mass brew bus tours

The Best Brewery & Taproom Tours in Boston, Massachusetts

The local Massachusetts beer scene has taken off during the last decade, along with everywhere else in America. Here are some guided and self-guided tours you can take in The Hub, as well as the rest of the Bay State.

Written by CraftJack | Updated 11/20/21 | 7 min read

Interesting Tools

• Beer BrüMate Hopsulator
• Brewing Northern Brewer Beer Making Kit
• Spirit Crystal Whiskey Glasses
• Wine Wine Decanter/Aerator

Sometimes all you want is to casually tour a brewery on your own. Low key, accessible, highly informal, just showing up to a brewery at the tour time is always a fun time. The downside is that sometimes tours fill up. Here are a few Massachusetts breweries that offer in-person tours.

Tours Given By Boston Breweries

Sam adams brewery tour (boston, ma).

Ahh, the Sam Adams brewery tour, an hour long journey through the craft brewing process and the craft beer drinking experience. Sam offers private tours for 20 or more, and, they have private event space for rental, if you say, wanted to do a private tour straight into a birthday or engagement party.

Though the tour is free, they ask that you make a charitable donation to a local charity. Be generous. There are paid tours available if you're looking for something a bit more private. As for food, the brewery brings in food trucks to go along with the local eateries and food establishments nearby.

The pandemic has shut down the Sam Adams Brewery Tour for the foreseeable future. Check back with the brewery in the Spring/Summer of 2021 to see if things have changed.

Harpoon Brewery Tour (Boston, MA)

Harpoon is currently hosting Virtual Tastings in lieu of in-person brewery tours, given the current state of the pandemic. Harpoon Virtual Tastings are 45-minute private sessions that cover Harpoon Brewing's history, a guided tasting, and a back-and-forth Q&A with the good folks at the brewery. This is available to Massachusetts residents only.

Somerville Brewing Company (Somerville, MA)

2pm tours are available at Slumbrew on Saturdays. They are free, which is great, but they are limited to 24 guests. The public tours run for approximately 15 minutes. If you want to arrange for a private tour, you should reach out to the brewery. Corporate outings and birthdays are a great excuse for a private tour.

Dorchester Brewing Company

Learn about Dot Brewing's history every Sunday from 12-2pm. First 10 people to sign up receive an educational tour around the facility where you learn about the brewing process, the ingredients, and the history of the DBco brewery.

Amherst Brewing Company (Amherst, MA)

ABC offers tours by appointment. Though, you may want a tour of how they make those world famous wings while you're there.

Cape Cod Beer (Hyannis, MA)

Cape Cod Beer offers tastings all day. Mini Tours are conducted Monday through Friday at 11am. Full, guided tours are given at 11am on Saturday (only). What's more, cider & wine tastings are available at the brewery.

Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company (Worcester, MA)

Touring Greater Good and sampling the beer is akin to drinking full pints elsewhere, since everything is super boozy. Check in with them for tour times.

Multi-Stop Guided Brew Tours

Sometimes you just want to be along for the ride. That's why it's best to sign up for a guided tour or contract a brew bus, as consuming multiple bevvies and getting behind the wheel is a mistake. Doubly true if Greater Good Imperial Brewing is part of your brewery tour.

Their high abv beers cut to the chase.

Boston Brew Tours & Greater Boston Metro Brewery Tours

Boston brew tours (city brew tours boston).

You drink, we drive. That's the motto of City Brew Tours (Boston). This multi-city business is interested in taking you on a craft beer journey where you will learn about the local craft scene while enjoying it's delicious beer. The breweries that they visit in Boston include Samuel Adams Boston Brewery in Jamaica Plain, Night Shift Brewing in Everett, Dorchester Brewing in Dorchester (makes sense, right?), and the Downeast Cider House in Eastie.

Beyond some of the top breweries of Boston mentioned prior, City Brew Tours is generally well reviewed Tripadvisor.com . And with 719 strong reviews, you can feel rather confident that they will take you to some of the best beer halls and taprooms in the Hub.

City Brew Tours also offers a Metrowest tour in the Natick/Framingham area. This would include stops at Exhibit A , The Kells Beer Company , and Jack's Abby .

Mass Brew Bus

The Mass Brew Bus, in conjunction with the Maine Brew Bus (New England's Original Brew Bus), caters to Beer Lovers up and down the Northern New England coast. Covering ground from Providence, RI to the NH border, the Mass Brew Bus offers patrons a local snack/meal, craft beer trivia, and, experiences that get behind the scenes at breweries, cideries, and distilleries.

Hops and Stops

Not to be confused with Hops N' Scotch in Brookline, Hops and Stops toured the greater Boston area breweries and cideries. Starting in 2013, Hops and Stops was created by two guys who sought to create an inefficient and affordable way to tour and sample the local Boston beer scene, not to mention cider houses and distilleries.

It would be wild if you're brewery tour snack was some a handful of real hops .

New England Brewery Tours

NEBT has been serving the Greater Boston area since 2012. Their tours bring you to world-class breweries in and around the city, where you learn about beer styles, the brewing process, and craft beer history. You may just pick up a thing or two about how to pair beer with food. They do their best to keep the tour groups on the smaller side. This gives New England Brewery Tours a chance to have you connect with the brewmasters themselves. They also host corporate events.

Craft Beer Lovers of Boston

Another brewery tour company that hosts tours beyond Boston, traveling across other New England craft beer scenes in Connecticut , Maine , New Hampshire , and Vermont . The owner of Craft Beer Lovers, Jeremy Schmidt, insists that CBL is, "built on a true passion for craft beer" and that they, "organized the brewery tours with high level of professionalism and high quality and world-class customer services". A strong amount of their business comes from referrals.

North Shore Brewery Tours

Conducting public and private tours on the North Shore of Massachusetts, this brew tours biz offers gluten-free and gluten-reduced tours, which is quite interesting. Those tours are private only, but it's still a strong nod toward accessibility. Their tours stretch from Salem to Newburyport.

Brewery Tours in Worcester, Massachusetts

Brew Bus + Bites Tour

The Brew Bus + Bites (tour) is put on by Mass Foodies. Attendees are treated to a wonderful night of pub crawling around the various Worcester breweries . Guests depart from Wormtown Brewery down on Shrewsbury Street and get immediately handed a can of beer from 3cross Fermentation Coop as they travel en route to destination 1: Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company . Redemption Rock Brewing (also Shrewsbury Street) is stop number two. After RRBC, attendees will be rounded up and whisked back down the street to Wormtown where they wll enjoy another pull off the tap. The tour concludes with a custom pop-up dinner from Chef Jay Powell.

This sounds like it's worth every dollar.

Brewery Tours in Western Massachusetts

Western mass brewery tours with valley transporter.

Valley Transporter out of ___ offers tours around the Pioneer Valley to the more than 20 craft breweries that exist there. Some of the microbreweries, taprooms, and brewpubs include Amherst Brewing , BBC, Building 8, Lefty's, Northampton Brewery, Opa-Opa, and Vanished Valley.

Folks residing in Western Mass are welcome to schedule more custom brew trips eastward to Tree House , Wormtown in Worcester, Exhibit A in Framingham, and Trillium by contracting Valley Transporter.

Brew Practitioners Craft Beer Brewery Bus Tour

Fantastic is what Brew Practitioners' Brew Bus is. Just a great idea for a brewery to put on their own craft beer tour. Brew Practitioners is a microbrewery that is moving form NoHo to Agawam shortly, so best to keep that in mind if you live in the Amherst/NoHo area and you want to schedule up a custom tour with them.

Brew tour details: $75-85 per person. 3 Breweries or Wineries (for the non beer folk). A casual lunch. One drink token per venue. And, most important, a driver. "Ale Aboard!"

Pioneer Valley Tours

Pioneer Valley Tours offers 4 hour group tours for 12-18 guests. All tours begin and end in Northampton. Brewery tour stops include Abandoned Building Brewery, Brew Practitioners, and Fort Hill Brewery (makers of Jigsaw Jazz ). $40-$50 is a decent price for the ride.

However, no drink tickets are included. Don't sweat it, prices are all somewhat the same with local brewery tours.

Brewery Tours of South Shore

South shore brewery tour with jb livery.

Safe, reliable transportation door to door, brewery to brewery. Their tours include breweries like Weymouth's Barrel House Z and Vitamin Sea Brewing , Scituate's Untold Brewing, and Braintree's Widowmaker Brewing. If any time is a time to drink Widowmaker's Triple Ecstasy (Triple IPA) , it's when someone else is driving.

Brewery Tours on Cape Cod

Cape cod brew tour / cape cod brew bus.

What better way to kill 3.5 hours on a Wednesday than jumping on the Cape Cod Brew Bus. Stops along the way include Barnstable Brewing, Cape Cod Beer, and the Naukabout Brewery and Taproom in Mashpee. Throw in a picnic basket of fresh, Cape-made sandwiches for your travel group and your'e golden.

The Cape Cod Brew Tour is also available on Friday, a day you're more likely to attend anyway. Maximum of 12 people. Tickets are $89, $72 for non-drinkers.

Brewery Tours on Nantucket

Cisco brewery tour.

Tap Tastings

Tap Tastings offers private tasting tours on Cape Cod. Furthermore, the Cape Cod Times ranks Tap Tastings as a 2020 Best of Cape Cod offering. Hop on Barley, their van, for a custom brew excursion. Tap Tastings offers a la carte options, like adding a guided beer tasting at a Cape brewery, a stop Father's Kitchen & Taphouse for a sandwich, or a wine and cheese tasting at Lo Adoro. Plus, Tap Tastings is a veteran owned business.

DIY Brew Tour of the North Shore

Hit up two of the best breweries on the North Shore, Newburyport Brewing and Riverwalk. Seek trip transportation and don't drive. Stay on Plum Island and take a cab/uber over to those two breweries. Get a Plum Island White @ Newburyport. Get something named after a video game at Riverwalk Brewing . Be your own tour guide.

DIY Brew Tours of Craft Beer Bars around Boston

Boston is no slouch when it comes to accommodating the denizens of the local craft beer scene. Though closed now, The Lower Depths in Kenmore, Sunset Grill & Tap in Allston, and Bukowski's Tavern in Cambridge were popular craft brew haunts. Meadhall in Kendall Sq. has an excellent selection of Massachusetts-brewed beer. Stoddard's near the Common and The Publick House in Brookline are a few other excellent bars with wide selections.

Related Articles

Bring your crew,

We'll tour the brews., private boston brewery tours.

We provide private day trip tours to local Boston breweries. With over a dozen brewery partners, we offer a diverse range of possible itineraries and schedules. We take care of the planning and booking, so you can focus on enjoying your day with your group of friends.

Individualized Itinerary

After one brief informational interview with one of our talented tour advisors, we will craft the perfect itinerary based on your timeline, group size, and beer preferences. This level of personalization is unparalleled, and we are the sole service to ensure you have a tour that is tailored to your interests.

Transportation Provided

No need to worry about a designated driver, our comfy Bos Brew Bus vans will take you from one brewery to the next. You just meet us at our main office, and our trusty drivers and tour leaders will guide you from there. We will even pass you the aux cord to exercise your DJ skills, if you'd like.

Bos Brew Bus helped me plan a bachelor party to remember! After one call with our wonderful tour advisor Pete, their team crafted an absolutely perfect day. The service and personalization is truly one-of-a-kind, and we will be returning soon.

Ben Smith Revere, MA

My family booked Bos Brew Bus for our reunion this past summer, and they exceeded my expectations. As a group of beer lovers from outside the state, we were looking to explore the Boston brewery scene. Our tour leader Lenny was so knowledgeable, and really gave us a special tour of the city!

Sarah Russell Burlington, VT

Book your tour.

Bos Brew Bus is a private tour company that provides all-in-one planning and bus transportation to local Boston breweries. We plan your perfect and personalized one-day tour around town, so you can enjoy the best beers with your best buds.

Interested in learning more? Setting up a tour consultation? Fill out our form and one of our talented team members will get back to you shortly.

• Senior Living
• Wedding Experts
• Private Schools
• Home Design Experts
• Real Estate Agents
• Mortgage Professionals
• Find a Private School
• 50 Best Restaurants
• Be Well Boston
• Find a Dentist
• Find a Doctor
• Guides & Advice
• Best of Boston Weddings
• Find a Wedding Expert
• Real Weddings
• Bubbly Brunch Event
• Properties & News
• Find a Home Design Expert
• Find a Real Estate Agent
• Find a Mortgage Professional
• Real Estate
• Home Design
• Best of Boston Home
• Arts & Entertainment
• Boston magazine Events
• Latest Winners
• NEWSLETTERS

If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours.

Mass Brew Bus Hits the Road In November

Devoted foodies and restaurant newbies love the feed. sign-up now for our twice weekly newsletter..

Maine and Mass Brew Bus owner Zach Poole at Night Shift Brewing. / Photo by Mike Johnson

You could plan separate visits to Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing in Framingham, Bone Up Brewing in Everett, and Dorchester Brewing Co. Or, you could hop on a bus that takes you to all three.

That’s the business model for Mass Brew Bus, a tour service that charters drinkers to local breweries in all-inclusive trips. The company expects to host its first tour on a Saturday in mid-November, says general manager Don Littlefield.

“For the Boston market, we’re looking to visit small and medium breweries that are predominately new startups or operations, to try and showcase what they bring to the overall scene and brewing industry in Massachusetts,” Littlefield says.

As BostInno noted , this isn’t new terrain for Littlefield and cofounders Zach and Spencer Poole. The team also oversee the Maine Brew Bus , which launched in 2012 to cart drinkers to local breweries around Portland. With the success of their tours up north, the crew hope to introduce Boston-area drinkers to breweries they might not have heard of, and highlight the people behind those establishments.

Every four-hour Mass Brew Bus tour will start and end at Craft Beer Cellar in Fort Point . Once the group is accounted for, a tour guide will load up the bus and drive everyone to three pre-determined breweries, sprinkling in trivia and beer insight along the way. At each stop, drinkers can enjoy a flight of beer and a short tour from brewery staff. So far, Mass Brew Bus has signed on the following breweries:

• Bone Up Brewing Company in Everett,
• Dorchester Brewing Company  in Boston,
• Winter Hill Brewing Company in Somerville,
• Hopsters in Newton,
• Old Colony Brewing in Whitman,
• Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Company in Framingham,
• Barrel House Z in Weymouth,
• Castle Island Brewing Company in Norwood, and
• 10th District Brewing Company in Abington.

Though the itinerary of each tour will vary, Littlefield expects each stop on the tour to last around 45 minutes. The company plans to partner with more breweries soon after launching, too, with Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers and Lamplighter Brewing Company  among the possibilities, Littlefield says. He even hinted at adding a few cider houses into the mix. No matter where the bus stops, Littlefield promises a diverse experience.

“We’re not going to put three breweries together that are making the same styles of beer, and in direct competition with each other, and the same size,” he says. “We want to compare and contrast.”

To start, Mass Brew Bus will hold tours twice a day on Saturdays. Littlefield envisions those tours running from around 10 a.m.- 3 p.m., then from 3:30 p.m.-7 p.m., though exact times are still being finalized. Eventually, it will scale up to run tours Thursdays through Sundays, with eight tours a week. To make that happen, the company hopes to add a second bus to its fleet by spring 2017.

Littlefield says tours will cost around $80-$100 per person, which includes a beer flight at each stop, water, snacks, transportation, and various gratuities. Once things get rolling, Mass Brew Bus hopes to accomodate larger tours that stop at more breweries and provide lunch, like Pints of Portsmouth does during its New Hampshire tours.

If you’re keen to buckle up before Mass Brew Bus puts its foot on the gas, hitch a ride with the citywide service  Boston Brew Tours .

massbrewbus.com .

12 Must-Visit Restaurants in Worcester, Mass.

13 Must-Visit Restaurants in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Where to Eat Fabulous French Food around Boston

Boston’s Le Mari Brings Mediterranean Tapas to Newbury Street

12 must-visit restaurants in worcester, massachusetts, 12 must-visit restaurants in stowe, vermont, visit the boston restaurants on guy fieri’s diners, drive-ins and dives, in this section.

No Driving Needed: Let These City Brew Tours Take You On A Brewery Tour

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

10 Underrated Small Beach Towns In Florida To Kick The Winter Blues

Scenic, but underrated: this small town is the perfect alternative to honolulu, 10 small towns in the great smoky mountains to visit in winter, quick links, boston brew tours - massachusetts’ original brewery tour, the breweries in boston, safe and sober transport.

Boston is one of the most historical and important cities in the United States of America . It is known as a sports city, being the home of many successful sports franchises. Boston is also known for its food scene, especially the rich seafood that comes out of its harbor. It also is home to some of the world's most renowned universities, but what really brings travelers to Boston is the beer .

Boston is home to over 30 breweries, with many more in the surrounding areas. Boston Brew Tours, a part of City Brew Tours, offers visitors to the city a chance to partake in a fully guided and all-inclusive tour of Boston’s finest breweries.

Travelers to Boston, Massachusetts, can experience the state's rich history through its delicious craft beer! City Brew Tours Boston, more commonly known as Boston Brew Tours, invites travelers to join them as they take behind-the-scenes looks at the craft breweries, taste local beer, and sample some deliciously paired food.

• Phone - (617) 453-8687
• Email - [email protected]
• Public Tour Pick-Up - the southeast corner of Boylston St at Charles St
• Send a Message

Original Brew Tour (Public)

The Original Brew Tour is the popular all-inclusive craft beer experience that first started making Boston Brew Tours famous. Travelers will be guided through an exploration of historic Boston breweries while also discovering some wondrous new breweries that have popped up. They are some of the most innovative craft breweries to join the Boston beer scene. Travelers on tour will be able to enjoy the knowledge of their guides, some great food, comfortable transportation, and a lot of tasty beer.

• Includes - Behind-the-scenes tours of our favorite Boston breweries
• Sample - up to 16 beer styles across four stops
• Guided - beer pairing meal
• Transit - Comfortable round-trip transportation
• Availability - Thursday & Friday at 11:45 AM. Saturday at 11:00AM & 11:45AM
• Duration - Approximately 5 hours
• Price - Starting at $85

Related: 10 Boston Restaurants Serving Up The Best Italian Food

Sip Of Boston Brew Tour (Public)

The Sip of Boston Tour is smaller in breadth than the original tour but serves as an excellent introduction to Boston’s impressive and world-renowned craft beverage scene. This is a more compact adventure. However, travelers will still be spending a few hours visiting and going behind the scenes at three of Boston’s local craft alcohol producers.

• Includes - VIP access to the history and inner workings of three Boston craft alcohol producers
• Sample - Up to 12 samples
• Food - Craft beer pretzel snack
• Availability - Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 5:45 PM. Saturday 5:00PM & 5:45PM
• Duration - 3.5 hours
• Price - Starting at $59

Private Tours

Boston Brew Tours offers its guests the best possible way to celebrate or commemorate an occasion with friends, family, or coworkers. Travelers can work with Boston Brew Tours to customize an evening of beer-tasting adventure. They can possibly handle anywhere from 5-500 guests and can figure out what will work based on the traveler’s budget.

It could be for a special event or a corporate gathering; those who wish to plan a custom tour can work with City Tours to find out which breweries are perfect for this group and what kinds of food will best be paired with the alcohol that will be shared. This is an incredibly special opportunity that travelers to the area should take advantage of.

• Get Started

Related: Boston Public Market: A Guide On What to Do & Eat While You're There

Boston Brew Tours has been a part of Boston for a while now, so they can be trusted to find the best brews. They can help visitors to the city find the smallest independent nano-breweries that brew those unique, small-batch releases to the major regional brewers who help craft beer, especially in Boston, become as well known and popular as it is today. Boston Brew Tours has relationships with all these places, so travelers can trust them.

It is one thing to drink craft beer. It is another to experience the origin story of a great beer and the brewery it came from. Boston is home to some of the best and most award-winning breweries in the world. Travelers would be hard-pressed to find a better way to dive in and experience the world of craft beer than with Boston Beer Tours.

Travelers who want to dive into Boston’s beer scene should leave the driving to Boston Brew Tours. Boston traffic is crazy, and the roads are a challenge to navigate. Travelers don’t want to worry about having to get from brewery one to brewery two. With their 15-passenger vans and luxury tour buses, Boston Brew Tours is set to take on a tour of Bean Town. There are so many craft breweries, distilleries, and cider houses in this beautiful and historic city that travelers must check them out. They should just make sure to do it safely. All drivers for Boston Brew Tours have clean driving records as well, so there won’t be much to worry about.

• Destinations
• Top Sights In Boston
• Top Sights In Massachusetts

Home » Travel Guides » United States » Massachusetts (MA) » 15 Best Boston Beer, Wine and Food Tours

15 Best Boston Beer, Wine and Food Tours

From Paul Revere and Samuel Adams to the Boston Tea Party, Boston Massachusetts is arguably the most historic city in all of America.

With only slightly more than 600,000 residents, it’s not large by modern city standards, but it’s got a well-earned reputation as a tough town that fiercely protects its heritage and traditions – and one that loves its beer and baseball too.

Due to its proximity to some of New England’s most historic and natural wonders, it’s a great stepping-point for other quick trips to the surrounding area.

Below are 15 of the best beer, wine and food tours in Boston.

1. The Original Boston Brews Tour

Boston has always had a reputation as a town that enjoys its beer; if you’ve got a few hours to kill, there’s no better way to taste more of Boston’s favorite brews than by guided tour.

The tour includes stops at a few of the area’s most friendly taverns and breweries, where in addition to a thorough sampling and having nearly 100 different draft beers at your fingertips, you’ll also enjoy a great lunch.

From dark beer to light and almost everything in between, this tour has it all. It’s a great way to learn about the city’s history and meet some likeminded locals too.

2. Fenway Park History Pub Crawl

Few things go together as well as baseball and beer, and when in a city like Boston that loves both, enjoying them together is a must.

This tour’s guide will be a local foodie, beer fanatic, and lover of all things baseball, so it’s really like getting three for the price of one.

You and your travel partners will hit at least three bars that are fan favorites, and a local brewery just a stone’s throw from the stadium.

If you’re lucky enough to go during baseball season, the atmosphere will be intense, but fear not, even if it’s the offseason the bars draw a great crowd.

View Prices & Reviews

3. Historic Taverns and Pizza Tour

Walking tours are a great way to get some exercise, see the sights up close, and get a great feel for the layout of a city.

This 2 ½-hour tour focuses on taverns and pizza – two things that go together like peanut butter and jelly.

On the tour, you’ll visit some of the region’s most historic landmarks, many of which date back to the country’s colonial days.

In bygone eras, taverns were often rallying points for tipsy patriots itching for a fight with the colonial rulers of whom they weren’t too fond. This tour will take you to some places that were once the haunts of some well-known historical figures.

4. Guided Brewery Tour with Drinks and either Lunch or Dinner

Microbreweries and brewpubs are all the rage in Boston. Along with some of the city’s larger and more well-known breweries, they give Boston a beer culture that’s very unique.

On this tour, you’ll sample nearly 20 beers and learn about the brewing process.

If you’re staying downtown, door-to-door transportation is included. Depending on the tour you choose, it will either include lunch or dinner.

Even though a meal is included, it’s best not to show up on an empty stomach as some of the beers you’ll try are pretty strong. You wouldn’t want to fall asleep before you’ve gotten your money’s worth!

5. Historic Pub Crawl Tour along the Freedom Trail

Boston is one of the country’s most historic cities, and with such a rich beer history, this pub crawl along Freedom Trail is a great way to get your fill of both.

The crawl will lead you to many historic downtown pubs that are food and drink favorites of the locals -many of which are some of the oldest pubs in the country.

The tour lasts about 2 ½ hours. Like many guests, you may find yourself striking out on your own after the tour and revisiting some of the places you’ve just seen, making a night of it.

6. Food and History Tour from the North End to the Freedom Trail

In case you weren’t paying attention in elementary school history, Boston Harbor is one of the most historic areas in the country and is considered the birthplace of the Revolution.

This walking tour includes stops at historically important areas along the harbor and wharf, which runs along Atlantic Avenue.

You’ll stop into a few shops and eateries, and take an afternoon break for an espresso and a pastry.

Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, and the Old State House are on the itinerary as well. Near the end, you’ll wind through picturesque Beacon Hill, one of the city’s gems.

7. South End Wine and Walking Tour

Though pretty much everybody knows about Boston’s ages-old beer tradition, what’s not so well known is that the city has undergone a bit of a wine renaissance lately too.

This tour of the city’s South End winds its way through Victorian-era flats, quaint shops, and plenty of restaurants, cafes, and bars that are usually full of cheerful revelers.

At each wine tasting stop, you’ll enjoy reserved tables, food selected specifically to go with your wines, and knowledgeable staff that’ll walk you through the samples and give you a refreshing insight into the finer points of wine-snobbery.

8. Independence Pub Crawl

With so many pubs and pub crawls in the city, it’s a wonder you can even walk down the sidewalk without stumbling over inebriated tourists.

For those who’ve only got a few hours to spare, this short but fun pub crawl gives guests the option of choosing what time of the day best suits them.

The tour is led by a local history and spirits aficionado, who’ll take you to some popular and historically significant pubs, where you’ll be able to sample many of the city’s microbrews and hard ciders too.

Food and tips aren’t included, so bring a few extra bucks.

9. Back Bay Walking and Wine Tasting Tour

Boston’s Back Bay is a trendy area and one especially popular with those who like experiencing the city’s history while sampling some amazing cuisine and wines that were just made for one another.

If you’re not up on wine terms and pairings, fear not, your guide will tell you all there is to know so you can get the most bang for your buck.

Hotel pickup and drop-off aren’t included, but if you’re staying downtown you may be able to walk to the meeting point.

Since it’s a walking tour, be sure to wear a pair of comfy shoes.

10. Sip of Boston Brewery Tour

Of all the famous brands of beer brewed in Boston, Samuel Adams is probably the most well-known. Though it started out small, it has grown significantly and now ships its flagship Boston Lager all over the country.

On this tour, you’ll visit the brewing facilities of Samuel Adams and Harpoon and get a fascinating historical insight from the tour’s knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide.

From pilsners and stouts to wheat beers and pale ales, you’ll sample many of the most popular, and probably a few that you’ve never even heard of.

Bottled water and snacks are included, as is bus transportation.

11. North End Wine and Walking Tour

When visiting a new city, it can be difficult to get a feel of where things are before it’s time to pack your bags and head home.

If that sounds like you, consider a walking tour, which will not only get you some exercise and an up-close-and-personal view of the city but on this tour will include some of the region’s best wines.

Group size is limited to 12; you’ll explore Boston’s Little Italy and your wines will be paired with some delectable sweet and savory treats that’ll really satisfy that sweet tooth of yours.

12. Cocktails and Cannoli

If paired correctly, cocktails and sweets can go together nicely, and though Boston is predominately Irish, it’s also got a thriving Italian community that’s especially known for its cannoli.

This tour includes stops to some of the area’s most noted bakeries. You’ll even watch chocolate being made, after which you’ll get to satisfy those taste buds by sampling tiramisu and cannoli along with your cocktail.

The tour lasts about 2 ½ hours. During that time you’ll learn a great deal about the area’s fascinating history too.

Though this tour is brief, it’s a great value for your time and money.

13. South End Food and Drink Tour

Boston’s South End is one of the city’s most famous neighborhoods and has been notably featured in many popular movies about the gangsters who made their names there.

Though the area was once an Irish stronghold, it’s become more diverse lately. On this tour, you’ll stop into a few shops that may seem out of place with their remarkably international cuisine.

The architecture is amazing too, as is the area’s rich history and the amazing restaurants serving lots of traditional classics and some with a contemporary twist.

The tour includes a fair amount of walking and lasts about 3 ½ hours.

14. New England’s Beaches, Beers and Bluffs

If you’ve got a wide-open itinerary, a pocket full of credit cards, and want to experience all that New England has to offer in one tour, then this is for you.

This seven-day tour includes visits to neighboring states like New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. Along the way, you’ll see some amazing natural beauty, learn about the area’s colonial history, and sample some of the region’s most famous and delicious beers too.

Highlights include a Maine lobster cruise and a visit to the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe.

There’s just too much to list, so check it out thoroughly before booking.

15. North End Secret Food Tour

Boston is one of those cities that’s full of unique and distinct neighborhoods that have their own food, feel and history.

This three-hour walking tour is limited to 12 people and will lead you through the city’s North End. Your guide will take you to some of the neighborhood’s most diverse and delectable restaurants, where you’ll sample seafood, sweets, beer, and wine, all while rubbing elbows with some locals and getting to know your travel mates.

Things will get kicked off with a lobster roll, and you’ll try pizza, homemade sausages and some craft beer too.

15 Best Boston Beer, Wine and Food Tours:

• The Original Boston Brews Tour
• Fenway Park History Pub Crawl
• Historic Taverns and Pizza Tour
• Guided Brewery Tour with Drinks and either Lunch or Dinner
• Historic Pub Crawl Tour along the Freedom Trail
• Food and History Tour from the North End to the Freedom Trail
• South End Wine and Walking Tour
• Independence Pub Crawl
• Back Bay Walking and Wine Tasting Tour
• Sip of Boston Brewery Tour
• North End Wine and Walking Tour
• Cocktails and Cannoli
• South End Food and Drink Tour
• New England’s Beaches, Beers and Bluffs
• North End Secret Food Tour

Western Mass Craft Beer Trail

WESTERN MASS CRAFT BEER TRAIL

The name says it all! Abandoned Building Brewery is inside an old mill building on Pleasant Street in Easthampton, Abandoned Building Brewery oozes cool with high ceilings, exposed brick and plenty of space to gather and sample locally brewed craft beer. Owner Matt Tarlecki uses locally grown ingredients and is proud to say they are Easthampton’s first craft microbrewery. You can find their beers on tap at local restaurants or visit the brewery and pick up a growler of their home made brews.

Amherst Brewing Company is a full-service brewpub located in downtown Amherst. The 10-Barrel brewery is visible from the bar and produces some of the finest ales and lagers. Brewery tours can be made by appointment. The giant, brass-top bar seats over 30 people and is fully stocked, including Single Malt Scotches and Small Batch Bourbons. An additional 40 seats are available on their seasonal patio; the best place in town to relax and enjoy an ABC draft or specialty brew while watching passersby.

BLDG 8 is a small commercial brewery located in Northampton. Their first and currently only beer, The IPA, has been highly praised by beer blogs and drinkers all over Western Mass and beyond.

Brew Practitioners is a majority female-owned, small craft brewery and taproom located in Florence serving craft beer in the taproom and in carry out growlers. Brew Practitioners offers live music from time to time and specializes in great beer and great customer service. They also have a Craft Beer Brewery Bus Tour, Ale Aboard.

Established in 1994 in South Deerfield, Berkshire Brewing Company is one of the top brewers of craft beers in the US. BBC produces 580 barrels (17,980 gallons) of fresh beer each week. All of BBC’s beer is unfiltered, unpasteurized and contains no chemical additives or preservatives. As craft brewers, they are now producing nine styles of beer year-round and seven seasonals.

New City Brewery is a small brewery in Easthampton making itself known for hand crafted alcoholic ginger beer. The brewery is also located inside the old mill on Pleasant Street and in addition to its ginger beer, serves a mix of stouts, IPAs and ales. Patrons can enjoy the small bar with personal service and live music. They also have an outdoor patio for the warmer months.

Iron Duke Brewing is located at the Historic Ludlow Mills complex in Ludlow. Stockhouse 122, sits directly along Chicopee River. Originally used to house jute back in the early 1900’s, Stockhouse 122 has over 100 years of history within its brick walls. IDB was started a mere stone’s throw away by a small group of close friends and family. Over the last 12 years, they have worked on perfecting their craft using a small nano system built from scratch. Iron Duke Brewing has gathered an impressive collection of awards for wide variety of beer offerings.

In 2011, White Lion Brewing Company ’s founder, Ray Berry thought about starting a craft brewing company to establish a local product for the city of Springfield and the Western Mass region. In 2012, after much thought, countless discussions and research, the business blueprint and framework were created. Berry is proud to say that White Lion, is the first craft brewery in Springfield. More than a brewer, White Lion is a catalyst for Springfield’s revitalization and is excited to open its new location inside Tower Square.

Brewery all began in a small ice cream shop on Park Ave in Worcester in 2010. In 2015, after 5 years crammed in that location and 13 months of construction, Wormtown Brewery opened the doors to its new location, in the heart of Worcester, on Shrewsbury Street. Wormtown Brewery is dedicated to putting “A Piece of Mass in Every Glass” by working with local farms and sourcing ingredients for the freshest beer possible.

Hitchcock Brewing Company , named after ancient Glacial Lake Hitchcock, is a 10-barrel farm brewery located in Whately, amidst views of Sugarloaf Mountain, Hitchcock Hopyard, historic tobacco barns and acres and acres of active farmland. The brewery opened in 2016 as the culmination of a 30-year vision for the husband and wife team of Rich & Geneva Pedersen who own and operate the brewery and hopyard by themselves. Rich brews primarily American Ales and uses hops from the hopyard when possible. He also uses local produce (raspberries, blueberries, maple syrup, pumpkin, and squash thus far) in seasonal and specialty beers.

• 413-787-1548
• [email protected]
• ASK A LOCAL

• Weather App
• Interactive Radar
• 7 Day Forecast
• Hour by Hour
• Current Temperatures
• Closings & Delays
• Report School or Business Closing
• School administrators: Create a closings account
• Watch Live News
• Breaking Stream
• The $pend $mart Stream
• Law & Crime
• Curiosity NOW
• Share Your Photos and Videos
• Karen Read Murder Trial
• 25 Investigates
• New England's Unsolved
• Boston Bruins
• Boston Celtics
• Boston Red Sox
• New England Patriots
• Zip Trips Market Place
• Furever Friday
• Steals and Deals
• Submit a news tip
• Advertise with Us
• TV & Stream Schedule
• Work at Boston 25 (Opens in new window)
• Visitor Agreement
• Privacy Policy
• Around Town
• Stuff the Bus

Boston 25 Now

Harris and Walz reach out to voters in GOP strongholds in southeast Georgia bus tour

Election 2024 Harris Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to marching band members at Liberty County High School in Hinesville, Ga., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

HINESVILLE, Ga. — (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, dropped in on a high school band practice Wednesday as part of a two-day bus tour through southeast Georgia, a critical battleground state that Democrats just narrowly won four years ago.

Harris and Walz paid a visit to Liberty County High School in Hinesville, listening to the marching band perform its school fight song and delivering brief remarks to students and faculty on the first day of their Georgia swing, which will culminate in a rally in Savannah on Thursday night.

“We’re so proud of you and we’re counting on you," Harris told the students, some shrieking with excitement at the sight of the vice president. "Your generation … is what is going to propel our country into the next era of what we can do and what we can be.”

Harris told the students that she, too, played in the band — an aide said the vice president had played the French horn, xylophone and kettle drums.

The visit is part of a two-pronged strategy by the Harris-Walz campaign to make inroads in GOP strongholds and to use smaller, more intimate settings to showcase a softer side of the ticket — which is still relatively unknown by the electorate. Campaign officials believe that in order to beat Republican Donald Trump in the state, they will need more than Atlanta and the suburbs that delivered for Joe Biden in 2020.

Harris campaign communications director Michael Tyler said bus tours offer an "opportunity to get to places we don’t usually go (and) make sure we’re competing in all communities.”

The campaign wants the events to motivate voters in GOP-leaning areas who don’t traditionally see the candidates, and hopes that the engagements drive viral moments that cut through crowded media coverage to reach voters across the country.

Harris and Walz also stopped at Sandfly, a barbecue restaurant outside Savannah, where some of the patrons were teachers. One thanked Walz, a former high school teacher himself.

Tyler said the campaign’s strategy of using informal engagements to reach voters has been consistent from when President Biden was on the ticket, but the nature of the events has shifted along with the candidates. During a bus tour in western Pennsylvania, for example, they stopped at a football practice — Walz is a former assistant high school football coach.

Walz met Harris on the tarmac in Savannah, and the two greeted students from Savannah State University before setting off in their bright blue bus with “Harris Walz” emblazoned in big letters on the side, along with the phrase “A New Way Forward.”

It looks like a regular campaign bus, but this one is an armored U.S. Secret Service vehicle driven by agents that comes with lights and sirens and secure communications. After the first stop, Harris shifted back to her traditional SUV, the bus relegated to the back of the motorcade.

Harris and Walz are also sitting down with CNN anchor Dana Bash for their first joint interview. The interview will air Thursday night.

The Democratic strategy to peel off votes in Republican parts of the state has had some success before. Raphael Warnock, Georgia's first Black senator, won reelection in 2022 by nearly 3 percentage points — while Biden carried Georgia by only a quarter percentage point about two years earlier — in part by venturing into the deepest red areas. The operatives involved in Warnock's win are now on Harris' campaign team.

The Georgia trip is a makeup visit from earlier in the month, when the duo was set to embark on a seven-state swing tour introducing the new Democratic ticket . The North Carolina and Georgia legs of the trip got scrapped as Tropical Storm Debby battered the region.

The easygoing stops were a contrast to a bakery visit last week by Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance in Valdosta, Georgia, where he struggled to banter with employees while buying doughnuts and one worker asked to be kept off camera.

During an NBC interview Tuesday, Vance said that he felt terrible for the worker.

“We walked in, and there’s 20 Secret Service agents, and there’s 15 cameras, and she clearly had not been properly warned, and she was terrified, right? I just felt awful for her.”

Vance also said Wednesday that he was among those who spoke with Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp after Trump's blistering attacks against him at a rally in the state just a few weeks ago. Trump blamed the governor for his narrow 2020 loss in the state, railed against Kemp for not giving in to his false theories of election fraud and attributed his legal problems in the state to Kemp's not stepping in to stop a local district attorney from prosecuting him .

"I encouraged him to support the president, and he didn’t take much persuasion. He wanted to support the president because he thinks Kamala Harris is going to be a disaster,” Vance said.

Trump changed his tune last week, thanking the governor in a social media post for all his “help and support in Georgia, where a win is so important to the success of our Party and, most importantly, our Country.”

On the eve of Harris’ visit, Kemp told Fox News that Republicans "need to be telling people why they should vote for us, what we’re going to do to make things better than they are right now. And there’s a host of issues that I think you could contrast Kamala Harris and her record."

“To me, that’s what we need to stay focused on, not some dustup from two or three weeks ago," he said.

Meanwhile, the Harris campaign launched a new ad across the battleground states, seeking to tie Trump to the conservative “Project 2025."

The first ad asserts that Trump is "out for control" over voters, juxtaposing Trump quotes with ominous screenshots of the plan. It's part of Harris' $370 million in digital and television ad reservations between Labor Day and Election Day.

Led by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, Project 2025 is a detailed 920-page handbook for governing under the next Republican administration, including ousting thousands of civil servants and replacing them with Trump loyalists and reversing the Food and Drug Administration's approval of medications used in abortions.

Trump has tried to distance himself from Project 2025, though it was drafted by longtime allies and former officials of the Trump administration. Last month, he posted on social media that he had not seen the plan, had “no idea who is in charge of it, and, unlike our very well received Republican Platform, had nothing to do with it.”

Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in New York contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

‘Heinous’: Ex-Stoughton officer strangled Sandra Birchmore, staged her death as suicide, feds say

Spectators watch takedown of former Stoughton detective in Revere strip mall

South Shore teacher arraigned, allegedly sent inappropriate messages to students

‘Horrific injustice’: Stoughton police chief speaks out after ex-officer charged in Birchmore death

Dunkin’ reveals lineup of fall menu items, announces new $6 breakfast meal deal

Women combine passion for food, family and travel in Savory Lane bus tour of Massachusetts, New Hampshire

D ERRY, N.H. - Four women are bringing their passion for food and travel to their own bus tour business in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

The Savory Lane  is a two-year-old company that operates out of a farmhouse bus with a bathroom, mini kitchen, and plenty of seats. It's named "Freddie," after their grandmother.

"I have a picture right by my drivers seat and I wear her necklace with me everytime I get on board. So number one, I know she is watching over us," co-owner Maria Czyzewski told WBZ-TV.  

"To have my sister, my mother and my niece involved.  A woman family-owned business, it's been pretty cool," co-owner Lisa Galloni told WBZ-TV.

"I had seen tiny home buses. It's amazing on what you can do with some of those, but what it ended up being is absolutely above and beyond what we had thought," Czyzewski said.

Customers can expect an unforgettable experience on the bus.

"I'm sitting in the drivers seat, so I see everyone coming on and the minute they turn the little corner. They are like, 'Oh my God, this is amazing,'" Czyzewski said.

Where does The Savory Lane go?

They offer tours for for everybody. From their winery tour, to a book lovers "literary adventure," or even a gourmet cheese shop tour. They also offer seasonal experiences for fall, Halloween and Christmas. 

"Scavenger hunts is a favorite, our tea parties are a favorite," Galloni said.

The tours range from four to eight hours and they can welcome 15 to 24 people. But the Savory Ladies' favorite part is watching customers smile ear to ear.

"It kind of solidifies what we wanted to bring to people. It exceeded our expectations, that people are enjoying this that much," Czyzewski said.

"The positive feedback and the excitement, 'This is the best day I've ever had in so long.' Those type of things are really incredible," Galloni said.

"A great partnership"

The tours are also a positive experience for the businesses they visit.

"It's pretty exciting. It's great for us because it's a great partnership. They're our biggest supporters, but they also bring in a lot of people who had no idea that this was here," Appolo Vineyards owner Mike Appolo told WBZ.

The ladies know that all the great memories they have made on the bus would make their grandmother proud.

"She would be super excited because this is right up her alley. Hanging out with people, having a good time, dancing and singing," Galloni said.

GPB Originals

Browse by genre, featured programs, featured programs & series, more gpb news, for kids & teachers, ghsa sports, high school football, browse by type, browse by category, for parents & caregivers, support gpb, gpb newsletter cta, banner image, section branding, header content, tagged as: , georgia today: harris begins ga. bus tour; senate pushes trans athlete ban; "segregation academies".

August 28, 2024 3:42 PM

• Peter Biello and

Share this page

Primary content.

On the Wednesday August 28th edition of Georgia Today: VP Kamala Harris kicks off a two day bus tour today in South Georgia; Georgia senate republicans push to ban transgender women from womens sports; And a look at what it's like for the few Black students attending what historians call "segregation academies"

Peter Biello: Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast from GPB news. Today's Wednesday, Aug. 28. I'm Peter Biello. On today's episode, Vice President Kamala Harris kicks off a two day bus tour today in South Georgia. Georgia Senate Republicans push to ban transgender women from women's sports, and we'll take a look at what it's like for the few black students attending what historians call "segregation academies." These stories and more are coming up on this edition of Georgia Today.

Peter Biello: Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, kicked off a two day bus tour today of South Georgia. Savannah resident Billy Sires says he comes from a Republican family, but that he leans Democratic and is undecided about who he will vote for in November.

Billy Sires: I was really excited when I started hearing Robert F Kennedy speak and a lot of the things that he was saying, but with him backing out and backing Trump, it just kind of shocked me a lot. So that just really put me into a place where it's like, I truly don't really know who I want to put my vote behind.

Peter Biello: Savannah resident Andy Reinertsen says he was energized by President Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the race to make way for Harris at the top of the ticket.

Andy Reinertsen: I think it's refreshing to have a younger candidate in comparison to, like, the last election or everything leading up to this point, we had to deal with either an 81 year old man or a 78 year old man. And that's just not that's not exciting. I don't think anybody, I don't think of majority of the country really relates or resonates with that certain demographic.

Peter Biello: The campaign will culminate with a rally in Savannah tomorrow. The tour is meant to expand support for Democrats beyond Atlanta and its suburbs. Meanwhile, Republican Governor Brian Kemp is expected to headline a fundraiser for former President Donald Trump in Atlanta tomorrow. Kemp's plans, first reported by ABC news, continue a mending of a public feud between Trump and Kemp, one that Republicans believed is important to put behind them to deliver Trump to victory in November.

Peter Biello: A Georgia Senate committee is starting a new push by Republicans in the state to ban transgender women from participating in women's sports. GPB's Sarah Kallis reports the panel held its first meeting yesterday.

Sarah Kallis: Senators on the committee heard from five former female collegiate swimmers who competed against a transgender woman during an NCAA tournament hosted by Georgia Tech in 2022. None of the swimmers who testified were from Georgia or attended Georgia colleges. The transgender swimmer swam for University of Pennsylvania. Senator Greg Dolezal chairs the committee. He said the athletes' testimony could inform their legislation.

Greg Dolezal: What I try to do is to find what the right answer is from a public policy perspective and pursue that right answer. Before we have 50 examples of something going haywire.

Sarah Kallis: Dolezal said the committee will meet monthly until December. For GPB news, I'm Sarah Kallis in Atlanta.

Peter Biello: Commissioners in metro Atlanta's Cobb County are dropping their long running challenge to local redistricting maps drawn by state lawmakers. The Democratic Majority Commission yesterday agreed to use the Republican drawn maps after a judge ruled that its county drawn maps were unconstitutional. But the commission deadlocked over whether a Democratic commissioner should have to vacate her seat because she doesn't live in her district as drawn by the state. The vote ends a bitter two year old partisan fight that pitted county versus state powers in court.

Chantemekki Fortson the mother of slain airman Roger Fortson, right, along with family watch Fortson's casket as they leave for a cemetery during his funeral at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, on May 17, 2024, in Stonecrest, Ga. Credit: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File

Peter Biello: A judge has denied bond for a fired Florida sheriff's deputy who fatally shot U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson. Former Okaloosa County Deputy Eddie Duran has been charged with manslaughter with a firearm in the May 3rd shooting death of the 23 year old Fortson, who is from Georgia. The judge yesterday ordered Duran held without bond until a pretrial detention hearing scheduled for tomorrow.

Peter Biello: Family members of a man with a history of mental illness who died in the custody of the Macon-Bibb County jail, say they're still waiting for answers about how he died. GPB's Grant Blankenship has more.

Grant Blankenship: Steven Fossett struggled with schizophrenia and had been in and out of the Bibb County Jail a number of times before he died in May, after being stun gun by jailers. His family wants to know more. Now, their attorneys are pressing for a release of all the documents related to Fossett's death and a full investigation by local prosecutors. Attorney Muwali Davis.

Muwali Davis: He was their responsibility. And then he ended up going from the jail to the hospital and being pronounced dead. There's something fundamentally wrong about that when he's their responsibility.

Grant Blankenship: Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones says he, too, is still waiting for autopsy results from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Bibb County Sheriff's Office says they are still investigating Fossett's death. For GPB news, I'm Grant Blankenship in Macon.

Peter Biello: Maritime interests on Georgia's coast are coming out against a plan that could end federal maintenance of several smaller waterways and harbors. GPB's Orlando Montoya has more.

Orlando Montoya: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the agency hasn't dredged nine Georgia waterways in decades without much impact. And so they want Congress to deauthorize them from federal maintenance. Their goal is to save taxpayer money on required periodic surveys. But seafood harvester Charlie Phillips says many small businesses depend on those small waterways, including his and others on the Sapelo River.

Charlie Phillips: There's a couple of shrimp docks. We pack fish. We also do clam aquaculture. I would say there's probably at least $10 million a year in commercial product that comes in the Sapelo River.

Orlando Montoya: The Sapelo and Saint Mary's rivers and the Darien Harbor are among those targeted for the de-authorization. For GPB news, I'm Orlando Montoya.

Peter Biello: Commissioners in northwest Georgia's Floyd County are rejecting plans for the site of the Rome Speedway. Business at the 58 year old racetrack has slowed, and owners want local officials to rezone the property and adjacent land from suburban residential to heavy industrial. It comes as northwest Georgia attracts new solar panel and battery manufacturers. Local development officials want to market the property to new potential industries, but speedway neighbors worry about putting heavy industry on one of the main corridors coming into Rome. County planning officials recommended against the rezoning, saying they didn't have enough information about exactly what development was being planned. Commissioners yesterday unanimously agreed with planning staff and rejected the rezoning request. Local development officials, however, could return to the commission to try again with more specific development plans.

Peter Biello: Albany's Phoebe Health is celebrating the opening of a new $47 million expansion aimed at addressing South Georgia's healthcare workforce shortage. Hundreds of people attended the ribbon cutting last night for a new building called the Living and Learning Community, on Phoebe's main campus. The project is a partnership with Albany Technical College. It Includes learning and office space, as well as 80 furnished apartments for health care professionals and training. Phoebe says nearly 400 students are currently enrolled in programs to be based at the community.

Peter Biello: Many private schools in the South were founded as whites only institutions in the early days of school desegregation. Today, state voucher programs are said to help families of any origin attend those schools. So what's it like for the few black students attending, what historians still call "segregation academies?" In collaboration with ProPublica, GPB's Grant Blankenship has one story.

Grant Blankenship: When Cookie Mitcham and her great granddaughter, Zoe Johnson step into the main first floor gallery of Macon's Tubman African-American Museum, they stop at a wall of old photographs of young women.

Zoe Johnson: There you go, grandmama. This you ain't it?

Cookie Mitcham: Oh, man. Isn't that something?

Grant Blankenship: There on the wall is a teenage Cookie next to the other young women who were the first black students at Macon's AL Miller Senior High School for girls.

Cookie Mitcham: She came with me. She came.

Grant Blankenship: This was some 60 years ago.

Zoe Johnson: How do you feel about being in a museum, grandma?

Cookie Mitcham: Like a dinosaur.

Grant Blankenship: Cookie was one of eight or so black students in a school of 500. And she says, for the most part, students and teachers were kind to her. But one incident still lives in her memory.

Cookie Mitcham: Well, this girl asked me if I had a tail. I spread it, my legs and I looked down. I said, do you see a tail under there? She said, now. I said, well, I guess I don't have one.

Grant Blankenship: About four years before that, a private school, Stratford Academy, named for the birthplace of Robert E Lee, opened in Macon. More tuition base schools followed.

Cookie Mitcham: I think the only reason these private white schools was created was to make sure they were separated from us.

Grant Blankenship: And their early days, those schools were exclusively white. That's why many educational experts and historians still call them segregation academies.

Cookie Mitcham: And all it has done was make a big mess.

Grant Blankenship: And making these schools still appear to be thriving. And last year, Zoe's family chose one of them for her. For seventh grade.

Zoe Johnson: I attend a PhD, which is called First Presbyterian Day School.

Grant Blankenship: At 7 p.m. she likes. For one thing, FPD has tennis passion. Zoe and Cookie share that wasn't offered at the old public school, Miller Middle. But in this Majority-black city, only about 11% of FPD students are African-American like Zoe. Never middle is the demographic mirror image of that, and it's hard to know if FPD is better academically. While Miller is the highest performing public middle school in the county. FPD doesn't publish the kind of data that would allow a real comparison. But the school is faith based. Zoe's family wanted that.

Cookie Mitcham: ABC to go to the Lord really requires three things to do justice.

Grant Blankenship: That is, to do what's right, to love kindness so and so. For cookie, private school for her great granddaughter has been a mixed bag.

Cookie Mitcham: I would rather for her to go to a predominantly black school, but the reason that I want her to go to FPD is because she will pay more attention.

Cookie Mitcham: So today, do what's right.

Grant Blankenship: Show. The feeling in the family is that public school is just too chaotic. Zoe appreciates the calm at FPD, but she knows it's not perfect.

Zoe Johnson: One thing that I would like FPD to change is maybe accepting more blacks as teachers, or letting blacks tell their part of the story and how they feel, instead of guys just letting them all be alumni. Choose one nation under God and.

Grant Blankenship: And these schools still cost money.

Cookie Mitcham: I'm getting a discount and I'm paying $1,000 a month. I can't afford that anymore.

Grant Blankenship: That's after a state funded scholarship program. And the financial investment has not insulated Zoe from some of the same hurt her great grandmother experienced 60 years ago.

Zoe Johnson: My friend. She was called a monkey.

Grant Blankenship: Zoe says her friend's tears broke her heart.

Zoe Johnson: I told her that you shouldn't actually listen to what he says because we are better than that.

Grant Blankenship: And her great grandmother cookie was incensed.

Cookie Mitcham: She's having to pay money to go to school to hear that crap. And I didn't pay one dime to go to school, and I heard.

Grant Blankenship: And so cookie asks.

Cookie Mitcham: When is it going to end?

Grant Blankenship: That story was adapted from a short documentary by filmmaker Liz Mohan and from reporting by ProPublica South reporter Jennifer Berry Hawes, who joins me now to talk more about the story. Hi, Jennifer. Good afternoon.

Jennifer Berry Hawes: Hi, Grant. It's great to be with you.

Grant Blankenship: So this is the fourth story in your series about the legacy of segregation academies in the South. Why did you embark on this reporting project now?

Jennifer Berry Hawes: It really began a couple of years ago when I was working on a story about school disparities in South Carolina, and I went to a town called Summerton, South Carolina, which is the birthplace of a case called Briggs versus Elliott. And the Briggs case is one that wound up being folded into what we know now is Brown versus Board of Education. And when I went to Summerton, I found that the school systems there looked very much like they did before Brown, which is to say that most of the black children went to school, in the public school system, and most white kids went to the private schools. And so when the anniversary of the Brown decision came up this year, my editors and I decided it would be a great time to, take a look at the segregation academy phenomenon more deeply. And it also coincided with the voucher movement.

Grant Blankenship: You know, most of us are just trying to help our kids get the best education we can, right? In choosing between a public and a private school. What can any of us actually know objectively about how these schools stack up against each other?

Jennifer Berry Hawes: If you look at standardized test scores, it's one barometer that a lot of people do use. It's very difficult because most private schools don't have to report their test scores publicly. Whereas private schools, or public schools generally do. But there are exceptions. For instance, in the state of Alabama, their voucher like program does require a standardized test. The group of students in Alabama who tend to use these scholarships are generally economically disadvantaged children. So if you look at economically disadvantaged children in the public schools, and you compare them to private schools that are receiving students who are attending on these voucher style tuition grants, you really don't see a huge difference in the test scores.

Grant Blankenship: What's left for you to ask about this? What are your outstanding questions and where are you going next?

Jennifer Berry Hawes: Well, I have a few questions, as you can imagine. One of my questions is how these voucher style programs will affect segregation academies. Do we see more, more segregation academies, receiving public dollars? And what is the racial makeup of the students, using them to attend those schools?

Grant Blankenship: That's Jennifer Barry Hawes, who series of stories about the legacy of the South's segregation academies are online now at ProPublica. And you can see and read the rest of the story you just [email protected] . Jennifer, thank you so much for joining us.

Jennifer Berry Hawes: Thank you for having me.

Peter Biello: In sports, practice rounds are underway at Eastlake Golf Club in Atlanta today as the Tour Championship returns to Eastlake for the 24th time. It's expected to be a close battle between number one ranked Scottie Scheffler and Xander Shauffele. Of Eastlake itself, Shauffele says, quote, it's in the same property, similar square footage, but that's about it. Eastlake has recently gone through an extensive renovation by architect Andrew Green, who most notably refurbished Oak Hill for the PGA Championship last year. Golfers so far are reporting stark changes. Green used 1949 aerials of Eastlake and restoring the course that dates to 1904. Every tee, fairway, green and bunker was rebuilt. The bunkers around the 18th green are deep. The bunker on the 15th hole has been removed. The eighth hole has been shortened. The 14th hole has been lengthened and now plays as a par five. The first round of competition is scheduled for tomorrow.

Peter Biello: In baseball, the Braves face the twins tonight. Minnesota for the last of a three game series. Chris Sale is scheduled to get the start. The Braves scored four times in the 10th inning to beat the Twins 8-6 last night. Atlanta led four to nothing before the Twins rallied late and won for the eighth time in ten games. Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias got the win.

And that's all we've got for this edition of Georgia Today. Thanks so much for tuning in. We hope you'll listen tomorrow as well. It's a great way to stay on top of Georgia news. You can subscribe to this podcast, and when you do, we will pop up automatically in your podcast feed and any time of day you can check the latest headlines at our website, GPB.org/News. We thrive on listener feedback, and we love to hear about what's going on in your community. If you've got something we should know about or something we should change about this podcast, let us know. The best way to reach us is email [email protected] is the email address that will go to the whole team here. Again the email [email protected] . I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

For more on these stories and more, go to GPB.org/news

Secondary Content

About the authors.

Peter Biello is the host of All Things Considered on GPB. 

His interviews and stories can be heard every weekday from 4 to 6 p.m. on GPB.

Jake Cook is an audio engineer, musician and podcast producer from Atlanta.

He edits and produces  Salvation South  and other podcasts for GPB.

Bottom Content

Subscribe to georgia today.

• Listen on NPR
• Listen on Spotify
• Listen on Google
• Listen on Stitcher
• Listen on TuneIn
• Listen on Amazon Music

Related News

Georgia Today: Water main break compensation; Assessing Ga.'s prison system; Marietta native is MVP

On the Tuesday, June 18 edition of Georgia Today : Help is on the way for businesses affected by Atlanta's recent water main breaks; Georgia is conducting research to improve problems at its troubled prison system; and a Marietta native is named the NBA Finals' most valuable player. 

Georgia Today: Bus hijacking and mass shooting in ATL; Macon-Bibb voting problems; Synovus Park

On the Wednesday, June 12 edition of Georgia Today: We'll tell you how yesterday's mass shooting in Atlanta and the bus hijacking are connected; Macon-Bibb County voters experience technical problems at the ballot box; and a historic Columbus baseball stadium is getting a $50 million renovation — and a new name.

Georgia Today: Election interference case halted; State capitol renovations; Tech students help cats

On the Thursday, June 6 edition of Georgia Today : The Georgia Court of Appeals put a pause on the election interference case against Donald Trump; the state capitol gets a $400 million face lift; and a student organization at Georgia Tech helps rehabilitate the school's feral cat population.

Support Quality Journalism

GPB is committed to bringing you comprehensive news coverage from Georgia, across the country and around the world.  Your support makes this possible.  Please consider making a gift today to support this vital public service.

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Newsletters
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

2024 election updates: Presidential candidates battle over battlegrounds

Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Gov. Tim Walz hit the road today on a two-day bus tour through southern Georgia, an indication that the campaign hopes to keep the state in play after President Joe Biden flipped it in 2020.

Walz started the day in Boston, where he spoke to a firefighters union, before joining Harris in Georgia. JD Vance, former President Donald Trump’s running mate, is talking about the economy in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, two other battleground states.

Latest Developments

Aug 28, 7:48 pm, harris, walz make campaign stop at georgia high school.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz stopped by Liberty County High School in Georgia as part of their bus tour and were greeted by the school’s principal and superintendent and met with the school marching band during rehearsal. Harris and Walz delivered brief remarks to band members, football players and faculty. After welcoming the class to the "role model club," Harris told the class that as "leaders" the nation is "counting" on them. " You are showing what hard work can achieve, what discipline, what teamwork. And that's the stuff of greatness," she said.

She continued with a music metaphor that encouraged them to keep up their hard work. "I will tell you I was in band when I was your age," she said. "And all that you all are doing, it requires a whole lot of rehearsal, a whole lot of practice, long hours, right? Sometimes you hit the note, sometimes you don't, right? All that practice makes for beautiful music." -ABC News' Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Fritz Farrow and Will McDuffie.

Aug 28, 6:41 PM

Harris spokesman defends joint interview.

A spokesman for the Harris-Walz campaign defended Wednesday the decision to make the vice president's first televised interview as the Democratic presidential nominee a joint interview with her running mate Gov. Tim Walz. Ian Sams responded on X to a post by journalist Mark Knoller who questioned if CNN should have "insisted on a one-on-one interview," by saying that "The joint ticket interview is an election year summer tradition going back 20 years." "Kerry/Edwards, Obama/Biden, Romney/Ryan, Trump/Pence, Clinton/Kaine, Biden/Harris all did them. Almost always right around the conventions. Harris/Walz join this rich tradition on CNN tomorrow," he said. -ABC News' Will McDuffie, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim and Fritz Garrow

Aug 28, 6:15 PM

Vance claims he doesn't need to prepare for a debate.

Vance told reporters he’s preparing for the October vice presidential debate by talking to people on the campaign trail, contending he doesn’t need other preparation against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. “Look, the way I'm doing debate prep is by spending time with these fine people. This is how I do debate prep is to get out there. You get out there, you talk to people, you talk about the issues that matter,” Vance said. “We don't need to prepare for a debate with Tim Walz. We need to get out there and talk. We need to get out there. Look, we need to get out there and talk to the American people. That's the biggest way that we're going to prepare for that debate on October the first,” he added. -ABC News' Soo Rin Kim and Hannah Demissie

Aug 28, 6:24 PM

Vance says harris 'can go to hell' for criticizing trump for arlington cemetery visit.

Sen. JD Vance continued to defend Trump's visit to Arlington Cemetery during a campaign event Wednesday in Erie, Pennsylvania, and went on the attack against Harris, blaming her for the deaths of 13 soldiers three years ago. "Look, sometimes mistakes happen. That's just the nature of government, the nature of military service. But to have those 13 Americans lose their lives and not fire a single person is disgraceful. Kamala Harris is disgraceful,” Vance said.

“We're gonna talk about a story out of those 13 brave innocent Americans who lost their lives, it's that Kamala Harris is so asleep at the wheel that she won't even do an investigation into what happened, and she wants to yell at Donald Trump because he showed up. She can, go to hell,” he continued. The federal government conducted a probe into the final days of the war and American withdrawal and the Pentagon’s Central Command concluded in 2022 that the attack was not preventable despite others' assertions that it was preventable. The Pentagon has conducted multiple rounds of reviews, including the latest review published in April that reaffirmed the initial investigation's findings that the attack was not preventable. Congress has also scrutinized the attack and heard from many military leaders, including former Marine Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews, who told lawmakers last year that he was thwarted in an attempt to stop the suicide bombing. -ABC News' Soo Rin Kim, Cindy Smith and Hannah Demissie

Aug 28, 2:47 PM

Biden to travel to wisconsin next week to tout economy.

President Joe Biden will travel to the battleground state of Wisconsin on Sept. 5 to highlight his economic agenda, according to the White House. Exact details of the trip, including the locations in the state, weren't immediately revealed. -- ABC News' Justin Gomez

Aug 28, 1:57 PM

Walz promises to fight for labor freedoms at international association of fire fighters.

Gov. Tim Walz addressed the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) convention on Wednesday in Boston, making the case that the Democratic ticket was the one that would fight for their freedoms, including labor protections. “People tell me, look, I'm really not that into politics. My response to that is, too damn bad -- politics is into you,” Walz said to what he acknowledged as a bipartisan audience. Walz said that Harris “is proudly part of the most pro-labor administration in history,” and that when they “win this election, we'll have your back like you've had ours.”

“We believe that you, not politicians, should be made free to make your own health care choices,” Walz concluded. “We believe that workers deserve to collectively bargain for fair wages and safe working conditions.” -- ABC News’ Isabella Murray

Aug 27, 7:35 PM

Harris-walz campaign responds to superseding indictment.

Quentin Fulks, the Harris-Walz campaign’s principal deputy campaign manager, reacted to the news of the superseding indictment against Donald Trump Tuesday afternoon on MSNBC and avoided remarking on "ongoing legal cases" but characterized Trump as a danger. "They saw it with their own eyes, and so we're going to continue to take the fight directly to Donald Trump on the issues that matter. But American voters aren't stupid. They know who Donald Trump is, and they know what he will do if he gets more time in the White House," Fulks told MSNBC. -ABC News' Isabella Murray, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Fritz Farrow and Will McDuffie

Aug 27, 7:20 PM

Jd vance responds to new special counsel indictment.

Sen. JD Vance, asked by ABC News on the tarmac in Nashville about the superseding indictment in former President Donald Trump's federal election interference case, and the GOP vice presidential candidate framed the special counsel's actions as an effort to influence the election. “I haven't read the whole thing, but it looks like Jack Smith doing more of what he does, which is filing these absurd lawsuits in an effort to influence the election," he said. The new indictment adjusts the charges to the Supreme Court's immunity ruling. Vance pushed back against the Harris-Walz campaign's assertion that the Supreme Court ruling goes too far and grants the former president too much immunity, arguing that the president needs some immunity in order to do the job. "If the president doesn't have some level of immunity in how he conducts his office, in the same way that judges have to have immunity, police officers have to have immunity. There has to be some recognition that people can't be sued for doing their job," Vance said.

Recommended Stories

Trump's inflation fantasies.

Trump claims to have special deflationary powers. He doesn't.

Why Kamala Harris's approach to capital gains is generating so much controversy

A top business world critique of Kamala Harris since becoming the Democratic nominee is her endorsement of plans from the Biden administration that would reshape how the assets of America's richest citizens are taxed.

Trump vs. Harris: 4 ways the next president could impact your bank accounts

In just a few short months, the country will elect its 47th president—and this new administration could usher in new laws and regulations that have the power to impact your bank accounts. Here’s how.

Who is Tim Walz? Kamala Harris's VP pick accepts Democratic nomination in DNC speech.

Less than three weeks after Vice President Kamala Harris picked him as her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz formally accepted the vice presidential nomination Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Key takeaways from day three of DNC 2024: Walz says Trump's agenda isn't just 'weird, it's wrong'

Yahoo News' succinct wrap up of day three of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Harris has little to say about oil and gas these days. Experts explain why.

Kamala Harris has been quiet about the oil and gas industries on the campaign trail. That's intentional, say industry watchers.

The 2024 DNC has come to a close. But these are the viral moments we'll remember.

The 2024 Democratic National Convention has come to a close.

Democratic National Convention begins, Northeast storms cause serious flooding, Caitlin Clark breaks 26-year-old WNBA record

Get caught up on this morning’s news: The DNC begins, Caitlin Clark’s new WNBA record and more in today’s edition of The Yodel newsletter

Will Tim Walz pay off as Kamala Harris's running mate?

Minnesota's governor has strong blue-collar roots and a likable demeanor, but critics say his nice guy persona can't cover up his shortcomings.

Some of the most popular campaign ideas are also the dumbest

Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are pitching ideas that sound appealing but would make Americans worse off if ever enacted.

Tim Walz's uncommonly common finances

The Minnesota governor and now Democratic vice presidential candidate isn't invested at all, uncommon for a politician at his level.

The Fed's independence emerges as a clear dividing line for Harris and Trump

When Donald Trump raised the prospect of having "a say" in Fed actions, he set off a debate between the two presidential campaigns about the autonomy of the central bank.

Kamala Harris just unveiled her economic plan to 'lower the cost of living.' Would it work — and how does it compare to Trump's?

Friday's populist speech marked the first time Harris has delved into any significant detail about her governing vision — and clearly tried to differentiate herself on policy from President Biden.

Trump campaign says it was hacked: Everything we know so far

The former president’s campaign says its emails were breached by hackers working for Iran — a development that suggests efforts by foreign powers to disrupt yet another U.S. presidential election may be underway.

Who's winning the 7 key swing states, Harris or Trump? Inside the latest polls.

A handy Yahoo News guide to the 2024 map.

'Tampon Tim': How internet users have redefined the Trump campaign's attack on Tim Walz

The Trump campaign has tried to villanize Gov. Tim Walz as "too liberal" to its supporters by going after a bill he signed in 2023.

How Tim Walz's kids have influenced how he governs

As governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz has made no secret that his kids have played a big role in helping to shape his policy priorities.

Harris tries to turn Trump’s strongest issue, immigration, against him

At Tuesday’s raucous rally in Atlanta, Vice President Kamala Harris went after former President Donald Trump on what polls show is his strongest campaign issue: immigration.

Julio Rodríguez hits first home run since July 20 with two-run homer in Mariners' win over Rays

The former AL Rookie of the Year, who has struggled offensively this season, ended a month-long drought Wednesday.

These are America’s best and worst states for saving money in 2024

Cost of living, taxes, housing costs, and more impact your ability to save money, and these factors vary by state. Find out where your state ranks on our list of best and worst states for saving money.

Harris and Walz travel by bus in rural Georgia to reach out to voters in GOP strongholds

HINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz dropped in on a high school band practice Wednesday as part of a two-day bus tour snaking through rural Georgia, campaigning for the critical battleground state while delighting students who performed their school fight song for the Democratic ticket.

“We’re so proud of you and we’re counting on you,” Harris told the young crowd who shrieked with excitement at the sight of the vice president. “Your generation … is what is going to propel our country into the next era of what we can do and what we can be.”

The trip culminates Thursday with a rally in Savannah. Campaign officials believe that in order to win the state over Republican Donald Trump in November they must make inroads, in GOP strongholds. They need more than Atlanta and the suburbs that delivered for Joe Biden in 2020.

Advertisement

Harris campaign communications director Michael Tyler said bus tours offer an “opportunity to get to places we don’t usually go (and) make sure we’re competing in all communities.”

The campaign wants the events to motivate voters in GOP-leaning areas who don’t traditionally see the candidates, and also hopes that the engagements drive viral moments that cut through crowded media coverage to reach voters across the country.

In southeast Georgia, the Democratic ticket was also stopping at businesses and campaign offices to thank volunteers.

The stops are meant as moments where voters can learn “not just what they stand for, but who they are as people,” Tyler said.

Tyler said the campaign’s strategy of using informal engagements to reach voters has been consistent from when President Biden was on the ticket, but the nature of the events has shifted along with the candidates. During a bus tour in Western Pennsylvania, for example, they stopped at a football practice — Walz is a former assistant high school football coach.

Walz met Harris on the tarmac in Savannah and the two greeted students from Savannah State University before setting off in their bright blue bus with red and white accents, “Harris Walz” emblazoned in big letters on the side along with the phrase “A New Way Forward.”

It looks like a regular campaign bus, but this one is an armored U.S. Secret Service vehicle driven by agents that comes with lights and sirens and secure communications. After the first stop, Harris shifted back to her traditional SUV, the bus relegated to the back of the motorcade.

In addition to the bus tour and the Thursday rally, Harris and Walz will be sitting down with CNN anchor Dana Bash for their first joint interview. The interview will air Thursday night.

IThe Georgia trip is a makeup visit from earlier in the month when the duo was set to embark on a seven-state swing tour introducing the new Democratic ticket. The North Carolina and Georgia legs of the trip got scrapped as Tropical Storm Debby battered the region.

The Democratic strategy to peel off votes in Republican parts of the state has had some success before. Raphael Warnock, Georgia’s first Black senator, won reelection in 2022 by nearly 3 percentage points — while Joe Biden carried Georgia by only a quarter percentage point about two years earlier — in part by venturing into the deepest red areas, driven in part by operatives who are now on Harris’ campaign team.

Harris has another campaign blitz on Labor Day with President Biden in Detroit and Pittsburgh with the election just over 70 days away. The first mail ballots get sent to voters in just two weeks.

In Georgia, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp seems to have moved past Trump’s blistering attacks against him at a rally in the state just a few weeks ago, saying it was a “small distraction that’s in the past.”

On the eve of Harris’ visit, Kemp told Fox News: “I’m not sure exactly what happened going into the rally. I’ve seen a lot of different stories and people’s explanations of what happened.”

At the rally, Trump tore into the governor, blaming him for his narrow 2020 loss in the state. In a roughly 10-minute tirade, Trump railed against Kemp for not giving in to his false theories of election fraud. He also blamed the governor for not stopping a local district attorney from prosecuting him and others for their efforts to overturn the results in the state.

Trump changed his tune last week, thanking the governor in a social media post for all his “help and support in Georgia, where a win is so important to the success of our Party and, most importantly, our Country.”

Kemp said on Fox that Republicans “need to be telling people why they should vote for us, what we’re going to do to make things better than they are right now. And there’s a host of issues that I think you could contrast Kamala Harris and her record.”

“To me, that’s what we need to stay focused on, not some dustup from two or three weeks ago.”

Meanwhile, the Harris campaign launched a new ad across the battleground states, seeking to tie Trump to the conservative “Project 2025.”

The first ad asserts that Trump is “out for control” over voters, juxtaposing Trump quotes with ominous screenshots of the plan. It’s part of Harris’ $370 million in digital and television ad reservations between Labor Day and Election Day.

Led by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, Project 2025 is a detailed 920-page handbook for governing under the next Republican administration, including ousting thousands of civil servants and replacing them with Trump loyalists and reversing the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of medications used in abortions.

Trump has tried to distance himself from Project 2025, though it was drafted by longtime allies and former officials of the Trump administration. Last month, he posted on social media that he had not seen the plan, had “no idea who is in charge of it, and, unlike our very well received Republican Platform, had nothing to do with it.”

Harris gives Democrats new hope in the ultracompetitive state of Georgia

Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, who won Georgia in the 2020 election and again in 2022, has directly told Kamala Harris he’s “all in” on helping her defeat Donald Trump this fall.

But he warns it will be difficult.

“We built an architecture to win,” Warnock told a small group of reporters in Chicago during the Democratic convention last week. “I think we can put Georgia in the Harris-Walz column. I’m not going to pretend that that will be an easy thing to do. But can we do it? I absolutely believe that we can.”

Georgia will be front and center this week as Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, begin a bus tour together in the state Wednesday, which is scheduled to end in the Savannah area with a solo Harris rally Thursday. The same day, Harris and Walz are set to do a joint TV interview, Harris' first since she became her party's nominee.

Joe Biden won Georgia by fewer than 12,000 votes over Trump in 2020, becoming the first Democrat to carry the longtime GOP stronghold in nearly three decades. Now it's up to Harris to prove whether that was a fluke or whether Democrats can keep it in the blue column at the highest level.

Harris is a better demographic fit than Biden for Georgia, which has the highest proportion of Black voters of any presidential battleground. Its electorate is also younger than those of most other presidential battlegrounds, and while Biden was struggling with young voters this cycle, they appear more receptive to Harris so far. The state also has a fast-growing Asian American population , which leans Democratic and has helped the party in close races.

Harris is already enjoying much stronger fundraising than Biden, making the expensive Atlanta media market less daunting. And if she struggles more than Biden in the mostly white Rust Belt, Georgia’s 16 electoral votes — compared with Michigan’s 15 and Wisconsin’s 10 — offer a potential alternative path to 270.

Trump’s team is putting a premium on Georgia, as well, seeing it as a key part of his path back to the White House.

“As long as we hold North Carolina, we just need to win Georgia and Pennsylvania. That’s all we need to win,” a senior Trump adviser said this month.

To win Georgia, Harris will need to reproduce the formula that powered Biden and Warnock: boosting turnout and mobilizing Democrats in deep-blue Atlanta; putting big points on the board in the city’s population-rich suburbs, which are full of well-educated voters who are skeptical of Trump; and limiting her margin of defeat in the vast and solidly red rural areas, where losing by less could hand her the state’s 16 electoral votes.

A Harris campaign official boasted that it has “the largest in-state operation of any Democratic presidential campaign cycle ever,” including offices in “rural counties like Washington and Jenkins counties.” As part of Harris’ appeal to small-town voters, her campaign touted the Biden-Harris administration’s investments to boost rural health care and internet access.

The campaign, pointing to former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan as a surrogate, also indicated that it’s looking at the 2024 primary results as a guidepost for where Trump lost significant votes to Nikki Haley as areas to grow its support among center-right voters. It plans to highlight Republican infighting, including Trump’s history of attacks against GOP Gov. Brian Kemp for certifying Biden's 2020 victory in the state.

Before Biden dropped out, his team had all but abandoned Georgia this cycle, opting for a more cautious strategy focused on the so-called Blue Wall states — Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania — as some Democrats wondered whether their 2020 success in Georgia was something of a fluke that couldn’t be easily replicated, especially without Warnock on the ballot.

Warnock’s 2022 campaign manager, Quentin Fulks, is deputy campaign manager for the Harris presidential campaign.

Sammy Baker, the chairman of the Gwinnett County Republican Party, said replacing Biden with Harris has improved Democrats’ fortunes in Georgia.

“I was very, very comfortable that it would be — not an easy win, but it would be a 4- or 5-point win. I think it’s going to be a little tighter now, because I think she’s energized a few of the Democrats that were not energized before, and they seem to be a little more active,” Baker said.

He said the key to a Trump victory is to stay focused on policy, advice that Trump frequently receives and rarely takes.

“I really think the whole thing comes down to this: Trump stays on message, and he wins. Just border, the economy, inflation, housing,” Baker said. “If he stays on those issues, I definitely think that’s a win. And that’s what they need to concentrate on. Stay on that.”

The diverse and populous Gwinnett County, just outside Atlanta, is the embodiment of Georgia’s red-to-blue shift: It voted for Republican Mitt Romney by nearly 10 points in 2012, then swung to Democrat Hillary Clinton by 5 points in 2016 and voted for Biden by 18 points in 2020.

A Trump victory in Georgia would most likely require flipping some of those voters back, lowering Democratic turnout or finding more first-time Trump voters to overpower new Harris voters.

Trump’s team expects to tie Harris to Biden administration policies that aren’t popular in the state and to former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who would have been the nation’s first Black female state chief executive.

“I think Georgia is ready to reject her very far-left stances,” said a senior Republican National Committee official who compared Harris’ political views to Abrams’.

The official, discussing strategy on condition of anonymity, accused Democrats of having just discovered parts of the state outside vote-rich Atlanta and predicted that their bus tour won’t be as effective as GOP efforts to target and mobilize low-propensity voters across Georgia.

“Democrats are running around doing their dog and pony show right now with their bus tour, but we’re focused on turning out the vote in Georgia, and we feel voters on the ground have been highly engaged and are energetic throughout the state,” the official said.

Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor whom Harris traveled to the city to campaign for during her successful 2017 bid, is now a senior adviser to her campaign — and she got a front-row seat at last week’s convention in Chicago.

At the time, while she was campaigning for Bottoms , Harris said “coming to Atlanta is always like coming home” in explaining why she flew all the way from California to support a mayoral candidate. She also noted how many times she visited the city, which she said is at the center of Black history, culture and business.

“There is so much about who we are as a country that was created, that is based, that was fought for here in Atlanta,” she said.

Sahil Kapur is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.

Alex Seitz-Wald is a senior political reporter for NBC News.

Jonathan Allen is a senior national politics reporter for NBC News.

Nnamdi Egwuonwu is a 2024 NBC News campaign embed.

• The Boston Signature Brew Tour
• Bachelor Party Brew Tours
• Bachelorette Party Brew Tours
• Special Occasion Brew Tours
• Corporate Outing Brew Tours
• Conventions & Conferences
• Private Tour Inquiry
• Gift Certificates
• Monthly Beer Box
• Aeronaut Cannery & Taproom
• BearMoose Brewing Co.
• Bone Up Brewing Co.
• Cambridge Brewing Company
• Chelsea Station
• Democracy Brewing Company
• Dorchester Brewing Company
• Lamplighter Brewing Co
• Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co.
• Night Shift Brewing
• Sam Adams Brewery
• Short Path Distillery
• Winter Hill Brewing Co.
• Brew Tour Transportation
• Our Boston Beer Guides
• Hotel Accommodations
• Become an Affiliate
• Franchise Opportunities
• More Cities

Best Experience Ever

"It was a birthday gift to remember. Awesome choices, plenty of time to explore and enjoy the other options available. Our guide was very knowledgeable and I have made changes in what we look for in beers as well as how we drink it - always in a glass. Fun and cool"

Excellent Time Had By All

"The tour was great from beginning to end. Mark was an awesome guide. Perfect man for our group. We really enjoyed his knowledge of beer and history. All the brewery stops were good, but Bantam Cider was my favorite. Will definitely be back!"

History Meets Beer

"This tour was a great way to experience the city of Boston and see what various types of beer it has to offer. The tour guide was very informative and made the overall experience fun and enjoyable. Plus, who doesn't like to sample 15-18 beers in under 6 hours? Will definitely recommend this tour to friends!"

MetroWest Brew Tour

About the tour

Sample weekday tours, sample sunday tour, other boston brew tours, the sip of boston tour, private tours available, original brew tour, recommended by.

Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions