The Tap Brewing Company just won Best Burger in Haverhill’s Best 2026. It also finished as runner-up for Best Bar. The readers’ vote, from the Haverhill Gazette and The Eagle-Tribune, named The Tap’s burger the top pick and its bar the runner-up.
The Tap has been a Haverhill restaurant on Washington Street since 2003. The team brews its own beer on site and cooks from a scratch kitchen, so the burger and the beer beside it come from the same building. Readers voted for the burger and put the bar in the runner-up spot.
This post covers what goes into the winning burger, what makes the bar worth a visit, and how to try both. Whether you live nearby or are planning a visit, here is what Haverhill chose.
What Haverhill’s Best 2026 Recognizes
Haverhill’s Best is a local readers’ vote. The Haverhill Gazette and The Eagle-Tribune present the results, and winners come from reader votes. Among restaurants in Haverhill MA, a win in this vote reflects what readers chose.
This win sits alongside The Tap’s earlier recognition this year. The team also took home Best Chef, Best Beer Selection, and Most Creative Menu at the Tasty Awards, a separate program. Together, the two sets of awards cover the kitchen, the beer list, and the menu as a whole.
Best Burger in Haverhill: Hand-Crafted from Scratch
The Tap’s winning burger starts with fresh beef and is built with melted cheese, grilled onion, arugula, and tomato on a toasted brioche bun. It is a straightforward burger, made well, and that is what readers picked as the best burger in Haverhill.
The kitchen cooks from scratch, and the hand-crafted burgers sit alongside other pub favorites on the lunch and dinner menu. Gluten-free options are available. If you are choosing between a few things to order, start with the burger and add a beer from the rotating list.
Runner-Up for Best Bar
The Tap also finished as runner-up for Best Bar. Among bars in Haverhill MA, it offers house-brewed beer, a full dining room, and The Playpen, a downstairs bar with pool tables and a jukebox that is usually open on weekend nights.
Brewed in the Building: The Beer Beside the Burger
The Tap brews every batch on site in a 10-barrel brewhouse. The Brewers Association describes an American craft brewer as a small and independent brewer, and a brewhouse this size works one small batch at a time.
The tap list typically runs 11 to 12 beers, and it rotates. What’s on tap can change from one visit to the next, so ask the team what is pouring before you order. If you want to take some home, beer to-go is available in cans and growlers.
The Tasty Awards also gave The Tap Best Beer Selection, which fits a tap list that rotates.
From the Smoker: House-Smoked Meats
The Tap is more than a brewery. The kitchen also smokes its meats in house, including pulled pork, turkey, and chorizo.
Smoked meats and a rotating beer list make an easy pairing. Ask your server which beer on the current list suits what you order.
Plan Your Visit
If you want a brewpub with outdoor seating, The Deck overlooks the Merrimack River and opens seasonally. Deck seating is first come, first served. For an indoor table, reserve by phone at 978-374-1117.
The Tap Brewing Company is at 100 Washington Street in downtown Haverhill, MA. Order the burger, try the house-smoked meats, and ask the team what is pouring. Thank you to everyone who voted for The Tap in Haverhill’s Best 2026. Stop in for lunch or dinner and taste what your neighbors chose.