Brewpub Visit: The Publick House

The Publick House, formerly Anam Cara Publick House, is located on Beacon Street in Brookline, Massachusetts, a metro area of Boston. The Publick house is considered by most beer sites as one of the top beer bars in America. So you can imagine that I've been waiting a long time to go to this place. As you walk in you find that it is a seat-yourself establishment which has its pros and cons. The crowd that night was pretty nice and respectful of people that came in ahead of them, which is always a good thing.

We arrived around 8pm and, of course, there was a wait (usually a good sign) because this place gets great reviews and craft beer fans coming into Boston make it a must-visit. Sometimes students from the area will make the trek out to Brookline as well.

As my wife and I waited for seating, we grabbed a drink at the bar, which had about 30 taps of fantastic brews not to mention 50+ bottles or so. Oh yeah! The price range for the beers spanned $2 for PBR pounders, to $10 for Rochefort 10, with many above and in-between that range depending on the offering. The overall vibe of the Publick house is Gaelic-themed, dimmed lighting, and good “brewerania” throughout. The overall crowd noise can get a bit overwhelming and it can be hard to hear the people you are with, but it comes with the territory.

After approximately a 20 minute wait, we ended up sharing a table with two other couples since it was a huge table. The more the merrier in my opinion. The staff was friendly and attentive. Even with the big crowd we got excellent service and some recommendations on the vast beer menu. The food menu is ideal for someone looking to eat a real meal and not just burger and fries, which they have as well.

The menu is awesome… top American cuisine infused with beer. Now, one thing of note is that the food can be pricey, but it is worth every penny. The quality of the food is top-notch and the variety on the menu keeps your attention. There is also helpful pairing recommendations listed right on the menu, which is a nice touch for those new to the world of beer pairing.

Ok, so where to start with the food… ah yes, the starters. The starters range from $6-$13. They have a fantastic cheese platter of specialty cheeses called the “Artisanal Cheese Board” served with caramelized onion bread, cornichones & house made La Chouffe Spicy Mustard, which runs about $12. Some of the cheeses on the platter include Chimay, (Belgium) semi-soft with a nutty, well finished flavor with just a hint of malt & hops. Orval, (Belgium) compacted firm, cream color, slightly salty with the aroma of fresh grass.

For those who want to sample some seafood, try the Whale's Tale Pale Ale Battered Shrimp. It is covered in Japanese bread crumbs, served with mixed greens, and Whale's Tale Pale Ale cocktail sauce. Also, for people who like game meat, this delicious appetizer will do the trick… “Rabbit Sausage a la Kriek” which is grilled fresh rabbit sausage, sautéed pea tendrils, dried cherry, served with a De Ranke Kriek reduction.

Moving on to the main dishes, which range from $9 for the Smuttynose Chicken sandwich (marinated in Smutty IPA, tropical juices & garlic, chipotle mayo, melted cheddar) to $16 for the Bastard Grilled Rib eye (a char grilled rib eye, served with Arrogant Bastard Ale butter, truffled asparagus, and a side of gorgonzola smashed potato.)

There isn’t anything for dessert but you can’t have everything, can you? So my wife and I ordered the cheese plate for dessert and with the fruit and cheese it made a great after-dinner compliment to the Gulden Draak we topped-off the night with.

The Publick House stresses great cuisine and shows off some phenomenal pairings of beer and food. The Publick House’s excellent fare combined with their unique craft beer offering bring together my two loves in a way I don’t see too often. This place was great! I will have to make it back again in the near future and if you are coming to the area you should too.

My favorite from the night was:

Houblon Chouffe IPA Dubbelen Tripel: From the tap poured into a 10oz snifter leaving a nice glossy, bubbly, blonde-orange body slightly cloudy with a thin off-white head. (Note: “The version from the bottle left a thick egg white head much more appealing than on tap.") The aroma is crisp hops and citrus that packs a punch. The nose is pine, lemon rind, with a soft wheat presence. The taste is crisp, fresh, fruity like a sorbet, and cleanses your palate with the carbonation in the same way. There is a pleasing alcohol fruit presence and the brew finishes sharp and bitter.

This is a fantastic brew; it has depth and a myriad of flavors. I paired this beer with the house Mac and cheese and the flavors just melded together so nicely. The acidity in the sharp cheese and the sweetness in the beer really contrasted each other making each bite taste cheesier.

The Publick House
1648 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA 02445
United States
phone: (617) 277-2880
www.thepublickhousebrookline.com

Frank Bennett