American Fresh Brewhouse-Slumbrew

Went on a Saturday afternoon. Actually went to get gift certificates (for friends) for the holidays, but decided to try a flight and lunch. Nachos looked like chips thrown on a dish & zapped in the Uwave. Meatball sub was delicious, Chili was also good.
Service was sub par, they were under staffed and as others have said, they were out of some beers. I want to like it, but they really need to step up their game.
Side note: When I first decided on getting the gift certificates, I could NOT tell the difference (or what the difference is/​was) between the two locations. In addition, the clip board menus added to the confusion once we got there (Ward St). Probably would do well to get a professional restaurant website and/​or marketing type person on board… you have a good (beer) product and will do well on the «eat/​drink local», if you can get it together. Just my .02

Solid outdoor brewpub. Beers were average price and food was nothing awesome. It was a cool outdoor space but definitely tough if the weather is not perfect. We were there in late spring and it was starting to rain which was a bummer. It’s a great area in Somerville to hang out and have some beers!

I’ve had the beer cheese soup thing 3 times now & I’ve decided I need to cut myself off from it. It’s absolutely delicious. Highly recommended if you love beer + cheese + pretzels.
Bonus points: Friendly staff & Trivia Night, what’s not to love?

Weird. That’s all I’ll say. Poorly built tables and chairs barely able to support a normal human being strewn in the midst of a concrete tiled floor with shipping containers acting as rooms.
All inside a big white party tent. It is almost like the twilight zone.
And then there are the hipsters laughing raucously On a Friday night while playing scrabble and in large groups wearing hats and overcoats.
Weird.
The chef bellows into the crowd, completely muffled by the Unilocal of joy, «the salmon is ready.» The industrial heat blower kicks on and starting pumping gaseous smelling warmth into the space.
Did I say weirder?
One container houses several rows of kegs not ready for consumption. Double glass doors swing open and shut but don’t match the décor.
Signs stand high advertising for your next corporate get together.
Weird, son.
There’s an entire container devoted to selling t shirts.
A beer garden menu has no sausage on it.
One half of the tent floor is exposed dirt concealed by giant cattle watering tubs with fake plants.
It’s so weird, but definitely not cool, that I’ll end there.

Super funky outdoor space covered w a tent
4 small shipping containers retrofitted for retail use
Brick patio w. Patio furniture
One of the more brightly colored spots I have been too
Is a tap room for the main brewery 2.2 miles away
This point was made clear on Unilocal
I was looking for the brewery but landed here
9 bees on tap
No flights /​just 16oz pours

A pretty cool and trendy place located within an equally cool and trendy place — Assembly Row. The Slumbrew brewing company has teamed up with American Fresh to create a beer garden complete with craft brews, some light meals/​snacks, live music, and even a collection of board games to use while hanging out. This is a great outdoor patio bar to enjoy on summer nights. In the cooler months the patio area is contained within a tent and kept comfortably warm with space heaters. I visited this unique little place for the first time over the summer and and enjoyed sampling some of Slumbrew’s creations while hanging with friends and admiring some canine pals chilling out near our table. Yes, dogs are welcome here at the beer garden which just adds to its coolness.
This past Saturday my friend and I had tickets to the movies at Assembly Row. We decided to grab dinner first, but did not think to make a reservation earlier in the day. Wait times at most restaurants within the shopping area were just under an hour which left us without enough time to eat before the movie. We were getting hangry and the beer garden was less crowded due to chilly temperatures that night and therefore our best option. The menu offers a few sandwiches in addition to appetizers including pretzels and cheese platters. I ordered a turkey sandwich and my friend decided to fill up on just beer. The sandwich came with a very tiny bowl of cheddar ale soup. I found the sandwich very plain and the soup was a bit disappointing both size and taste-​wise. It was, however, fortunate that American Fresh Brewhouse was an option for dinner and helped ease my starvation. I tried a few sips of the Attic and Eaves ale the other night and found it pretty decent. I definitely would like to come back soon to try more beer. It wasn’t until recently I realized there was more to the beer world than Bud Light and I started to expand my craft beer horizons. I’m no expert yet, but working on it.
Three and a half stars for this little outdoor hot spot and I can definitely see myself enjoying some more fun times here with friends. I think this is a place that will continue to grow on me and looking forward to trying more of their food and beer.

What a quirky and fun delight! This is what Somerville is all about.
You know what you are getting in terms of drinks. Slumbrew is solid and has a great variety. Reasonably priced and always tasty.
And how about that food? Tasty apps for a couple of bucks. Waffles? Cheese plate? Pretzels? They got em all.
The atmosphere is what makes this place great. You will see an equal amount of hipsters, families, and even dogs hang out at this place. And yes I’m talking about canines. It all adds to the charm of this gem in Somerville.

Slumbrew is growing on me. We went on a sunny Sunday afternoon and managed to snag a seat in the shade. With tent tops removed, the cluster of retrofit industrial storage bins radiated under full sun in their brightly colored glory. But yeah it was pretty hot if you don’t get an umbrella… At least the water was free and full of ice.
So now I find myself gloating about the features rather than the beer in this review:
Demographic –
Parents w babies (one of the unisex bathrooms is equipped with a changing table), 30-​somethings-​ers, roomies with dogs, bearded bartenders, reuniting pals, daters, locals… Basically everyone
Transportation–
Parking is free in the outdoor lot (I wouldn’t go inside and avoid street meters if you can) and its very easy to get to via MBTA (orange line), drive via 93-​N, McGrath Hwy, or Sullivan Sq.
Eats –
If you want to eat, they have substantial snacks OR venture to the other side of the shops at Assembly and choose a more fancy setting (Legal, Papagayo, a sports bar/​restaurant, a posh but standard fare restaurant, a river bar, and ice cream!!)
Beer isn’t terrible either.
Oh, and something about a koozie club. Crafting. Do it.
Games will also keep you occupied for hours. Even space for your little ones to play.

The venue is a bit strange, but kind of cool. Feels like tailgating I guess? Was super excited about the fluff sandwich but it was kind of gross. Like they were trying to make it healthy with almond butter and wheat bread, but it just didn’t go with fluff. If you’re going to eat fluff, just own it ya know? The American cider was really good though, it tasted like Apple pie but alcoholic. They have games (like jenga) you can play while you chill.

Came here on a Friday night before 4^th of July weekend around 11PM. It wasn’t busy at all, which was good.
Beers are priced well, $ 6.50, I had a bloodorange hefeweizen-​which was pretty good!
Why did I come here? One: I knew they have board games! Two: I’ve never actually played board games while drinking at an establishment, yeah I know so sheltered… And three: they have Connect 4!
I like the whole setup and layout of this business. Outdoors on a warm or cool night, it’s perfect. The restrooms are housed in containers, you know like the ones you see being transported like in the movie, Contraband?
Overall, fun, fun, fun. However, my only gripe is that last call was at 12am… what. But that will not stop me from visiting again and playing the other board games. Next time I’ll just arrive earlier and have more drinks! Cheers!

My husband and I decided to check out Assembly row on a recent Saturday outing. The beer garden looked pretty sweet with the colorful shipping containers and we were fortunate to snag a table on a beautiful and warm day.
The first wave of disappointment hit when I saw that several of their beer offerings were sold out; then another round when I realized that to order a couple of beers, I would have to wait in a (longish) line in a stuffy glassed in shipping container just to order (why does the outside large counter area only sell food and non-​alcoholic drinks??) I grabbed a cider and a beer for my husband (a beer we both enjoy and have had on many occasions). I returned to our table where he had snagged a copy of Connect Four (yay for the game options, maybe corn hole next??)
Though I had noticed they were selling koozies for the beers, understandably served in thin plastic cups, I thought it was pricey and that we should be able to drink them fast enough. Wrong. The beers weren’t that cold to begin with and they didn’t stay that way. To make matters worse, his tasted terrible… either like an old flat keg or dirty tap. Not quality I would expect from a brewery. I was actually temporarily transported to every college and post-​college party where there is a lukewarm keg of something crappy at the end of the day, yet everyone is still swilling it. But wait, I wasn’t at a kegger and spent good money on these beers. Maybe if a flip cup table was set up I would have been happier. Anyway, needless to say his beer was quickly warm and disappointing. I wisely, apparently, went with a Bantam cider and it was tasty (though not all that cold still.)
We drank our one drink each and decided to leave but not before hitting up the restrooms (unisex, which I have no problem with) which were a bit neglected that day. Paper towel everywhere and wet, dirty floors. I couldn’t even find a hook to hang my bag so I held it while I did my thing.
Take aways: bring own koozie next time, find a table with an umbrella, avoid on hot day, use bathroom elsewhere. And really, this is IF we decide to give it another whirl.

This place was GREAT!
Bartenders were so friendly and nice. The flight was great. I enjoyed tasting all the different beers. They even used the chocolate from the chocolatier (Taza) down the street in one of the beers!
If you are in Bean Town I recommend making a day of it and visiting the chocolate factory and then hitting this place up!

Pros:
–Beer garden outdoors. Enough said.
–Slumbrew beer specifically which is amazing.
–Lots of seating, even at 8 pm on a Saturday night. It never got too crowded.
Cons:
–No free water. It is irresponsible to serve ONLY 6.5% to 7.5% beers and refuse people free water. $ 1 for each bottled water is ludicrous when I see a working sink.
–Which brings me to my next con– at 8 pm on Saturday, most of the beer was sold out. The only things left were a double IPA, the Porter, cider and the Happy Sol. The Happy Sol was the only beer that wasn’t ridiculously strong. Maybe some better planning is in order if you’re still going to be open for four more hours and you’ve run out of most beer.
–Live music was advertised but never happened.
Long story short, I’ll be back because it wasn’t too crowded and it’s an outdoor bar, but I was unimpressed with some of the experience. It does seem kid friendly, so I will be coming back with my baby during the day at some point!

Wow. Wow wow wow. Outstanding beers. Great music at a conversational volume. Their charcuterie boards are masterpieces here. We have had our share (& your share & your share) of meat & cheese boards. These are an exceptional value & expertly composed. The service at the bar was so friendly & attentive. We enjoyed everything immensely. Terrifically pleasant space as well.

Awesome outdoor space but inconvenient to get to from Somerville downtown with a bike. Talk about a bumpy ride. About 20 tables and self service at the counter — stay close if you order food as the yell of the bartender calling out your order may be drowned by the music and chatter. The tables are good sizes but the chairs are pretty uncomfortable, making them far from ideal for an entire day of outdoor drinking here. But still, it’s great to be able to sit outside!
Foodwise, the pretzels are priced right and delicious, with spicy housemade mustards! The mac and cheese was overpriced for how plain it was. Basic quesadillas as well. So, I’d say grab a snack but a full meal isn’t worth it… you’re better off spending your seven bucks on another beer.
The beers are wonderful. But it’s also super confusing that the prices on the boards outside are slightly different for some posted inside by the taps. With that being said, I’ve never encountered a beer by Slumbrew that I didn’t find enjoyable. The Flagraiser is especially great and drinkable for a double IPA.
Overall, a good concept with some room for improvement. The worst part was no free water. Sweltering outside, eating salty food and drinking multiple beers, I’d say should earn you a free tap water. But nope — you have to pay for a bottle, and the young employees don’t have any reason for it other than they «get in trouble» if they give you free tap water. Womp womp.

Love this place. Just had lunch at Fuji or else would’ve tried the awesome menu here. Great prices and an amazing selection on their brews. They come out ice cold, which I love. Staff is friendly and helpful in making your choice.
They also have a selection of board games. Bathrooms are clean.

Who would’ve guessed that a tent in an outlet mall parking lot could be so awesome?
The guys at Slumbrew have got it just right with their stellar beer, tasty comfort foods, and laid-​back atmosphere. Everything from the food and drinks to the art and merchandise for sale screams local. Which I love.
Let’s talk beer. I’m not a hoppy fan, and I’ve enjoyed all of their other options. Happy Sole is always solid, and the My Better Half imperial cream ale (each $ 6) is deliciously different. The Trekker Trippel ($ 7) has a rich flavor… and 9% alcohol. Dangerously divine.
As for the food, you can’t go wrong. Munch on the charcuterie place with local faves like cheeses, nuts, meats, jam, and Taza chocolate. The pretzels are also a must-​try, but we warned that the mustard has a tear-​inducing kick. In the best way. The fluffernutters, mac & cheese, pizzas (add salami!), and cheese and ale soup are all awesome alcohol absorbers. Order a bunch of things and pass them around!
Slumbrew has a partnership with the volunteering organization One Brick Boston, so they have held events there like the volunteer social during the City Awake festival and the One Brick Boston FUN-​draiser. It’s great to see that Slumbrew cares about the community and supports volunteerism. Which is why I continue to support them by drinking their beer. It’s only right!

This is just a really rad place to hang out. Went in again on Saturday, knew there would be a band there. I am all about good live music, but I was skeptical that this would be enjoyable with a big group of friends who a. Wanted to see the Bruins game and b. We’re out for a friends birthday and wanted to chat.
I won’t lie, I left without a voice, but we stood right by the speaker. Also, they have a tv and it was a lot of fun to hear this super fun band, watch the bruins, drink delicious beers, eat really fun snacks, and play board games. I love this spot, can’t wait for summer!!!

Grab a beer from local brewhouse Slumbrew, take your pick from a whole shelf of nostalgic board games (Connect Four, Jenga, Operation, etc.), and you have an insta-​afternoon/​evening of hipster casual fun. Pick your poison. You step into a cute, casual tent space, ready to pick a beer and a charcuterie board, and forget it’s –10 degrees outside.
I picked a Porter Square Porter, a chocolate-​laden beer perfect for another Snowmageddon afternoon. Admittedly, I had forgotten how easy /​made for 5 year olds Operation is, so after a few rounds of «Why is nobody losing?», my friend and I decided to turn up the the heat and play blindfolded-​while-​holding-​a-​beer-​in-​one-​hand-​Operation. Needless to say, this is even more fun after a few rounds of beers:).
This is tucked away on the edge of the Assembly Row shops, and perhaps a perfect strategic stop between shopping, LegoLand, and catching 50 Shades of Horny Moms. I mean Grey.

I came to American Fresh for the first time last night, and I have to say is: Stop it. Stop it right now! There is nothing I love more than great beer and food in a relaxed, no BS atmosphere, and this place has all of that and then some.
Hannah R. and Damien paired up to host a CMYE here, and it was a perfect way to spend what would have been a rather mundane Wednesday night. American Fresh is completely unassuming, housed under a large white tent in Assembly Row, but one should never judge a book by its cover. Inside this tent (which is only temporary until the weather gets warmer) is a beer garden that may become my staple hangout. Their beer selection is on point, and as a dark beer and chocolate lover, I’m slightly obsessed with the Porter Square Porter, which is a dark stout infused with Taza Chocolate. Like, really?!
And the perfect pairing for a phenomenal beer is a great food, and American Fresh has got you covered. Their fluffernutter sandwiches are delish, made with Somerville’s own Fluff and high quality almond butter. It’s one the best fluffernutters you could possibly want to put in your face. The rest of their menu is extensive but not overwhelming, and to think that it all comes out of their tiny kitchen is unbelievable!
What I fell in love with the most about American Fresh is their MO. They cater to everyone and anyone — from stay-​at-​home moms to non-​profits to the casual Friday night drinker. The owners understand who their customer is and who they are as a brewer. and you can see that personality in the smallest details. This place makes you feel at home with dozens of your own friends and strangers. I mean, what more could you want, right?