4. Restaurants

Cape Ann Brewing Company

11 Rogers St, Gloucester, MA, 01930
  • (978) 282-7399
  • Store is closed

Cape Ann Brewing Company Menu

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  • Leslie B.

    5/9/15 Our first stop of an overnight last minute getaway. Inside bar was full so we were told we could go to their other one on the back deck. No seats there either, I only saw 2 bar stools and a small table to the side. We were told we couldn't sit at a table unless we talked to the hostess so I went back in and asked if we could sit at the empty table and get appetizers. She just looked at me with a blank stare and finally mumbled I guess so. She handed me two menus and I went back out and we sat. And sat. And sat. Finished our beers without anyone ever coming to the table so we left. First impressions matter, we won't be back.

    (2)

  • Aleks G.

    First visit and I wish I lived nearby. Good ambiance, great beer and service.

    (5)

  • Tyler L.

    The wait staff was very attentive and sweet. The clam chowder was pretty good, but the fish tacos were even better. Probably the best part of the place though is the view from the deck. It is worth the visit!

    (4)

  • Tom O.

    Beers are great, food is pretty good, unfortunately service is slow and inattentive and it's not that crowded tonight. Is hate to see this place on a busy night.

    (2)

  • Jeffrey L.

    The beer is good, the food is decent, the atmosphere comfortable and relaxed, and the service is great. We received a severely-undercooked item, and the staff handled this by replacing the item, reducing the cost of our item, and throwing in a free dessert. While the food isn't fantastic, everything else - especially the service - means that we will be back again.

    (4)

  • Lara W.

    Great location, nice outdoor patio overlooking the water, friendly service, good food and great beer!!!

    (5)

  • Jeremy K.

    Cape Ann Brewing is located right in the center of the coastal city of Gloucester and has both a restaurant and bar all in one. The seating is both inside and outside and they brew all kinds of different beers of various styles and offer some pretty decent food as well. Parking was easy to find as they are adjacent to a giant, public lot but there's also numerous street parking spots in the area as well. We didn't struggle to find any on a sunny, Saturday afternoon. Upon walking in we found the place to be bustling with activity both inside and out. We decided to go for outdoor seating as their patio overlooks the Atlantic ocean and there was a live band playing outside. While very loud (a little too loud), it was still pretty awesome to have live music there. We decided to order 2 flights of their beers. There's six samples in each flight and they had 12 beers on the menu so we were able to cover them all in two flights which was great. Not all of their beers are great but a few do standout including their Ironclad IPA which features a mix of summit, cascade and chinook hops giving it a great, West coast-style, grapefruit aroma. Others weren't so great but most we pretty good and very fresh and cold - hard to beat really! The food we had was pretty basic but good - being allergic to seafood and fish we settled on sharing some buffalo chicken tenders which tasted good. A lot of people around us did seem to enjoy their seafood though and they do offer quite a bit of it. You can order up some fried calamari ($11), or P.E.I. mussels ($10). There's also clam chowder, fish tacos ($12), burgers ($9) and various other dishes like stuffed pork loin ($17) and chicken piccata ($16). The service was great, and the place was clean, including the bathroom. It was a good experience there, but it did leave me wanting for a tad more in terms of their menu. They have great, fresh cold beer, but I was hoping they'd have a better selection of shareable appetizers. Oh and I also want to know why the hell they'd be serving a pumpkin stout in their samplers in the middle of summer? That's an October/November beer not a summer one. I found that a bit odd...

    (4)

  • Stephanie B.

    We came for dinner on a Wednesday night, which happens to also be Trivia Night! I didn't partake but it seemed really fun. Seems like Cape Ann is a local type of restaurant. They have a bar and long tables that you share with other people. Also happened to be showing the Bruin game, so there was a lot of energy in the air. Made it more exciting and entertaining to eat here. I got the fried haddock sandwich and YUM! It was really simple but really good. I thought the haddock was cooked nicely (not overcooked). I never really had a fish sandwich like that before so it was refreshing to try! I don't know my haddock though so I have nothing to compare it to. We also ordered the buffalo chicken wings! Such a fail though because we ate our entrees first and were too full to eat the wings. I ate like one...and there was 10....so bad! But I have to say they were delish. We also each went for the beer sampler! I think you get 6 samples. On Wednesday, they had a coffee beer (something like that) which was my favorite. I loved and enjoyed the sampler so if you're indecisive like me, you should just get it. Pretty nice deal!

    (4)

  • Katie W.

    Stopped by here after whale watching for a quick bite and a beer. When we went, they had a live jazz band playing which is pretty awesome. The band was really good and not too loud. Cape Ann has a pretty good beer selection (obviously) and the staff was very knowledgeable. I ordered a pretty high apv beer and it was quite satisfying. After being on a boat for hours, I really needed a stiff drink. My fiance ordered nachos with chicken and I gotta say, those were some of the best nachos I've ever had. Not too many condiments and toppings. Just simple cheese, chicken and sour cream, but the chips alone were delicious. They tasted homemade. Nice and crisp with light salt. I enjoyed them immensely. The chicken was also very tasty. It was very juicy and seasoned well. The only critiques I have are 1. The plate they serve the nachos in was a bit small. It was hard to keep food from falling of the plate and onto the table. 2. Although the chicken was delicious, it was cut into very very large pieces which is not the most convenient when put over nachos. These are very fixable things and are in no way deal breakers. If you ever find yourself in the charming town of Gloucester, give Cape Ann Brewing Company a visit.

    (4)

  • Tony B.

    Not sure about all the negative reviews but we had a great time yesterday. The food was great, and the beers were awesome. We had great service from our waitress Erica who was extremely knowledgable, friendly and attentive. She did a great job getting my Father in law nice and happy with her choices for his beer flight.

    (5)

  • Alexis O.

    My dad and I always stop here when we are visiting Boston. They have some really good beers here. My only complaint would be that they were out of every style of beer I would like, but that's probably because the public likes those style of beers too! I really recommend ordering a flight and sampling all Cape Ann has to offer. I don't usually eat here, but I have before and it's nothing to write home about, but definitely come for the beer!

    (3)

  • Elliot J.

    This place should be a lot better than it is. Nice young servers working the place, but despite the waterfront locale it is really loud and despite the fact it is a beer restaurant the place is filled with noisy kids. Large picnic table type seating outside. It is clearly labeled a pub but plays like a family restaurant... The beer selection is OK but as far as Brewpubs go it is rather lame. Double IPA is the only beer they serve with any distinctive flavor; regular IPA is really lame. Stout and porter were weak choices and I like darker beers. Food is generic pub grub. Burger was absolutely tasteless. Spent $21.00 on a seafood dish that was edible, but for the same money you can go to Lat 43 or the Franklin and get read food that tastes like something. Spent $56.00 for two beers and two meals and left feeling totally taken. Portsmouth Brewery just buries this place.

    (2)

  • Beth K.

    Hubby and I stopped here for lunch on our way up to Maine. We both ordered the fish and chips and werevery impressed. In fact, we both agree that it was the best fish and chips we'd ever had. I opted to try a flight of beer and was not disappointed. Hubby got a pint that he loved and we ended up leaving with a growler of it. We will for sure return next time we are in the area!

    (5)

  • Ataan K.

    I have been here twice and both times have left me with a sour taste in my mouth. The first time I went to dine with a friend on a nice early summer evening. It was not quite sunset yet and we figured we would sit on the deck and eat. Our food took an hour and a half to come out and by then we had to move inside because it go too cold to sit outside. Our food was cold and bland it wasn't great. The second time I went with family to play some of their games (Darts/shuffleboard) before going on to other establishments on Rogers Street. They had a band playing in there so loud no level of my voice would help me communicate with my family. I was just dissapointed as a whole

    (2)

  • Sarah F.

    Been here at least 3 more times! I keep getting the shrimp po'boy because it is SOOOOOO delicious. We have also tried the buffalo wings and fried pickles, which are great. My husband branched out on our last visit and had a steak bomb sandwich, which he loved. The food is great, the beers are great, the view is awesome. What a wonderful spot!

    (5)

  • Dave C.

    This is a great place to sit outside with a great view of the working harbor. The beer is excellent with a great selection of Cape Ann brews that will suit any taste. I had the fish and chips- tender, super fresh, beer battered haddock was absolutely delicious. My wife's dish was also very good- fried scallops that were perfectly sweet, tender, good-sized and coated with just the right amount of batter. Service was attentive and very friendly- some great folks working here. As a bonus, you can take home a growler of your favorite draft on the way out!

    (4)

  • Jared R.

    It's been some time since I went here, but since I checked in, I should probably review it. I remember the food being rather delicious. We ate on the back porch which was fun. Our waitress was super awesome and enjoyed my crazy kid's antics. Lots of great beer choices and I'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Shaina P.

    Yessss... put the beer in to my belly. Covered patios in mid-November are pretty amazing on a gorgeous and sunny wedding day. Since discovering the location of one of my favorite breweries in Gloucester (which I did not realize was here even the last 5 times I visited ... so sad), I have even MORE reasons to visit glorious Gloucester. It's located on the waterfront downtown, which is a pretty unassuming and confusing area to drive around. It gets busy during mid-afternoons, but makes for a happenin' fishing town. Kind of reminds me of Portland Maine with an emPHAsis on 'kind of.' You know you're on the water, but there's so many buildings and wharfs and warehouses and big boats to block your view... but thanks to places like Cape Ann Brewing Co., you get front row access to said water. The poutine isn't terrible.. the pulled pork quesadilla was LOADED with pork and served without side plates, which made for a messy app, but tasty... the clam chowder is VERY thick. the swordfish kabobs come piled atop a pile of veg and quinoa. the chicken fingers were classically tasty and NOT those strange tender shapes with measly and all-to-often-not-crispy batter.. didn't like the honey mustard (ever do) so asked for BBQ (combined with a drop or two of the habanero salsa = pow! and yum!). the fish tacos I noticed (didn't try) were in a serious batter ... like tempura or chinese chicken finger style batter which also reminds me of the fish and chips in tynemouth, england.. maybe shoulda got the fish and chips to really know for sure. and, let's see ... duh. the beer is kick ass. a solid choice for any waterfront afternoon of fun (before a friends wedding).

    (4)

  • Jennifer E.

    I really didn't realize they served food in this place the first few times I was in here but I got some gift certificates here and tried it. The quesadilla appetizer was good as were the pulled pork nachos and the steak bomb was pretty solid. Seafood meals are pricy for what you get. If you want Gloucester seafood, go to Captain Carlos or something. This should be strictly pub food only. I'm not really a beer girl. Got the sampler, which for some reason isn't on the menu, only saw it. The sunrise beer was my favorite, although I picked some doozies that I could barely get down. I love the games they have in here. Darts, shuffleboard, some fish wall game and board games. Pretty cool to keep you occupied. They have a nice outdoor seating area, which is really the only place I ever like to sit! My one BIG complaint about this place is the inside seating. Benches and long tables are not only physically uncomfortable but nobody is comfortable sitting with strangers. Why would you want to go out for a meal and have to worry about talking to people you don't even know? I'm sorry, get some different tables. It sucks. I'd rather go someplace else than eat inside.

    (3)

  • Leslie G.

    I love it here. If I lived nearby, I'd be here on the reg. Lots of vegetarian options. I had the housemade veggie burger with vegetarian chili. It was excellent. The Boston area really does the veggie burger right. Lots of different beers to try. I had the Pineapple beer. It was really good. I'd love to try the Pick Ale beer, brewed with cucumbers! The service was very friendly. I loved everything about Cape Ann Brewing Company.

    (5)

  • Jennifer E.

    The voyage made out to Gloucester to go to Cape Ann BC Pub(finally!) was well worth it. I've been twice now (well, also one failed attempt but it was a holiday, so I did not blame them for being closed) and both experiences were great. The first time we came for light bites and drinks prior to heading back down south to hit up dinner in Salem. I had my favorite beer brewed by them, the delicious pumpkin stout, and it was tasty as always. To munch on I had their veggie chili, which was great and actually quite filling. My hubby had the chowder, which he enjoyed as well. The second time around we hung out for a full meal. Lunch at Cape Ann was quite busy, despite the chilly, pre Christmas air outside. There were a lot of folk out doing some last minute shopping in the area and several of those people seemed to be taking a lunch break at the pub. To drink I had a beer that I had actually just tried for the first time at a local bar in Providence the night prior to our visit. It was a stout made with chili peppers that was malty but with a nice kick from the peppers. Pretty damn good and gave the pumpkin stout a run for it's money as my reigning favorite CA beer. I had the chicken caprese sandwich with mashed potatoes for lunch and my husband had the burger. Both were great and their fries are the bomb dot com. For realzzz. No, I mean it. They are hand cut and freaking delicious. The staff are always friendly, attentive, and seem to know their stuff about the beer on draft. I really hope to get to check out their outdoor patio someday when it's warmer, but I do love their beer hall seating (family style). It's rare to find such an awesome brew pub in New England (especially this area) so I am quite happy that CA is so great.

    (4)

  • Kathleen C.

    While I didn't ask for a tour, I did have an amazing time here today. The bartender was very nice and talked me through the entire beer menu and we finally settled on a 'surprise me' flight (that's my title) after I let him know what type of beers I liked. He did an excellent job and for $8 or so, a flight of 6 is the way to go! The beer was delicious and honestly, very unique. Even 'typical' beers have some interesting flavors and characteristics that you don't often find. I was pleasantly surprised. I also tried the clam chowder - perfect clam/potato to base recipe. Watch out for the homemade hot sauce...wow - that will put your mouth on fire! Definitely a great spot!

    (5)

  • Jackie K.

    Beer good. Food meh. 3 stars. The beer was actually really good here. There were tons of choices to please many people. Lots of people coming in to fill their growlers--I would too if I lived closer. Food was okay. Fish and chips were fine. My husband liked his veggie burger. Service was good--slight wait on a not busy day so I guess just be prepared to wait. I would not make a special trip out here but if you are in the area, it's worth a stop for a drink.

    (3)

  • Nic S.

    Great beers- they are constantly coming out with new brews and small batches that go quick. The staff is super friendly, and there is always great company at the bar. The menu is typical pub food for Gloucester. I recommend their fish tacos and burger specials. Their homemade slaw and fries are a great combo with any sandwich. Their Portuguese stew is also amazing. In the winter, they have week-night deals that are super affordable and make it worth heading down there for a beer and some food on a cold winter night. Oh yea, the wings are also pretty good, although the buffalo flavor is on the weak side. They do make their own habenero sauce, which comes as a regular condiment on each table, if you want to add some heat. Chowder is great, and if you order the bowl, you best be hungry- it is huge.

    (5)

  • Ryan H.

    Spruce Tip Bière de Garde = A+ Fish Tacos = A+ Great food, great beer, great atmosphere with a nice harbor view. Friendly & attentive bartender. I'll be back!

    (5)

  • Melissa W.

    Love this place! The beer flights are great. Last time we were in we got the fried pickles, which were yummy. My husband had the soft shell crab sandwich and loved it. I had the fried haddock sandwich and it was great. It was a nice day, so we got to sit outside and enjoy the view of the water.

    (5)

  • Patricia W.

    I loved this place, I tried a few different brews and the fish tacos. I wasn't wild about the room, indoors, so we sat outside and enjoyed the outdoor ambiance, surf, breeze, boats, sun. The service was great as well. If I hadn't disliked the look of the pub indoors, with the family style seating etc, I would have given five stars based on my one visit. I hope to go back and enjoy it again.

    (4)

  • Polly E.

    Order the seafood Mac n cheese to split! It is really good & full of seafood. Great back deck and nice mix of locals & visitors.

    (4)

  • Andy W.

    Great service, good food and AMAZING beer! The Double IPA is something special! We truly enjoyed our time there today. Ample portions and make your own beer flights are a nice touch. When in Gloucester, drink the local brew.

    (5)

  • Misty S.

    We come to Cape Ann at least once a month, sometimes more in the summer months. The beer is just ok. I'm not a fan of many of their beers (I think their IPA tastes like blue cheese and the Fig Pumpkin stout was god awful) but they also have some good beers once in a while. Hubby is a big fan of their Navigator. Food is also "ok". They used to have this great cheese plate, but now it's not on the menu any longer. What I do love about this place is the atmosphere. Games to play, long tables that encourage lingering and conversation, rockers on the porch, and a great patio. It's an awesome way to spend a summer afternoon.

    (3)

  • Cee L.

    the view is the only thing that saves it sometimes update: went here for a late lunch yesterday and sent a burger back TWICE - it was requested medium and was raw both times. the first time we ate the cole slaw [why are there raisins in it?] and the limp fries that came with it and were not given anything else in the hour it took from the 1st raw burger to arrive and when the medium well burger arrived. we were not comped anything. the service was just as bad as usual [we had to get our own menus and were ignored whilst others who sat down after us had their orders taken before we were even acknowledged]. but i think they don't care that their servers are a confusion because they have the location. sorry folks, will go to lat 43 from now on. it's fun to sit outside and have an IPA and watch the fishermen and boats. cape ann brewing's fisherman's IPA is good [although not as good as harpoon], the nachos are a good snack, and the fried haddock sandwich is all it should be. the atmosphere is the big draw here. one late afternoon we went for beer and an appetizer and the service was awful. i think they change shifts around 4 as our waitress disappeared and a couple of new ones appeared, neither one of which seemed to think we were their table. when we asked one of them for our check we were told that she wasn't our waitress. and that our waitress was in the bathroom and would be with us when she was done. TMI!!!!! we went a few days later and it was the same scenario but with different staff and they were great. during the shift changeover they didn't skip a beat. so service can be spotty

    (2)

  • D D.

    Great place. Good food. Fabulous beer. It would've received 5 stars but we had an issue with the beer. We each ordered a beer of the same variety. Coat was $5 for a 10 oz beer. The waitress should've mentioned that a 64 oz pitcher was $20. We ordered a second beer and ended up being charged $22! 40 oz for $22 when a 64 oz pitcher would've been $20. Other than feeling a little bit taken advantage of, partially our fault for not ordering the pitcher, it was awesome.

    (4)

  • Joe P.

    This place has fabulous IPA and double IPA very relaxed atmosphere. Good service at the bar

    (4)

  • Leah C.

    My boyfriend and I ate here three weeks before we looked at an apartment in Gloucester. We now live in Gloucester. Coincidence? Nope. We actually wanted to be closer to this fine drinking establishment! This place is seriously everything I love about this city packaged into one neat little building. No nonsense. Big banquet tables with benches. Incredibly good beer. Friendly yet typically New England-y gruff types- including the waitstaff. Food is good, and kind of cheap actually for a gastro pub type place. And the Beer. THE BEER. What. Is. Earth. The beer is so good. Seriously. And you can get growlers to take home with you. Come on. JUST GO HERE.

    (5)

  • Teressa D.

    As a fellow waitress, I know that an unexpected lunch rush when you're understaffed during a World Cup game can be the kiss of death. When my boyfriend and I showed up at the brew pub during the US/Germany game, found an absolutely packed restaurant, and overheard a staff member say there were only two servers working, I expected that I'd need to be patient, but we'd been here before and the rockporter, mussels and fish tacos here are totally worth it. We were super impressed that despite the madness, the service was quick, cheerful, and friendly, and the food came out wicked fast and perfectly cooked. Our server (I think her name was Erica) was awesome, and the rest of the staff was working together to make sure everything ran smoothly. Everything was great!

    (5)

  • Mike M.

    HORRIBLE service yesterday. The place was packed but there were numerous open tables inside and out. I asked the hostess if we could grab an open table and was told there were people ahead of us. The staff seemed more intent on making people wait than cleaning the tables to get people served. After finally getting a table (which was dirty when we shown to it) we placed drink orders and food orders. One soft drink at the table didn't come out after 15 minutes - when we grabbed the waitress who seemed annoyed that we interrupted her and asked she replied "I asked the busboy to bring it - he's new" shifting the blame to him. Regardless - I don't want a busboy handling my food. Meals came out very late after that and not at once which is a real no-no. I could have finished my food by the time that last meal (party of 6) came out. No apologies - no understanding that they F'd up.

    (1)

  • Robert C.

    Cape Ann Brewing Company, I will return to you. For great food in a low-key atmosphere with an amazing range of beer choices, you can't go wrong with the Cape Ann Brewing Company. A friend and I stopped in one night after touring Hammond Castle, and I had some of the best service I've ever had since moving to the Boston area. I loved having the flight and the chance to sample the Sunrise Saison, the Pumpkin Stouts, the Chile Stout, the Rockporter, and a host of others. For a light, fruit-forward beer, you can't go wrong with the Sunrise Saison. If you like a darker brew, the Rockporter will keep you happy. I had the Mac and Cheese with lobster, and I was pretty much in heaven for the night. The fried pickles are also recommended as these are better here than anywhere else. What's to Love? -- great food -- excellent service -- great location -- low-key atmosphere; you can play games here What's Not to Love? -- nothing; this place is great

    (5)

  • Tommy S.

    Great beer. Don't eat here! I've been a chef for 15 years. I'll make it simple. Worst pub food. I'm 0-2 with food. I went there last night and had the worst fried haddock sandwich in my life! Garbage! I wanna like this place but over priced crappy frozen seafood just won't cut it. Sorry cape Anne brewery.

    (3)

  • Shawn P.

    My wife loves the pumpkin stout and I'm a huge fan of the dead eye. Lots of other great beers can't wait to try their beer that they use the hops they grew here!

    (5)

  • Amanda L.

    Not very good. If you're a seaport town in New England, you better have good clam chowder. They don't. Sucked pretty much all around, plus service was super slow. Food runner looked stoned off his ass. I think my sister liked the beer, though.

    (2)

  • Marie-frances R.

    On the search for a tasty lobster roll after a nice Memorial Day on Wingaersheek Beach and we stumbled onto this place. It was a cool atmosphere, we ended up sitting on one of the benches right in the waterfront. The beer was delish, the IPA was spot on. Lobster roll left much to be desired, but my fish tacos were pretty tasty. Would go back for beer, but not necessarily for the food.

    (4)

  • A G.

    This is a great brew pub. The service at the bar is excellent and the beers are quite good. We drove from Boston one cold winter evening and were not disapointed. The food was well prepared: burger and cubano sandwich which was very tasty. We also had a beer sampler. The IPA as well as the Stout were top notch. We'll return.

    (3)

  • April G.

    Great location and very laid back atmosphere. The food was excellent...the best fish and chips that I've had! Will definitely be returning!!!

    (4)

  • Edwin M.

    I didn't get to really eat much at Cape Ann, because we had just finished eating from another spot. This place was recommended to us earlier during our lunch. The brew was amazing! I loved their sampler, they have great IPAs and their pulled pork nachos are freaking fantastic!! I loved Boston and I loved this spot, would definitely go back. Service was extremely welcoming and courteous. We had a blast here eating some great snacks, drinking some fantastic craft beers, and playing trivial pursuit which they provided. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Hector G.

    Great beer Particularly the rock porter. Wonderful food. A surprisingly good and enjoyable experience

    (5)

  • Maureen D.

    Enjoyed the outdoor dining overlooking the pier/lobster boats. There is a SAMPLER for beer, and it is awesome

    (5)

  • A C.

    Great beers and great people!! Brian is the MAN!! Try the Eclipse if it's still there, a great schwarzbier (it's just fun to say!) that's easy drinking but still complex enough to ponder exactly what you're tasting! Heck, try all the beers and make your wife drive you home!!

    (5)

  • B W.

    The head brewer is obviously smart. The beer is the reason to go to Cape Ann Brewery, duh.

    (5)

  • Steve B.

    The Pumpkin Stout was really good. The Fish and Chips were outstanding. Great atmosphere and a lot of fun. Great to be overlooking the water at a brewery.

    (4)

  • Courtney N.

    I wanted to go somewhere local for my 300th review, so my friend and I walked down here and got an early lunch. I had been to their old location (just for beer) during Fiesta a couple of years ago, and had been meaning to check out their restaurant location for quite some time. The location is great. Right on the water. If it had been warmer, we would have sat in their covered location right on the water. The tables are great- long, wooden tables with backless benches. I love it. They had three televisions, and one was showing a great Premier League game. The music selection was awesome too. I noticed that many local bands play during the weekends so we definitely want to go back and see that. Now- the food. Wow. Just an awesome selection and we loved what we got. I ordered the fish cakes and it was a huge portion with french fries, beans, and cole slaw. I had a good iced tea with it. My friend got the hearty beef stew which was almost like brisket and carrots on top of mashed potatoes (also huge). He ended up trying two beers: chili stout (amazingly good) and Dunkelweiss (interesting flavor). For dessert, we split a banana chocolate pudding. Again, wow. Delicious. The whole experience was great. The prices were good too, not too expensive and the beer prices were really good. For a good price, you can get a growler (huge pitcher of beer) for your group- sounded like a bargain and great for groups. We stayed over an hour and just took in the atmosphere, the game, and enjoyed ourselves. We actually can't wait to return again and try more of the menu items and beers!

    (5)

  • Stefanie O.

    I love Cape Ann beer and was really excited to try this place out after running a half marathon in Gloucester. The beer did not disappoint (duh) and you can get growlers to take home, along with their other cool merch. My food was awesome - I went with fish and chips and even after running 13 miles I could not finish my plate. We ordered the blue cheese poutine to start and it was a little runny and not as good as I hoped, but the fries were good and hopefully they will improve and they go with the poutine. Our server was super nice and the outside area provided a gorgeous view of Gloucester harbor. Looking forward to going back in the summer and getting some beer to take home!

    (4)

  • Jaime S.

    My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this place while being tourists in Gloucester; I'd had the bottled Fisherman's Brew before, but never thought to look up where their brewery was located on Cape Ann. It was a pleasant surprise! We didn't order any food, just sat at the bar and shared two flights (samplers) so we could have a taste of everything. The beers were all enjoyable and of great quality, and way better than the bottled stuff! I especially liked the Golden Ale and a specialty/seasonal brew called Spruce Tip Bière de Garde - very unique and refreshing! The brewmaster must really know his stuff, everything was tasty, and I really enjoyed the more creative brews like the Coffee Pumpkin Stout and Sunrise Saison. Keep up the good work! Even the atmosphere and service was wonderful - and on a Saturday night, too! The bartender chatted with us for a bit and was very friendly; it was obvious he loves his job. =) My boyfriend purchased one of the custom ceramic steins and absolutely loves it. Even though we sat at the bar, the long trestle tables and benches looked cool and seemed like a nice way to urge strangers to make new friends over a pint. There were a bunch of pub games to play too; a friendly regular took the time to teach us to play shuffleboard. We had a great evening - I wish this brewpub were closer to home!

    (5)

  • Jacob E.

    I visited Cape Ann Brewing Company last night for two purposes: take my future mother in law out for her birthday, and scout potential locations for a wedding rehearsal dinner. To summarize, we're never coming back again for any reason. Everything started well, but a few minutes into the meal the live music started. Our entire party (all music lovers and frequent concert goers) immediately commented that it was way too loud. We were seated at the furthest possible table from where the band set up. My fiancée said she could feel it in her chest. I happened to have a decibel meter app on my phone, and started taking measurements. It was consistently between 98 dB and 100 dB, with peaks up to 102 dB. This is typical for a motorcycle or subway, not background music at a restaurant. If I had paid a cover to hear this band I might have felt differently, but this felt like an intrusion into my meal. We asked our waitress to turn down the amplification a bit. She returned moments later after talking with (joking with) her manager, and informed us that "This is as low as it goes. The room just has really bad acoustics." I spent several summers running the sound board at a restaurant and night club on Cape Cod (with a younger and wilder typical clientele than CABC), and I know from that experience this is not an acceptable situation. There were less than 10 other people seated at tables, and maybe a dozen at the bar. The volume level was appropriate for a space with maybe 50-70 tightly packed bodies in it. If it's understood that the venue has bad acoustics, what possessed you to hire a band?

    (1)

  • Dan P.

    This review is solely based on the beer, I have unfortunately not had the pleasure of stopping in to the brewery yet. However, I have had a few beers from here in my day, and have not been disappointed. My favs are the Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout, Fisherman's IPA, and the Fisherman's Ale

    (4)

  • Clara L.

    Great service, good brews, and delicious food. What more can I say? I love sitting on the back patio overlooking the water. In the summer, they also typically have cornhole or some other outdoor games as well.

    (4)

  • Silvana P.

    This place was eh. To be fair, I didn't try the beer, they looked to have several types however. We started with the nachos and got pulled pork added. They were good. Problem with them is they were piled high, rather than wide and the toppings kept falling to the table b/c of the small serving plate. I got a burger and fries and my man got the beet and goat cheese salad with chicken. My burger was bland (came out about 5 minutes after my husbands salad), fries were really shiny with grease but were hot and crispy, the coleslaw was bland and sort of strange. The salad looked okay, pretty basic. The thing that bugged me about the place was the seating- long picnic tables to share with strangers...no thanks. Also the staff was unprofessional in that they constantly talked trash about the customers-- the "old ladies" they just sat, the 15-top that keeps complaining etc...the service wasn't great. I wouldn't rush back/go back at all.

    (2)

  • Matt R.

    Again, one of the more fun places to go and hang out in Gloucester with some good beers, some fun games (darts, shuffle board, and now foosball!), and they always have the games on at the bar. Love the rotation of cool one-off beers they do too. Last one I had was the Widow's Walk Wit which was out of control good. Looking forward to trying out some of the new ones! Big shout out to the whole crew down there too, you guys rock.

    (4)

  • Kevin S.

    Good beer,food and people, we always stop here 1st when in the area.

    (4)

  • Pj B.

    **REVIEW BASED ON BEER AND ATMOSPHERE ONLY** After our stop at Latitude 45, we kind of wanted to keep drinking and kill more time before dinner. Hello Cape Ann Brewing company! We walked in and took a few looks at the food coming out and retreated not eating AND drinking there all in one stop! The food coming out looked amazing!! We posted up at the bar, and ordered two flights of beer which covered all but on beer they just so happen to be out of. No worries because the other beer was well worth it. I don't remember the name of the beer I ended up sticking with but let me tell you this, looking at the tap system it's on the far right and it's a dark beer. A+ They started up some sort of weak jazz band that really wasn't all that good but at least they tried! The bar tender and the bar back were both very helpful. I would love to make it back to try the food one day.

    (5)

  • Dan C.

    If you like American Sours, and are pissed that you can never find one, then get your ass down here stat and fill that trash-talking space in the center of your face with the Raspberry Wheat Sour. What, you want more than just sour beer? Man, don't worry, this place is a mother flippin' brewery, they have more taps than Ft. Hood. Not to mention that this place is right on the water so you can kick it and watch real men do manly seafaring things. Don't worry, you're save in this tiny bar, they wont emasculate you too much in front of your girlfriend--though if its a Sunday afternoon when they have live jazz and you're sitting there eating your fish taco while some manly guy is carrying to giant tuna, one over each shoulder, she might start to wonder. The ghost chili wings are hot--excruciatingly hot to most, painfully hot to the rest. Order these things at your own discretion, and if you for even one moment worry about what the heat might be like, you should really avoid these things. The blue cheese is decent, but not great; though how many people pick a bar based on the quality of the blue cheese? Service is great and the clientele is more than friendly making it well worth the trip or as a pit stop while bouncing around the Mass. coast.

    (4)

  • Jessica J.

    The food was ehh ok. Nothing to write home about. The pumpkin stout lacked the rich pumpkin taste I was expecting. LOVED the summer saison strawberry and rhubarb beer. My favorite thing about our meal. Service was good. The food just was nothing exciting. My husband ordered the lobster roll and was disappointed. He said that it had cream cheese instead of mayo, which in his mind was criminal.

    (3)

  • Shawa N.

    Every time I get the crappy meal and beyond-terrible service, i vow to never go back. This time I mean it. Where can I begin? The service is non-existent. I was there the other day and the place was half empty yet I could not seem to get a waitress to come on over to our group of 3 and ask if we needed drinks let alone food. I finally went up to the bar and lo and behold, the bar staff were in such a conversation that i had to wait 7 minutes to acknowledge me and you know what the kicker was?? The owner, Jeremy, was one of the people ignoring me. Yup, and this is not the first time. When I mentioned we wanted to order food, the waitress was again, in no hurry to get to our table. Chowder, a couple apps, and three entrees were ordered. After my beer was dry, the waitress was no where to be found. And did I mention the place was half full and there was beyond an adequate number of waitstaff?? So two of the apps come out, immediately followed by the entrees, which should never happen in the crappiest of establishments let alone one where there is an open kitchen and any waitress worth her weight would read the kitchen the riot act. But oh no, not here. The food sucked; like it was out of a freezer or can and the waitress had the nerve to bring the chowder AFTER the entree. Really????? And all we got (when we refused it) was a lame, "sorry, guys" from the owner, Jeremy. Again, apologies go a LONG way and at that point, Jeremy, you should have bought the group a round of drinks. NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!

    (1)

  • Roland L.

    WOW! This place exceeded my expectations. The food was great and the brew was even better. My wife and I shared two beer flights so we could try all the beer offerings. We also shared sword fish kabobs with quinoa and it was cooked to perfection. Prompt service and good attitude from the staff and the layout was great to watch the game! To top it all off it was reasonably priced compared to similar places. I wish we were closer because it takes is 1 1/2 hours to get there from home...

    (5)

  • Nicole S.

    Loved the beer! Some of the best IPA around!

    (5)

  • Darvo B.

    I'm upgrading my rating based on the beer. I've been traveling around and come to the conclusion that as far as brewpubs go... this is a good one. This is REAL BEER. And, being able to fill a growler with any beer on the menu, including High ABV beers is a feature that I highly appreciate. Thanks for that! -db.

    (4)

  • Damien S.

    Pumpkin stout is the stuff of legend. Can't comment on the food, but the porch views are harboriffic. Live music, trivia and other goodies for locals and visitors alike. Fun, fun, F-U-N!

    (4)

  • John D.

    Very touristy, very busy even on the cool "post-Labor Day" weekend we went there. It reminds me of the Barking Crab in Boston. It has a bar area with lots of benches. They also have waterfront dining... not much of a view, but it's better than the view of the parking lot and street. The one thing that made it worth the trip: The Fig and Date Imperial Pumpkin Stout. We had it as a sampler and ended up having a full glass each after we were done with our samplers. We did not feel rushed at all. Our waitress apologized for not giving us enough attention, which we appreciated, but we weren't in a rush to be anywhere (actually, we wanted to stay by the TVs... reasons below...) I wish they had more TVs - but that gripe is probably because we got there around lunch with the Pats playing a 1:00pm game. I also wish the F&D Imperial Pumpkin stout was available closer to Boston. You could buy one of the bigger containers (I forget the name), but as per them, it has to be consumed within a week (even earlier if you open the container). Sadness... I prefer Newburyport over Gloucester but if we are ever in the area again, I'm going to swing by for whatever seasonal offerings they experiment with!

    (4)

  • Amit R.

    I love everything about this place, some of the best beers i have ever had. and the food was amazing as well , probably the best hamburger in gloucester. the staff was very friendly and inviting and made me feel right at home.

    (5)

  • Mike M.

    I've been here about 15 times in the last 2 years and it is always an enjoyable experience. I don't come here for the food although I do like the bratwurst, which is from Karl's Sausage. The Oktoberfest beer on tap right now is great and I took home a growler for the Patriots game on Sunday. The Pineapple Express is worth sampling and if you try it with the Home Port Ale it tastes surprisingly like Allagash White. The indoor bar and seating area can get extremely noisy during peak times, but just head outside and stand or sit off to the left of the tables and enjoy your brew.

    (4)

  • Christian L.

    Not the best brewing co I have been to..the beer was decent though. Do not get the wings, they have no flavor at all just spiciness.

    (3)

  • Adrienne N.

    This was a disappointment. Two stars instead of one because my boyfriend loved the beer. I was hoping for a good ole' New England lobster roll. The lobster roll here on the menu had an Asian inspired twist and contained cream cheese and sesame seeds - I couldn't bring myself to order it. Instead I ordered the fish tacos - without the guacamole. Unfortunately, the tacos showed up with the guacamole. The waitress was very pleasant about getting me a new order, just a bummer to watch my boyfriend eat while I waited and then have him watch me eat. The fish tacos were not very good - mostly fried batter, very little fish. My boyfriend ordered the fish and chips and was not impressed. We both felt queasy after we left. The beer is fantastic - best pumpkin stout to be found.

    (2)

  • Ramon O.

    Best Brewery experience I have ever had. Beer, Food, Live Music, and a great view.

    (5)

  • Jamie G.

    I very much enjoyed the experience at Cape Ann. They have good beer, their selection has great variety, they have good food, and they often have live music. And they are located right on the water, and have nice outdoor seating. And of course they have a sampler, which all good breweries offer. So my beer line-up included: Eclipse: Light. Delicious. Schwarzbier. one of my faves here. 1.75 Honey pilsner: Slightly bitter. Little sweet. Little plain. 2.5 Sunrise saison: Good. Rhubarb strawberry (not too syrupy). But not wheaty/yeasty/thick enough. 2.25 Dunkelweiss: Good Wheaty delicious. Light. Little grapey/syrupy. 2 Imperial pumpkin stout: Good Pumpkin flavor. Strong Alc. Solid beer. 2 Navigator : Doppel bock. Very good. Scotchy. My fave here. 1.5 Dead eye: Double ipa. Bitter, very floral, But good ipa. 2.75

    (4)

  • Nick F.

    Yum! The fishermans IPA was so good. So was the clam chowder, the location, and the atmosphere. I want to go back again!

    (5)

  • Marie C.

    This is the friendly & fun local place that you've been looking for! You may have happened upon their Fisherman's Brew served locally -- a great beer - now their brew pub matches their wonderful, locally made beer in a wonderful, dockside setting in Gloucester. I highly recommend coming here Th-SU evenings where they have excellent live music. But I would guess that any night, or lunchtime is equally friendly, and the food is very good and affordable. There are games for the family in the corner, and a nice shuffle board table. There are a few TV's over the bar, but they don't distract if you want to talk. The chowder is recommended, as are the fish tacos. The beer was excellent - we tried the Navigator, and the Fishermen's Teaparty - a great barley wine. The view, and the deck are equally nice..and, as a note - this was one of the friendliest places that my family has gone to recently - everyone from the waitress, to the staff in the kitchen smiled at us, and high fived the kids..it was really special. Free parking is available in the adjacent lot, and the town is lovely to spend the day in -- great local shops, and a terrific Maritime Museum down the street that is excellent for kids (touch tank, play area). Worth a visit for sure!

    (4)

  • Elan W.

    This was the worst food ever! We went here on a Saturday night they didn't even give us our Own table! We were sat outside with a group of loud people at the same table. We ordered the quesadilla for an appetizer. The apps came we were never even given plates for these. The quesadillas weren't the worst but they could be better. For the main course she ordered the lobster roll. Ok for 21 bucks it didn't even taste like lobster and it definitely was not fresh plus the over powering ginger was gross!! I ordered the steak tips which were very over cooked. Then the potatoes tasted awful underneath everything. Then when she told nick how bad the lobster roll was he didn't even share empathy with his customers. I been in customer service for 15 plus years now. But c'mon!! Then we shelled over 60 bucks for crap even McDonald's could of made a better processed meat lobster roll! Who ever gave this place more then 1 star is a laugh riot!! So if your ever thinking of going here don't bother.

    (1)

  • Wallis T.

    I have been going here since they first opened at the original location, so it pains me to write this review. The beer has always been good -- not great, but good -- so I had great hopes when CAB moved to a place they could offer a regular menu. The service is terrible. Not only that, but they usually make you fork over a credit card to run a tab. Huh? Sure, if you're in a college hangout, but I'm pretty old and I think I look at least somewhat respectable, at least by Gloucester standards (just kidding!). OK, my girlfriend is a bit sketchy... (Kidding again!) I reluctantly handed over my credit card, specifically telling the server that we preferred to pay in cash. We had a couple of beers and sandwiches (more on that later) and asked for the tab. Instead of just bringing the check, as I asked, the server swiped the credit card. Rather than reversing the charge, I just paid it that way. Very annoying, because I don't actually usually charge anything on that card -- it's for emergencies. (I'm a cash kinda guy.) Now for the food. When they first opened, the food was pretty good, and I had great expectations for improvements. INstead, it has gotten worse. Do not, under any circumstances, get the brat!!!! It comes with what is described as "pickled cabbage," but which is really just shredded raw cabbage. They then dump about a half a bottle of mustard on the thing -- WAY overboard. (I have heard that they recently changed back to sauerkraut, which is a good move, if they did.) The pulled pork is mediocre at best, and would be greeting with hooting derision anywhere south of Pennsylvania. The seafood is just generally awful. So, go there for good (but not great) beer, but try not to go on an empty stomach. Two stars only because the beer is OK.

    (2)

  • George H.

    We tried the 10 beers they had on draft. All were average to above average. Several were really, really good. The IPA is really good. Their fruit beer was really good. The oyster stout is really good. Food is excellent as well. Ghost pepper wings are awesome (and ridiculously hot!). The bbq chicken sandwich was also delicious. The bartenders are very friendly and very knowledgeable about their beer. They have games available to play throughout the bar. The waterfront view is awesome.

    (5)

  • Jen C.

    I hate the fact that I can't get Fisherman's Ale and Fisherman's Brew back home, so I am always, always visiting the pub when I am visiting the area so I can get my hands on the beer. What's great is they'll let you taste some of the different beers if you're not quite sure what to get (and there is tons to pick from). I had the Honey Pilsner the last time I visited and walked away with a growler of the Summer Saison. This isn't a place where you go for outstanding food. You go for the outstanding beer. Period. And the atmosphere is great too. The staff is friendly. The people are nice. And they have some great music in the pub. I remember when the pub was down the street in the small place, and this is a HUGE upgrade from the old place. Absolutely love it.

    (5)

  • Amy L.

    Big selection of beer. I recommend the imperial stout and the pre-dawn trappist ale. I also tried one of their seasonal, chilly stout. It was novel and interesting but I would not want more than a print. It has a chili powder/red pepper after taste/finish. The food is good pub food. The pub itself was cold, I had to leave my coat on.

    (3)

  • Ryan Christopher R.

    Delicious Beer! Id suggest the Ale, Navigator, or Summer Saison. The food is good also. The haddock sandwich is something I usually get. Light beer batter made with the beer that is brewed there. The Veggie burger is also very good. have had the mussels and this app is enough to be considered a light dinner. My friend has ate the wings and has had no complaints. The spicy hot wings may be too spicy for some so take a word to the wise when they warn you. Also you can sit dockside, whats better than that! Also the long tables are casual setting and they have plenty of board games.

    (5)

  • Michele M.

    Had lunch here, ordered the haddock sandwich. Portions were HUGE -- I had no chance of finishing it all. Very tasty. Wait staff was friendly. :)

    (4)

  • Bob C.

    The beer is very, very good. That's the good news. The food and bar service need work and the bar tenders need to realize that sometimes people sitting at the bar actually order things other than beer, like food. I ordered fish and chips, a classic pub dish. The fish was perfect but the fries were overcooked and over-salted almost to the point of being inedible. My wife ordered a chef's salad with ranch dressing on the side and no anchovies. Think the kitchen could get that right? Nope. Dressing on the salad with anchovies. Our check came immediately after declining the offer of another beer. I guess they don't offer water (on a 95 degree day) or serve coffee or desert. Or maybe they really needed our seats, even if the place was half empty. I live about 10 minutes away and am hoping to make this a regular haunt because of the good beer but not if the food and service continue to be like this.

    (2)

  • Mary M.

    Stopped in for lunch and had a lovely combination of scallops wrapped in bacon appetizer and smoked salmon on a Virgilio's bun with all the fixin's you also would like on your smoked salmon. Great location, harborside. The hostess and waitress were great, very friendly & cheerful as well as professional. They didn't have their IPA ale because it was sold out over the holiday (4th of July) and it takes 4-6 weeks to brew more, so that was a little bit disappointing, but the honey pilsner was a good alternative. All in all, we enjoyed it & got the T-shirt! Parking was on the street as the public parking lot right next door was full.

    (4)

  • Michael D.

    Good beer, but bad food. They don't believe in vegetables here. Gone there many times before and it was decent, but the food has gone down hill. Fish tacos were the highlight and they had a spoonful, teaspoon at best, of guacamole and salsa on them. Not bad tasting, but could be much better with some lettuce, or more of the salsa or guacamole. PEI mussels were the smallest I've ever seen. No real bread with them, but just stale Italian bread grilled to a nice burn. They must have a deal with Virgilio's to take all their old bread. I asked real bread, but was told that was all they had. Marinated skirt steak was a joke. Marinade terrible. Over cooked and wasn't skirt steak, but tough large steak tips that I couldn't cut. With the steak was 4 pieces of the same stale bread, grilled to a nice burn. No vegetables anywhere! Oh, and half the meal came out and had to wait 5 minutes for other half to come. Server was nice, but couldn't make up for bad timing and terrible food. I'll go back for a beer and to listen to music, but no way for food. In response to Jeremy, the portion size of the mussels was very good. The mussels themselves were very small. I understand these are the mussels probably supplied to you from your seafood supplier, but getting one out of the shell and eating was like eating a tiny mussel - needed three to make up a decent mussel. Again, the fish tacos were tasty, but there was a dollop of guac at best and a dallop pico was under the fish as well. We did not order the steak tips. I've had them there many times and liked them. Went outside the box and was disappointed with the Skirt steak. Marinade was not to my liking and the stale bread was the only other item on the plate. My kids fish and chips and chicken fingers were fine and they liked them. It's nice to see you are reviewing and hopefully make the necessary improvements.

    (2)

  • Uncle A.

    This place is about good fresh beer. It ain't about food. Oh sure, they've got some palatable dishes that'll serve to soak up some of the alcohol you've ingested but if you want a "good meal" head up to that Portugese restaurant on Washington Street across from Dunkin. I LOVE this brew pub cuz it's all about good beer (why drink anything other than IPA?) that you can enjoy in a loose casual setting both indoors and out. I prefer warm weather swilling because of their great outside deck on the wharf. Thank god these guys are brewing in Gloucester!

    (4)

  • Miriam L.

    Great beer? Check. Tasty food? Check. Reasonable menu prices? Check. A wonderful range of meat, fish and veggie options? Check. More specials than I could hope to imagine? Check. Homemade hot sauce? Yeah, they had that too. That, dear friends, is Cape Ann Brewing Company in a nutshell. It was clean, airy comfy and great. People all acted civilized, despite it being Memorial Day weekend and a bit busy. Service could have been warmer (we were confused about where to order when seated in the back porch's rocking chairs. apparently there's a server for that. don't go to the bar.) but this is about the food, not about one potential misunderstanding. The prices are fabulous, the fish delicate and not battered within an inch of its life and they make their own fries. Need I say more? Oh wait, there's a fabulous view. That's free. And I'm done.

    (5)

  • Danie R.

    Eh. I miss the old brewery. The new location seems cold and too bright. The windows are huge and the view is of lobster traps. You can't even see the harbor. Also, sitting by the windows, it's freezing. I was shivering halfway through my meal. It's also very uncomfortable. The communal table seemed to work at the old restaurant, but in here, it just takes up space in an inefficient way. The rocking chairs are nice, but the brewery could use a few couches. There are a few games, reading material, and whatnot... That's pretty rad, except it was a huge distraction to my dining experience with Peter. I accidentally ignored him. Whoops! That's my fault. But anyway, in general, I miss the cosiness of the old place. The lady that I would always see tending bar at the old brewery is at the new location and she is great. The bar was quite busy tonight, so we had to sit at one the 3 communal tables. Even though we alerted folks that we were sitting down, it took forever to get a server and a menu. After we finally ordered, it didn't take too long for the food to come out. Before we started eating, she asked us if everything was OK and we said yes. I didn't think I wouldn't see her again until the food was done and we were ready for the check... but that definitely happened. If she had actually come back, I would have told her that the salad I ordered was missing things on it that were listed on the menu, and that I did not receive an adequate amount of salad dressing to eat with my salad. What I do not miss about the old brewery, the lack of food. The pizza used to be awful, wherever they got it from. The new place, the food is alright. Like I said earlier, I got a salad that was missing items on it from the menu, and I did not have enough dressing to finish my salad off... although I did eat it dry because I was hungry. Also, their hand-cut ruffle chips were stale and cold. There was oil floating around inside the middle of a chip.. ew. Peter kept holding it up to me and showing me it move around in the chip's air pocket. On a final note, the girl that I believe to be the host.. was wearing see-through leggings and I could see her butt cheeks. It was incredibly inappropriate and pretty disgusting! I don't know if she was the host actually, because eventually she was just sitting by the front door on a stool, reading and occasionally looking around. For awhile I thought I saw her helping out the servers and assumed that she was the host, but maybe I am wrong because I don't usually see hosts hunched over reading material, sitting down on the job. However, whoever she was, I was grateful she did sit down so I did not have to see what she was wearing anymore. SO GROSS!! Not too sure if I will be coming back.. There are other places in town with much better service and atmosphere. Perhaps for growler refills, but probably not for a sit-down meal.

    (2)

  • Andy C.

    As far as breweries go, go ahead and "hop" on over, have a few beers, and get some food. Perhaps one of the best brewpubs I've been to over my life, mainly because all too often - places that brew their own beer are very good at the beer, but only so-so on their food (Piece in Chicago would be the other exception). Alternatively, places that brew their own beer but have decent food sometimes fall short on the beer side of things because they're fueled by the corporate mentality of "We must move as much beer as we can, even if it tastes young." Rock Bottom and BJ's, you know who you are. Location: 5 out of 5 Ahh - beautiful setting in Gloucester. If you sit on the back patio, as I did - it's a pretty good view of the bay. And it's got that distinct "oceany" scent in the air too. Selection of Beers: 5 out of 5 What beers do they have on tap, you ask? Well - good thing I saved my receipt from my visit on the very last day of August, 2011. We ordered two samplers, so we got to try one of each of the beers, plus one repeat. In no particular order, they included: the namesake brew (amber lager), the namesake ale, the namesake IPA, the Hopulator IPA, the Bavarian Wheat, the Honey Pilsner, the Sunrise Saison, the Scottish Ale, the Oyster Stout, the Coffee Oyster Stout, the Tea Party, and an extra namesake brew. I enjoyed all of them to varying degrees - the ones that I found to be the most drinkable were the first three, and I can see why they sell very much of any of those choices. If you like super bitter beer that's been strained with fresh hops, the Hopulator is for you. It was fantastic, IBUs probably through the figurative roof (of yo mouth, haha!). I'm not a wheat beer guy, and I don't like honey in my beer, so I enjoyed those two less, but did not dislike them. The Sunrise Saison was a pleasant surprise. A little tart, not too "wild tasting", and it was nicely balanced. I personally don't prefer Scottish ales or stouts, but it was definitely a good experience to try all three. I couldn't discern the oyster in the oyster stout, but I could definitely taste the coffee (yum) in the coffee oyster. The tea party, brewed with real tea reminiscent of the Boston Tea Party - tasted like a very odd version of kombucha. Not my favorite, by all means, but hey - have an open mind and just try it. That's the point of having samplers. Selection of Food: 3.5 out of 5 Pretty decent/above average bar fare, and some local faves. The stuffed clams were some of the best I had in the area, and worth a try. They also have mussels on the menu, but I did not get those. Seems like a winner though, as they are sautéed with the wheat beer. This is not what I would classify as a true "restaurant", but there's enough on the menu to placate most palettes. Pricing: 4 out of 5 Actually, the price we paid was very fair for what we got. I think the samplers were 8 or 9 bucks each, and the food wasn't overly pricey. If you got the entrees, the price could go up considerably, but if you have a few friends and split some pitchers with appetizers, it shouldn't be overly burdensome. It's not exactly "cheap" to eat there, but I didn't feel like I was being overly charged when comparing all the other brewpub experiences I've had over the years. Service: 3 out of 5 Borderline lackadaisical, but I think on the particular night we went, they were having trivia. Plus, there were tourists and locals alike and the place was packed to a point where some people were just standing about and milling around. On the patio, they sort of employ a "service by committee" procedure where anyone can take your order and help you, but you do have a dedicated person who brings out your food and beer. As long as they have it organized in such a way that they understand what to do and when to do it, I can't complain. Did I wait a little longer here than I would have somewhere at home with a comparable atmosphere? Probably not. Was it a little longer than I would have preferred? Of course. Décor and Ambiance: 4 out of 5 Cool feel to it, even though the outside is basically a nondescript brick building. Long wooden benches in the main dining room, and 'upscale' picnic tables on the patio. Overall: 4 out of 5 Very solid establishment, and I would recommend it to friends visiting the area. I would probably frequent the place too, if I lived close by. Very comprehensive selection of rotating beers, decent food, fair prices, friendly (if a little slow'ish) service makes for a decidedly pleasant experience.

    (4)

  • Sarah W.

    I've been to the new location a couple of times now for drinks and food so here are my two cents... Angus Burger (with blue cheese)- Awesome. Beer- Great. Mussels in Brew - This is EXACTLY how I like mussels, the brew was so tasty and the mussels were cooked perfectly. Diva Chips- This is an excellent idea with blue cheese and bacon but not very exciting as a side on its own... I'm thinking they should include a fresh herb dip with them when you order a sandwich or burger... There is something to be said for a nice open and well lit space. I think that many people would welcome an alternative to the traditional stuffy restaurant/brew pub... You can spend a few hours here without feeling like someone needs your table, or wants to close your check. I wouldn't come here for a date but it is really ideal for a group of friends. They have a bunch of games too. After the second pitcher of beer, I recommend a game of Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots.

    (4)

  • Karen M.

    I really want to give Cape Ann Brewing more stars, but I just can't. I have been a fan of their beer, and have been enjoying it in other Gloucester pubs and restaurants for years. So, when they opened up the new brew pub, in a great location right on the marina, I was psyched. Here's why I'm probably not going back: 1) We ordered appetizers and sandwiches. After a long wait, ALL of the food came out together. We had to wolf it down in order to eat everything before it went cold. This is basic restaurant service 101, people. You don't make your customers wait for 30 minutes and then bring out all of the courses at once. 2) The 2 TVs over the bar, which were broadcasting 2 different sporting events simultaneously, were UNBELIEVABLY loud. They had the sound from both TVs at once going through the PA (used for live music later in the evening). My boyfriend and I literally had to shout to hear each other. We were sitting in the dining area, not at the bar. Just for perspective - we are not uptight old people or bookworms who expect to have soft piano jazz tinkling in the corner. We both play in rock bands, spend a lot of time in bars and noisy BBQ / roadhouse places, etc. We are used to loud music. We know that a brew pub needs to have some amount of background noise for the right ambiance, but this was RIDICULOUS. We were there for dinner at 8:00 on a Saturday night, not late-night dining once the nightlife was in full swing. Plus, we're talking about 2 TVs tuned to 2 different stations at the same time, blasting at full volume through a PA system - in other words, a complete cacophony, not music. We intended to linger over our appetizers and sandwiches and try a variety of beers. Instead, the late, rushed presentation of our food, and the insane noise level, made us rush through and get out as quickly as possible. We only had one beer each. You could have made a lot more money off of us, Cape Ann Brewing, if you would learn some basics about hospitality management. Yes, their beer is good. But, you can enjoy it fresh on tap in several other nearby bars and restaurants where you'll have a much better experience. I predict this space will be vacant in 3 years if they don't improve their service.

    (2)

  • Nunya B.

    Why are people complaining about the food, its a PUB people! The food they serve is what should be expected. I personally think the beer is god awful.

    (1)

  • Kate T.

    They now have a full menu here with nice, down-home fare. I had salmon cakes; bf had brats and sauerkraut. Both were good but not exceptional in any way. They made a point of noting organic, local ingredients on the menu which is a nice gesture. Of course, this place is a brewery, so if you just want to drink a nice variety of superfresh local beer it kinda doesn't matter how good the food is. The best thing about this place is the atmosphere. The architecture is really cool, featuring a high, planked ceiling and amazing picture windows (the whole wall is windows) looking out into the harbor. What a view! They only have a bunch of long, wooden tables which makes for communal dining with that fishermanny feel. The service is definitely still working out the kinks-- our waitress was completely awkward and made some rookie mistakes-- but at the same time she was friendly and genuine. We will definitely be back for the view if nothing else.

    (4)

  • Michael J.

    Food was typical bar food. They had trouble cooking a burger the way it was requested (sent back and the next one was still wrong). Had a micro brew and wasnt impressed. Wait staff never checked on us , refilled our drinks or anything. 2 stars only for cheap food.

    (2)

  • Billy v.

    great beer & ghost pepper wings wow nice spicy wings try them if you dare .. after you try the great beer .. then get the wings you lose all flavor after the wings !

    (4)

  • Gary J.

    Pumpkin stout is tasty and had the buffalo chicken mac n cheese which was also good. Great friendly service as well.

    (4)

  • Dan O.

    Wicked good beer and a fun place to drink it. I went on a Monday night for the weekly homebrew night. Its a chance to brew something new with a master of the craft and the best part is its all free. In a few weeks on a wednesday they will tap the keg and I will be there to try it. The brewing experience is free, the beer you drink is not. While you are there hanging out you can buy a pint or 3. And when you leave you can grab a growler of your favorite brew.

    (5)

  • Mike T.

    Great Beer and excellent Pub Food! Would go back here anytime!!!

    (5)

  • Kira Q.

    We've always had great food and service when we come here. The beer selection is diverse and changes with the seasons, and the growlers are a nice perk. The fish and chips are the best I've had so far and they use that same fish in their AMAZING fish tacos. The clam chowder is nice and rich and creamy. The hand cut French fries are delicious. There's outside seating that overlooks the water and has its own bar.

    (4)

  • Jameson B.

    We have been drinking Fisherman's Brew for quite a few years, but had yet to venture to the brewery/restaurant itself. We had heard good things and decided to check it out. It's a nice change of pace from the Seafood Houses that dot the harbor. They have some great beers to taste and I highly recommend getting a flight or two. The food was better than expected and I think everyone really enjoyed themselves.

    (4)

  • Denise N.

    my boyfriend and i stopped in here for a few brews before a whale watch. we had a really good time. the vibe is very casual and laid back. the decor is all wood, and the seating inside is largely communal. we sat at the bar and enjoyed a few different brews. my boyfriend had the pumpkin stout and the barrel aged belgian style stout. the pumpkin stout was good, but the belgian style was AMAZING. it's aged in cabernet sauvignon wine barrels for a year, and boy can you smell and taste it! this had wonderful sweet and sour flavors, and totally packed a punch. definitely the best beer of the bunch. i had the sunrise saison and the bavarian wheat. both were good and easy to drink, but kinda unremarkable. i would drink them again, but there are other things i might try first. overall, we had a good experience. the bartender was friendly, personable, and happy to pour samples when we asked. food looks really good, and portions appear quite large. if we're in the area again, we'll definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Timothy L.

    I was there yesterday for a burger and beer. The burger was pretty good and so were the fries and slaw. I like their beer, but it was not even close to being cold. You would think a place made to showcase beer would have proper refrigeration. The real problem started when a couple with a dog were seated next to us, inside. Is that even legal, a dog inside a restaurant? It clearly was not a service dog. It sat under our long picnic style table which caused us to watch under the table to be certain it didn't do anything, like lick our legs, urinate, or bite. A storm rolled in which quickly drowned the people on the deck and caused a controlled human stampede for the inside of the restaurant. If the staff had been paying attention, they would have had the clear protection walls rolled down and secure. Instead it was chaos. Lots of families with children under 5 seated at long cafeteria style tables. Not a good mix for a brew pub. I like their beer, but I will buy it elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Jonathan C.

    I came here with my brother and we shared chicken nachos. Additionally, we each ordered a flight (6 samples). I can't remember all the beers, but I remember that I liked 5 of them, and hated one (the saison) Nachos were standard fare. Nice views of the working harbor. I'd go back.

    (4)

  • Erin C.

    For just $8.50 we got a great flight of 6 beers. Although I'm not a pumpkin beer lover, the Imperial Pumpkin Stout was outstanding. This will definitely be on my purchase list! We sat outside, which was lovely, and split an order of poutine. Good thing the beer was good because the food was not. The gravy was like water and the cheese curds had no flavor. Plus, the whole thing was just kind of cold. We didn't have the urge to order more food after such a poor dish. We will definitely be back but will be enjoying just beer on our next visit!

    (3)

  • Jeffrey P.

    We've been here a handful of times; in the winter around Christmas time, the spring and in the summer. We've enjoyed ourselves each visit. Great place to sit outside, take in the views of "Glosta" harbor and sip some tasty beers. Menu is varied enough for most tastebuds. We'll be back in the fall.

    (4)

  • Sarah L.

    Love this place. Beautiful view of the water, great deck with a bar, and the interior is spacious. Service is always excellent, from the host to the server to the bartender, everyone is always friendly and relaxed. As for the beer, it's unparalleled for local breweries. Their offerings are diverse and consistently interesting. I can always find at least a few things I love each season (spruce tip! spruce tip!). The food is also unparalleled for local brewpubs. Fish tacos are amazing, seafood is fresh and always cooked perfectly. It's simple stuff, but done very well. Veggie burger, fisherman's platter, and fish and chips also highly recommended. We live in Beverly but make the trip to Gloucester sometimes twice a week because we love this place so much, as do our visiting friends who usually request we take there. Love it!

    (5)

  • Roger K.

    Even a disappointing visit to the Gloucester Waterfront Festival at Stage Fort Park in search of arts and crafts can build up a thirst. A visit to the Cape Ann Brewing Co. was not that long of a walk and a good remedy. Many others must have had the same idea as both the outdoor deck and the dining room were filled. But the far end of the bar had two seats waiting for us. With a dozen choices of brews to choose from, we started with pints of Pumpkin Stout and Vanilla Porter ($5.50 each), 64 oz. pitchers are also available for $20. Both beers were excellent, plenty of flavor and refreshing. I want to add that I couldn't notice a pumpkin flavor coming through, but that's not a complaint because all the flavors blended so nicely. To satisfy our fish craving, I ordered the Baked Trio ($21) and my wife had the Fish Stew ($17). The Trio consisted of baked haddock, scallops, and shrimp with smashed potatoes and yellow and green squash. All three fish were cooked perfectly and the panko/crumb topping was crisp and crunchy. Initially, I thought the topping was a bit salty, but I seemed to adjust to it quickly. My wife thought her Stew was good but should have had more flavor. It was more like a tomato soup with fish in it. Maybe if the stew had a longer time to simmer the fish would have imparted more flavor. While finishing off with two more brews, Fisherman's IPA ($4.50/pt) and Joey Rock's Milk Stout ($5.50), I noticed a pub game on the wall behind us that I have never been successful in achieving over the last 25+ years on visits to a famous Ale house in Syracuse, NY. It consists of a ring tied to a string hanging from the ceiling, with the object of the game being to swing the ring on the string so that it reaches the wall in front of you and catches on a hook that is screwed into the wall. Why am I telling all this to you? Because I finally succeeded in accomplishing the feat! Hurray!! Service was friendly and efficient. The brews were very good, the food was good, and everyone looked like they were having a good time.

    (4)

  • Tonya S.

    When I'm in this area, I always come here for the beers. A great flight selection at hand. I've never eaten a meal here other than their chowdaaaa which was good, not amazing as I thought it was a little too creamy with not enough clam taste.

    (4)

  • Kat C.

    I'm about to echo the theme of most of the reviews, great beer but so so food. We came in during lunch time on a Saturday so it was pretty busy, we had been hoping to sit on the deck, but that was a thirty min wait and we were hungry. We ended up at the bar and as bars go it was a relatively comfortable location. We were given the beer menu right away and although our bartender switched our beers we figured it out quickly and switched them back (my friends beer was the sunrise saison, which is pretty fruity so it was very easy to tell). No big deal. Best beer was the tea party. It has a complex taste and a nice level of hops to finish it off. Also enough abv to make my cheeks turn pink. We ordered apps to share, I got the mussels and she got the calamari. The mussels were great, nicely cooked, and the broth was so good. The calamari was good but it needed more spice, it had a pepper on top, I ate the pepper directly and I think it was a bell pepper, no heat at all. Even the cocktail sauce could have used more horseradish. It tasted mostly of tomato. The second we finished the apps the entrees arrived and when I say a second I'm not over exaggerating. We basically blinked and they were there. Mine was the fish tacos and my friend had the haddock sandwich. The pickle, fries and coleslaw were good. The coleslaw is not just any coleslaw, it has raisins and apples. Super yummy. The fries were crispy and super hot, it looked like a sea salt sprinkled on top, I swear mine tasted a bit like lime, but my friend did not agree. I might have been hallucinating, but whatever they were good. Unfortunately the fish tacos themselves were super bland. I never add table salt but I had to with these. I also added the house made hot sauce, which was super spicy but def what the tacos needed. The tacos have guacamole on the bottom and corn salsa on the top. If I had made them I would have added a chipotle mayo just to tie it all together. It just felt like it was missing something. When we were finished our meals we were allowed to stay at the bar chatting and finishing our beers with a few check ins from the bartenders to see if we need another round. I would definitely come back but mostly for the beer and the view, not for the food.

    (3)

  • R H.

    A really good bar with (unsurprisingly) good beer. Prices were better than Boston, and the calamari was solid. I could have done with a sightlier quieter environment. Otherwise, great!

    (4)

  • Sarah R.

    In town in a Monday night and found many places closed. We wanted to go to Latitude 43 but were discouraged by how pricey it was. So we walked to Cape Ann Brewing to see if there was food. We are huge beer needs so we are happy to drink local and try new blends and got an awesome flight of 6 samples. I looooved the Dead Eye DIPA and the man loved the fishermans brew. We also had great food of seafood stew and the man (who is British) had fish and chips. Both wise choices! P It is a very low key and chill place. Great bar and huge tables. There was a collection of board games and two groups and families playing. We partook in shuffle board and darts (free) after dinner. Awesome place osted pictures too.

    (4)

  • CJ L.

    Solid spot on the water, food was priced fairly good for the location and the food was really good we ordered the mussels and the fish tacos. They were very fresh and flavorful. Would have been 5 stars if our waitress julianna didn't suck. We waited ten minutes after we sat to be asked what we wanted to drink after our drinks arrived it was a solid 25 minutes before she came back to take our order, luckily the kitchen was quick and our order arrived fast but she never came back to the table after to see if we needed drink refills or the check etc. The bus boy took care of us.

    (4)

  • Leslie M.

    Juvenile, immature customer service!!! Waited 45 minutes after being told 10. Saw a bunch of empty tables inside ( we asked to be seated first available) so asked the hostess to seat us. She proceeded to crankily walk us to one of the tables and then literally SLAMMED down the menus and utensils. I have never seen anything like it. We walked out on the spot. It's too bad the service is so awful because the reviews make it sound like the beer and food are great. Oh well.

    (1)

  • Vickie W.

    Fantastic beers..a selection that has a little bit of something for anyone to enjoy! I had the Dubbel, very clean finish with no yucky aftertaste! Their menu had IPAs, Porters, seasonals ... I ordered pretzels and clam chowder, pretzels were soft and fluffy! BEST clam chowder I've had, ever!!! How you can only hope a great chowder would be made, very tasty!! Our waitress was great! She was knowledgeable and friendly! Chill atmosphere, seems like a place a lot of locals go...if I lived there, I probably would too! I'd like to go back and check out the brewpub this summer as it looks like they have outside seating! Cheers!

    (4)

  • Gus C.

    Had the pumpkin stout , was good, not great , had the deviled eggs, yum but the clam chowder was unbelievable l! Back deck was a little crowded, bar a little small but a nice place to stop and have some chowder.waitress didn't even know we were at table till bartender told her. Buy besides that service was great !

    (3)

  • Adam W.

    Fair enough, please don't misunderstand me. I don't need to know exactly how much your food costs. And I fully understand how Market Price works. But $32 seems a bit much. Now I know to stick to the beers. Thanks for responding. Again, think about putting that big a price jump on a chalk board or on the specials card. Would have gone a long way with me.

    (2)

  • Michael R.

    Never see such rudeness. We were told 15 minutes for a table. Waited 30 before we left. The whole time there were plenty of open seats, inside and out. The faces on the hostesses and their attitudes was disgusting! This is too bad because I have been there many times and enjoyed it , now I will think twice!

    (1)

  • Kevin J.

    Great place to have drinks with friends and have some food. Simple menu items with seafood and American fare. Their house made beers are very good too. Try the samplers. When in the area I make this a routine stop. It's worth the trip there so long as you don't have kids in tow.

    (4)

  • Lesley B.

    Bottom Line Their Customer Service is Horrendous! We requested outdoor seating since it was a nice day and were happy when we could be seated right away... However, once we got to the deck they sat us at a table in the shade. Immediately we requested the open table right next to it that was in the sun, we wanted to be in the sun on this nice Saturday Day.... whats wrong with that? Well we got a big fat NO! When I asked why we were told that the table in the shade and the table in the sun had different waiters and so the waiter whose table was in the shade was where they needed to seat us. HUH?!?! I have NEVER EVER heard of this before!!! So we sat down in our table in the shade as the empty table next to us in the Sun sat empty... until 2 minutes later when they sat a group of people there. We walked in with all intent to try their beers and eat lunch/dinner... we ended up leaving after our first beer!!! Best part was that the party who got sat at the sunny table that we really wanted to sit at decided to Move inside after 10 minutes of sitting there... and they let them!!!!! So they were allowed to move after sitting at the sunny table but we weren't allowed to request the sunny table to start with... JOKE!!! You lost a customer for life.. I will never step foot in your restaurant again... not worth it! Treat your customers right!! Best part is we left and went to Captain Carlos and when the hostess brought us out to their deck she said "Pick any table you want"!!! :) Don't bother with this place... I have never heard of a restaurant say NO to a seating request without a good reason. The table wasn't reserved or anything.. they just plain said NO!

    (1)

  • Kelly O.

    They're brewing some solid stuff here, and it's kind of amazing that you can get a sampler of 6 beers for only $8.50. I enjoyed every beer I tried, but particularly liked the Pick Ale, which had a really refreshing cucumber flavor. This place is pretty much as casual as you can get; picnic tables and games like shuffleboard decorate the interior, with a nice patio outside. Another Yelper was spot on when they said it's really more of a family restaurant then a brew pub, so definitely keep that in mind when planning a trip here- I saw tons of kids running around everywhere, and it doesn't seem like a place you'd want to sit for hours sipping your way through the taps like at other beer-oriented institutions, nor a place you'd go out of your way to come to just for the food (typical New England pub-grub).

    (3)

  • Sara J.

    I love it. You will too. Great place for great beer and great pub food for everyone. VEGAN CHILI!! Relaxing atmosphere. Do it. You are welcome.

    (5)

  • Erik P.

    Great room to come have a few and get a bite. I really enjoyed their coffee infused pumpkin stout recently and the imperial pumpkin stout is really good too. I brougt home a growler of the pumpkin stout and shared with family who all seem to enjoy this tasty offering. They have a sketchy little shuffle board table which my wife and I enjoyed while watching the Pats roll over the Red Skins. The big long benches and tables provide a sort of communal atmosphere though we've never been there when it's been busy enough that we've had to cram in next to strangers. I suppose it can get pretty crowded on a Thursday or Friday night though. It's becoming a regular spot for us on our increasingly frequent trips to Gloucester.

    (4)

  • Jessica A.

    beers was so good and we love that kids came with us. Kids have toys for them when you drink beers, thank to thinking of parent's beer fan !

    (5)

  • Victoria G.

    Amazing beer, food, and service. The imperial pumpkin stout is my favorite. Highly suggest!

    (5)

  • Edward S.

    Make no mistake about this place -- this is a DRINKING establishment. I cannot say anything about the food as I did not try any, but the atmosphere is not conducive towards fine dining. There is a bar and three long, picnic style tables...thats it. You find a seat wherever you can and start ordering their delicious beer. Be prepared to be social as you will more than likely be seated next to complete strangers while on these long benches. Did I mention the beer was good?

    (4)

  • Chris E.

    Went here for lunch while driving around. I had the lobster roll. Was on a hogie roll. Lots of lobster but the roll was toasted and part of it cut the back of my throat. I should chew more often. Was good for the price. Nothing spectacular. Probably more of a place to have their beer vs the food.

    (3)

  • Kniel S.

    Cape Ann Brewing is a small local brewery located on the waterfront in historic Gloucester. They make an ever growing selection of fine beer including their flagship lager, Fishermans Brew. Their beers are available locally in 12 oz bottles and on tap at finer Pubs and Resturants around New England. No, I am not affiliated with them in any way, I just think they're great. *** As a side note, they were recently awarded a license to pour on premise. The hours are I believe for now, noon until eight PM. Stop by and try a pint or two.

    (5)

  • Sandy S.

    Beer is great. But regardless of the number of games here it is defiantly not a kid friendly place. Picnic style tables with benches too high off the floor and extremely uncomfortable. Not enough cooks in the kitchen be prepared to wait an hour for sandwhiches (that's all they have) an be ready to defend yourself from the rude waitstaff. I do have to give credit to a professional manager who did her best to work with what/who she had.

    (1)

  • Erica S.

    After attending an awesome Cape Ann Brewing Company beer dinner at Cambridge Common, my man and I were excited to check out the CABC brewpub, and a weekend in Magnolia (sponsored by LivingSocial's deal at Inn Magnolia - thanks guys) was just the time to do it. We strolled in at 7pm on a Saturday night and were seated right away. Awesome! We proceeded to have a tasty and fun meal. First, a couple small complaints (which are all minor and shouldn't be seen as reasons not to check this place out): - The cafeteria-style seating (loooong tables and loooooong benches) is fun, but the bench I sat on was warped and had uneven feet, which made me a little bit insane when the guy at the other end kept laughing and tipping the bench. - My fried fish sandwich desperately needed some salt in the batter. It was fried perfectly, but very bland. I had to douse it in tartar sauce in order to make it palatable, and I'm not a crazy salt fiend. - Their parking lot is tiny. There are a few spots in front of the place, but otherwise you're going to have to find a street spot, which, since it's a busy intersection, isn't the easiest. However, we scored a metered spot up the hill, and the meters aren't in effect after 6pm. But keep it in mind for summertime, when Gloucester will get busy. Now, the good stuff: - First of all, the beer is awesome. We got a 64-oz pitcher for $16, which is ridiculous. And the pitcher was glass, which somehow made it better. I guess it's kind of like how Coke tastes better from a glass bottle. They seem to have 8+ beers on tap, including the good old standbys and some crazier things, like cucumber-honey beer and coffee-infused porter. - The food is reasonably priced and the menu is chock-full of local goodies - seafood, of course, but also cheeses, meats, and even bread (mmm, Virgilio's) were locally sourced. I could happily have eaten anything on the menu - it all sounded great! There's a nice balance between anywhere-pub-food and New-England-seaside-food, with a healthy dose of farmer's-market-eco-consciousness. The fries were incredibly delicious, and served in moderation (which was awesome; I love fries but I don't need to eat 14 oz of them every time I order a sandwich). - The place is hopping and the long tables mean you'll end up sitting near strangers, which is a fun environment to eat and drink in. We had some good ol' boys on one side and a well-heeled older couple on the other. The bar looked fun, too. - There's some kind of air-hockey/shuffleboard-hybrid-looking game over by the windows. Also, a whole shelf full of games and books! We played Yahtzee all night, and even though my luck was terrible, it was really fun. - There are several giant TVs mounted over the bar for the sports junkies. - There is a fair amount of outdoor seating, with harbor views and great light. Just watch out for those seagulls.

    (4)

  • Tamara C.

    Stopped in here this afternoon, and had a Pumpkin Stout and a Pumpkin soup; both were excellent. The Stout was not too fruity had a great flavor and the soup tasted like a beer battered smoked bacon Pumpkin soup it was very good.

    (4)

  • Morgan P.

    The beer list is good, and beer is fairly good. The brew pub its self is a great location. The food is very so-so at best so if your looking for a "good dinner" i'd pass, if you are happy with cheap eats, and bar food this place is an A+

    (3)

  • Christina M.

    Fun atmosphere lots if games to play.knowledgable and friendly staff. The best beer and great food. Love it!

    (5)

  • Shannon H.

    This is a cool pub if you are just looking to stop in for a beer or 2. Not the type of place that I would want to spend the evening in with friends... but great for a quick stop. Good beer and interesting atmosphere. If you are into Brewery info and trying different local tastes its somewhere you will want to try out.

    (4)

  • Bear Paw B.

    Stopped here for a drink when we were driving through on a Saturday night. It seemed like a local place and everyone stared when we walked in. Very busy. We tried a few different beers. They seemed flat, but were just ok. Only like 6 options. We did not try any food.

    (2)

  • Danielle W.

    Cute micro brewery serving excellent selections of beer. Try the Fisherman's Double IPA (my fav). It's brewed with oyster shells!! Two things to keep in mind: 1. There is no kitchen in their current digs, but they offer a limited selection of tasty snacks, (assorted cheeses, pizza, chowder, etc.). 2. They keep limited hours due to their proximity to a residential neighborhood. They are said to have broken ground on their new location further up Commercial St., where they will have a kitchen (and thus an expanded menu) and will be able to keep later hours. The owners are adorable and they're passionate about beer. Stop in for a satisfying brew and support this local business!

    (4)

  • Bigby S.

    The beers here are decent but not fabulous, but the workstaff and patrons are friendly and helpful. The ambiance is great. I recently came on a night in which a local fisherman was serving his wares for free. All of it was excellent. Some of the best seafood I have ever had. Probably a four star without the fluke food.

    (5)

  • Kayla G.

    Cape Ann Brewing Company is a great place to stop in and support your local brewery and taste their local flavor. The 5 year old business is about to become a real brewpub and wants everyone on the island and beyond to come on down. You can come and get FREE samples of any of their 8 different beers. After selecting the one or three you like best you can purchase a growler full of it and enjoy it at home. By doing this you can have beers that you can't find in the liquor store and it saves you some money. Whenever you come back for a refill it is $8 cheaper than your first fill. Along with growlers you can also buy t-shirts, hats, pint glasses and even a Fisherman's neon sign. Beers on draft right now: Fisherman's Brew (an amber lager), Gold Medal winning Fisherman's Ale (kolsch ale), Fisherman's IPA. Seasonal Beers: Firsherman's Pumpkin Stout (voted best pumpkin beer) and Fisherman's Bavarian Wheat (summer seasonal) Cape Ann Brewing company is open Monday-Saturday from 12n-6pm.

    (5)

  • Topher D.

    I'm updating my earlier post on this place, with the idea that one should not go there for food - don't expect to eat there, its not happening. With that in mind, I've gone from 3 to 4 stars, reason is, the beer is excellent and if you go on an off hour you can really talk with staff about their brewery, the process and all that good stuff. Support local beer, and frequent Cape Ann, its well worth the trip

    (4)

  • Marjan F.

    My family and I stopped in for lunch after a morning of deep sea fishing. Place was not that busy more than 2/3 empty we sat and ordered appetizers and lunch. Appetizer arrived after 30 minutes, muscles were rubbery and nachos were had to be remade twice. Apparently cheese only was too much of a challenge for the chef. When the nachos arrived wrong the first time the waitress came over to ask what was wrong a's she is spitting food on our table apparently from her lunch, which apparently arrived before ours. The chef attempted to pick off toppings from nachos instead of remaking them. He was caught by my children and reluctantly made a second one. Finally after about an hour of being there we got our food, my sons chicken wings were blackened and I don't mean spicy, my husband fish tacos and my chips and fish tasted like they had been fried in old dirty oil and it smelled. The waitress never asked why we hadn't eaten our food, so when she came over to ask us if we needed boxes and we said no, and that the food was horrible. She stopes off the almost 100.00 check and said I am sorry. Very poor quality food, bad service. It's a shame, it is in a nice location. It should be much better for the price.

    (1)

  • Ruth H.

    I came here for lunch the other day with my girlfriend. The cool: The vibe, atmosphere, and layout make for a very refreshing and laid-back place in Gloucester. No doubt, this place will be packed come summertime. The different types of brewed beer are good. Cape Ann Brewing knows how to make a good beer. It's also cool to be able to see some of their brewing vats through a large glass window located right next to the bar. If you don't know which type of beer you want, they provide a sampler "surfboard" of a bunch of different ones for you to try. The not-so-cool: While the atmosphere is awesome, when you sit at the bar the only part of the kitchen you can see is the sink and dishwasher. If I'm going to be sitting at the bar, I don't want to see some lanky teenage kid washing dishes; I want to see the grill - open flames and sizzling pieces of meat! I asked what the soup specials were and was told New England Clam Chowder and Lobster Bisque. I ordered a bowl of the 'chowda' and then later was told they didn't have any. I don't know how you can call yourself a restaurant anywhere in New England and not have clam chowder -- especially on a cold, snowy day. The lobster bisque was okay, a bit lukewarm (just like the service), and didn't come with any crackers. What else? In addition to no clam chowder, they didn't have coffee, hot tea, or desserts. (And, yes, I know it's a BREWING company, but, still, come on!) I think the owner of the place was sitting next to us while we were at the bar. Even though we ordered our food well before he sat down, somehow his meal showed up in front of him immediately. Also, some girl from the kitchen yelled to him across the bar that she was going to "microwave" the bratwurst. Gross. Finally, I went to the men's room and noticed only one urinal. They might want to rethink that. Peak "peeing" season begins around the last Thursday of June during St. Peter's Festival. If they want and expect a drinking crowd, they're gonna need more than one urinal!

    (4)

  • danny b.

    thank God the diva chips are gone.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

  • Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes

Cape Ann Brewing Company

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