Hats off to r.f.d.b contributor and fellow New Englander John Jepson for steering me onto a slight detour from my Portland, Maine expedition Friday. John suggested a lunch stop at Martha's Exchange Restaurant and Brewery in Nashua, New Hampshire, where he works part time assisting with the brewing. As it turns out, Martha's was one of the highlights of my trip. Each beer was not only extremely flavorful and well crafted, but the attention to style taken by John and head brewer Brett Marcy, formerly of Great Lakes, was clearly evident in every sip. Both John and Brett took time from their busy schedule not only to treat me to a round of wonderful beers and a brewery tour, but also to sit and discuss their beer and beer in general.
Finally, the schwarzbier was a bit closer to a porter, being more roasty and chocolatey than style generally is. Brett warned me about a touch of diacetyl in this batch, but I didn't notice it until the beer began to warm up. John took the words right out of my mouth when he said, "I like diacetyl." I liked the schwarzbier very much.
In sum, I feel Martha's ranks among New England's top echelon of brewpubs. A visit to New England would not be complete without a stop at Martha's Exchange in Nashua.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft