concord, where the spirit of freedom first rose up against spelling tyranny all those years ago! When I am visiting my favorite (not “favourite”) beer garden in the center (not “centre”) of Maynard I want to drink a cold “draft”, not a monarch-approved “draught”. Also, “draft” is spelled like it sounds. “Draught” looks like it should rhyme with, well, “fraught”.
What do you say? Is it “draught” or “draft”? Let us know! We’ll tally the responses for next time.
Editor’s Note - I am also a fan of the Oxford comma, Premier League Football, and the occasional cup of Tetley’s.
Hops on Hops Passport
The Mass Beer Guild is running its Hops on Hops passport program from now until the end of September. You can get a passport at any of the 29 participating breweries, including Amory’s Tomb. Then each time you visit one of the breweries and purchase a pint you can get that brewery’s stamp in your passport. If you get all 29 stamps by the end of September you get a free glass, and you are then entered for the grand prize!
You can also use these brewery visits to collect data on this “draught vs draft” question. As I write this I’ve visited 4 breweries so far (including Amory’s Tomb) and I’ve seen 2 “drafts” and 2 “draughts”. Or maybe more accurately, I have seen 2 drafts, 1 draught and 1 “fraught”.
LH Block Party & Hoppy Family Fest
Join us on at Lord Hobo in Woburn on Sunday July 28 from 12pm – 3pm for the LH Block Party: Hoppy Family Fest!
This FREE EVENT event will be held outside in the parking lot of our Woburn taproom. Alongside your favorite LH beers, we’ll be joined by some of our friends from the Hops on Hops Passport program, including Lost Shoe Brewing, Medusa Brewing, Idle Hands Brewing, Amory’s Tomb, and Castle Island Brewing
We’ll have live music. We’ll have delicious food from Cousin’s Maine Lobster and Bocadillo’s Expand your library with Book Ends Winchester, channel your inner lumberjack with Summit Axe Throwing, or work on your swing with Go Golf! Plus, there will be plenty of fun for the kiddos, including the Enchanted Petting Zoo!
Coming Attractions
Summer isn’t over yet! In August, Amory’s Tomb will have its interim Pink Boots Society collab release, a rose gold hued farmhouse ale with sumac, hibiscus and rose hips, based on the recently released Quiet Neighbors. A larger portion was sent to rest in barrels for a future PBS release. Hope they get the punctuation right on this version!
Perico’s, our partner Taqueria has expanded beer garden hours to both Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 9p. This has been a much requested addition from our guests, and we are very excited to be able to offer more hours and more food options! (Not in the mood for Tacos? Outside food is always welcome too, so please consider supporting all of our great local restaurants and shops here in downtown!)
Broken Latch, Golden Rule, and the next Wizard iteration are all headed into fermenters over the next few weeks, and we are looking forward to more food pop-ups and fun activities around the beer garden. Please be sure to check out our events calendar at amorystomb.com/events
And later in August, the brewery will be having a special night in the Beer Garden in honor of NOFX’s Punk in Drublic farewell tour. That sounds like a lot of fun! But these are topics for next month’s newsletter. In the meantime, see you at the taco truck!
