Tributary was a long time coming. Master brewer Tod Mott—creator of the OG Harpoon IPA recipe—finally has a place of his own. The taproom’s blue walls are meant to invoke the serenity of a pool of water; Mott and his wife Galen find inspiration in the mighty Piscataqua, whose tidal rivers and marshes lend the brewery its name. The atmosphere is decidedly soothing with long communal tables, friendly servers who can point you toward a brew you’ll love, and live music on the weekends. You can’t go wrong with a crushable Hop Harvest, which toes the line between a session IPA and a pale ale, or a Belgian Tripel with its apricot aroma and peppery kick. But if there’s an imperial Russian stout on offer, one named—with a wink and a nod—“Mott the Lesser,” that’s what we’re having. Mott developed the cult classic Kate the Great Russian imperial for Portsmouth Brewery back in the day. Fans will follow him anywhere for these rich, dark, fruity, smoky flavor-bombs of beers.