Editors’ Choice
Notch Brewing, Salem
Everything at this brewery is “sessionable”—meaning they keep the alcohol under 6 percent (and mostly under 5) so you can try more than one without needing a nap. The beers are delicious—with more than a dozen on offer, and the taproom is one of the most inclusive around, not to mention fun, with Skee-Ball and a biergarten on the South River basin where you just might see harbor seals. We’re also here for the activism—Notch production manager Brienne Allan launched the Brave Noise movement, which in less than a year has signed up more than 250 breweries in 31 states and four countries, promising to create safer spaces in the beer industry for women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. 283R Derby St., Salem, 978-412-7674, notchbrewing.com
Readers’ Choice
Riverwalk Brewing Co., Newburyport
Over the past decade, this family-owned brewery has gone from a two-barrel system to a fully automated 30-barrel one focused on sustainable and local. The large taproom has become a community gathering spot, with a full menu of delicious pizza and sandwiches—not to mention a dozen beer options at a time. 40 Parker St., Newburyport, 978-499-2337, riverwalkbrewing.com