Editors’ Choice
Notch Brewing
Salem
Southern exposure means this appealing outdoor space on the South River basin is open year-round, with communal seating when it’s warm and heated stand-up tables in the cold months. You might see harbor seals and birds, and you’ll definitely enjoy a wide variety of sessionable beers brewed onsite. They don’t make anything over 4.5 percent ABV, so you can while away an afternoon, perhaps play a game of cornhole, and taste many offerings without regretting it in the morning.
283R Derby St., Salem, 978-412-7674, notchbrewing.com
Readers’ Choice
Riverwalk Brewing Co.
Newburyport
Steps from the Clipper City Rail Trail, and right next door to MetroRock, Riverwalk is a terrific place to gather after working up a sweat—or being shut in your house for a year. A rotating selection of 12 beers made onsite, a casual menu of brew-friendly eats, and a big grassy space dotted with picnic tables make this beer garden a fan favorite.
40 Parker St., Newburyport, 978-499-2337, riverwalkbrewing.com