#12 Faces Brewing Co – Malden, MA

Location: Malden, MA
Brewery Type: Brew Pub
Opening Date: 2020
Website: https://www.facesbrewing.com/
Features: Outdoor Seating, Full Kitchen

The Many Faces of Malden

If you’ve been following along thus far, you might have forgotten that this is a beer blog with all my accounts of hikes and kayak adventures. Well for this article, all you’ll get is the unadulterated beer side of me.

Malden is a city not too far from Somerville, but other than the occasional jaunt to Idle Hands or exploring the strand bike trail, I never gave the city much of a chance. It is also a city that defies expectations – especially after being told to avoid it altogether while I was in the process of relocating to Boston.

With shiny new apartment buildings, a bevy of restaurants and easy access to the Orange Line, downtown Malden has gotten pretty nice. Seriously, give it a visit if you don’t believe me. If that isn’t reason enough, Malden is now home to two breweries – the venerable Idle Hands and the newcomer, Faces Brewing Co.

Born During the Pandemic

Faces Brewing Co had the unfortunate honor of having everything ready to open just as the pandemic sent the nation into lockdown. However, despite all odds, the owners went ahead and opened their doors in June – offering outdoor seating in their spacious beer garden out back and later indoor dining as restrictions started to relax.

I arrived on a Saturday just as they opened and after quickly being explained I needed to go around back for the beer garden, I was immediately seated. They weren’t doing flights, so I got two half pours of the Ultra Wave IPA and the Modern Age Stout. The beer garden is in a massive space with plenty of room for social distancing. They had a tent and umbrellas at the tables protecting patrons from the sun. The main building itself was once a bank and the ornate trim of the building and high ceilings gives the brewery a sophisticated look.

I ordered a Breakdance Sando off the brunch menu which is fried pork belly and fried egg slathered in beer cheese on a brioche bun. As I waited for my meal, I enjoyed sipping on my Ultrawave, a hazy juice bomb and perfect pairing for enjoying the beer garden in the last few vestules of the summer sun.

The pork belly sandwich arrived and I eagerly dug in. It’s a hearty sandwich that I enjoyed alongside my half pint of Modern Age Stout. After the meal I ordered a Mango Blackberry Mahalo – a fruit beer if you couldn’t tell by the name – to sip for dessert.

I paid my check but not without ordering some cans to go and was on my way through the streets of downtown Malden.

What’s On Tap at Faces Brewing Co

• Ultrawave – New England IPA – This hazy juice bomb is an eponymous New England IPA – smooth and goes down easy.
• Modern Age – Stout – Roasty and smooth, this light stout is the perfect accompaniment for any savory meal.
• Mango Blackberry Mahalo – Sour – Overall, a very juicy beer with a subtle tartness, but there wasn’t much strawberry coming through. 
• Commander – Cream Ale – Fantastic beer with a light soft finish, yet with subtle flavor.
• Shoreline – Mexican Lager – This light lager is subtly sweet with a slight kick.

Final Verdict

Despite the challenges of opening in the middle of a pandemic, Faces Brewing Co was able to hit it out of the ballpark with a brewery that will no doubt become a mainstay of Malden for decades to come.

Information
Faces Brewing Co
https://www.facesbrewing.com/
50 Pleasant Ave
Malden, MA