Après ski was always my favorite part of skiing—a sport I enjoyed for a while. The vibe, the energy, the drinks: There was a lot to like about après ski.
Recently, we and another couple visited Wachusett Brewery’s Brew Yard in Westminster, where one of our friends noted that the place has an après-ski vibe. She was right. The corrugated metal roof, thick wood beams, rustic tables, a rocking band, and even a sign we guessed was from a ski trail—all made the place feel like a ski lodge. The clomp-clomp sound of ski boots on wood and everyone dressed in ski gear were the only things missing, though given the proximity to Wachusett Mountain, those things are no doubt there at the right times. Cool features adding to the fun atmosphere were the shell of an Airstream trailer used as the bar and bathroom fixtures made from beer kegs.
Being hungry after an outing, we dove right into the menu, which was presented on our mobile phones via QR code. The site also serves as the ordering system. Tables are numbered, and food is brought out by servers when it is ready. We liked the system as we could order in our own time and didn’t have to feel rushed when the server came over or wait for the server, for that matter. On the flip side, one does not have the opportunity to ask what is recommended or popular, but this probably isn’t a place where that matters. The QR code menu did not show the beer pairings that are provided on the online menu. I thought the pairings were a nice touch; maybe they will add them to the QR menu at some point.
Since we were hungry, we ended up with a bit of a smorgasbord, starting with wings, fried pickles, and the jumbo soft pretzel as appetizers. The wings are offered with a choice of six signature sauces; intrigued by the sound of the smoked blood orange sauce, we went with that. The wings were very tasty, not greasy at all, and the blood orange flavor was there, but subtle. The fried pickles were OK, maybe too salty. Everyone’s favorite appetizer was the soft jumbo pretzel. Those always seem to satisfy. This one was golden brown and served with two dipping sauces: beer cheese and the Brew Yard’s golden sauce.
For the main course, our friends selected the Airstream burger from the listing of eight “handhelds” (sandwiches), asking for a pretzel roll instead of the standard brioche bun (a discussion ensued about how brioche buns should not be used for hamburgers). My husband had the pastrami sandwich, and I ordered the Mediterranean flatbread.
Our friends said the Airstream burger was very good. It, too, featured the smoked blood orange sauce, along with caramelized onions, roasted poblano aioli, cheddar cheese, and bacon. The pastrami sandwich was a generous pile of crispy pastrami on a pretzel roll—no mustard or pickles. My husband enjoyed it. I had a bite and felt it would be even better with mustard or another condiment. Handhelds are all served with house-made chips; fries (regular or sweet potato) are available for an upcharge. Our group opted for fries, which were fairly standard.
The flatbread was great—cheesy, with a delightful blend of flavors. It features pesto sauce, blistered grape tomatoes, spinach, red onion, goat cheese, and a balsamic glaze. There was plenty for everyone to have a piece. The Mediterranean is one of four flatbread choices. Gluten-free crust is an option.
There are two salads on the menu, which we debated about adding to the order, but figured we had enough food. The menu also includes a tempting-sounding ale mac ‘n cheese, and there are also three kids’ menu choices.
The Brew Yard’s Airstream bar features 24 Wachusett beers on draught, along with their Country hard seltzers, scratch margaritas, and some non-alcoholic beverages. Our group had a MASSive Haze IPA, a Wally IPA, a Country Ale, and a Polar seltzer for the driver. Everyone enjoyed their choice, with the Wally IPA receiving the highest praise.
I mentioned a rocking band. The night we visited, Hit the Bus was playing a great mix of Gen X favorites along with more current music. Bands set up in a tented part of the space, which also has tables. For us, the tent was a bit loud, so we opted for a table on the other side of the Airstream. We could still hear the music while also hearing each other.
The Brew Yard has ample outside seating for warm weather. Our companions had gone this past summer to hear one of their friend’s bands and said it was great sitting outside. There is also a Brew Yard in the Worcester Public Market, though it does not serve food, deferring to the Public Market food vendors. Each of the Brew Yards hosts live music on many nights and has other events and activities such as bingo, trivia, line dancing, and even yoga.
In all, the Wachusett Brew Yard offers a fun night out—après anything!
