Once in a great while a place is discovered that has equal parts great beer and great food. Throwback Brewery at Hobbs Farm in North Hampton, NH is such a place.
Located off Rte 1, the farm appears as just a farm with no tell-tale signs of a brewery (except for the obvious sign at the entryway). If it weren't for a co-worker suggesting meeting for lunch here (and the trusty GPS and google maps) I wouldn't have even known about this place, let alone find it.
First Tastes.
We had agreed to meet at 12:30pm Friday afternoon and I found myself at the farm a little after noon. I figured I'd take the opportunity to get a feel for the farm vibe and to try a few of the beers so I could make educated recommendations to my co-worker (and it definitely wasn't to achieve a buzz quicker!).
First impression of the farm was how much space was available for a very large amount of people. It gives me the impression this would make a great venue for a concert on a warm summer day. The beer, the food, and the music would be a recipe for a great time.
Not too many people occupied the shaded outdoor seating so I grabbed a table and quickly scanned the beer list. Playful names such as "Cheek squeezer" and "Love Me For A Long Time" instantly caught my attention and begged for me to try them. I couldn't say no and the tastes certainly didn't disappoint. The sours exploded with tartness and the pilsners and ales filled the mouth with malts and caramel notes. I couldn't find a favorite because they were all so very tasty. Making a recommendation to my co-worker was going to be tough, but thank goodness our server was there to help out. I have to point out she was genuinely helpful, pleasant and full of knowledge regarding pretty much any question the guests posed to her.
Second Helping.
With my coworker making his presence and his beer ordered, it was time to turn our attention to the food menu. Shareables was the request of the day and sesame chicken wings and poutine fries were the delicacies of the day. And then we had our first bites.
All I can say is "Wow!"
The food was a fantastic complement to the beer. The chicken wings had a great zing of "Korean-style sauce" with the crunch of sesame seeds coating the outside and the poutine fries' beer duck gravy contained the right balance of "meat flavor" to potato. All dishes were cooked to perfection and we felt guilty for leaving a few bites behind because we were so full.
Cleaning The Table.
The vibe was so relaxed and laid-back that two hours had gone by quickly. The atmosphere is inviting and comfortable that when it does come time to leave you might be checking their hours of operation to plan your next visit.
It's a fantastic experience made better by the people that work there. I want to thank everyone we met as well as my co-worker for suggesting Throwback brewery. If it wasn't for his idea we would have never discovered one of our new favorite places.
Summer is right around the corner and if you're near North Hampton, NH on a warm sunny day then check out Throwback Brewery at Hobbs farm. You'll enter a guest, but leave as a full and satisfied friend.
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