Photos by Jesika Theos

For this spring’s North Shore getaway, we mapped out a brew tour of Beverly (beer and coffee), with various noshes along the way. The vibrant community is one of the North Shore’s hubs for artists and musicians, with many charming boutiques, studios, galleries and theaters. This historic small city is also full of beautiful parks and beaches, plus an eclectic downtown with lots of small, independent restaurants. With a range of places to try outside of downtown (Bonny Breads and Beantrust for a cardamom bun and coffee are two—see our story in the Summer 2021 issue for more; Flip the Bird for the best fried chicken sandwich; and Nick’s Roast Beef in North Beverly for their eponymous sandwich), we are focusing on a few businesses in the walkable Cabot/ Rantoul Street radius.

Begin on Rantoul Street with brunch at FRANK, the bistro and gourmet market by award-winning chef and owner Frank McClelland. The open eatery with a relaxed and welcoming vibe is an ode to the North Shore with New England–inspired dishes featuring locally sourced products and a seasonal, ever-changing menu. Order some plates to share including the short rib potato hash with farm-fresh poached eggs and hollandaise or the Colossal Fried Chicken Sandwich with remoulade and Alabama slaw on a house-made buttermilk biscuit. From the Pastry Basket section, order a Donut of the Week (some choices include pecan praline, blood orange or maple cream). Before you leave, stop by the market and pick up some DIY picnic goodies for later.

Within a five-minute walking radius from FRANK, you will find four breweries, all with indoor and outdoor areas to enjoy a pint: Channel Marker Brewing, Backbeat Brewing Company, Gentile Brewing Company and Old Planters Brewing Company.

Start at Channel Marker Brewing. Three lifelong friends and Beverly locals who dabbled in brewing together at an early age transformed the Porter Mill building space into a rustic and welcoming taproom and brewhouse. Over the past three years, they have expanded their production space and added six more taps to offer 12 draft beer pours. The team here has a passion for brewing delightfully complex New England–style IPAs, fruit-forward sours, smooth lagers, stouts and porters. They also offer super fresh cans and growlers to go. To celebrate Channel Marker’s third anniversary, try the celebratory Triple IPA.

Zigzag back up Rantoul to Park Street to Backbeat Brewing where the mantra is “Coffee, Beer, Music.” The open space is a roaster and café in the mornings, then serves a selection of sandwiches and bar snacks later in the day. Multiple cask-conditioned beers are always on tap along with a few nitros, lagers, IPAs and Belgian-style beers. Simple snacks with creative spins include the baguette served with Double IPA pub cheese and the warm kettle chips served with farmhouse ranch and Roasted Porter ketchup. Backbeat also has a British/Irish market with all the Cadbury chocolates, crisps and biscuits you need this side of the pond.

Continue the crawl down Park Street until you reach thick golden anodized aluminum letters spelling “Gentile Brewing Company” adorning a historic former shoe factory. The signage was designed by one of Beverly’s many well-known and talented designers, Andrew Bablo at Steez Designs. You’ll notice Steez signage and murals all across Beverly. Gentile Brewing is a family-owned business with deep roots in the local brewing industry. The taproom features an array of pours including a malty English-style IPA, a simple and light Blonde, a dark German-style Kolsch Altbier, a Belgian Pale Ale, an Imperial Stout and a non-alcoholic sour, to name a few. Some beer selections support greater causes, too. For example, the ALES Pale Ale gives $1 per pint to Ales for ALS to fund research to end ALS. Gentile also offers cans and growlers to go. For a fun and quick bite while sipping a brew at Gentile, order a taco from neighboring Nacho Taco (temporarily closed at press time) that will be delivered via a taco slide (yes, a taco slide!). All tacos are assembled on handmade corn tortillas with your choice of protein (pastor, carne asada, ground beef, grilled chicken, shredded chicken, barbacoa, scrambled eggs, lengua, carnitas or poblano peppers), with onion, cilantro, salsa and lime.

Head back on Rantoul Street to Old Planters Brewing. Incidentally, “Old Planters” was the name given to the founders of Beverly back in 1635. The brewery founders were childhood friends from Beverly who started experimenting with beer nearly a decade ago. Friendship and community are rooted in the brewery, offering 12 beers on draft with a broad range of styles—IPAs, sours, stouts, pilsners and lagers. The team here collaborates with local businesses and food pop-ups, and offers live music every Friday and Saturday. They also host a weekly run club, trivia and bingo nights and offer cans to-go.

At this point in the day, the brew crawl should pivot to brewed coffee. Stroll on over to Crave further up Rantoul Street, known for its breakfast sandwiches, coffee, pastries and perfected cupcake creations. Order a Crave Latte (espresso, white chocolate, caramel and milk) as you peruse the cupcake works of art in front of you. Order half a dozen and be sure to include the salted caramel brownie (chocolate cake filled with brownie batter, topped with salted caramel frosting, chocolate drizzle and a mini brownie), and the cookie dough (brown sugar chocolate chip cake topped with egg-free M&M cookie dough frosting).

Tucked away on a side street in between Rantoul and Cabot Street is Kid Dream Coffee on West Dane Street. Upon entry, you are greeted by a large pink bar, blue stools, light wood tones and an overall Scandinavian feel. Kid Dream Coffee serves coffee from two roasters—Broadsheet Coffee Roasters out of Cambridge and Ilse Coffee Roasters out of Connecticut—and describes their coffee menu as “comforting and adventurous.” Almost everything is produced on site, including the almond macadamia milk. An in-house favorite is the espresso float: espresso, brown sugar simple syrup, sparkling water, topped with house-made whipped cream.

Another stellar option is the tried-and-true Atomic Café on Cabot Street. The industrial-chic interior is full of locals and out-of-towners seeking a spot to catch up with friends or indulge in a favorite book. The single-origin, ethically sourced coffees rotate seasonally for the utmost flavor and freshness. Keep it simple with a cappuccino or cortado alongside the Joppa Flat (bacon, two cage-free eggs, muenster cheese and tomatoes grilled on flatbread) or the Lox Sandwich (smoked salmon, dill cream cheese, capers, tomatoes and onion on choice of toasted bread). Or, better yet, a refreshing açaí bowl from their newly opened Atomic Juicery, featuring fresh-squeezed juices, smoothies, bowls and more.

As dinnertime approaches, Beverly offers various dining options downtown from sushi to Italian to Thai to Indian to Vietnamese … and more.

A top choice is an eclectic gastropub, Ellis Square Social. Upon entering, you’ll notice a large “ESQ” ghost mural on the back brick wall, plus various vintage photos—all Steez Designs creations. Ellis Square Social has an extensive cocktail menu featuring seasonal specials with quirky names like the Not What You Think (tequila, lemon, Thai chili and strawberry) and the Wait for It (orange peel rye, amaro, cherry agno and bitters). Start with crispy mushroom croquetas with shiitake aioli, veggie crisps and sherry vinaigrette or the arugula and honey ricotta salad with tortilla crisps, pumpkin seeds and chimichurri. If you’re in the mood for a burger, try their elevated take with horseradish pub cheese and tobacco onions and the option to add a fried egg or house bacon. Or choose one of the seasonal daily specials, often featuring the freshest local catch.

A bit further down Cabot Street, you’ll approach Soma, an intimate eatery featuring modern Mediterranean cuisine with creative cocktails. Order an organic raspberry black tea-infused mojito or one of their dozen or so martinis. Sample some specialty seafood dishes like grilled Mediterranean octopus blackened local swordfish with mashed potatoes and roasted corn crèma. Soma has also mastered gourmet pizzas. Try the classic Margherita with red sauce, fresh house-stretched mozzarella, basil and olive oil, or a packed pie like the Greek with garlic, olive oil, artichokes, kalamata olives, fresh tomato, baby spinach, mozzarella and feta with the option to add chicken or steak.

Speaking of pizza, another gem across Cabot Street is Amazing Pizza. Amazing throws a variety of organic pizzas, along with salads and Italian classics. Grab a slice of their daily choice or try one of their weekly specials. The Amazing, with homemade meat sauce and three-cheese blends, or the Parma! with mozzarella, cremini mushrooms, Prosciutto di Parma, arugula, finished with a drizzle of truffle oil and Pecorino Romano.

It’s getting late, and you’re likely ready to head home but if you’re channeling your inner night owl, catch a live show at the historic Cabot Theater and, while you’re at it, book a room at the always charming boutique Cabot Lodge to extend this delightful day trip into a full weekend getaway.

This story appeared in the Spring 2022 issue.