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    Night Shift Brewing Owl's Nest Esplanade

    4.0 (29 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    Hazy DIPA
    Angela S.

    Love this brewery. Love what it stands for. Even better that I took a stroll through the Esplanade by Charles River and got another sample of their great beers before I hit my flight back home. They didn't open until noon but the server unlocked the "throne depot" for me to use 1:2 hour early! You can't go wrong with an outdoor setting and the beautiful river views surrounding! Lots of walkers, sailboats and explorers in this park.

    Exterior on a drizzly slow night.  No lines!
    Howard B.

    Great beer and a very cool setup. The vibe is relaxed and perfect for enjoying a drink outdoors. Plenty of beer garden-style tables make it easy to grab a seat. Sitting right on the Esplanade with views of the Charles River adds to the experience. The staff was friendly and helpful. I tried two of the Juicy IPAs and both were excellent. A great spot to relax and enjoy good beer in a beautiful setting. I will definitely be back.

    Outdoor brewery
    Mallory W.

    I was at the Esplanade for a photoshoot, and my walk back I decided to stop by and try a brew. They had a decent amount of options, but this orange one stood out to me. It was honestly delicious and it took everything not to chug it down. The service was friendly and quick! I loved the ambiance of the place. The outdoor seating along the Charles is a beautiful spot with nice views. I was impressed with the amount of seating. And they had bathrooms, which I find a huge plus. I will be back (to either this one or one of the other locations).

    Roshini T.

    Enjoyed a night out at the night shift brewery on the esplanade! The location is truly perfect - on the water with beautiful scenery. We got a pizza at the food truck at the brewery and really enjoyed it. Their house wine and seltzer was also very delicious. Perfect for a night out with friends or date night!

    Colleen E.

    Good spot for an after work beer with a view of the Charles. Seating is very limited so be prepared to stand. They will close in the summer if it's really hot and humid so always check ahead to see if they're open. Don't fear the entrance line, every time I've been it always moves quickly. They usually have a food truck on site if you are hungry.

    Joy G.

    Not a beer drinker but am a fan of waterfront areas where you can hang with friends, imbibe some beverages, and eat tasty pizza. I've always passed by the Night Shift stop along the river in Brighton - this location offers the same set-up. Picnic tables, ID check-in at the entrance, beer on tap, Porta Potties, even a bike stand and, last but not least, a Si Cara pizza truck! Luckily we didn't have to wait too long before a table opened up for our group; there's space to stand if everything's taken. I loved the sparkling rose they have on their menu - didn't get the name but it was immensely drinkable and I'm not even a rose person. I was more interested in the pizza which tasted even better than when I had it at their actual restaurant. Really chewy dough, nice uniformly distributed toppings. Prices are definitely steep - pepperoni pie was $21, margherita I think $18. They also sell by the slice but those were sold out by the time we got there. Overall a very relaxing spot to while away a beautiful weekend afternoon. Just expect a bit of a wait for a table if you're with a large group.

    Gregory F.

    What a cool spot. Having never been to The Espanade, this place just wow'ed me - and to have a beer garden literally right on site? With so much variety too? And perfectly charred pizzas made-to-order? Sign me the frick up dude. The vibes here are immaculate - most beautiful view I could have asked for. Pristine views of the water, plenty of space to socialize, quick and responsive service from all working here. If I lived in Boston, I tell you - I would be here all the time. My wallet is thankful I do not :)

    a hand holding a beer
    Ronald H.

    Not bad! Especially on a nice day, you have a awesome view of the Charles. Drinks were about pub priced, maybe a dollar or two more. Porta-potties only, if that is a concern. There is food but we didn't get any cause it was a bit pricey.

    Zach M.

    Honestly a pretty cool spot. Limited seating so be prepared to stand for a bit. Beer options lean heavily towards IPAs (such is finr with me!) But I think a lot of other options are simply sold out. (This place was BUMPING when I came) Service was friendly and quick, even when the line got super long. Would love to come back and have a drink near the water

    It's a nice little pop up outdoor brewery with a great view of the esplanade. Be aware that during busy hours there will usually be a long line to get in, I arrived at 7:20 pm on a Friday and waited 25 minutes to get in. So it wasn't a prohibitively long wait, just be aware before you go. It had porta potties and hand wash stations.

    Outside
    Allie G.

    This pop-up was totally worth stopping at during our walk along the esplanade. The views of the river were fantastic and the ambiance was so pleasant. On a Sunday, the place was extremely busy and we were barely able to snag a picnic table (the tables are large, so if you're a small group, be prepared to share with another party). Not all of them had umbrellas either, so it was tough to get a spot in the shade. My friend got the Furth and my boyfriend and I both got the Lychee Papaya Hoot Hard Seltzer, which was fantastic. They also had a food truck onsite, but we didn't check it out. Would return though!

    Jennifer T.

    Really cute spot to grab some drinks and hang outside with friends. It's a completely outdoor area with picnic tables and string lights right next to the river. Very casual spot with a few foot trucks for munchies. They had a great selection of beers and two seltzer options that were gluten free. The service was friendly.

    Tater tots and tacos

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    2 months ago

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    6 days ago

    Hours are wrong and staff is rude. Will never have their beer here or anywhere else it's served.

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    2 months ago

    Fun place to go when friends are in town and looking for a brewski. I love their 4 packs to go as well.

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    2 years ago

    Used to love this place, but they just reduced the size of their cups without changing prices. $9 for a 12-oz beer is overpriced.

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    Ask the Community - Night Shift Brewing Owl's Nest Esplanade

    Review Highlights - Night Shift Brewing Owl's Nest Esplanade

    The scenic view of the Charles River and sail boats were a great pairing with our beers.

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    Trillium Brewing - Fort Point

    Trillium Brewing - Fort Point

    3.9
    (698 reviews)
    2.4 km
    $$

    Great lively spot with excellent variety!…read more Trillium is such a fun spot to meet up with people. The atmosphere is definitely loud, but it has a great, lively energy that makes for a fun night out. One of the best parts about this brewery is that they distill their own spirits, so you have plenty of great options even if you aren't in the mood for beer. They don't offer traditional flights, but you can ask for two half-pours (about 5 oz each) to try a couple of different things. Here is what we tried: Out of This World: This mixed drink tasted like an upscale mai tai. It was beautifully cloudy and made with real passion fruit puree. Delicious! Coffee Pot & Kettle Stout: Absolute creamy goodness. This was my personal favorite, though I usually lean toward stouts anyway. Fort Point IPA (with Citra): My husband is the big IPA lover, and I usually attempt a taste with a lot of apprehension since I don't care for super hoppy beers. However, this one was surprisingly good! It felt more like a fruity, juicy hazy IPA. The listed pine notes were very subtle and gave it a really nice, balanced finish.

    Great beer selection, solid food options and an excellent staff…read more Interior space was quite crowded with minimal to no space at the tables and bar...even on a Monday early evening. I would expect the outdoor space would come in handy once the weather warms up. Conveniently located right off of Seaport Blvd. surrounded by some other good food and dessert options. Lots of parks in the area, including Fan Pier Park, which offers some spectaculay views of the Boston Skyline...particularly after dark. Metered Street Parking was actually manageable, especially in the later post 6-pm midweek hours in the Fort Hill Square Area. Meters are in effect through 8pm with a 2-hour maximum, so if you arrive after 6pm and feed the meter until 8pm, you are all set for the night! The South Station (Red) T Station is also nearby. Both options are a short walk to Fan Pier Park. There are also lots of garages available in the immediate area as well.

    Photos
    $1 Oysters (2-4p Daily)
    $1 Oysters (2-4p Daily)
    Pretzel
    Pretzel
    Front back...who knows lol.

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    Front back...who knows lol.
    Mighty Squirrel Brewing

    Mighty Squirrel Brewing

    4.1
    (59 reviews)
    2.2 km

    What a cool spot! We were wandering around near the ballpark trying to stay out of the rain when we…read morestumbled across Mighty Squirrel Brewing, and what a great find! The place has a really fun vibe -- coffee shop in the morning and brewery in the evening. The hostess was super friendly and got us seated in a nice dry spot in the back where we could admire all the brewing equipment. Live music started while we were there, adding more energy to the atmosphere. There's also an upstairs area that looked like a great place to hang out. The food looked fantastic, and my wife was especially excited to see they had a gluten-free dessert option. They offered a huge variety of freshly brewed beers -- IPAs, pilsners, sours -- something for everyone. They also had several non-alcoholic options, which was nice to see. I enjoyed a few half beers along with an order of guacamole, and my wife had the flourless chocolate cake for dessert. Everything was delicious. The service was great, the beer was cold and fresh, and the atmosphere made it such a fun place to relax for a while. Definitely a great spot to grab a few drinks and hang out!

    First time here and great experience!! Came here for the "Don't Tell Comedy" show which they only…read morereveal the location on the day of! Although I had guessed it might be this place! Anyway we were excited having never been before! The space is not only huge, but also there's a whole another floor upstairs with the event room called the "Squirrel Den" - where they had the comedy show!! Downstairs they have plenty of seating plus the bar and even live music. You can also see the barrels of the whole brewery which adds to the ambience with the metallic shine. The comedy show was fun - a series of standup comics - fun night! The stage wall is essentially a mural of a bunch of beer cans art so it really compliments the space. There is a bar at the back too and restrooms within the room itself so very convenient. Downstairs there's also a shuffle board where we spent some time playing afterwards. Restrooms downstairs too plus a water filling station which I was very pleasantly surprised to see. The hubs ordered the blood orange cloud candy beer - he thought it was nice a metallic IPA, buzzy. Our friend had several drinks - not sure all the names but one of them was the Oktoberfest. Service was good, one of the comedians actually checked us into the room. And he even graciously took our photo for plus. He was hilarious! Overall a good time and we'll be back for sure!

    Photos
    "Love Save us" New England ipa.
    "Love Save us" New England ipa.
    Chicken Tinga Tostada
    Chicken Tinga Tostada
    7 oz pour of Heart and Heart winter ale / Feb 2025

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    7 oz pour of Heart and Heart winter ale / Feb 2025
    Castle Island

    Castle Island

    4.3
    (69 reviews)
    2.6 km
    $$

    On a hot summer day, we decided to stop in for a cold beer, some pizza, and to catch a little…read moresoccer. They have plenty of outdoor seating, but when it's 98° outside, who wants to sit in the heat? We grabbed a table inside by the huge TV, perfect spot to watch the match. For drinks, I ordered the Boardwalk Creamsicle Sour. It was refreshing and hit the spot on a hot day. For pizza, I went with the Sweet Dreams, and it was excellent! If you're a fan of a thin, crispy crust, you'll definitely enjoy their pizzas. We also ordered a mushroom pizza, which was just as good. We couldn't finish it all, so we took some home. I have to give them credit for their to-go boxes, they're round, and the design keeps the pizza elevated off the bottom of the box so it doesn't get soggy. Such a simple but brilliant idea! The service was friendly and attentive throughout our visit. Between the great beer, delicious pizza, and plenty of TVs, this is a fantastic spot to catch a game. We'll definitely be back. Cheers!

    Went to Castle Island Brewing for the Canada World Cup game and it was a pretty chill spot to…read morewatch. Not crowded at all, which made it easy to relax and actually enjoy the game. I tried the Flower Child and thought it was just alright... not bad, but nothing I'd go back for. The Surf God IPA was the winner though, really smooth and way better than expected. We also shared a pizza which did the job and was good for snacking while watching. Service was quick and the vibe was low-key in a good way. Solid place overall, especially if you want a quiet spot to grab a beer and watch a match.

    Photos
    Mushroom Pizza
    Mushroom Pizza
    Creamsicle Sour
    Creamsicle Sour
    Sweet Dreams Pizza

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    Sweet Dreams Pizza
    Dorchester Brewing

    Dorchester Brewing

    4.0
    (244 reviews)
    3.9 km
    $$

    We went on a random Monday afternoon and it was so nice! My spouse got a flight of IPAs, which he…read moresaid were very nice. I got a boozy watermelon slushie and it was delicious and, well, potent. We also got some mac and cheese and cornbread from the attached M & M BBQ. It appears that there is a parking lot available on Thurs-Sun, but during the rest of the week you're dealing with opposite-side street parking across a busy road with no crosswalk.

    I just loved the vibe here. There are two levels. The upper level has a rooftop that was really…read morefun. They had a full bar on each level with frozen slushy drinks the beers were great. Too. The best part was the art. They are known as the "Museum of Bad Art" which I have seen on Facebook before. Haha. They have an attached BBQ restaurant. I wish I could say that was a great experience but the brewery closes at 10 and the BBQ place at 8. Which wasn't clear online. So when we arrived and went to order, they were out of most things. Like fries and Mac and cheese. But you also couldn't substitute these items and they couldn't adjust the price. We also only have 5 minutes to order. Since we were starving we ended up gulping down our beers and going back to the hotel for dinner. Definitely a disappointment. Just keep that in mind when you come. You also have to order your food at one counter and your beer at another. There is no wait staff.

    Photos
    Dorchester Brewing
    Down to the Core Cider (left) & Punchbowl (right)
    Down to the Core Cider (left) & Punchbowl (right)
    Dorchester Brewing

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    Mighty Squirrel Brewing

    Mighty Squirrel Brewing

    4.1
    (169 reviews)
    10.8 km
    $$

    Fun place to grab a brew. Beer is reasonably priced and the food options seem diverse. There is…read moreeven a coffee/breakfast bar which I was unaware of. There is a large outdoor patio for nicer weather and service was attentive. I do wish they served flights but instead they have 7oz pours. Would go back!

    Mighty Squirrel is an easy 4 stars in my book. I've been to this location a few times now, and…read moreevery visit has been a good one. Even tucked away at the end of a strip mall, it checks all the boxes: great beer, good food, plenty of space, and a fun atmosphere. The food comes from a little food truck outside the building rather than a traditional kitchen, but don't let that fool you, everything I've had has been delicious. My boyfriend is a loyal fan of the Cloud Candy IPA (he'll order it anywhere he sees it on tap), while I can never resist the Daiquiri Hard Smoothie (I forget what it's called, but it's so tasty lol). It's dangerously good... like, "I should probably pace myself, but that's a tomorrow problem" good. The brewery itself has a lot going on. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, a coffee shop tucked in the back, a private event room, and even a rock-climbing gym connected to the building, which makes for a pretty unique setup. If you're lucky, you'll even catch the canning line running while you're there, which is fun to watch and reminds you you're drinking the good stuff straight from the source. Whether you're meeting friends for a beer, hanging out for the afternoon, or introducing someone to craft beer, Mighty Squirrel is a solid choice. I'll definitely keep coming back!

    Photos
    The vibe is perfect for a brewery!
    The vibe is perfect for a brewery!
    Exterior with Mexican food truck
    Exterior with Mexican food truck
    Cloud Candy IPA's wonderful, hazy, citrusy IPA!

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    Cloud Candy IPA's wonderful, hazy, citrusy IPA!

    Night Shift Brewing Owl's Nest Esplanade - beergardens - Updated August 2026

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