Fort Hill Brewery is a craft brewery that opened in Easthampton, Massachusetts in November 2014. It…read morewas founded by head brewer Eric Berzins. Originally from Vermont, Berzins began looking for a good location to open a brewery after attending the Siebel Institute for Brewing in 2010. He settled on a former hay field in Easthampton at the base of Mount Tom. He chose Easthampton for the city's delicious, environmentally protected water. He was also enamored with the community's friendliness and sense of welfare. Berzins adheres to the Reinheitsgebot German purity law for the majority of his beers. Per the age-old law, the beer can only be produced with four ingredients: water, hops, malt, and yeast. At first, Fort Hill only brewed lagers. More recently they have ventured into hoppier territory with the addition of IPAs. My son and I recently visited Fort Hill Brewery while we were cycling the large network of bike trails in and around Northampton. The brewery is conveniently located right alongside the spur trail section of the Manhan Rail Trail. The location had seating available outside as well as inside and was quite packed when we arrived. The draught menu that day featured about 20 different beers of varying styles. Being the hop head that I am, I decided to order a sampler flight of five IPAs. It consisted of "G-Fresh" (Grapefruit IPA), "Disco Kid" (IPA), "Fresh Pick" (NEIPA), "Checkmate Chuck" (DIPA) and "Jigsaw Jazz" (DIPA). They were all pretty good, but "G-Fresh" and "Fresh Pick" were my two favorites. My son and I grabbed a table by the brewery's small stage and we listened to the blues sensations of Wildcat O'Halloran's band while I enjoyed my beer samples. We had a nice time at Fort Hill Brewery and I would definitely stop by again!

Fort Hill Brewery is a nice little brewery in Easthampton. It has a cozy cabin feel, which I really…read morelike. There are little airplanes hanging everywhere, and some cool artwork. I had two beers, and both very tasty. The Pianist, is exactly what I'd usually gravitate towards a great sour, with a bit of a twist. I also had Corrupt Cranberry, this is not for everyone, but I enjoyed it. It's a seltzer beer, I've never heard of such a thing. It's very unique, a bit more watery then the average beer, but also very flavorful. The night I was here, there was live music. This is a great little brewery that I enjoyed checking out. I have to add, they charge $2.00 for beer sampling. I'm not sure how big the samples are, this might be a covid reason. This is also a dog friendly brewery.

A full‑send, Springfield‑USA, Simpsons‑loving, family‑friendly craft‑beer playground that…read moreabsolutely gets it. Two Weeks Notice is the kind of spot that reminds you why Springfield has its own brand of cool. It's got that gritty‑creative, blue‑collar‑meets‑art‑kid energy, and the brewery leans all the way in with its Simpsons‑inspired humor, cheeky can art, and a vibe that feels like the unofficial taproom of Cool Springfield, USA. The Simpsons theme is everywhere--subtle enough not to feel gimmicky, but clever enough that fans will grin every time they spot a reference. The artwork alone is worth a visit; it's playful, bold, and gives the whole place a personality that stands out in the Western Mass beer scene. The beer selection hits that sweet spot: hazies for the juice chasers, crisp lagers for the purists, and a rotating lineup that keeps regulars on their toes. Everything is poured fresh, cold, and with care. The staff? Genuinely friendly, quick with recommendations, and clearly proud of the place. It's the kind of team that makes you feel like a regular on your first visit. This is one of those rare breweries where bringing kids doesn't feel like a chore. There's space to roam, things to look at, and a relaxed vibe that makes families feel welcome without sacrificing the adult fun. Springfield needs more spots like this. The outdoor space is a total win--open, comfortable, and perfect for warm‑weather hangs. Whether you're sipping a flight, letting the kids burn off energy, or just soaking in the neighborhood, it's one of the best parts of the experience. Cheers

So, if you're sitting at a table in their tap room and want another beer, what do you do? Well, Two…read moreWeeks Notice knows how thirsty you are, so they made it easy for you. See that little stand-up thing on your table that says, "Beer Me?" See that big round button in its center? Well, just press the button, the whole thing lights up, so the staff can see it and someone will be there in a jiff to get you a new glass of suds. Is this a great country or what? I gotta thank my South Carolina buddy Ron for that "great country" line, he texted it back to me after I texted him a photo of the table thingy with an explanation. We loved our visit yesterday -great beer selection, super friendly service, a big spacious seating area (with a large outdoor seating option), terrific artwork on the walls that's for sale, and very nice food service as well. They had sixteen beers on tap yesterday, a nice selection representing different beer styles, and not overly IPA dependent, like some of the breweries I visit. I saw lagers, stouts, and a Kolsch. IPAs were well represented with Imperial Double, Session, New England, and milkshake IPA variants. My wife went with a 16-ounce draft of Weekend Warrior (American Lager - 5% ABV) for a very reasonable $5. I wanted their 12-ounce draft of Keepers of the Cake: Birthday Cake W/Raspberry & Strawberry (a White Stout - 6% ABV) for $8, but that wasn't available, so I went with their unfruited version of the same for $7. I loved my beer and sipped the Weekend Warrior too -both were excellent! Some of the names on the beer list made me chuckle -Pink Slip, Severance Package, Performance Review, and Big Riff. There's live music on Friday nights, and occasional food truck on site, and a separate food vendor (separate ordering and payment) in the back. We got a pretzel and a damned fine loaded hot dog. So where did the brewery's name come from? Years ago, Mark -the current Head Brewer's wife gave him a home beer brewing kit as a birthday gift. He entered a few beer competitions and won, including the prestigious Worthy Brewfest. The website puts it this way "Mark coined the name of the company based off his wish of one day quitting his desk job to pursue his dream of owning and operating his own brewery. It was not long until Mark was absolutely determined to become a true contributor in the craft beer community he loved." Mark found a business partner in his old boss, and the two of them quit together to open the brewery. As my buddy Ron said, is this a great country or what?

My wife and I went to White Lion for a midafternoon lunch. When we walked in we were not…read moreacknowledged. The bartender and waitress were talking to each other, we had to ask if we should seat ourselves. There were only a small handful of people in the restaurant at the time. We were seated for at least five minutes before the bartender came over with food menus and a drink menu which he literally tossed on our table and walked away. Didn't off us water or anything. After another ten minutes, with no one so much as taking a drink order from us, my wife and I left.

SO SLOW…read more Frustrating so. I wouldn't go back for lunch. Food was burnt. Hardly anyone there and it still 45 minutes to get something that should have taken half the time.

A first time visit with a few friends for their Tuesday burger and beer combo, which was excellent…read morein the portions were very good. We had the buffalo wings and the garlic Parm wings there were excellent as well and the beers as well as the non-alcoholic beers were excellent and and having a great ambience of sitting out back and overlooking the farm was great it made for a great visit. Look forward to my next visit.

Skyline Beer Company is a craft brewery and restaurant that opened in Westfield, Massachusetts in…read more2014. It was founded by friends and business partners Lisa Pac and Daniel Osella. Beginning in 2002, Pac and Osella began getting together on weekends to homebrew and create food pairings. Pac brewed the beer while Osella (a chef) crafted the food pairings. In 2014, the duo launched 'Skyline Hop Shop' as an alternating proprietorship operation inside Westfield River Brewing Company at 707 College Highway. Osella offered fresh food that paired well with WRB's brews while Pac offered home brewing classes and supplies. They quickly outgrew the space and reopened as 'Skyline Trading Company' at 124 Elm Street in 2016. At this location, Pac and Osello expanded their menu both of food and beer, adding craft whiskey and tequila to the mix. After outgrowing their space again, the partners moved to 98 Southwick Road and reopened as 'Skyline Beer Company' in December 2019. Head brewer Dana Bishop came on board as additional partner, and Coy Chaney was hired as the Assistant Brew Master. The current 4,500-square-foot restaurant and taproom offers 24 rotating draught lines, cocktails, a full food menu, and beautiful views of the rolling hills of Western Mass. I recently visited Skyline Beer Company while I was cycling on the nearby Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. Skyline was on my list of breweries to try for a while, so I decided to stop by for some beers and bites. The taproom and restaurant was spacious and inviting with plenty of seating both inside and outside. I opted to sit outside and began to look over their extensive beer and food menu. I ordered a sampler flight that included "Forget Me Not" (New England Pale Ale), "Up In Smoke" (New England IPA), "Listening Juice" (Double IPA), and "Mother Ocean" (New England IPA). For food, I ordered a plate of delicious "Pretzel Bites & Cheesy Sauce". I really enjoyed all of the beers that I tried, but "Up In Smoke" (with delicious notes of grapefruit and marshmallow) was easily my favorite! I ended up ordering a full pour of it before leaving. The pretzel bites were equally delicious and paired well with my beers. I had an exceptional experience at Skyline and I look forward to returning in the future!

Nice Irish bar serving up some very good pub grub. I stopped by for a quick burger around 1:15…read moreyesterday as I had an appointment and couldn't linger, I ordered a cheeseburger medium with coleslaw and a beer. My cheeseburger arrived in a matter of minutes from the kitchen delivered by the cook; It was cooked perfectly just as I had ordered and could not have been cooked any better. The burger cheese combo was juicy and flavorful on its own but with the addition of a slice of ripened tomato and onion this burger was well on its way to the cheeseburger Hall of Fame. The coleslaw was not an after thought but was nicely done too with a hearty zesty spicy tang. Good job Brennan's that was a dang good burger!

I wasn't sure what to expect walking into a pub in the middle of downtown nowhere, Massachusetts…read more It was Friday after 5pm, the streets were pretty dead (as is generally the case as I understand it), and I expected to see nothing but factory rejects of some wannabe Hell's Angels club. Yes, it was a buttock-cringing moment as I walked into the place....... ..... and then...... I noticed the very easy-on-the-eyes brunette bartender.... she was a dead-ringer for Lara Flynn Boyle, but much hotter. The crowd was a pleasant, Cheers-esque group of regulars that laughed and drank the day away. It could have been a pub in any-city USA. The great part? Among the beers on tap were the only 2 types I drink: guiness and weiss beers.... LOTS of them. AND..... the bartender was actually nice. She was totally cool. None of the yes-I-know-I-am-hot attitude you find in big-city bitches. The food was awesome too. I had a buffalo-wing salad, while my gimpy pal-recovering-from-gout had a reuben sandwhich. We were surprised to discover that the place does not serve any processed foods, and everything, despite the pub-grub stigma, was pretty damn good quality food. 2 beers, 2 large entrees set us back about $17-ish, which I thought was a miscalculation because I pretty much pay double that in the city..... and did I mention the cute bartender with no attitude? Maybe not a diamond, but perhaps a sapphire or ruby in the rough. And yes, I'll be back.

We came out for drinks and keno on Jan 24. The bartender awful. She complained about everything…read moreand didn't want to wait on people. Will not come back while she is working.

Sports bar,typical bar, keno, Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, regulars; irregulars and that would be me…read moreand my first visit. Folks were somewhat subdued but who cares if the beer is cold and the beer was cold. I would stop by whether there was a sporting event or not, just to see if I could crack the local code. My Heineken was $4 and that is reasonable, I will be looking for more reasonable alternatives to Heineken on my next visit.

Food was great! And nice Bartender on a Wednesday Night!…read moreTotal sweetheart. .nuf said

Food was just ok. Bartender was very nice. If your not a regular the owner won't give you the…read moretime of day. We won't go back

The last thing I want to do is admit that a cocktail bar in this area is good. I hate driving to…read moreEasthampton (not your problem), I hate parking in Easthampton (not your problem...maybe), and there're lots of places I'd rather be. HOWEVER...I've been to Gigantic at least three times now and I have to admit that going out of your way is worth it. The drink list is not huge, but it's never boring, changes often enough to keep me interested, and I don't recall getting anything less than excellent. If they're willing to do a "bartender's choice" type thing (I haven't tried), I might have to go even more often. To address some of the things that others mentioned: Yes, it's small, but lots of good places are. Yes, the drinks take awhile, but I don't know of ANY high-end cocktail place that can cranks them out. Get over it and enjoy your time there. I've never experienced rude or pretentious (anymore than that are always is) service, but that would annoy me. The server/bartender has always been quite nice to my friends and me. I also checked out their list of vintage liquors last time I was there. I didn't try any (because money) but the fact that they have them at all is impressive.

Came here excited to try out the cocktails of one of the 10 best new bartenders in the country -…read morehttps://punchdrink.com/articles/best-new-bartenders-2025/ While we were not from the area, we were cautioned by several friends that Gigantic might not live up to the hype. What we did like was the old school music, vintage feel that took on the vibes of an antique shop (it was fun to look around), and the intimate setting. The cocktails were really good and creative with a menu that updates frequently and featured some classics as well. The cocktails were a bit pricey for what you got and for the area, the snack options were very limited and overpriced, and service was very slow despite few people being in the bar. We had to ask to be served and waited over 15 minutes for the check. We are glad we checked out Gigantic and would not recommend going out of your way for it as there are other great cocktail bars in neighboring towns.