The Tour Continues....

The Spirited Tour continues ... after 6 weeks where life seemed to get in the way, we were able again to get together to have a wonderful afternoon. This time we three traveled 10-12 miles south to 

Westfield River Brewing Company, 707 College Hwy, Southwick, MA, Sunday, May 1, 2022

www.westfieldriverbrewing.com

Bob out front along College Highway

Having no prior experience with this venue, we were expecting your typical taproom with additional outside seating. What we discovered was something completely different.

Main building with terraced patio visible at rear

Westfield River Brewing Company (from their webpage) "is a barn wedding venue. With over a hundred years of charm, its perfect for large outdoor and open space barn weddings. With over 73 acres of meadow and forest, this picturesque venue features a multi-level barn layout and outdoor event space. The elegantly rustic venue can easily accommodate larger and smaller, more intimate weddings. Both event spaces can host ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners, and more. The outdoor venue space is nearly endless." 

Other facilities and amenities discovered on their homepage include the "Taproom and on-site concert events. The Taproom hosts a variety of musicians who play all year around. Concert events are mainly open-air summertime events. Come rain or shine, guests can enjoy live bands and artists in one of the many fields."

On this day, the only active spot was the rear patio area which is accessed by interior staircases that lead to an exit at the back of the top floor in the barn, but which is at ground level due to it being built into the hillside. At this point the hillside has been dug out to create a large patio area on the edge of huge hay fields. On the very well-maintained patio we found eight round tables, each with an umbrella and four chairs. It appears that the barn has been equipped at this level with taps and a small kitchen. All service is rendered tableside. It was a gorgeous day, and the scene was super bucolic with old tobacco barns visible below and across the road where the surrounding fields are now used for hay. 

The Southwick area is several miles from the Westfield River which made me wonder about the name of the Brewing Co. I've since learned that the brewery started out on Mainline Drive in Westfield just off Route 20 and close by the Westfield River. One question answered, but still being a "newbie" to Western Mass., I wanted to know a little more about Southwick. A visit to the Southwick Historical Society webpage provided all the information I needed.

Southwick was originally inhabited at one time or another by the Matitacooke, Mayawaug or Woronoake Native American tribes. In the mid-17th century, pioneering English explorers moving up the Connecticut River Valley seeking fertile farmlands and game discovered the area and settled Southwick. It became a farming community, defined as the Southern (South-) village (-wick) part of the town of Westfield, Massachusetts. 

In colonial times, church attendance was mandatory. The 800 Christian residents of Southwick in the 1760–1770s were required to travel to Westfield to congregate. Only by establishing their own church community could they establish their own parish, as they desired. On November 7, 1770, Southwick was incorporated as a separate district of Westfield. The area of Southwick became somewhat smaller in 1770. The southernmost portion of Southwick joined Suffield, Connecticut, as the result of a simultaneous secession of citizens in that part of the village.

The primary commercial activities in the area during most of the 1800s were grain and tobacco farming. Then, in the late 1800s the area around the Congamond Lakes became a popular vacation destination and saw the development of a number of vacation hotels. In the winter ice was harvested and this became a large commercial undertaking.

Today, Southwick is a semi-rural community with a mix of farms, commercial businesses, and residential areas

Now, back to our pub tour activities. The morning started out in the 20s but made it up to 71 degrees by the time we relaxed on the brew pub terrace. We lucked out in that we secured the last remaining umbrella table which was on the back edge of the patio area. Walking to our table I noticed that most of the patrons were younger couples enjoying their beer and pub food. My seat faced the fields and distant trees, so I felt happily isolated from anything else that was going on. There was a relaxed feeling about the place which encouraged us to sit back, enjoy, and catch up on these past six weeks.

Beverage Menu

Pub Grub Menu

The wait staff were young and chipper (to use a word from my younger days). Beer and pub grub menus were brought to us and there was a good variety of beers and food. The drinks menu included ten handcrafted beers and several Tobacco Road Distillers cocktails. We quickly decided on our beer and pub grub and placed our orders. The beer was cold and served in 12 oz. plastic cups. Kelley and I had Burn Off (I wound up having 3 over the course of the afternoon) and Lisa had Orange Creamsicle. For food we shared Boneless wings - with garlic parm dip and warmed Pretzel sticks. It was perfect for the unusually warm day. 

Our Food

Although I'm being treated to these outings, I thought it was a little pricey, but with the clean and well cared for patio area, beautiful location, and attentive wait staff, it was, indeed, a perfect afternoon. I wouldn't hesitate to return here. 

Until next time ... Cheers!