The twin-silo landmark off I-95 that commuters have stared at for years is suddenly a weekend destination. Alfalfa Farm Cellars, a restored barn and cluster of outbuildings in Topsfield, quietly reopened in May as a multi-concept hangout with a taproom, pavilion with fire pits, and a tasting room for wine and spirits. The refresh keeps the big silos and vine-covered fields, then layers in a brewery run by Essex County Brewing Co., turning the once-sleepy farm into a North Shore spin on wine-country style.
As reported by NBC Boston, the property, which traces its history back roughly 300 years, changed hands in 2024 to a group that includes the Essex County Brewing Co. team. The reimagined site debuted in May and now clusters the taproom, pavilion, and distillery/winery tasting room around those familiar twin silos. NBC Boston also notes that the old “Alfalfa Farm” sign is gone for now and confirms the address as 267 Rowley Bridge Road in Topsfield.
The farm’s own website explains that the dairy operation shut down decades ago, and that Richard Adelman launched the boutique winery in the mid-1990s by planting vines on the property. According to Alfalfa Farm Cellars' site, the renovation preserved the silos, main winery, and carriage house while carving out space for beer, wine, and spirits production on the same grounds. The owners describe the project as a blend of preservation and new-school hospitality geared toward weddings, community events, and agri-tourism.
On the drinks front, beer currently leads the show. Essex County Brewing’s lineup, covering IPAs, stouts, a kolsch, white beer, light lager, red ale, and a fruity sour, fills the taps, while the tasting room is pouring cocktails, mocktails, and a small list of California wines, according to NBC Boston. Visitors can choose half or full pours, and a rotating roster of food trucks near the pavilion makes it easy to treat the spot as either a lazy afternoon stop or an evening hangout.
How It Feels: North Shore Meets Napa
The property leans hard into outdoor hospitality, with open fields, fire pits, and tucked-away seating under the silos that give the barn complex a decidedly camera-ready look. Alfalfa Farm Cellars is now listed among Massachusetts craft beer and taproom destinations, per Mass Brew Bros, and recent check-ins on Untappd show people stopping by since mid-May. With plenty of parking tucked behind the buildings and fields visible from I-95, it has the low-pressure feel of a spot that works for multigenerational outings.
What’s Next For The Farm
The events calendar is still taking shape, and the owners say programming will grow as production ramps up, according to the venue’s online materials. The Alfalfa Farm Cellars' events page currently notes that plans are being updated, a reminder that parts of the operation are still settling in after the May debut. Over time, the winery and distillery sides are expected to bring more estate-made wines and in-house spirits onto the menus.
For now, the farm offers a fresh kind of North Shore day trip: part brewery taproom, part tasting room, with a generous stretch of outdoor space that encourages lingering past sunset. If the first few weekends are any indication, Alfalfa Farm Cellars is on its way to becoming a go-to escape valve for city dwellers looking for a quick reset.
