Traveling to northern New Hampshire for a family wedding in mid-November, my husband, Mark, and I sought out a local craft brewery in our free time. Well, we found a great one. Like a picture postcard, Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery is situated in the former Woodstock Station train depot on Route 3 in the beautiful White Mountain National Forest town of North Woodstock.

It’s a great place to have a beer, listen to music with friends, or catch a snack while checking out the memorabilia on the walls. Emphasis here is not on the menu, though there are some simple offerings that complement the brews.

Seated in the large dining room decorated in old-fashioned floral wallpaper, our party shared a platter of appetizers and samplers of their various beers. We also had a round of Chipotle Ham and Bean Soup, which we all agreed had an excellent combination of spices and was quite delicious when paired with their Pemi Pale Ale.

Another offering, the Old Man Oatmeal Stout, had somewhat roasty overtones and a creamy head but its flavor was somewhat watered down for a stout. In contrast, the Red Rock Ale was very well-balanced between hoppy and malty, with a bit of fruit finish.

Named Best Pale Ale in the Northeast at the US Beer Tasting Championship in 2006 and 2007, the Pemi Pale Ale was refreshingly hoppy with hints of pine aroma and a great finish.

The Pigs Ear Brown Ale, which itself has won several awards, was very hoppy and definitely for those used to hoppier ales. Our entire party also loved the Cogsman Ale, a seasonal blend which was fruity, clean, and crisp, with definite hints of clove.

Other regular brews offered here include Through Hiker Double Rye IPA, Red Rack Ale, Loon Golden Ale, White Mountain Weasel Wheat and Scottish Ale.

In addition to the Cogsman Ale, other seasonals include Kanc Country Maple Porter (made with real maple syrup), White Mountain Raspberry Weasel Wheat (with a hint of raspberry), Autumn Ale Brew (with cinnamon and apple flavors) and Wassail Ale.

Woodstock Station, as the locals refer to it, is a favorite here not only for their beer but also for their musical entertainment. The Woodstock Station presents various small acts — solo musicians, duets and three-person bands ─ specializing in folk and classic rock. The only place to provide such entertainment in the North Country, Woodstock Station features live performances every Thursday, Friday and Saturday throughout the year. They also have karaoke on Tuesday nights.

Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery began offering weekend specialty packages within a year after opening for business in 1995. One of their offerings is the Brewers Weekend package, where guests can learn and partake in the brewing process in the microbrewery. You can learn more about their packages here.

Free brewery tours are available at noon daily by request. You can also find their craft beers, as well as their good old-time root beer, K & M Root Beer, in stores and restaurants in other areas of New Hampshire, as well as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont.

As we left, I was surprised to note that when we asked for a growler, several had already been poured and were waiting in a cooler on standby. Sadly, our first choice, Cogsman Ale, was not available to go. But we were not to be discouraged, and left with a growler of the excellent Pemi Pale Ale for later.

-- by Karen Iwicki

Karen M. Iwicki, an experienced freelance writer since 1989, has had articles published in newspapers from The Lake Geneva Regional News to The Chicago Tribune. She and her husband, Mark, reside in Genoa City, Wis.