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Sam Adams Tap Room is classified under MCC 5813 (Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages), Bars, Taverns, Cocktail lounges, Nightclubs and Discotheques). The best card for Sam Adams Tap Room purchases is the Ink Business Cash (no annual fee), earning 5x on drinking places (alcoholic beverages), bars, taverns, cocktail lounges, nightclubs and discotheques — an effective return of 10.25%.
Bars and taverns like Sam Adams Tap Room fall under the MCC category 5813, which is a prime target for maximizing rewards if you're into heavy social drinking or enjoy craft beers.
Pro Tip
Opt for the Chase Sapphire Reserve if Sam Adams Tap Room is your regular haunt; it offers 5x points on dining at eligible locations like this one.
When you pay at Sam Adams Tap Room at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5813 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a drinking places (alcoholic beverages), bars, taverns, cocktail lounges, nightclubs and discotheques merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "drinking places (alcoholic beverages), bars, taverns, cocktail lounges, nightclubs and discotheques" purchases, Sam Adams Tap Room transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Sam Adams Tap Room specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Sam Adams Tap Room transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 5813 qualifies for bonus rewards.
About MCC 5813: Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages), Bars, Taverns, Cocktail lounges, Nightclubs and Discotheques
Merchant Category Code 5813 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages), Bars, Taverns, Cocktail lounges, Nightclubs and Discotheques industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5813, all qualifying card programs that include drinking places (alcoholic beverages), bars, taverns, cocktail lounges, nightclubs and discotheques as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Dining industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages), Bars, Taverns, Cocktail lounges, Nightclubs and Discotheques Merchants (MCC 5813)
Spending $200/month at Sam Adams Tap Room with the Ink Business Cash (5x on drinking places (alcoholic beverages), bars, taverns, cocktail lounges, nightclubs and discotheques) earns approximately $120/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. That is $96 more per year with no annual fee.
Prefer no annual fee? The Custom Cash earns 5x at Sam Adams Tap Room merchants, earning $120/year with no annual fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What MCC code does Sam Adams Tap Room use?
Sam Adams Tap Room uses MCC 5813 (Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages), Bars, Taverns, Cocktail lounges, Nightclubs and Discotheques). This code is assigned by card networks and determines which bonus reward categories apply when you pay at Sam Adams Tap Room.
Which credit card earns the most rewards at Sam Adams Tap Room?
The Ink Business Cash earns 5x on drinking places (alcoholic beverages), bars, taverns, cocktail lounges, nightclubs and discotheques purchases (MCC 5813), making it the highest-earning option at Sam Adams Tap Room among the cards we track.
Does my card earn bonus rewards at Sam Adams Tap Room?
It depends on your card's bonus categories. If your card earns bonus rewards on drinking places (alcoholic beverages), bars, taverns, cocktail lounges, nightclubs and discotheques purchases, Sam Adams Tap Room transactions (MCC 5813) will typically qualify. Check your card's terms or app, or call your issuer to confirm.
Is Sam Adams Tap Room classified as drinking places (alcoholic beverages), bars, taverns, cocktail lounges, nightclubs and discotheques for credit card purposes?
Yes. Sam Adams Tap Room is classified under MCC 5813, which falls in the Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages), Bars, Taverns, Cocktail lounges, Nightclubs and Discotheques category. This means cards with drinking places (alcoholic beverages), bars, taverns, cocktail lounges, nightclubs and discotheques bonus categories will apply the elevated earn rate at Sam Adams Tap Room.
What is MCC 5813 and what merchants use it?
MCC 5813 stands for Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages), Bars, Taverns, Cocktail lounges, Nightclubs and Discotheques. It is assigned to businesses that primarily operate in general purchases at this merchant type. Besides Sam Adams Tap Room, other merchants in the same MCC include similar businesses in the dining industry group.
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Full disclosure
MCC data based on card network classification standards.
Rankings verified monthly from official card issuer terms.
Last verified: April 04, 2026.
Full methodology: www.pointspick.com/methodology.
