Idle Hands Craft Ales

09/15/2026

MAGTOBERFEST VENDOR SPOTLIGHT - NEW IN THE B**R GARDEN!

09/15/2026

Melrose Porchfest Saturday / New B**r Wednesday

Wow. What an Oktoberfest weekend! That had to have been the best Oktoberfest in Idle Hands’ 15-year history, and we have to say thank you to everyone who attended and helped make our 15th anniversary so special. In addition, we raised a record amount in the dunk tank for Housing Families! More on that below.

But there’s no time to rest. We keep moving forward and have another huge weekend ahead. We’ll be releasing a new b**r and pouring b**rs in Melrose for Melrose Porchfest at The Beebe Estate.

Read all about the upcoming events we have going on at Idle Hands below.

Coming Soon...
Saturday September 19th - Melrose Porchfest B**r Garden at The Beebe Estate
Wednesday September 23rd - Sips & Sparks Speed Dating
Thursday September 24th - Cribbage Night
Friday September 25th - Revelry N'awlins Cuisine
Saturday September 26th - B**r Garden at Wakefield Town Day 1-4pm
Saturday September 26th - Salty Shucker Pop Up Raw Bar 2-6pm
Wednesday September 30th - Flights & Frights Book Club hosted by Nebula Books (https://www.nebulabookshop.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAadhEgl5pp2lzcvyEj9-6UEUI0KN8zsXoYvDv2qWsG9ksOms4flW5GSCoSmg-g_aem_gvrzpwhORzeTNO32NCSlBA)
Saturday October 3rd - Malden Cosplay Celebration
Thursday October 8th - Mystic Valley YMCA Trivia Night Fundraiser
October 24th - The Stuff of Legend Halloween Drag Show (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-stuff-of-legend-presented-by-kieras-cabaret-idle-hands-tickets-1999115503285?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true)

Click here for an update from Idle Hands Craft Ales!

09/15/2026

This year we set a huge goal in the dunk tank of $3800. If we could get to it, then we would surpass $15,000 raised in the tank for since 2022. It only made sense that while we celebrated our 15th anniversary, we would get to $15,000.

Well, we crushed that goal and raised over $4000 in the tank this year! Our biggest number by far! The dunk tank has turned into the most festive area of Oktoberfest at Idle Hands with incredible energy and enthusiasm from everyone who visits.

Thanks to everyone who donated, volunteered and spent some time in the tank.

Candice , DJ The Great Malden Outdoors ,David - Black Label Barber Shop / , Joe - , Shaun - Fringe Threads , Kelly ,Terra and Athena - Cafe Reynard , Kevin K, Felicity - Housing Families , Kate - Lionheart Confections /
Idle Hands Staff Chris, Jake, Derek and Josh .deer

09/14/2026

THIS SATURDAY!

The Beebe Estate B**r Garden returns for Melrose Porchfest!

Featuring live music from The Party Band 1:30-2:30pm and The Electric Heaters 3:30-5:30pm.

Food by La Qchara 🥄❤️, B**r by Idle Hands Craft Ales
Free to attend, open to all ages. Must be 21+ w/ valid ID to purchase / consume b**r.

Going to be a great day for live music in Melrose and we are thrilled to be a part of it.

09/13/2026

That is how you celebrate 15 years. Thank you to everyone who came to the party yesterday. We need a day to recover. The Taproom will be closed today, Sunday, September 13th.

09/11/2026

It's Oktoberfest Time!

It's here. Tomorrow is the biggest day of the year at Idle Hands. Tomorrow is Oktoberfest! The party kicks off at noon. $5 at the door gets you in. There is a ton going on, so read up on all the details below.

Click here for an update from Idle Hands Craft Ales!

09/10/2026

The everything about Oktoberfest post.

Saturday, September 12th at Idle Hands Craft Ales in Malden. $5 at the door gets you in.

Food by:
Scott Brothers Barbecue
Lionheart Confections
AL’s PICKLES
Coffee by CAFE REYNARD

Pop up market by the gallery@57

Dunk Tank raising money for HousingFamilies

Oktoberfest music by The B**r Hall Boys and The Electric Heaters

Steinhoisting contest at 4pm

Pre-Oktoberfest cleanup with FriendsoftheMaldenRiver at 10am (volunteer and get into the fest for free!)

Great b**r and vibes by Idle Hands. It's our 15th anniversary so we are going big. Limited edition 15th anniversary mugs available for presale (includes entry) at shop.idlehandscraftales.com

Parking will be extremely limited at the brewery, please park at the free public lot at the corner of Charles and Pearl Street or in the parking garages on Exchange Street

09/09/2026

Dunk tank lineup! There may be some more surprises along the way. All times subject to change.

All money raised from the tank will be donated to HousingFamilies, this year our goal is $3800.

12:15 - Candice Candice Flemming

12:30 - Chris Tkach - Idle Hands Founder & President

1 - Darren Josey - The Great Malden Outdoors Darren

1:15 David Callinan - Black Label Barber Shop David Callinan. / Black Label Barbershop

1:30 - Joe Spinale - Joe Spinale

2 - Shaun Rowe - Fringe Threads FringeThreads

2:30 - Kelly Kelly Heft

2:45 - Terra - Cafe Reynard CAFE REYNARD

3 - Athena - Cafe Reynard CAFE REYNARD

4:30 Kevin K.

4:45 - Felicity - Housing Families HousingFamilies

5 - Kate - Lionheart Confections Lionheart Confections /

5:15-6:30 Idle Hands Staff (Josh, Derek & Jake) Jake Douglass Derek Brickey Josh Deering

09/08/2026

Kick off Oktoberfest weekend with a comedy show under the Oktoberfest tent!

New Normal Boston hosts Prost and Punchlines!

Lineup:
Ana Karina - ana karina, Ed.M.
- Sarah May - Sarah May
- Courtney Reynolds - Courtney Reynolds
- Amma Marfo - Amma Marfo
- Steph Dalwin - Steph Dalwin
- Caroline Moore - Caroline Moore
- Shelby Lecuyer - Shelby LeCuyer

Food by The Kitchen Melrose (featuring smash burgers!)

Tickets available now at eventbrite.com (link in profile).

Friday, September 11th - show starts at 8pm. All tickets include entry into Oktoberfest the next day.

09/08/2026

Celebrate 15 Years of Idle Hands This Saturday!

We have made it! It's time to celebrate. This Saturday, we throw the biggest party of the year for our 15th Anniversary at Oktoberfest!

This is a can't miss event, and we hope you can join us. All the info is below.

Coming Soon...
Friday September 11th - Prost and Pints Comedy Show
Saturday September 12th - Oktoberfest / 15th Anniversary Party
Saturday September 19th - Melrose Porchfest B**r Garden at The Beebe Estate
Thursday September 24th - Cribbage Night
Saturday September 26th - B**r Garden at Wakefield Town Day
Wednesday September 30th - Flights & Frights Book Club hosted by Nebula Books (https://www.nebulabookshop.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAadhEgl5pp2lzcvyEj9-6UEUI0KN8zsXoYvDv2qWsG9ksOms4flW5GSCoSmg-g_aem_gvrzpwhORzeTNO32NCSlBA)
Saturday October 3rd - Malden Cosplay Celebration
October 24th - The Stuff of Legend Halloween Drag Show (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-stuff-of-legend-presented-by-kieras-cabaret-idle-hands-tickets-1999115503285?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true)

Click here for an update from Idle Hands Craft Ales!