The beer scene on Cape Cod seems like it’s constantly evolving. Only a few years ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find more than a couple of breweries, but today, you can find a local craft beer in nearly every community.
The newest of the bunch is opening its doors in summer 2021, and it should provide a unique experience for Cape Cod’s visitors.
Tree House Brewing, which already has a location in Charlton, Massachusetts, is expanding to include a second taproom in Sandwich. This brewery aims to provide perhaps the country’s most scenic place to enjoy a beer and will become a focal point for those spending time near the Cape Cod Canal.
Here’s a look at what you can expect at Tree House Brewing in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
The Location
In 2020, the founders of Tree House Brewing Company purchased two properties overlooking Cape Cod Bay: one at 98 Town Neck Road and another at 3 Freeman Avenue. These properties are side-by-side at First Beach, which is close to Town Neck Beach and the entrance to the Cape Cod Canal from Cape Cod Bay.
In short, this is one of the most scenic spots on the Cape, and Tree House Brewing is turning it into a taproom that could accommodate as many as 500 people inside and outside the three-story, 7,760-square-foot building.
This project could transform the area into a true destination and a spot that visitors to the Cape will surely want to check out during their vacations.
How it Might Look
Many questions surround this new taproom, and we don’t yet know how it will look. However, numerous restaurants have operated out of the building at 98 Town Neck Road, so it will be the location of the taproom.
The neighboring property at 3 Freeman Avenue is just an empty lot. Still, rumors are swirling that it could become a food truck parking area, giving visitors and locals the chance to sample cuisine from some of the Cape’s most notable vendors.
It’s also likely that Tree House Brewing will attempt to use the views and beach to its advantage as much as possible, potentially turning this resident neighborhood into a far more popular location.
The Process
It’s worth noting that to start, Tree House Brewing will have minimal capacity. As a result, they’ll be operating by pre-order-only. In fact, they’ll only have beers to-go for the first month or so.
The gist is that you’ll have to order your beer ahead of time because they don’t have enough storage space to keep up with an on-demand ordering system.
So, you’ll head to their website, order the beer you’ll want to sample during your visit, and then show up during your allotted time. While this method isn’t perfect because it doesn’t allow for spontaneous visits, it’s necessary for the time being because the current venue doesn’t have enough cooler space to keep mass amounts of beer cold.
COVID restrictions could also keep capacity down once the taproom officially opens, so having a pre-ordering process can eliminate lines outside the building and alleviate parking concerns.
Possible Expansion
Despite the small size of the brewery’s current coolers, there could be expansion plans coming in the future. The owners also purchased 5 Freeman Avenue, a residence they could use to grow the business.
However, the official story right now is that the owners will be living in the home as they get the Sandwich location ready to open in the summer.
The company is also looking at off-site parking options and a shuttle service once they have the entire taproom up and running to its full capacity.
In the end, Tree House Brewing will probably need space for additional coolers or a place to brew more beer on-site if they wish to meet their goals. They have big plans for the future, but we’ll have to wait to see what they entail.
What They’ll Offer
If you’re thinking of visiting Tree House Brewing, you’ll probably want to know a bit about the beers.
The good news is that they have a significant following in Charlton and other parts of Massachusetts because of their quality. They specialize in stouts, IPAs, and double IPAs, but also have ales, lagers, pilsners, and hefeweizens.
The plan is to sell coffee and breakfast at the brewery in the mornings, too, helping the owners get the most from the property all day long.
Another Brewery on Cape Cod
Many questions surrounding Tree House Brewing remain, but visitors to the Cape should keep an eye on the situation because it’ll add yet another hotspot to visit when spending time in Sandwich.
The brewery’s owners seem to have a vision regarding an oceanfront brewery on Cape Cod that they’re trying to implement, and once they get it up and running, it should be a sight to behold.
The Cape is full of wonderful activities, and Tree House Brewing will add yet another unique location to check out from your vacation rental.
