Stone Cow is awesome! Would definitely downplay the petting zoo aspect of it, though. They have some goats and other livestock but it’s separate from the area where people generally congregate, across the parking lot. But they do have a great playground and outdoor patio area, indoor space, music, beer & food
Red Apple Farm in Phillipston is newish so not where you’re thinking of & still want to give honorable mention. The brewbarn is great. They have their own hard cider & partner with Moon Hill Brewery in Gardner.
Lot of people recommending great breweries that fit OPs question, but I don’t think any of the ones recommended here are 20 years old. Hell, most of these breweries aren’t even 10 years old.
Breweries were not very common 20 years ago, especially not as a place to visit and drink at. Out in western MA, Berkshire Brewing is the only one I can think of that’s that old.
OP, if you want to figure out the brewery, the fact that this was two decades ago is probably the biggest factor in finding it.
There's a small petting zoo at Kimball Farm in Westford. The place is mostly for corporate events; they have minigolf and ice cream and an arcade, as well as several bars.
https://kimballfarm.com/
Southwick's Zoo serves craft beer I think...
https://southwickszoo.com/gift-shops-and-dining/dining/
There is a restaurant listed as being part of the zoo called Galliford's that serves craft beer and cocktails.
It might have been the petting zoo in Sturbridge that also was a brewery. It was Rapscallion for a long time, but they moved and it’s no longer a petting zoo. But it was around 20 years ago! Sturbridge is about an hour from Boston depending on traffic, but it’s the intersection of the Mass Pike and 84 so pretty popular. Rt 20 goes right through it and it’s not far from Rt 9 either
Davis farmland sometimes has 21+ nights. Not a brewery, but that would be beer at a petting zoo.
Stone cow brewery has animals and beers but they weren't around 20 yrs ago
Cider and petting zoo at lookout farm in natick. Only thing I can think of. However, that place is hell on earth with the crowds. We went there as kids, and thought it was a good idea to try it as an adult. Nope.
I was going to recommend this one, too. It was “Milk Room Brewing”, but it looks like they sold the property over the winter 😞Place was awesome; they had goats, cows, donkeys, bison….
Tinkers Son in Norwell
It’s a man Irish bar with outside seating where people being their dogs and kids to drink. Not exactly a petting zoo but close to it
Hyland’s/Pioneer/Rapscallion (3 different breweries at various times) in Sturbridge used to have emu/goats/llamas/ponies/peacock.
They now operate mostly as Hyland’s Orchard and do weddings and special events.
With enough confidence any brewery can be a petting zoo. /s
And any petting zoo can be a brewery. BYOB /s
There is Brew at the Zoo at Stone Zoo. The next one will probably be in August/September.
Brew at the Zoo is at Franklin Park. Ales and Tails is at Stone (and has passed, I think).
Pretty much every zoo is gonna have their own "Hey, you can drink here" event now. School field trips on a Tuesday aren't sustainable.
Ales and Tails was June 1st
https://www.stonecowbrewery.com/ in Barre
My aunt has been living in barre for more than 50 years and has been majorly holding out on me.
Its not a petting zoo. They have cattle. In fields away from where you consume the beer.
Stone Cow Brewery is way out there. Great place to visit but it’s a day trip.
https://www.hollishillsfarm.com/ in Fitchburg has a similar vibe and a bit closer.
Stone Cow is awesome! Would definitely downplay the petting zoo aspect of it, though. They have some goats and other livestock but it’s separate from the area where people generally congregate, across the parking lot. But they do have a great playground and outdoor patio area, indoor space, music, beer & food
Sshhhhhh this place is a gem
Yeah, based on the crowds there the secret is out.
Exactly. Trying not to make it unbearable. It’s such a fun spot, I wish there were more like it.
Red Apple Farm in Phillipston is newish so not where you’re thinking of & still want to give honorable mention. The brewbarn is great. They have their own hard cider & partner with Moon Hill Brewery in Gardner.
Without fail I learn a new MA town everyday from this sub
Red Apple Farm is a great spot, wish I still lived closer.
Lot of people recommending great breweries that fit OPs question, but I don’t think any of the ones recommended here are 20 years old. Hell, most of these breweries aren’t even 10 years old. Breweries were not very common 20 years ago, especially not as a place to visit and drink at. Out in western MA, Berkshire Brewing is the only one I can think of that’s that old. OP, if you want to figure out the brewery, the fact that this was two decades ago is probably the biggest factor in finding it.
Northampton Brewery is 36 years old!
It was definitely a brewery and not just a place that sold beer?
She thinks it was a brewery but could be mistaken. Are you thinking of a specific place?
There's a small petting zoo at Kimball Farm in Westford. The place is mostly for corporate events; they have minigolf and ice cream and an arcade, as well as several bars. https://kimballfarm.com/
They didn’t have the petting zoo twenty years ago and no beer back then
If you are brave enough any zoo is a petting zoo.
RIP Harambe
Lilac Hedge Farm in Rutland has exotic large birds and whatnot
[I saw an IG post about this recently, it was probably Oakholm in Brookfield ](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6es4orPF4S/?igsh=MTZpOGZ1NXVpc2pldA==)
Highlands in Sturbridge
I remember seeing llamas and stuff at the brewery in Sturbridge many years ago
Yeah, the place has changed quite a bit but I think they still have animals there, they do weddings now I think
Southwick's Zoo serves craft beer I think... https://southwickszoo.com/gift-shops-and-dining/dining/ There is a restaurant listed as being part of the zoo called Galliford's that serves craft beer and cocktails.
Gallifords is newer than his timeframe. Roger Williams has craft beer events sometimes but not a brewery in general
I think Southwick’s had an event called lions and tigers and beers – something like that
Winslow Farm in Norton, BYOB and hang with the rescue animals. Has fire pit & events 😎
sounds like Hyland Orchard and Brewery in Sturbridge. They were doing it a long time before most were.
Um.. Busch Gardens?
[https://www.oakholmbrewing.com/](https://www.oakholmbrewing.com/) ?
they are only 4 years old.
No animals.
That was a bar … with a cat!
I NEED a bar with resident cats! Somebody hook me up!
This sounds like a a winning business model!
Thank-you for the upvote. Comment was (perhaps) my greatest contribution to mankind.
been to one in rutland that’s like this. it’s awesome, bison farm too
It might have been the petting zoo in Sturbridge that also was a brewery. It was Rapscallion for a long time, but they moved and it’s no longer a petting zoo. But it was around 20 years ago! Sturbridge is about an hour from Boston depending on traffic, but it’s the intersection of the Mass Pike and 84 so pretty popular. Rt 20 goes right through it and it’s not far from Rt 9 either
It’s Hollis hills farm in Fitchburg. Place is great.
I don’t think they served beer 20 year ago (it was Marshall Farm back then?).
You know what, you are right. It’s prob actually Davis Farmland in Sterling, then.
Davis farmland sometimes has 21+ nights. Not a brewery, but that would be beer at a petting zoo. Stone cow brewery has animals and beers but they weren't around 20 yrs ago
It definitely sounds like Davis Farmland. It IS a petting zoo and they have adult nights.
Cider and petting zoo at lookout farm in natick. Only thing I can think of. However, that place is hell on earth with the crowds. We went there as kids, and thought it was a good idea to try it as an adult. Nope.
"that place is hell on earth" for the animals probably.
Idk but that’s fuckin awesome
I know what my plans for this summer are now
There is some place in Rutland….can’t remember what it’s called though
I was going to recommend this one, too. It was “Milk Room Brewing”, but it looks like they sold the property over the winter 😞Place was awesome; they had goats, cows, donkeys, bison….
I’ve seen drunk people around animals. It was not pretty.
Tinkers Son in Norwell It’s a man Irish bar with outside seating where people being their dogs and kids to drink. Not exactly a petting zoo but close to it
Hyland’s/Pioneer/Rapscallion (3 different breweries at various times) in Sturbridge used to have emu/goats/llamas/ponies/peacock. They now operate mostly as Hyland’s Orchard and do weddings and special events.
That's what we call 'Cambridge' now.