New Melrose Brewery: Hannah’s Brewing Co. is Sweet & Sharp

The new Melrose brewery that's been the latest buzz on the beer scene is finally open. Hannah's Brewing Co. is here and I have a review.

Hannah's Brewing Co. officially opened on St. Patrick's Day and, while I wasn't there for the Grand Opening, I'm assuming it was a big hit. Why? Because I was in Melrose on St. Patrick's Day, shuttling my youngest and their friend around. I drove down Main St. past the taproom and there was a flutter of foot traffic. People were making their way in and out, no doubt curious about the new spot.

I paid my first visit to Hannah's on the Friday before St. Patrick's Day for one of their "soft opening" days. Now, don't get it twisted. I'm no fancy-pants beer scene insider; I just have people in Melrose who wised me up. And a friend down the street at Malden's Idle Hands Craft Ales. Since I spend quite a bit of time in Melrose, I was over the moon to learn that there was a new brewery opening in town.

There was a decent-sized crowd of locals gathered on that late Friday afternoon. So much so that I couldn't get a seat at the bar. But I still bellied up to order a pint of The Cannon. That's their Nitro Dry Irish Stout, 4.5% A.B.V. It's about as smooth a stout as I've ever had.

I took my pint over to one of the taproom's high-top tables to savor. As it turned out, I was sitting next to the focal centerpiece of Hannah's: a giant, wall-sized map of Melrose. A pair of patrons were stood next to the map-mural, no doubt trying to find the streets they live on.

While I sipped, a friendly staff member made their way around the small-but-comfortable taproom, checking on patrons, armed with a scanner for those of us who wanted a refill. I had paid in cash, but that ease-of purchase is worthy of note. As is the menu of current offerings, which I've shared here.

What' a "crowler," you might ask? It's a giant, 32 oz. can. Perfect take-home size.

A few particulars to know as you plan your visit. First, if you're going to have more than one round, the City of Melrose says you need to eat. Fear not: Hannah's has snacks aplenty. The taproom is located just past the corner of Main St. an West Wyoming St., and there's on-street parking in the area. But, more importantly, it's steps from the Wyoming stop on the Commuter Rail.

So pay Hannah's a visit and drink local! You can follow them on Instagram here.

We should clarify: Massachusetts' Best Breweries...as chosen by YOU. Here's a recap of Boston's Brewery Battle 2023.

First things first, we congratulate Berkley Beer Company, who won the whole damn thing. They beat Tree House Brewing Co. in the Finals, after besting Widowmaker Brewing in the Final Four. They also beat Night Shift, Lord Hobo, Democracy, and Skyroc in their award-winning run. Pay their Taunton taproom a visit and raise a pint to their big victory. You can visit them here, too.

We started in the month of June with a field of 64 local breweries and taprooms, spread across the far reaches of the Commonwealth. North Shore, South Shore, Metro Boston, Metro West, Central Mass., the Cape and Islands...chances are, you had a local brewery (or at least one you'd had a beer from) in the bracket. If you'd like a rundown of the whole field, you can get that here.

Just like with any bracket, however, a week goes by and the field is cut in half. And then, it's cut in half again. By the time we got to the Sweet 16 (or Sudsy 16, if you prefer), there was a nice mix of big-name local breweries and some smaller, up-and-coming taprooms that maybe weren't that well known outside of their city, town, or immediate region.

Still, you voted and voted and voted some more, and at the end, Berkley Beer Company reigned supreme. Brackets like this are fun because you get to vote for your faves and cheer them on. And they're fun for me because I can see how many votes each brewery received. So I'm going to give you the Top 12 (because I'm Adam 12) vote-getters. Check them out below, and consider paying a visit to or picking up some beer from one you haven't tried yet.

"Waste Not. Want Another." Congrats again to your 2023 Champion!

Your 2023 runner-up. You know them, you love them, and you can now visit Tree House in five different locations.

The third-highest total vote-getter in the 2023 contest. We've been to their taproom in Braintree, we love the vibe, and we love the beer.

Pretty much right down the street from the ROCK 92.9. studios in Waltham. We're going to have to pay them a visit soon.

A perennial favorite. I was just last month at their beer garden on Boston Common enjoying a few pints with an old friend.

"The owls are not what they seem." Maybe they are, maybe they're not. But these owls made some pretty popular bevvys.

The Grey Lady might not have made it all the way, but she certainly let her presence be known this year, all the way from Nantucket.

This "small craft brewery located on Cape Cod in South Dennis" made a big impact in this year's battle. You've not heard the last from them.

Straight outta Hudson, baby. The downtown area is growing, and Medusa is acting as the anchor.

Their first appearance in Boston's Brewery Battle was a memorable, as the Easton brewery cracked the Top 10.

Nice to see the winner of the 2020 edition of Boston's Brewery Battle making such a strong showing 3 years later. We love Vitamin Sea and we "sea" you do, too.

Craft beer, coffee, and a taproom patrons love, right there in downtown Marlborough, MA.