May 1, 2017

Meet Brooke Barbier of Ye Olde Tavern Tours

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Barbier.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Brooke. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I received my PhD in American history from Boston College and studied the history of Boston. Because of my interest in both history and beer, I founded Ye Olde Tavern Tours in 2013 to provide visitors and locals to Boston with a fun way to see and experience the revolutionary and drunken history of Boston. I love leading tours because I get to meet new people, talk about a subject that is really interesting to me and one that interests others, and help visitors have a fantastic and memorable time in Boston.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Our tours run year round, and the weather–not just in the winter–can be a challenge. We’ve given our tours in the middle of snowstorms, 35 mph winds, and high humidity. But that can sometimes add to the fun and the beers we serve on the tours help our guests forge ahead!

We’d love to hear more about your business.
One thing that makes are tours special is that all of our tour guides are historians: they either have their PhDs in history or are currently earning it. Our guides are very knowledgeable and are also fun people who like to meet new people and introduce them to Boston’s history and beers. We also provide an accurate and interesting history of Boston during the American Revolution and the role that alcohol played in this time period.

I recently wrote a book, “Boston in the American Revolution: A Town Versus an Empire” that builds on the subject matter we discuss in the tour.

What were you like growing up?
I grew up in San Diego, California and have always been an enthusiastic person who loves to learn. History has been my primary interest since I was in my early teens and my love of Boston’s history grew when I was doing my undergraduate work in California.

Pricing: