Please join us for an enjoyable drive through the rolling country roads of the Wachusett region of Massachusetts on Saturday, September 19th. Since Hyland Brewing is in the process of moving to another location, Gene Durso and Dan Donovan have charted a very different course for us this year, exploring more of the Wachusett region and making a loop back to the Route 2 area, with lunch at the Gardner Ale House.

We’ll begin the day at 10AM with a brewery tour at Wachusett Brewery in Westminster, MA. Be there before 10:00AM, which is when our tour starts. Here, we'll be taken around the operation to see how things are done in a successful microbrewery, and we'll have an opportunity to purchase their glassware, wearables, and their highly-respected product.

Then we’ll leave the brewery at approximately 10:45AM and proceed to the summit of Mount Wachusett for some group photos and some stunning views. Fall colors should be starting to make their presence known along our ride to the top of the mountain, where we'll enjoy the scene and the fresh air.

From there, our new route will take us through the picturesque New England towns of Princeton, Holden, Paxton, Rutland, Barre with another photo stop in the lovely Petersham town common before we make our way on to Templeton and Gardner. A map of our projected route can be found below, and a turn-by-turn itinerary is available in case you join us late and would like to catch up — click on "View Larger Map".

After the road tour, please join us for lunch at the Gardner Ale House and Restaurant. There is an ample parking lot directly across the street (and additional overflow parking in the rear). There is no prix fixe menu; everyone can simply order what they like from the menu when we arrive.

Please contact Gene at gdurso@emdurso.com or 978-314-1224 to let him know that you're coming, so we can let our hosts know how many to expect. This event is rain-or-shine!

Everyone who's taken part in our Wachusett tours in the past has had a great time — great roads, great scenery, great people, great flavors! Come on along!

Directions

• To the Wachusett Brewery: The brewery's address is 175 State Road East, Westminster, MA. Take Route 2 to Exit 27 (Narrows Road / Depot Road). Take Narrows Road North about one mile (Narrows Road becomes Depot Road).  Turn right on State Road (Route 2A).  Wachusett Brewery is about 0.2 mile on the right.

• To the base of Mount Wachusett: If you want to meet us at the mountain around 11:00-11:30, take Route 2 to Exit 25 (Route 140). Take Route 140 South about 3 miles to Mile High Road on the right. There is a big "Wachusett Mountain Ski Area" sign at this intersection. Continue on Mile High Road about 2 miles, past the Ski Area base lodge, continuing uphill to a road on the right with a big sign "Wachusett Mountain State Reservation". Turn in there, and continue to your right about 100 yards to a parking area on the right. At that point, you’ll be handed maps for the rest of the event.

Click here to view larger map