Boston Beer Hunter

Name: Hog Island Beer Co. What is Hog Island, you ask? I'm glad you did.

​

Location: Orleans, MA.  

​

History: The Outermost Brewery on Cape Cod opened its doors only one short year ago, but has been a vision in the making for over a decade. The founding team has a combined 20+ years of experience selling, marketing, distributing, brewing, and, arguably most important of all, drinking beer, and their passion for the craft shows. This is especially apparent if you are able to spend a few minutes speaking with friendly owner Mike McNamara, whose love of the Cape and its rich history helps form the origin story of the brewery that he co-founded. Hog Island is named after a small, uninhabited island in Pleasant Bay (Orleans). It is rumored that Captain Kidd buried some of his treasure on the island prior to his capture and trial. The team has looked for the treasure and feel they've found it in liquid form! Hog Island in look, laid-back feel, and positive spirit is exactly what you want a Cape Cod brewery to be.

​

Recommended Brews: I grabbed a flight of everything currently on tap and there wasn't a miss on the list - everything was solid. My favorite, an uncharacteristic pick considering my general go-to's, was the White Shark Wheat, clocking in at summer-friendly 4.2% ABV and hopped with Cascade. This was a great alternative to what I have found, in my long history of beer-drinking, to be a mostly standard fare style. It was a smooth, enjoyable, nicely hopped summer wheat beer and, let's face it: if you're going to enjoy a good summer wheat beer, it should be in Cape Cod.  

​

While you're in the area: A travel guide to Cape Cod could take upwards of 500 pages to compile, and I'm still not sure we would have covered everything. So I'll focus, briefly, on this end of the Cape. I would be remiss if I didn't point you directly towards Provincetown, since you're only 3 towns away.

 

This is a town that blends a variety of interests for Cape purists, locals, and tourists alike (although I suspect the locals might hop on a ferry during the summer weekends to escape the foot traffic). Provincetown is: a food and drink mecca, a place for families and singles alike, a place as full of pride for its humble fishing roots as for its reputation as a summer bastion for the LGBT community. Provincetown is a place for artists and beach bums, lighthouse enthusiasts and people looking for salt water taffy.  It's a little bit of everything crammed into a small town.  Must visit. 

​

On the way, stop over at Truro Vineyards for a tour and some vino. Because hey, don't forget, you are probably on vacation. 

​

Learn more here: http://www.hogislandbeerco.com/