Idle Hands Craft Ales
Microbrewery
in
Malden,
Massachusetts,
United States 🇺🇸
Associated Venue: Idle Hands Craft Ales
Established in 2011
Contact
8.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 9
Overall 9
Brewery draught, 4/18/26.
Classic Stout character tending dry, moderately roasty. Bit of soft chocolate, bit of fruity yeast. Clean and approachable, very straightforward.
Oh yeah, that is nice and flavorful for its size, wow! There's roast but it's earthy, and cut by plenty of moderately sweet chocolate character. Add in some mildly fruity, slightly citrusy hops and call it a day. Chewy, extremely satisfying texture/body shows no sign of its size, yet is properly attenuated nonetheless. Quite a bit going on here, all to the good.
Classic Stout character tending dry, moderately roasty. Bit of soft chocolate, bit of fruity yeast. Clean and approachable, very straightforward.
Oh yeah, that is nice and flavorful for its size, wow! There's roast but it's earthy, and cut by plenty of moderately sweet chocolate character. Add in some mildly fruity, slightly citrusy hops and call it a day. Chewy, extremely satisfying texture/body shows no sign of its size, yet is properly attenuated nonetheless. Quite a bit going on here, all to the good.
Tried
from Draft
at
Amory’s Tomb Brewing Company
on 18 Apr 2026
at 19:31
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
Reviewed from notes.
Can to nonic glass.
Appearance: dark brown close to black with a two finger khaki foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: dark roasted malts, black coffee, milk chocolate, dark chocolate with earthy and piney hops
Flavor: blends the prior noted aromas to swee to roasty and bitter character; finishes roasty and piney hoppy
Texture: medium bodied, sessionable, some hop assertiveness, lighter smoothness than a good amount of other stouts I've had
Overall: almost thought this was a black IPA I had to go back through several times to ensure I was drinking a stout but yes, ultimately this is a stout just a hoppier one than a good amount of others I've had.
Can to nonic glass.
Appearance: dark brown close to black with a two finger khaki foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: dark roasted malts, black coffee, milk chocolate, dark chocolate with earthy and piney hops
Flavor: blends the prior noted aromas to swee to roasty and bitter character; finishes roasty and piney hoppy
Texture: medium bodied, sessionable, some hop assertiveness, lighter smoothness than a good amount of other stouts I've had
Overall: almost thought this was a black IPA I had to go back through several times to ensure I was drinking a stout but yes, ultimately this is a stout just a hoppier one than a good amount of others I've had.
Tried
from Can
on 21 Feb 2026
at 18:12
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
Reviewed from notes.
Can to tulip.
Appearance: orange in color with a one finger white foamy head which slid off nicely to leave some light lace.
Aroma: blood oranges with a sly sweet edge and a light dose of lemon underneath
Flavor: leans a bit further into the tart side with a rind-like bitterness also entering in to blend with the tart and the sweet; finishes with the tart and sweet of the blood oranges
Texture: light to medium bodied, somewhat sessionable, light smoothness but also a little bit of tart assertiveness
Overall: nice fruit beer with blood oranges, I would return to this.
Can to tulip.
Appearance: orange in color with a one finger white foamy head which slid off nicely to leave some light lace.
Aroma: blood oranges with a sly sweet edge and a light dose of lemon underneath
Flavor: leans a bit further into the tart side with a rind-like bitterness also entering in to blend with the tart and the sweet; finishes with the tart and sweet of the blood oranges
Texture: light to medium bodied, somewhat sessionable, light smoothness but also a little bit of tart assertiveness
Overall: nice fruit beer with blood oranges, I would return to this.
Tried
from Can
on 21 Feb 2026
at 18:05
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Reviewed from notes.
Bottle to becher glass.
Appearance: dark brown close to black color with a two finger eggshell white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: coffee roasty tones, earthy qualities, dark chocolate, caramel malts and sweet grains
Flavor: pretty much copies the aromas in a semi-sweet and roasty way; finishes coffee roasty and semi-bitter
Texture: light to medium bodied, sessionable, some smoothness but also some dryness
Overall: American or English porter? Hmmm, I say probably closer to an English styled one and would be one I would return to.
Bottle to becher glass.
Appearance: dark brown close to black color with a two finger eggshell white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: coffee roasty tones, earthy qualities, dark chocolate, caramel malts and sweet grains
Flavor: pretty much copies the aromas in a semi-sweet and roasty way; finishes coffee roasty and semi-bitter
Texture: light to medium bodied, sessionable, some smoothness but also some dryness
Overall: American or English porter? Hmmm, I say probably closer to an English styled one and would be one I would return to.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Feb 2026
at 17:56
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Reviewed from notes.
Can to lager glass.
Appearance: yellow in color with some fast rising bubbles to fill a two finger white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: biscuity/bready/crackery malts with a slight floral/citrusy hoppiness
Flavor: blends the prior noted aromas to a good malty sweetness; finishes malty and semi-floral
Texture: light bodied, sessionable, fairly smooth along the tongue
Overall: nice pilsener worthy of coming back to and seems like a cross between a German and a Czech one.
Can to lager glass.
Appearance: yellow in color with some fast rising bubbles to fill a two finger white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: biscuity/bready/crackery malts with a slight floral/citrusy hoppiness
Flavor: blends the prior noted aromas to a good malty sweetness; finishes malty and semi-floral
Texture: light bodied, sessionable, fairly smooth along the tongue
Overall: nice pilsener worthy of coming back to and seems like a cross between a German and a Czech one.
Tried
from Can
on 21 Feb 2026
at 17:42
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Reviewed from notes.
Can to mug.
Appearance: copper color with a one finger white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: white bread, earthiness, subtle toasted nuts, light caramel notes
Flavor: mildly blends the prior noted aromas to a good malty sweet quality; finishes malty and earthy
Texture: light to medium bodied, sessionable, good smoothness, light dryness
Overall: somewhere between a festbier and a Marzen, either way it's one I can still return to.
Can to mug.
Appearance: copper color with a one finger white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: white bread, earthiness, subtle toasted nuts, light caramel notes
Flavor: mildly blends the prior noted aromas to a good malty sweet quality; finishes malty and earthy
Texture: light to medium bodied, sessionable, good smoothness, light dryness
Overall: somewhere between a festbier and a Marzen, either way it's one I can still return to.
Tried
from Can
on 21 Feb 2026
at 17:35
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Reviewed from notes.
Can to tulip.
Appearance: cloudy orange in color with a two finger white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: floral, citrusy and melon hop tones with a clean malt base
Flavor: meshes the prior noted aromas to a nice bittersweet tone; finishes melon to citrusy
Texture: light to medium bodied, sessionable, clean smoothness but some hop assertiveness
Overall: fairly nice NEIPA I could come back to.
Can to tulip.
Appearance: cloudy orange in color with a two finger white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: floral, citrusy and melon hop tones with a clean malt base
Flavor: meshes the prior noted aromas to a nice bittersweet tone; finishes melon to citrusy
Texture: light to medium bodied, sessionable, clean smoothness but some hop assertiveness
Overall: fairly nice NEIPA I could come back to.
Tried
from Can
on 21 Feb 2026
at 17:28
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
Reviewed from notes.
Can to mug.
Appearance: clear yellow color with a one and a quarter fingers of white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: biscuity malts with a super light grassy to floral hoppy tone underneath
Flavor: mixes the prior noted aromas to a fair sweet malty quality; finishes malty
Texture: light bodied, sessionable, pretty smooth along the tongue
Overall: nice little sessionable lager, no frills but I don't see any flaws, would be a nice one next to the grill or take fishing.
Can to mug.
Appearance: clear yellow color with a one and a quarter fingers of white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: biscuity malts with a super light grassy to floral hoppy tone underneath
Flavor: mixes the prior noted aromas to a fair sweet malty quality; finishes malty
Texture: light bodied, sessionable, pretty smooth along the tongue
Overall: nice little sessionable lager, no frills but I don't see any flaws, would be a nice one next to the grill or take fishing.
Tried
from Can
on 21 Feb 2026
at 17:22
7.1/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 6
Overall 7
Reviewed from notes.
Can to tulip.
Appearance: milky light yellow to copper color with a finger and a half's worth of white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: light whiffs of white pepper, floral & grassy hops, sweet wheat, crushed coriander and some citrusy notes
Flavor: blends the prior noted aromas to a fair sweet wheaty to semi-spicy quality; finishes floral, white peppery and notes of coriander
Texture: light to medium bodied, sessionable, light smoothness but also some spicy notes being semi-assertive to the tongue
Overall: not a bad Summer-like beer but in my opinion needs some work to truly be a real Belgian witbier.
Can to tulip.
Appearance: milky light yellow to copper color with a finger and a half's worth of white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: light whiffs of white pepper, floral & grassy hops, sweet wheat, crushed coriander and some citrusy notes
Flavor: blends the prior noted aromas to a fair sweet wheaty to semi-spicy quality; finishes floral, white peppery and notes of coriander
Texture: light to medium bodied, sessionable, light smoothness but also some spicy notes being semi-assertive to the tongue
Overall: not a bad Summer-like beer but in my opinion needs some work to truly be a real Belgian witbier.
Tried
from Can
on 21 Feb 2026
at 17:16
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Reviewed from notes.
Can to tulip.
Appearance: copper to red sort of meshed color with a finger's worth of white foamy head which dissipated fairly quick to leave some light lace
Aroma: strawberry sweet and tart vibes, raspberry tart and sweet character and a light creamy sweet note
Flavor: blends the tart and the sweet tones of those berries to a light creamy lactose quality; finishes with the strawberries and raspberries
Texture: light to medium bodied, somewhat sessionable, some light smoothness but also a little bit of tart assertiveness
Overall: nice mixed red berry ale that I would come back to.
Can to tulip.
Appearance: copper to red sort of meshed color with a finger's worth of white foamy head which dissipated fairly quick to leave some light lace
Aroma: strawberry sweet and tart vibes, raspberry tart and sweet character and a light creamy sweet note
Flavor: blends the tart and the sweet tones of those berries to a light creamy lactose quality; finishes with the strawberries and raspberries
Texture: light to medium bodied, somewhat sessionable, some light smoothness but also a little bit of tart assertiveness
Overall: nice mixed red berry ale that I would come back to.
Tried
from Can
on 21 Feb 2026
at 17:07