Massachusetts boasts eleven regional breweries that produce 15,000 barrels or more each year and self-distribute across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island - as well as distributors in Vermont and New Hampshire - according to data compiled by the Brewers Association (BA).
Beer is one of the world's favorite libation options, and we all have experience with its flavors ranging from basic light lagers sold in supermarket aisles to innovative offerings from smaller breweries that combine multiple styles and ingredients into their creation.
Beer
Brewers across Massachusetts and the country are creating beers to fit every taste, revitalizing old traditions or pioneering entirely new ones. And while growth may have slowed from its previous heights, it remains strong; total beer sales rose 1 percent last year while independent brewers saw their sales jump 8 percent according to the Brewers Association.
Craft beers have seen rapid growth over the last decade as more consumers opt for bolder flavors found at craft breweries, altering the beer landscape dramatically. Now, approximately 9,000 breweries operate nationwide (this number has tripled over that time period), including several craft-focused companies like Maine Beer Company, Trillium Brewing Company and Alchemist Brewery that operate here in New England alone.
But despite these new choices, not every brewery can survive; some have had to shut down entirely while others try and find ways to remain open as competition intensifies.
Brewers must ensure they provide products to suit both broad and niche markets in order to be successful, as well as being constantly creative in order to stay ahead of trends and keep customers interested.
But even with all its challenges, the future for the industry looks bright.
The Brewers Association predicts that the industry will experience growth of 7.9% this year and into 2025. While part of that increase can be attributed to consumers returning to bars and pubs, consumers clearly show an increasing enthusiasm for craft beers as evidenced by rising sales figures.
Jack's Abby Brewery has become one of the region's best-known breweries since opening its doors in 2011. Since 2011, its founding team of Hendler brothers and associates has dedicated themselves to producing world-class lagers that fuse German tradition with American ingenuity. Their goal is to disprove any notion that all great lagers come from large macrobreweries while broadening consumers' palates and understanding of what defines great beers.
Cider
Massachusetts offers something for every palate when it comes to craft beverage industry. Breweries have begun popping up all across Massachusetts, many offering on-site tastings. Many local breweries are engaging their community through food truck collaborations or brewery-restaurant partnerships while some pioneering innovations that break from tradition styles or ingredients.
Craft beer companies tend to share an ongoing commitment to community involvement through activities like guided tours and convivial fellowship or scenic gathering spots that encourage exploration and innovation - and that's part of what makes craft beer unique.
Craft beer stands apart from mass-produced, low ABV beers found at grocery stores by offering an exciting diversity of flavor profiles ranging from subtle tart to deep malt notes to ingredient choices that set distinct styles apart. Craft beer has also seen an incredible renaissance thanks to small and midsize breweries revitalizing their longstanding heritage as craft brewing revives itself across America.
Large macrobreweries (which often operate under public ownership) remain popular with consumers, but an entirely new generation has discovered the joys of craft beer and cider brewed locally - opening up opportunities for smaller outfits that maintain tradition while offering new choices to their loyal fanbases.
artisanal cider market has experienced staggering growth over the past several years, with more than one-third of Americans now purchasing it regularly. That's great news for local cider makers who bring refreshing new flavors into an otherwise stagnant category. From tending multigenerational orchards and foraging for local fruit to creating innovative blends or simply experimenting with unexpected combinations - these producers produce cider worth visiting from Boston to Berkshires!
Spirits
Spirits have also seen an explosion of small-format distilleries over recent decades. These micro-distilleries and brand-new distilleries often serve double duty by both producing their own brands as well as contracting out to other brands for manufacturing purposes, providing greater diversity to both product mix and customer demographic.
Craft distillers stand apart from mass market spirits producers by cultivating an identity of place through celebrating local ingredients and forging relationships with their local patrons, creating an atmosphere of mutual support that revitalizes stagnant drink categories.
But there are still hurdles to entering the market, including cost and time required for licensing from state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). A new distillery can take years before starting production - during this timeframe the market can drastically shift.
As the industry matured, state guilds and national organizations emerged to provide support, training, business resources and conference/competition platforms. Many also offer young producers an opportunity to display their work while honing their skills.
Craft distillers benefited greatly from these organizations when fighting wholesalers that wielded immense power over shaping beverage policies. Some wholesalers were accused of hoarding multiple brands within their portfolios only to later offload them, creating an unfair situation for small breweries who often had direct relationships with their distributors.
As a response, some craft breweries and distillers have come together in coalitions advocating for fairer treatment from distributors. Others are taking matters into their own hands by setting up independent distribution companies or joining larger distributor groups that specialize in niche brands.
Some breweries like Redemption Rock Brewery in Worcester's Dani Babineau are active members of Pink Boots Society and actively recruit women and minorities for their staffs; these initiatives aim to benefit both the broader Massachusetts craft scene and make businesses more sustainable in the long run.
Brewery Tours
Craft beer has quickly grown into a multibillion-dollar industry over recent years, both profitable and with a highly passionate fanbase. While macrobreweries still account for most sales volume, craft brewing's rise can be seen through new brewery locations opening throughout Massachusetts.
Craft beer culture in Greater Boston is flourishing and many breweries now offer brewery tours for visitors to experience first-hand what goes into crafting popular beers like Sam Adams Boston Lager and Harpoon The Woodman; or visit emerging craft breweries like Night Shift Brewing of Everett or Tree House Brewing Company of North Andover - to name but two examples!
If you want to taste several beers at once, signing up for a brewery tasting tour or crawl is a great way to do just that. A brewery tour guide can teach all about each beer while serving samples as you go along - some tours also offer food pairing experiences and educational cards to take home with them!
Discovering local breweries has never been simpler thanks to the growing popularity of brewery tours and tasting events. Whether you visit one of Boston's famed breweries such as Samuel Adams, Harpoon or Cheeky Monkey or one of its up-and-coming microbreweries such as Pretty Things Ale & Beer Project or Night Shift Brewing; there is a brewery tour for everyone.
Some of the state's top breweries now regularly host brewery tours and tastings, such as Samuel Adams - a pioneer of American craft brewery movement - which now hosts tours every Saturday; Harpoon also provides regular brewery tours at both its Boston brewery and Boston Calling music festival site.
Other breweries offer more limited brewery tours, yet are well worth your while. Wachusett Brewing in Worcester is run by three college friends who put off careers in engineering and biology to establish their brewery back in 1994 - they recently unveiled a brewery yard and Airstream bar as visitor amenities!
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