Jack’s Abby delivers taste of summer

ICAME BACK FROM MY holiday and landed right in the middle of some really hot and humid weather. Of course, since it was July in Massachusetts, that’s not surprising. But finding myself in such dreadfully sweltering circumstances made me take refuge in lagers – what else?

While there are many great lager choices at the numerous beer purveyors in my area, I decided to go with a Massachusetts brand – one that specializes in lagers and does a superb job at making them. I’m speaking, of course, of Jack’s Abby in Framingham..

I’ve written about Jack’s Abby over the years, but I’m not sure I have ever written an entire column specifically focusing on one or two of its beers. But today I’m doing just that, as I stocked up on a couple of my favorites from the brewery.

First up is Jack’s Abby’s House Lager, which may have a rather plain name, but is anything but plain in flavor. According to the company, the brew resulted from a trip to Germany that co-founder Jack Hendler took about a decade ago. “He spent this trip going from brewery to brewery and developed a strong appreciation for the ‘house beers’ that each brewery had to offer. Each ‘house beer’ was different from the next, but most fell within the Helles style,” the website says. I’m so glad Jack’s Abby decided to pursue this style. The nose is grainy and malty, foreshadowing the clean bread-like flavor that also features a mild hint of hops, adding a touch of citrus notes as the beer leaves your palate.

The finish is fairly clean, with a smattering of honey-like malt lingering on the tongue. All in all, a great Helles-style beer that comes in at 5.2% ABV. My second choice this week was Post Shift, a Bavarian-style pilsner that melds a delicious cracker-malt structure with an effervescent carbonation and a through line of gentle herbal hoppiness. The nose has hints of lemon, which are subsumed in the taste by the malt as the beer warms on the palate. The brew finishes as crisp as an autumn day and at 4.7% ABV, it’s a perfect session beer, whether you’re having it after your shift or just on the weekend.

Beer Note

It is with great sadness that I read that Anchor Brewing is closing its doors after 127 years. As the first craft brewery in the country, Anchor was an oasis for American beer drinkers back when I first drank beer and the choices beyond the large industrial brands were very limited. I recall many a night quaffing Anchor Liberty Ale and the legendary Anchor Steam Beer. Apparently the pandemic, along with other market factors, forced this heartbreaking decision.

Permanent exhibit: State-of-theart Zeiss Projector and updated International Space Station Exhibit.

Summer Spectacular Activities: “Play, Explore and Create with Us,” through Aug. The Museums are open seven days a week for Summer Spectacular. Free with museum admission. For more information, visit springfieldmuseums.org.

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. First floor exhibition provides opportunities to explore new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories, and engage in activities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking, with interactive three-dimensional exhibits. Second floor contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia. Timed tickets required, for reservations visit springfieldmuseums.org.

Quadrangle admission - $25 for adults, $16.50 for seniors (60+) and college students with ID, $13 for children ages 3-17; free to children under age 3 and members, Springfield residents are free with proof of residency. Welcome Center and Museum store. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Museums

Amelia Park Children’s Museum: Permanent exhibit includes hands-on activities and creative exhibits, the Hurricane Simulator. Sign up online for a play session at ameliaparkmuseum.org. Hours: Mon. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Thu.-Sun., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Open for groups Tues. and Wed. $8 adults; $8 children (12 months and older); $4 grandparents/seniors (60+); military personnel and teachers receive a 10% discount off the price of regular admission; members and infants free. 29 South Broad St., Westfield or ameliaparkmuseum.org.

Amherst History Museum: Permanent exhibit. See the museum’s collection of artworks and more. Open Sat. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. during the summer. 67 Amity St., Amherst

Children’s Museum at Holyoke: Permanent exhibit includes the Wiggle and Wash/Vet Clinic, a toddler merry-go-round and a STEM-based cash register for kids.

Hours: Tues.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun., noon-4 p.m. Closed Mondays. Children & adults $8; seniors (62+) $5; children under 1 and members are free. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or childrensmuseum holyoke.org.

Connecticut Science Center: Permanent exhibit features hands-on, interactive experiences with more than 150 exhibits in 10 galleries and a range of topics, including space and earth sciences. Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults $24.90; seniors (65+) $22.95; children ages 3-17 $16.95; free for members. 250 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford or ctsciencecenter.org

Connecticut Trolley Museum: Summer hours: Open daily, except Mon., from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Sept. 4. Storytime Trolleys: Tue. and Fri., 11 a.m. through Sept. 4., featuring stories about the adventures of trolleys and trains. Included with paid admission. Admission: $12 adults; $11 seniors; $11 for youth; $9 for children 2-11; half off for members. 58 North Road, East Windsor or cttrolley.org.

Edith Wharton’s The Mount: Open for the 2023 season. The Main House & Bookstore are now open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Sept. 4. The grounds are free and open daily from dawn to dusk, unless otherwise posted.Special events may impact hours. Adults $20; seniors (65+) $18; students with ID $13; children and teens 18 and under free; military with ID $10 discount, extends to one family member. 2 Plunkett St., Lenox or edithwharton.org.

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: “The Art & Storytelling of Claire A. Nivola.” Through Nov. 5. “Eric Carle Loves Japan.” Through Aug. 20, featuring never-before-seen photos of Carle’s visits to Japan over a 32-year period.

Permanent exhibit: Gabrielle Healy Carroll Storytime Programs are held Tues. and Fri. 10:30 a.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m., free with admission. Museum hours: Weds.-Fri, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, noon-5 p.m. $6, $9, $22.50 for a family of four. 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or carlemuseum.org.

Holyoke Heritage State Park: Permanent exhibit: Preserving the history and culture of Holyoke through permanent exhibits on the paper and textile industry, featuring a scale model of Mountain Park. Visitor Center open daily, noon-4 p.m. Check website for programs and tours, mass.gov/locations/ holyoke-heritage-state-park Free, 221 Appleton St., Holyoke. 413-534-1723.

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Permanent exhibit: Three floors with dozens of handson exhibits, a regulation sized basketball court and more than 900 artifacts on display. Exhibits include “High Above Center Court,” “Hall of Honor,” “1891 Gallery,” “Players Gallery,” “James Goldstein Superfan gallery,” and “Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams.”; Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $28 adults (16-24);

$23 seniors (63+); $19 youth (5-15); $23 students with valid high school or college ID. free for ages under 5, 1000 West Columbus Ave., Springfield or hoophall.com.

Norman Rockwell Museum: “Art Tours: Rockwell Studio Tours,” through Nov. 12, 20-minute guided tour of the historic studio where Rockwell painted, corresponded, and posed models for more than 20 years. Tickets at NRM.org/ visit. “Virtual: Drawing Life with Nora Krug,” July 20. “Tony Sarg: Genius at Play.” Through Nov. 5. “Noman Rockwell: The Business of Illustrating the American Dream.” Through Sept. 30. “Curator Tours: Genius of Tony Sarg.” Through Aug. 26. Join Chief Curator Stephanie Haboush Plunkett for a 40-minute Guided Tour through his diverse portfolio. Tickets at NRM.org/ events. Permanent exhibit: Gallery. Hours: Thurs.-Mon. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Advance tickets purchase required; Closed Tues. and Wed. $20 adults; $18 seniors, AAA, retire military; $10 college students, free children ages 18 and under, members and active military. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or www.nrm.org.

Old Sturbridge Village: Permanent exhibit: Visit Kidstory, an indoor learning gallery in the Visitor’s Center where kids 3-10 can try on period costumes and imagine life in the 1830’s; “Neat and Tasty: Getting Dressed in Early New

England”; apparel in portraiture. Hours: Through Oct. 1, Wed.-Sun.

9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Standard Daytime

Admission tickets are good for one day and are not valid for special evening programs like Phantoms by Firelight or Christmas by Candlelight. $30 adults, $28 seniors (55+), $15 college students with valid college ID, $15 children 4-17, free for children ages 3 and under. Blue Star Museum Season. Through Sept. 4. To gain free admission, military family members will show their military or dependent identification card. “For the Purpose of Illumination.” Learn how New Englanders needed, used, and created artificial lighting methods in the 1830s and see first-hand artifacts from the era.

“Taste of New England Summer,” Fri.-Sun., 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Join in the celebration of all the favorite New England summertime traditions of yesterday and today. All six New England states will be showcased as the Village transforms into an evening festival filled with tasty food, regional beverages, and live music. Adult $32, Youth (4-17): $16. Route 20, Sturbridge or osv.org.

Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum: Through Oct. 15, guided tours are Sat.-Wed. 1-4 p.m. Tours will be offered at the beginning of every hour and last for approximately 45 minutes. The museum is closed Thu. and Fri. Wednesday Folk Traditions: July 26, 6:30 p.m., Afro-Semitic Experience. General admission is $12, or $2 for children 16 and under. $5 adults, $1 children, 130 River Drive, Hadley or pphmuseum.org.

Springfield Armory National Historic Site: Ranger-led interpretive programs offered in the museum in the afternoon. Junior Ranger programs conducted frequently each day. Wed.-Sun., 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 1 Armory Square, Springfield or nps. gov/spar.

Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum: Permanent exhibit: Daniel Anthony’s Store, The Legacy Room, The Birthing Room, The Portrait Gallery. Summer hours: Thurs.-Mon. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Sept. 4. $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 students and children 6-17, free for children under 6 and NARM/NEMA/ROAM members, 67 East Road, Adams or www. susanbanthonybirthplace.com.

The Emily Dickinson Museum: Homestead and Evergreens: Permanent exhibit. Open Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Admission to the museum is by guided tour, for which advance-purchased timed tickets are required. Visit Emily DickinsonMuseum.org/ to purchase your tickets and for more information. 280 Main St., Amherst. Titanic Museum: Permanent exhibit: Exhibits from the collection of the International Titanic Historical Society. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $4, $2

SEE CALENDAR, PAGE E10

July 21 – 23