Samuel Adams Taproom
The Samuel Adams Taproom, often searched as the Sam Adams tap room, is the brewery's three-floor downtown bar at 60 State Street in Boston, beside Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. It sits a few steps from the bronze statue of Samuel Adams, the Patriot whose name is on the label. Visitors come for the beer, the rooftop deck and the history around the building. This page explains where the taproom is, how the brand and the building came together, what to order, how the brewery tour question works, and how to reach it on a Boston Sightseeing bus. Our guide to things to do in downtown Boston shows what else is within reach.
Location
The taproom is at 60 State Street, at the corner of State and Congress Streets, next to Faneuil Hall and the Quincy Market buildings. The brewery describes the spot as near City Hall, the Financial District and Quincy Market. That puts it in the middle of the Freedom Trail area, and it is an easy add-on after a morning at Faneuil Hall Marketplace.
One note on the name. Samuel Adams also runs its Boston brewery and taproom in Jamaica Plain, which is a separate site. When people search for the "Sam Adams tap room" they can mean either place. This page is about the downtown taproom at Faneuil Hall.
History
The story has three layers, and the first one is older than the beer.
Samuel Adams was a leading Patriot in Revolutionary Boston, and Faneuil Hall regularly hosted pro-independence speeches by Adams and James Otis after the hall was rededicated in 1763. An 1880 bronze statue of Adams by Anne Whitney stands west of the building. The Boston Globe reported that the label illustration was drawn from that statue.
The company is much younger. Jim Koch founded The Boston Beer Company in 1984, and Samuel Adams Boston Lager debuted on April 15, 1985, according to the brewery, at about 35 bars and restaurants, mostly in Back Bay and Downtown Boston. The Samuel Adams Boston Brewery in Jamaica Plain opened to the public in June 1989.
The downtown taproom came last. It opened to the public on January 30, 2020, at 60 State Street, after about two years of construction. Its location next to the statue was a deliberate choice, since the founder said you can hold a Sam Adams in your hand and look at the statue of Sam Adams.
What To See At The Taproom
The building has three levels and a rooftop deck. Boston Magazine reported in 2020 that it holds more than 400 people, so it is a large room rather than a small bar. The mix of beer, snacks and sightseeing is the draw. The beers on offer change, so treat what follows as a guide, not a fixed menu.
The Core Range
Boston Lager, the beer that started the company in 1985, is the anchor. Sam '76 was also among the staple beers when the taproom opened. At opening, the Boston Globe counted 20 beers on tap, eight of them staples. Check the taproom's current list before you go.
Rotating Specials
The downtown building has an on-site brewhouse, a 5.5-barrel system that Boston Magazine called the company's newest innovation brewery. The core brands are brewed elsewhere, and the taproom is where small batches and experiments appear. That is why a visit can mean a beer you cannot find in a store. Flights, which are small tasting pours, and bar snacks are on the brewery's list for this location.
The Brewery Tour
This is where visitors often get confused. Full brewery tours are offered at the Jamaica Plain brewery, where the tour includes the R&D brewhouse and a barrel-aged beer cellar, according to the brewery's taprooms page. That site is separate and is not on our bus route. The downtown taproom page does not list a tour. At opening it offered a small reserved tasting with a brewer beside the production area, and that may have changed, so ask before you plan around it.
Nearby Attractions
The taproom sits on one of the busiest walking corners in the city, so you can fill an afternoon without a long ride. The three sights below are the closest to the idea of "history and a drink."
The Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile path marked in the sidewalk. It links 16 sites, from Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown, and Faneuil Hall is one of the stops. The Freedom Trail runs right past this corner, and the nearby Old State House is another stop.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Faneuil Hall opened in 1742, and Quincy Market was built between 1824 and 1826, east of the hall. The area is a mix of shops, food stalls and street performers. Our guide to Quincy Market covers the food hall in detail.
Boston Common and Public Garden
Boston Common was established in 1634 and is considered the oldest public park in the United States. The Public Garden next to it dates to 1837, and its Swan Boats are a long-running Boston tradition. Our pages on Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden cover both.
Planning Your Visit
A few facts help you decide when to go and what to expect. Hours and menus change, so check the brewery's site on the day.
Hours And Food
The brewery's taprooms page lists downtown hours of Sunday to Thursday, 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday, 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. It says the kitchen closes about 30 minutes before closing and last call is about 15 minutes before. Food is a short menu of snacks and flights.
Age And ID
Massachusetts law requires that alcohol be served only to guests 21 and over with a valid ID, so bring one. Check the taproom's policy on guests under 21 before you bring children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Samuel Adams Taproom in Boston?
It is at 60 State Street, next to Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, near the Samuel Adams statue.
Is the Sam Adams taproom at Faneuil Hall?
Yes. The downtown taproom sits beside Faneuil Hall at State and Congress Streets. The brewery's Jamaica Plain location is a separate site.
What are the hours of the Samuel Adams Taproom?
The brewery lists Sunday to Thursday, 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday, 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Confirm on the day, since hours can change.
Does the Samuel Adams Taproom offer brewery tours?
Full brewery tours are offered at the Jamaica Plain brewery, not at the downtown taproom. The downtown taproom page does not list a tour.
Where is the Sam Adams brewery?
The Samuel Adams Boston Brewery is in Jamaica Plain. The downtown taproom is a separate location at Faneuil Hall.
Can you eat at the Samuel Adams Taproom?
The brewery lists flights and bar snacks for the downtown taproom. The menu changes, so check the current list.
Is there a rooftop at the Samuel Adams Taproom?
Yes. The brewery lists three floors including a rooftop deck for the downtown taproom.
Do you have to be 21 to go to the Samuel Adams Taproom?
Alcohol service requires guests 21 and over with a valid ID. Check the taproom's policy on younger guests before you bring them.
Does Boston Sightseeing stop near the Samuel Adams Taproom?
Yes. Our tour map lists the taproom under Stop 2, the Old State House, and Faneuil Hall Marketplace under Stop 1. The All Day ticket covers Stops 1 to 8.
Who was Samuel Adams?
Samuel Adams was a leading Patriot in Revolutionary Boston, and he spoke at Faneuil Hall. A bronze statue of him by Anne Whitney, dated 1880, stands near the hall.
Plan Your Boston Tour with Boston Sightseeing
The taproom is listed under Stop 2, the Old State House, on the Boston Sightseeing Blue route, and Stop 1 at the New England Aquarium lists Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market. The Hop-On Hop-Off All Day ticket covers Stops 1 to 8, so it includes both. We have not measured the walk from either stop to State Street, so check the map before you plan your timing.
Buses run about every 40 minutes, from about 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and the taproom opens at 11:00 AM. A late morning or early afternoon stop works best. If you plan to drink, arrange your ride home before you start and do not drive. Current ticket prices are on the cards below. See every ticket on our tour packages page, find the stops on the hop-on hop-off tour map, or read more about Boston Sightseeing double-decker tours.
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A 3.5-hour guided shuttle tour featuring Boston’s most iconic neighborhoods, Cambridge highlights, waterfront views, and curated photo opportunities.
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