Things to do in EastHampton, MA
Today I want to spotlight two awesome destinations in Easthampton, Massachusetts: Mill 180 Park and Abandoned Building Brewery. Though both are in the same mill building, they have separate entrances. Last week, we enjoyed a few relaxing hours in Mill 180 Park and then met kids and grandkids at the brewery. Sharing a review of these fun places.
Note: this was written before the Covid-19 pandemic, so be sure to check current opening times and visitor restrictions. Stay safe!
Disclosure: This post might contain affiliate links. If you buy through one of these links, it will not cost you anything extra, but we might get a small commission. Thank you for supporting us. To learn more, please read our full affiliate disclaimer page.
- Introducing Mill 180 Park
- Abandoned Building Brewery
- Other breweries in Easthampton, Ma.
Mill 180 Park: An Indoor Oasis
What Is Mill 180 Park?
When we first heard about this park, we thought it was a great idea to have an indoors green space in snowy New England. On the Mill 180 Park web site, they describe the park as
THE FIRST EVER As far as we know…
From the Mill 180 Park website
Mill 180 Park is an Indoor Urban Hydroponic Park for the 21st Century. We designed it with this question in mind: “What makes great urban parks like New York City’s Central Park, London’s Hyde Park, and Tokyo’s Ueno Park great?” We came up with a few answers.
– Beauty
– Greenery
– Mingling
– Tranquility
– Programming
Things to Do
- First, it is a nice place to escape the outdoors weather, be it snow, ice, or extreme heat. (We have it all in New England);
- Secondly, Mill 180 Park is a relaxing place to bring a good book, and sip a coffee while reading without your home distractions (like, “I really should be doing the dishes instead of reading”).
- Bring the kids! Lots of great play material for them. While we were there, kids were running around and building huge castles with foam building blocks. Babies were climbing on the grass of the amphitheater. Such a funky and relaxing place, both for children and adults. If you feel like escaping the kids, there are a few adult-only times scheduled during the week.
- Eat, drink and be merry. While bringing food in is not allowed, they do have a good menu with locally sourced ingredients and adult beverages. When we saw “smashed potatoes” on the menu, we wondered what that could be. Maybe mashed potatoes with booze Nope, it turns out to be: boil a potato, smash it and then fry the resulting “mess”. Yummy! In addition we chose a hummus plate with an interesting twist on beets.
- Regularly, they have fun happenings at the park. From yo-yo’s to board games, check out the Mill 180 Park Event Calendar.
How to get to Mill 180 Park
When we tried to find the Mill 180 Park, we missed the turn right down the American Legion driveway off of Pleasant Street at our first attempt. Even although we were using the GPS. Using that driveway will get you behind the mill buildings where you can find a sign marking the entrance to the park inside the beautifully restored, 117-year-old Mill 180. Luckily, we recognized the big chimney from our Google Maps research.
The street address is 180 Pleasant St., Easthampton, MA 01027
Mill 180 Park phone number is 413-203-1687
How Much does it cost?
Now that you have read this far, I bet you are wondering how much it would cost to visit Mill 180 Park. Well, I have good news for you! Admission is always free. Please be aware that the park is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Check out opening hours on the other days.
Abandoned Building Brewery
After visiting Mill 180 Park, it was time to meet kids and grand kids at the Abandoned Building Brewery. While we were looking for a parking spot earlier that day, we already had spotted out the location, just a few buildings down the road from the Park.
Abandoned Building Brewery Intro
From the outside, the building looks kind of shabby, but the inside is warm and welcoming. There are two rooms, and they don’t sell any food, they totally focus on beer. Because they don’t sell food, they do allow and encourage people to bring in their own food. Close to the brewery there is a good pizzeria, Antonio’s which we used for our pizza dinner.
After we claimed a table, it was time to select our beer. First, I considered the Pan Galastic IPA inspired by the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, but instead I tried the Coffee Nightshade Stout, which was excellent. Since they have many different serving sizes, it was easy not to drink too much. For us that day, the 5 oz. size was perfect.
For my second choice I couldn’t resist the Temporary Sanity IPA. Always good to try sanity for a limited time. If you like craft beer, it shouldn’t be hard to find an ABB beer you will enjoy.
What is on Tap at Abandoned Building Brewery?
The most up-to-date list can be found on the ABB website, but here is a sample of some of the ones on tap when we visited in December 2019.
- 2017 Belladonna Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
- Pan Galactic IPA
- Dirty Girl IPA
- Temporary Sanity IPA
- Nightshade Stout
- Brickyard Porter
What makes Abandoned Building Brewery Special?
Starting in March of 2013, Matt Tarlecki began transforming part of this old mill building, aptly named “The Brickyard”. Matt painted the 16 foot tall walls and ceiling, refinished the original hard wood floors, and installed the 15 barrel brewhouse and the barrel fermenters. While doing so, he tried to keep the ambiance of the original mill building. Clearly, he succeeded at that.
To get their unique beer flavors, they use local malt and local hops in their recipes. In nearby Hadley, the brewery maintains a hop yard with 100 plants that includes 4 varieties. In addition, they source hops from Four Star Farms in Northfield, MA.
ABB’s specialities are Belgian Farmhouse and Hoppy American ales. They developed the original recipes to use the local malts and hops that highlight the unique flavors of the Pioneer Valley.
Other Breweries in Easthampton
By now, you might be wondering whether there are other breweries to check out in Easthampton, MA. You are in luck, since right next door from the ABB, there is the New City Brewery. During Thanksgiving, we got some of their ginger beer, it was really good. They make great beer and they consider themselves revivalists, returning pre-prohibition style ginger beer to the people one bottle at a time.
Apart from New City Brewery and Abandoned Building Brewery, there is one more brewery to check out, Fort Hill Brewery. This one gets good reviews, but we don’t have any personal experience with them, so go check them out and let us know.
Conclusion Mill 180 Park and Abandoned Building Brewery.
Since we had such a good time at Mill 180 Park and the Abandoned Building Brewery, we totally recommend that you visit either or both. Do you have indoor parks where you live? What about craft breweries? Please share your local favorites with us.
Oh, and when you find yourself in Massachusetts, don’t forget to visit the fabulous Massachusetts state house. During fall, check out the best places to see foliage!
Pin Mill 180 Park and Abandoned Building Brewery
