August Oyster Guide

Thank you to everyone who signed up for this month’s Massachusetts Oyster CSA! This month we’re excited to share our Wellfleet Special: three oysters from the iconic oyster town that are each unique in flavor profile, texture, and growing method. This month we’re also featuring our first ever wild-harvested oyster from Karen Johnson which you’ll notice looks and tastes a lot different than a classic farmed oyster. Below we review the basics of these three oysters and some local beer, wine, and cocktail pairings.

Wellfleet Special

Three unique oysters from the iconic oyster town

Margaret Jennings Oysters

Origin: Wellfleet, Massachusetts

Farmed: 12 - 24 months

Average Size: 3’

Flavor Notes: Briny & Salty

Wine Pairing: Mix this salty oyster with a crisp white such as a Westport Rivers Blanc Brut.

Cider Pairing: Try a dry cider such as Ragged Hill’s Traditional Dry.

Beer Pairing: We recommend a sour beer like Remnant Brewery’s Peach Gose, a fruity sour Saison.

Cocktail Pairing: Try pairing a Mezcal Negroni with these oysters.

Wellfleet: Paine Hollow Morse Code Oysters

Origin: Wellfleet, Massachusetts

Farmed: 2 years

Average Size: 3’

Flavor Notes: Sweet & Briny

How They’re Grown: This classic Wellfleet oyster gets its crisp and briny flavor from extreme 12 foot tides and the high volume of water that rushes through Wellfleet Bay. Since Wellfleet waters tend to run colder than Nantucket sound and surrounding areas, these oysters grow slowly and in turn the oysters taste sweeter and have a distinctive minerality.

Beer Pairing: This sweet and briny oyster is perfect for a pilsner. We recommend Idle Hand’s Gretel German Pilsner.

Wine Pairing: Try pairing this oyster with an Albarino. We recommend Bodegas La Cana Albarino available at Bauer Wine & Spirits.

Cider Pairing: Try a citrus-forward cider such as Stormalong’s Light of the Sun.

You can’t go wrong pairing these classic Wellfleet oysters with a classic gin Martini.

Karen Johnson Wild Harvested Oysters

Origin: Wellfleet, Massachusetts

Average Size: 3-4’

How They Grow: Each oyster is a unique work of natural art that grows without human intervention. This allows the oysters to take on a wild, complex flavor and texture. These oysters each taste incredibly different.

Flavor Notes: Different with each oyster

Wine Pairing: We recommend a dry riesling with this oyster such as Seehof Riesling Trocken which has notes of apple and grapefruit.

Cider Pairing: Try pairing this oyster with a robust unfiltered cider such as Downeast Cider’s Double Blend.

Beer Pairing: Try a citrusy ale such as Lamplighter Brewery’s Short Squeeze blood orange ale.

Cocktail Pairing: This briny oyster begs for a refreshing acidic cocktail such as a Paloma.