BUSINESS: Post & Beam is offering a bit of Peterborough in Boston
Published: 11-04-2024 12:01 PM |
Charlestown, Mass., and Peterborough may not have much in common, but now they’re both locations of Post & Beam pubs.
The fixture in the G.A.R. Hall on Grove Street in Peterborough, which has been serving its craft brews locally since 2018, opened a satellite taproom in Boston’s oldest neighborhood, a few blocks from the Bunker Hill Monument, in September. Charlestown, founded in 1628, is actually older than Massachusetts itself.
Owner Erika Rosenfeld offered assurances that thirsty Granite Staters who visit Post & Beam South will find their familiar favorites on tap.
“We’re going to keep doing what we do best – we won’t mess with anything,” said Rosenfeld.
All the brewing will continue to be done in Peterborough, but can now be experienced across the street from the Sullivan Square T stop on the Orange Line. Parking is available two blocks away.
The Charlestown location is a shared culinary workspace owned by Foundation Kitchen, an operation founded by Tara Novak and Ciaran Nagle, who Rosenfeld met in Peterborough. When space opened up in Charlestown, the couple approached Rosenfeld, who was looking at tweaking Post & Beam’s distribution model. P & B South’s soft opening in Charlestown made the rounds on social media.
Craft brewers have faced some headwinds since 2019, including the pandemic, as Rosenfeld said non-alcoholic cocktails have enjoyed a newfound popularity.
“Sales in this market have been down over the past five years,” said Rosenfeld. “But I’m a firm believer in the European tradition of a local pub.” The term “pub” comes from the English concept of a public house for gathering.
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“Community is about food and drink,” Rosenfeld said, adding that the Boston location will also have the same notice posted in its restrooms encouraging people to “Love thy neighbor.” This urging is followed by a list of diverse characteristics and personal choices to promote inclusivity and convey that all are welcome there.
Given the demographics of Boston – college students and recent graduates starting careers in the area – Rosenfeld expects a younger crowd than might be found on Grove Street. Bandit Hat and Robbers To The East are popular beers in Peterborough, Rosenfeld said, and will also be on tap in Charlestown, as well as the lagers and pale ales that have helped the business grow in Peterborough.
One Bay Stater who frequents the original location but lives closer to Boston was pleased with the news.
“It’s like your friend just moved to town,” Richard Martin said.
Arriving in the Monadnock region by way of San Diego and Connecticut, Rosenfeld was introduced to home brewing by a former partner. They kept home brewing because they could not find a beer that they liked.
“So we made our own,” she said.
Rosenfeld said “90 to 95% of our time is spent cleaning,” as opposed to adding hops and brewing.
“Selling beer is administratively and legally very dry,” she said.
Rosenfeld was sold on G.A.R. Hall as soon as she toured it, she said.
“My gut told me that this was the place,” she said.
Massachusetts laws preclude P & B South from replicating its Peterborough Mug Club in Charlestown, as it falls under the statutes that do not allow happy hours in the Bay State.
There is the possibility of Kegs & Eggs in Charlestown, a popular event on the first Sunday of each month in Peterborough. The Post & Beam serves beer, and a food truck serves egg sandwiches.
Rosenfeld has aspirations of expanding north as well, but for now, said the new operation south of the border will keep her “tired but excited.”