Breweries of Manchester and Nashua

New Hampshire's two largest cities sit side by side on the Merrimack River, and between them they have built a brewery scene worth a dedicated day. Manchester's options range from a neighborhood taproom with pinball to a farm-to-table brewpub in the old mill district. Nashua adds a big hilltop taproom with a patio and a barbecue-and-beer hall with a very long bar. This guide covers breweries in Manchester NH and Nashua, how they differ, and how to plan a visit.

Manchester and Nashua at a glance

Manchester is the most populous city in New Hampshire, with 115,644 residents at the 2020 census. It grew up around the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, once the largest cotton textile plant in the world, and its brick millyard along the Merrimack is still the city's signature view.

Nashua, just to the south, had 91,322 residents in 2020, making it the second-largest city in northern New England. It developed around textile mills at the confluence of the Nashua and Merrimack rivers. The two cities share duties as the county seats of Hillsborough County, the state's most populous, and together anchor a metro area of roughly 423,000 people.

That population is a large part of why both cities support so many taprooms. These are places where locals actually spend their evenings, not just stops on a tourist trail.

Manchester breweries

To Share Brewing Company

To Share Brewing Company was founded in 2018 and sits in a residential neighborhood on Union Street, which gives it a genuine local-hangout feel. The brewery's stated focus is community: a welcoming space where people can set their differences aside over a locally made pint. You will always find a range of beers on tap, including gluten-free and non-alcoholic options, which is not a given at small breweries. There is a small kitchen for snacks and a family-friendly game room with board games, pinball, a chalkboard wall and video games.

If you are bringing a mixed group, including people who do not drink beer, this is one of the easiest picks in the city.

• To Share Brewing Company

Great North Aleworks

Great North Aleworks brews on Holt Avenue in Manchester and is a member of the New Hampshire Brewers Association. Its taproom keeps limited hours compared with the brewpubs on this list, generally later in the week, so check the schedule on the brewery's site or the association's directory before you go. It is a good stop for people who want to focus on the beer itself.

• Great North Aleworks

Stark Brewing Company

Stark Brewing Company is a full brewery and restaurant in Manchester, with a menu, a mug club and function space for parties and events. That combination makes it a practical choice for a group dinner rather than a quick tasting, and a solid anchor if you plan to eat in the middle of a brewery day.

• Stark Brewing Company

Republic Brewing

Republic Brewing describes itself as a farm-to-table brewery and restaurant in the heart of downtown Manchester, on Old Granite Street. It pairs locally sourced food with beer brewed on site, and it is one of the newer additions to the city's scene. Its downtown location makes it easy to combine with a walk through the millyard district.

• Republic Brewing

Beer and the mill city

Brewing fits the history of these cities. Manchester was named by the merchant and inventor Samuel Blodget, who imagined an industrial center like the original Manchester in England. The native Pennacook people called Amoskeag Falls, at the heart of the city, Namaoskeag, meaning "good fishing place." Today a beer day here pairs well with a walk past the long brick mill buildings along the river, where the city's industrial past is still easy to read in the architecture, the canals and the scale of the place.

Nashua breweries

Spyglass Brewing Company

Spyglass Brewing Company has been brewing since 2018 and is located right off Exit 1 in Nashua, tucked up on a hill behind a hotel with plenty of parking. The taproom is large, seating almost 300 people, and there is a seasonal patio. The brewery serves food as well, and it sells cans to go and personal kegs for anyone who wants to take some beer home.

Because it is so close to the highway, Spyglass is an easy first or last stop if you are coming from or heading toward Massachusetts.

• Spyglass Brewing Company

Lost Cowboy Brewing

Lost Cowboy Restaurant and Brewery, on Amherst Street in Nashua, leans into a western theme with barbecue, burgers and house-brewed drafts alongside a signature cocktail list. The brewery playfully asks whether it has the longest bar in New Hampshire and leaves that for visitors to decide. It is a lively, full-service stop and works well for a group that wants a big meal with its beer.

• Lost Cowboy Brewing

How to plan a Manchester and Nashua brewery day

A brewery day in the Merrimack Valley works best with a plan and, ideally, a driver who is not drinking.

1. Pick a direction. Start in Nashua near Exit 1 at Spyglass, then work north toward Manchester, or do the reverse. The cities are close, but crisscrossing wastes time.

2. Anchor the day with a meal. Stark, Republic and Lost Cowboy all serve full menus. Plan lunch or dinner at one of them rather than relying on snacks.

3. Mix the styles. Pair a big taproom such as Spyglass or Lost Cowboy with a smaller neighborhood spot such as To Share for contrast.

4. Check hours the day of. Small taprooms often keep shorter or seasonal hours, and some close early in the week. Confirm before you drive.

5. Do not drive impaired. Use a designated driver or a ride service, and pace yourself with tasters rather than full pints.

Tips for visiting

• Ask about flights. Many taprooms offer smaller pours, which is the best way to try several beers without overdoing it.
• Bring the family when it fits. Several of these breweries are family-friendly during the day, To Share especially, with games for kids. Check each brewery's policy.
• Look for non-alcoholic options. If someone in your group does not drink, To Share specifically notes gluten-free and non-alcoholic choices.
• Take some home. Spyglass sells cans to go, and many breweries in both cities offer crowlers or cans. New Hampshire's craft beer is a good souvenir.
• Use the state brewers association. The New Hampshire Brewers Association keeps a member directory with addresses and hours for breweries across the state, a handy planning tool.

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Manchester and Nashua?

They are neighboring cities on the Merrimack River in Hillsborough County, close enough that most visitors combine them in a single day.

Which brewery in Manchester is best for families?

To Share Brewing Company has a family-friendly game room with board games, pinball and video games, plus gluten-free and non-alcoholic options.

Which breweries serve full meals?

Stark Brewing Company, Republic Brewing and Lost Cowboy Brewing all run full kitchens, and Spyglass serves food as well.

Is there a brewery near the Massachusetts border?

Spyglass Brewing Company is just off Exit 1 in Nashua, a short drive from the state line.

Where can I find brewery hours?

Each brewery's own website is the best source. The New Hampshire Brewers Association directory also lists hours for member breweries.

Sources

• Manchester, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (population, Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, metro area): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester,_New_Hampshire
• Nashua, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (population, rivers, county seat): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashua,_New_Hampshire
• New Hampshire Brewers Association member directory (Great North Aleworks address and hours): https://www.nhbrewers.org/breweries
• To Share Brewing Company official site (founded 2018, neighborhood, gluten-free and NA options, game room): https://www.tosharebrewing.com/
• Stark Brewing Company official site (restaurant, mug club, functions): https://starkbrewingcompany.com
• Republic Brewing official site (farm-to-table, Old Granite Street, downtown Manchester): https://republicbrewingcompany.com/
• Spyglass Brewing Company official site (since 2018, Exit 1, seats almost 300, seasonal patio, cans to go): https://www.spyglassbrewing.com/
• Lost Cowboy Restaurant and Brewery official site (Amherst Street, barbecue, longest bar question): https://www.lostcowboybrewing.com/