"Good ipa place - big day"
The above text sat there on my phone and stared back at me, stoking the juices of my curiosity. My buddy had discovered a brewery in the northern reaches of New Hampshire that I didn't know existed and now temptation beckoned me to go there.
This is usually how these adventure trips happen anyways, one of my friends or even myself finding a new place and telling the others about it so they can experience it firsthand.
And with a simple text and a lot of self enticement, I just had to visit Big Day Brewing.
The Big Day (brewing) Has Arrived!
Big Day Brewing. is considered a craft brewery, churning out various styles of delicious beer, and is lucky enough to sit in the heart of New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest area. What this means for the casual visitor to Gorham, New Hampshire (where the brewery is located) is there is no shortage of activities to endulge in.
Whether your taste is in exploring the wilderness through hiking, biking, or camping, or simply driving around and touring the scenic country side (as a side challenge, see if your car will make it up and down the Mt. Washington auto road!), you can find all this and then some in this area...and then enjoy a tasty beer to celebrate and relive your days discoveries with family and friends both old and new.
This place truly is like a welcome rest after a day of sightseeing and adventure, because it sits wide open and easy to find, beckoning visitors to come inside and sample their offerings.
According to the website, the brewery took over an old auto body shop in 2022 and converted it into the spacious venue that is now called home by Big Day brewery. And I'm sure you want to know is: how IS the food and beer?
The Beer & Bites
To say that the beers they serve aren't the only things that are "juicy" on the menu would be an understatement. The burger and fries were extremely tasty AND juicy, and I can only imagine the other menu offerings are just as delicious. Pictured above is "The Rail Trail" burger and the combination of veggies, meat, cheese and burger sauce made for delicious bites. I was sad to get to the last bite but it had to be done.
But the beer is the reason why we are here (almost forgot this fact because the food is just that good), and their libations are the perfect companion to their food.
Full pours as well as flights are available in case you're like me and cannot decide what you have a taste for.
For my sampler, I chose some very crafty brews with names like "Legit Lager", "Secret 7" and "Wee Tartan". It was obvious the brewmasters and servers are all passionate about their craft because not only were the beers tasty, but those tending bar never steered me wrong when it came time to choose.
If you find yourself at this brewery, you have to try the "Legit Lager" or "Birthday Suit" and let me know how you like them. These two stood out to me and have become an instant favorite of mine.
Feeling Big Yay! My Thoughts & Impressions On The Brewery:
I'll admit, I'm a beer guy and haven't found too many breweries I don't like or beers that didn't agree with me for that matter, and Big Day Brewing is another place to visit and fall in love with. What makes this brewery stand out is the laid back atmosphere and the resourcefulness of the staff
During my visit, I couldn't help but notice a few dessert items on the menu like Whoopie Pies and Churros. Fun fact: they are hand made/baked by someone that also works at the brewery and does baking as a side hustle! You don't often visit a brewery (or any restaurant for that matter) that puts its employees' baking/cooking skills on display and become a regular part of the menu! But here they have and in turn has helped create an atmosphere of informality and a "willingness-to-try-something-to-see-if-it-works" mentality. Heck, they took one look at a Garage and decided "Hey we should turn this into a brewery!"
The mission of the brewery, according to their website, is to
"...crank out good, fresh beer while giving us the ability to expand, be creative, and hone in on what the people want."
I'd say they've done a fantastic job, and would recommend anyone visiting the area of Gorham, NH to pay Big Day Brewing a visit. You just might find your next favorite hangout spot in the mountains. Just let me know you're going and I'll meet you at the bar for a nice tall pour of Legit Lager. Cheers!
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