Wachusett Brewing Brings Its Beers to Harvard Square

The space of a longtime Harvard Square brewpub that closed at the end of May will once again have flowing taps: Wachusett Brewing Company will set up a brewpub at the former John Harvard’s location in Cambridge’s Harvard Square (33 Dunster St.).

John Harvard’s, open for nearly 30 years, had stopped brewing beer onsite in 2016 and then closed in May 2019. Now Wachusett will transform the space into a 15-barrel brew house with a taproom and a food menu centered around flatbreads.

Westminster-based Wachusett has been around since 1994, of late pushing its presence further into the Boston area with a recurring outdoor beer garden on City Hall Plaza. Its forthcoming taproom in Harvard will allow Wachusett to offer 16 beers on tap.

“As the Wachusett brand continues to grow, we have been looking for new and interesting ways to reach the next generation of craft beer drinkers and believe this location is ideal for us as we continue to evolve the brand in to the future,” Wachusett president Christian McMahan said in a press release.

John Harvard’s has all the infrastructure needed for Wachusett’s new operation, including the brewing equipment, which remained onsite even after the pub stopped brewing. The team plans to use the Cambridge space to focus on sour beers and some other styles. Wachusett will make use of the full kitchen as well, serving a menu of flatbreads, and there are also plans to revive the space as a venue for live entertainment.

Wachusett also has plans to expand even more with a taproom in the forthcoming Worcester Public Market. Stay tuned for updates on that front, and look for the Cambridge taproom to open sometime this fall.

• A Wachusett Brewpub Is Headed for the Former John Harvard’s [BM]
• John Harvard’s to Close in Harvard Square After 27 Years [EBOS]