So you might be thinking about visiting some of the establishments that employ Pulse’s smart and sexy bartenders. The question is: What are you going to drink when you get there? Because it’s much easier to talk to the bartender if you are actually ordering a drink. … I’m looking at you, cheap hipster guy with too much mustache wax. 

Armsby Abbey
I don’t think it’s a big secret that Armsby Abbey is one of my favorite places. The tap list here is world-class. You can drive a few hours to Vermont and visit Hill Farmstead or sit, relax and order it here. I have enjoyed many IPAs lately by planning my weekends around visits here. If you would prefer a mixed drink to a beer, you are still in the right place. The cocktail menu is hard to beat. The Abbey Manhattan is a favorite of mine as a change of pace. If you are not sure what to order, ask your bartender. The bartenders are great about asking you about your preferences and matching them to their artisanal ingredients.

The Banner
The Banner makes ordering at the bar easy. The beer taps are right in front of you, and the liquor bottles are along the back wall for easy visibility. There is a board on the back wall listing drink specials. I went with a mixed drink while I was here, but feel free to explore. There are plenty of options, and they’re all very visible.

Compass Tavern
There is a wide variety to choose from here, including a non-alcoholic root beer on tap, so anyone can find something to enjoy. The liquor selection tells me that just about any mixed drink you would like is available. It shouldn’t be a surprise that my main focus will be the tap list. It is on a chalkboard and lists what is currently available. I found Sam Adams, DogFishHead and Guinness, as well as local offerings from Jack’s Abbey and Wachusett. I resisted the temptation to relive my college years with a Pabst Blue Ribbon and settled on a Wachusett Blueberry mixed with Guinness for a Black and Blue.

Loft 266
There is plenty of room around the bar, as well as a view of a television wherever you sit. Sam James from The Voice was there performing ~ and sounding as good as ever ~ the night I went, and Berkshire Brewing Company Steel Rail Pale Ale was on tap. The tap list has many of the usual offerings like Harpoon IPA, Sam Adams Rebel IPA, Guinness, and the mass-market beers. I chose the Steel Rail, but a Jameson Irish Whiskey and ginger ale fit the bill, as well.

Mahoney’s
As you walk in, have a look at the neon board to the right. It lists the current drink specials. Give one of those a try.

Michael’s Cigar Bar
Right when you walk in, it hits you … You can smoke in here! I saw people with hookahs and cigars everywhere, yet with Michael’s fancy air filtration system, you would hardly know. Although they have a respectable selection of craft beer on tap, I tend to gravitate to the whisky and scotch selection. This is a place to relax with friends. A nice cigar and a glass of scotch old enough to vote is what I had.

Perfect Game
Is it a restaurant? A sports bar? A nightclub? Depending on the day and time you go, it is all of the above. There is a large tap list ~ more than 20 different beers. I had a Wachusett Milk Stout, which is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I also noticed the usual mass-market beers and a few offerings from Sam Adams, Harpoon and Wachusett. Whatever you want to do on a night out, it can be found here, even the Gronk Challenge. Eat a 1½-pound burger with 8 ounces of bacon and seven slices of kielbasa and be only the eighth person to finish it. If you have a slightly smaller appetite, grab an order of wings while you are here.

By Kerry Cyganiewicz