Castle Island Brewery - Norwood, MA (Beer & Staff) (Atmosphere) Great Beer Selection Castle Island delivers on what matters most: the beer. From crisp lagers to bold IPAs, the selection is solid, flavorful, and well-crafted. Whether you're a hop head or just looking for something smooth, there's something here for every palate. Friendly Staff The team behind the bar is welcoming, knowledgeable, and quick to offer recommendations. Service is efficient and upbeat, which adds to the overall positive vibe. Kid Overload Unfortunately, the atmosphere takes a hit. At 6:00 pm 8:00, the taproom felt more like a daycare than a brewery. Tables were dominated by birthday parties and families with small children eating cupcakes. While some may appreciate the family-friendly approach, it's jarring for those expecting a classic bar experience. If you're looking for a chill adult night out, this might not be the spot--especially on weekends. Final Thoughts Castle Island has the bones of a great brewery: excellent beer and great staff. But the overwhelming presence of kids makes it hard to relax or socialize. If they offered adult-only hours or designated family times, it could strike a better balance. read more

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I'm honestly in love with this place. We stopped in since it was close to our hotel, and now I wish I could be a regular. The staff really knew their beer selection and were super helpful in guiding us to the perfect drinks. The vibe is perfect for a brewery: projectors, board games, and a welcoming atmosphere that's both family- and dog-friendly. Truly the kind of spot you could spend an entire Sunday enjoying. The food truck outside was also a 10/10 and was able to accommodate to our allergy requests no questions asked! read more

Castle Island - Breweries Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

Bardos wings were delish!! Great beer selection & friendly staff. So many dogs!! Loved it read more

Castle Island - Tai Chili Wings - Breweries Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

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This place is a cool concept, industrial brewery on the inside, but they have a nice patio on the outside. Castle island is a little hidden in an industrial park, but don't let that deter you. The brewery offers several different varieties and even has some non alcoholic options which was nice. The staff let me try a few of the beers before I landed on their pineapple cider. The cider was crisp and the pineapple was strong. The brewery doesn't offer food, but they have a food truck outside that had several options to choose from. read more

Castle Island - Castle island menu - Breweries Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

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Due to an illness I cannot drink alcohol at all. BUT..I have been a vendor at some craft fairs and sip and shops here! This place is super clean and the staff is really nice! The bathroom is always spotless and they even have a little card on the sink that says hand this to an employee if the bathroom is dirty and we'll clean it right away. I thought that was awesome! Super clean patio outside!!! They have a really fun game room, too! Even has skeeball and a pinball machine! Place is really fun for young and old! There is also a pizza truck that has the best pizza!!!!! Pickle pizza was amazing!!!! I'll be back for the Halloween Sip and Shop and I can't wait for the pizza!! :) read more

Went over the weekend to grab a beer and kill some time and pick up a few cans. First time in and staff was super patient and welcoming encouraging me to take my time and ask if I wanted to sample anything. Inside is a chill vibe, plenty of families with kids. I see on the reviews people getting upset by that but to me breweries are always best as family friendly places. I was happy to see that most of the tap options were in cans. Stinks when breweries only have 3 or 4 in can options. Place is clean and has a nice patio with a permanent food truck. I didn't eat but I saw a few people with pizza and it looked good. I don't live nearby but would definitely stop if I'm in the area again. read more

Too many children running around. I love kids but it is out of hand for a drinking establishment. I guess babysitters must not be a thing anymore. Bartenders are the best! read more

Another brewery. It was about 2pm on a Saturday. A large warehouse structure. We grabbed a high top towards the back. The same stools at any Boston brewery. A Czech lager and light afternoon lager. We like lagers these days. The beer was good. The bar was lined up with two bartenders. Good service and friendly. The place was pretty busy with families and youngsters and a couple of dogs. There are changing rooms for infants and they were clean and well stocked. We would return. Mark. read more

Stopped here on way back from the foxboro area with my fiancé. Got a flight, which was good but the real winner for us was the pizza. 10/10 bar pizza. The pickle pizza is to die for and I have been craving it since. My fiancé loved the Sweet Dreams pizza with the house made hot habanero honey... delicious. The service was good in the brewery and the staff was nice. The brewery is expansive with high ceilings and has a garage feel to it. It also has classic arcade games in another room and the brewery is dog friendly. I would definitely come back for a beer and a pizza. read more

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Beers didn't blow me away, but only had a chance to try a few! Went on a day they were having a craft fair which was awesome. Tons of vendors to browse between. Games inside were super fun. AC felt broken or just not on. Was extremely warm inside (uncomfortable almost). read more

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The space is decent but extremely humid in the summer. The beer is mediocre and not nearly as cold as it should be. The bartenders were very grumpy - did not crack a single smile. Highly highly recommend the pizza truck parked outside though. Amazing food!!! read more

I'm so grateful this place exists just down the road from where we were staying. TBH I was between two hotels to spend a quick night in Norwood and the proximity to a nearby brewery definitely tipped me over the edge. I'm a ho for a good brewery so I can tell you that I have been to a few. I really like Castle Island's set up being legit in the place where they brew the beer. It is a really intimate feeling and raises the experience from just going to a bar that happens to sell a brand's product to being in their BREWERY. I would also like to add that the staff was more friendly than most and made our time there even better. They certainly have their fair share of IPAs but they also have a decent selection of non-IPA brews. I tried cream or something with the same idea where the name really raised expectations that were naturally dashed when I consumed what the thing really is which is beer. GF was smarter and tried a blueberry one which was DELICIOUS. I definitely had beer envy. For our second round, we split something "hot" or "heat" or "spicy" which I enjoyed more than the first. Their food menu also had some drool worthy items but we had already planned on dinner elsewhere but don't think I wasn't tempted to get the ball rolling with an "appetizer". I'm really glad we checked this place out. read more

Came here after almost 2+ years and was so very pleasantly surprised with all the changes. Very much enjoyed the outdoor setup, it was a wonderful night yesterday with some excellent music. My white ale was very enjoyable over some chicken wings and kale salad. read more

Castle Island - Kale salad, white Ale - Breweries Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

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Great beer dog friendly inside and out and plenty of space. Nice lineup of beers on draft. The staff was very friendly and welcoming when I arrived with my dog and even filled her water dish . read more

My 1st trip to Castle Island Brewing Co. in Norwood, MA was on Sunday, 15 Sept. 2024, around 1:45 pm. My Wife and I presented to the bar and were greeted by an informative and friendly server who oriented us with the product offerings. We had just returned from several weeks in Europe and have a liking for wheat beers. We both ordered the Belgian style CI White Ale, and were pleasantly surprised by the flavor and quality of the brew. We typically pair beer with food and were directed to the Bardo food truck parked outside. This is where our experience reversed, from a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment with the brewed product, to disappointment with the overall experience. We ordered the "Linguisa Pizza", "Sweet Thai Chili Wings" and the "Loaded Chips." The Pizza came burnt (black) around the upper margin of the outer crust. Although visually negatively impacting, the overall taste was not affected in any significant manner. I would judge the Pizza as very edible, but overall, mediocre, almost like a good quality frozen pizza. Certainly below my expectation.for dining out. The wings appeared aesthetically pleasing, the Sweet Thai Chili Sauce was conventional, but tasty. The problem with the wings was that although they appeared perfectly cooked upon visual inspection, every wing exhibited dryness. This is unusual because although it is classified as white meat, chicken wing meat has a higher fat content and is normally quite juicy. After tasting multiple wings, we gave up and stopped eating them. Lastly we had ordered the "Loaded Chips." These came through with some immediate obvious problems. Firstly, many of the chips were burnt (black). Secondly, while they were loaded with some form of mayonnaise based aioli, the cheese, pulled pork and peppers were very sparsely applied and minimally enhanced flavor. This dish was a total failure. We would not eat it. I can do considerably better with chips and items already in my refrigerator. We don't dine out to eat foods of a lesser quality than that which we make at home. We limited our complaint to the chips, because issues with the mediocre pizza and dry chicken wing meat were subjective and based upon personal preferences and expectations. Showing the burnt chips to the Bardo Food Truck personnel, my Wife was spoken to tersely and told that the chips were not burnt and that it was the seasoning that made things appear burnt. With that absolute nonsense we knew that further discussion would be a waste of our time. So, the CI Brewing Company impressed us with a very enjoyable White Ale (we purchased more to bring home), but the culinary skills and quality of the food products produced by the Bardo Food Truck, made the visit an unpleasant experience. My Wife note that while she was ordering the food, the order taker was continuously on her cell phone. When quality products, such as those produced from the CI Brewing Co portfolio, are paired with lower quality mediocre food products, such as those presented by the Bardo Food Truck, they tend to become less appealing. I realize that the average palate of the typical 2024 consumer is quite unsophisticated and very tolerant of mediocrity. However, I believe that there are providers out there that actually care, are capable of delivering higher level quality products and would be very appreciative of a chance to demonstrate that capability. Why should the experience presented by a first rate brewing company be paired with mediocrity and dragged down by the performance of a mediocre food provider ? read more

What an awesome place! They use Resy to make online reservations for the outdoor beer garden that now allows dogs! Currently offering only full pours (no flights) and they have a great food menu. Definitely recommend the wings! Can't wait to go back read more

Castle Island - Breweries Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

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Nice taproom. Rustic and provincial. Not pretentious or stuffy. Beers were very reasonably priced. Happy to find 2 to 3 types of Pilsners. I'm not an IPA or lager drinker. Food truck was outside in front of the tap room. Tasty wings, 8 per order with celery. We tried the Korean BBQ wings, and the classic roasted. $16 per. Also had an assortment of personal pizzas. Pretty simple menu, that is worth checking out. There is an outside patio area also. Plenty of parking. We will return. read more

Castle Island - Classic roasted wings - Breweries Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

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Great brewery. Amazing selection of beers that should please most folks. Very friendly staff. They usually have some type of food vendors on weekends. Family friendly place. read more

Castle Island has, in the past, been a preferred stop for its casual ambiance and wide variety of interesting brews. During COVID, this is not any different - the taps keep changing while the brewery has adapted quite well. We have visited twice since the weather turned cool, so while we didn't experience their outdoor seating, their indoor space has been revamped with spaced-out tables, plentiful hand sanitizer, and air purifiers on each table. The staff is clearly conscientious about safety measures while still delivering friendly and helpful service. The full food menu is a fun addition, and any item with their house-made chips is the perfect beer pairing. We really appreciate all the work they've done to stay open and safe in 2020, and keep coming up with delicious brews to boot (four different barrel-aged beers released for their 5th anniversary this last weekend? Amazing). Thanks! read more

Castle Island - Hand sanitizer and table-specific air purifier - Breweries Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

Awesome brewery! We came here to meet up with friends and loved that it was such a chill place to hang out. My husband ordered a couple of IPAs and loved them. I wish they had more options for non-alcoholic drinks (they didn't have sodas or iced tea, just seltzer and juice.) The spinach and basil dip is just okay and the clucking hot flatbread was good. Our favorites were the braised pork flatbread and chilling loaded chips, yuM! read more

Their beer was just ok. I must say my wife and I only got one beer each and we usually have two if it's good. I wasn't impressed. I had higher expectations for this place. We go to breweries all over Ma, RI, Ct and more. This was not our favorite I'm sorry to say. read more

The atmosphere was great, especially for Elf trivia night! The servers were super quick and the long lines moved really fast. We didn't order any food because the food truck closed at 7:30 which was a bummer. read more

Atmosphere: Fun place to hang out, lots of high top tables, picnic tables, lawn chairs, and places to stand. I like the set up a lot, didn't feel too crowded/congested even on a busy Saturday evening. Very quick service up at the counter and great prices. Beer: highly recommend the nitro cake walk. So smooth and nearly creamy. Social studies I could have gone without. Keeper and Hi Def are classic IPAs that are a must try as well. Food: they have some snacks you can purchase such as chips and salsa, but I enjoyed trying the local food truck that set up shop in the back of the hall. read more

Castle Island - Breweries Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

Friendly Atmosphere The beer might not be as good as Trilium, but the product is still pretty good nonetheless. However this place far more enjoyable to visit. The beertenders are super friendly and will explain whatever you need to know. The crowd is very chill and vibe is so laid back and friendly. I didn't see one person that wasn't having a great time. Be prepared, they allow dogs but they are all very controlled so don't worry. We really enjoyed ourselves and met some very nice people. The whole point of running a brewery. Tip: Forget planning to hang out at Trilium, hit this spot instead. You'll thank me for it. Thanks read more

The nachos were aesthetically pleasing and also absolutely delicious. Our server was a gem and deserves a raise. read more

Castle Island - Nachos - Breweries Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

I've been here a few times since the restrictions have been put in place from the pandemic. The reservation and check in process is easy! You can choose seating at a picnic table, barrel or high top. They have ample umbrellas to block the sun on a sunny day. I love going for the live music. It's one of the only places I've found offering it, and there's been no cover! The beer is great. I typically go for their sour options but I also enjoy their different IPAs. Food wise I've only had the pretzel and sausage sampler. It's a great pairing and easy to share with someone else. The sausage is sliced into bite sized pieces. They have lots of parking! read more

Have always enjoyed coming here for the beer and atmosphere. They have a great space, a great selection (IPA and non-IPA), and their food keeps getting better and better. My personal favorite is their anniversary beers- you get the new annual beer plus barrel aged variants of the old ones. read more

Great beer, amazing food and awesome service. One of my top three breweries to visit. Love coming in on the weekends and watching football.

If you want to go to a place and drink this is the spot. Actually, if you want to drink at a location and feel like you're at a day care, THIS IS THE SPOT. If you have kids and want to socialize with your friends, then forget about hosting at your place, bring those annoying trophies over and ruin everyone else's time. I don't know the loophole why kids are allowed here, but they shouldn't be. I get IDed and I'm a grown man, but 6 year old Terrance is allowed to waltz on by security and scream and run around like he's drunk. Keep kids out because I'm not gonna stop cursing AT A BAR. If you don't want your kids to hear curses then don't bring them to a bar because you don't a sitter. It's dog friendly. Went back again. And there were more dogs than kids. Place was lit. Heaven in a brewery. Staff is cool and great at conversing. I just don't like kids. Dogs and beers is my place. Don't mind the 45 min drive read more

Good times are here! The Keeper is great also try Winner (IPA) or our Czech Dark Lager.

Great place! Tasty food, friendly staff. Great time for patriots games. Love coming here!

Great brewery located in Norwood. Ample parking and has a small area with a few arcade games, a couple of pinball machines and a small island area to sit an chat with friends. They also have nights where they play old school video games, have a small selection of board games to play with friends and host some exercise classes occasionally during the day on weekends. They often have food trucks but even allow you to bring food from outside. Glad that this is a part of Norwood. read more

Just another warehouse brewery? No way! Castle Island Brewery ( CIB) is easily a cut above and perhaps one of the very best around. I even bought a T Shirt to take back to FLA. If they would let me take a 6 pack on the plane I would. There are many great breweries in MA like Tree House and Trillium you can add Castle Island to that group. Castle appears to have big aspirations and based on the impressive beer lineup with massive tank capacity, the clean and spacious tap room, the super friendly and knowledgeable service and the nice retail outlet they are well positioned to realize that goal. Of course the best thing is the beer. The Big Ern double IPA is one of the tastiest doubles I have found anywhere with a delightful hint of citrus and a great smooth taste that belies its 8.5% ABV. We sampled several others, I remember the Candlepin, the TBD and the Causeway which is another strong IPA and each beer seemed to live up to its billing. LIke all craft beer expect to pay in the 8 dollar range for a full pour which is either 16 oz for under 7 % and 12 oz for over. They also have half pours and sample size. A couple of things that stand out here. Cleanliness is outstanding in the tap room and in the warehouse brewing area and the bathroom too, everything was neat and clean. They also have a large screen projected onto the rear wall of the taproom with some cool wall paintings. The screen will look better after dark. Unfortunately they don't have license to watch the SOX because that would be really wicked cool. We lucked out and it just happened to be the "opening day" for the taproom. I guess prior to today service was just as a sampling room with cans being available to grab and go. The place got crowded as the work day finished around 5 and folks in the know starting to pour in. We were fortunate enough to meet some family members and the excitement was evident. It was a pleasure to be part of this event and I am sure that CIB will be a fantastic addition to the local and regional craft beer landscape. I wouldn't be surprised to see these guys make a national splash. It's conveniently located on Rt 1 somewhere between Fenway and Foxboro. If your in town for a game check it out. read more

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Our go to local brewery, the staff is always friendly and the vibe is always relaxing and chill, great beer selection. Really happy to be able to come here after covid. read more

Castle Island - three barrels of beer and a barrel of bread - Breweries Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

No dogs allowed! So bummed because they don't allow dogs on weekends anymore. If you ask me, it only hurts their business. Trillium nearby just built an amazing outdoor beer garden, and on a summer Saturday afternoon/evening, the inside and outside were PACKED. And full of dogs! Castle Island, on the other hand, was empty. There were barely a dozen people there on a Saturday evening. Dog owners and lovers: If you're looking for a fun place to hang out with good friends and your pup on the weekend, Castle Island is no longer dog friendly. Such a disappointment. Even for the selection of beers (I LOVE Jetty), since I can't bring my dog anymore, I won't be coming here anymore. Castle Island, please fix this! Build an outdoor area! Allow dogs again! read more

Really fun atmosphere with views of the brewing vats. Friendly staff. I had a great raspberry sour.

Castle Island brews great beer. Tap room is inviting for everyone (from beer enthusiasts to your casual visitor). Game room with old school video games and skee ball is a nice plus. Staff is friendly, knows their selections, but won't make you feel rushed. Extra shout out to CI for their pivoting during covid times. The food additions are great and the environment is clean and safe. read more

Good beer amd service. Lots to see and do. Great atmosphere. Dog and baby friendly, bring the whole family read more

Castle Island - Bar area - Breweries Near Me - Norwood, Massachusetts

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Cool taproom with a lot of open space and a clear view of the brewing facilities. Solid beers across the board including a few award winners. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Fun place. The employees were kind and very excited about their beer. Lots of gray options but beware of high octane beer that's not boozy. Come try away and enjoy read more