10 Breweries New to Massachusetts in 2023-24
Tom Allen (left) and Matt Guernsey launched Arlington Brewing Co. in 2023.
Economic growth in the craft beer market slowed nationwide in 2023, but the bubble isn’t bursting, according to Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson. Today’s educated consumer wants variety and innovation, Watson said in his keynote address at the annual Massachusetts Brewers Guild conference in November 2023, Brewbound reported, adding, “that sounds exactly like the kind of thing that craft can excel at.”
In Massachusetts, entrepreneurs prove this true every year with new breweries, taprooms and ideas — and 2023 was no exception. Despite some closures, more than a dozen taprooms opened across the Commonwealth. The list of new breweries in Massachusetts includes second locations for MBG members Mighty Squirrel, White Lion, Bright Ideas, and Untold brewing companies. Among more than a dozen novel beer businesses that opened in 2023 — and 2024 so far — are 10 new members of the Mass Brewers Guild.
Meet the MBG freshman Class
Hot Plate brewing co.
The lore of this seven-barrel brewery in Pittsfield is that owner and founder Sarah Real dialed in her beer recipes on an electric hot plate. Since February 2023, the taproom and public house she co-owns with husband Mike Dell’Aquila welcomes all with a diverse selection of beer and gluten-free beverages, while giving back to the community by using local ingredients and supporting nonprofits.
Portico Brewing in Somerville has a pop-up kitchen from Taqueria el Barrio.
Portico Brewing
A longtime contract brewery, Portico opened its first taproom in Somerville just in time for Earth Day in April 2023. Founders Alex Rabe and Alex Zielke counter the brewery’s energy and material usage with positive actions to benefit the community and the planet, like brewing Earth Hour Pale Ale with 100% local malt. The Somerville spot also features a pop-up kitchen from Taqueria el Barrio.
Outrider Ber Company
Beer industry buds Anthony Lauring and Carl McCowen teamed up to open this community-focused brewpub in Amesbury in May 2023. Along with house beers like Joystick IPA and Medium Delight Dubbel, there’s a wide menu of comfort food like steak and cheese eggrolls, falafel-topped salads, sandwiches, burgers and more.
Antimony Brewing
On Memorial Day, beer fans in the Berkshires welcomed a new brewpub in Lenox. Chemical engineer-turned-restaurateur Rob Trask oversees a seven-barrel brewhouse and kitchen at Antimony, dishing up brewpub fare such as fried cheese curds with IPA honey mustard, sourdough pizzas, grilled steak, and fish tacos.
Long Live Roxbury has a distinctive look.
Live Long beerworks Roxbury
One of Rhode Island’s biggest names in beer added a Massachusetts outpost in the summer of 2023. Long Live Beerworks gives a colorful makeover to an 1850s piano factory-turned-15-barrel brewery in Roxbury, frequently hosting Boston-exclusive beer drops and events like Thursday night jazz and weekend food pop-ups.
Doctor’s Island Brewing company
Gregory Hoffmeister and his beer-loving family opened this scenic spot last summer on Nantasket Beach. Doctor’s Island returns at the end of April for its second season with small-batch beers and waterfront, sunset views of the Boston skyline from Hull.
Epigram Brewing Co.
Epigram Brewing Co. debuted in Tyngsboro in October. The sprawling beer hall has been a hit with Merrimack Valley locals since day one, with an ample beer selection, plenty of seats, and a full food menu, including hard-to-find in the area South Shore-style bar pizza.
Forty Second Brew Co.
Forty Second Brewing Co. opened a comfortable taproom in Kingston in November 2023, a few years after neighbors Paul Schiele and Matt Ward began brewing together as a hobby. Now, their beers like Three Sheets to the Wind IPA, Down the Hatch Pilsner, and more are self-distributed.
Liz Nicol is the founder and head brewer at Drawdown Brewing Company in Jamaica Plain, Boston.
Drawdown Brewing
Since opening in December 2023 with a stated mission to be an inclusive spot for viewing sports, Drawdown has drawn crowds to Jamaica Plain, particularly for women’s college basketball. Owner and head brewer Liz Nicol is offering malt-forward brews like a cream ale and porter.
Arlington Brewing Company
As engineers and Arlington residents Tom Allen and Matt Guernsey look for a permanent home for their hometown brewery, they’re producing cans like Spy-P-A and My New GF, a gluten-free saison. ABCo. has a pop-up taproom Friday nights through April 26 at the Roasted Granola Cafe in Arlington.
BetterBev - A Green Craft Beverage Recognition Program Launches in New England
Introduced by Coalition of New England States with Support from the Environmental Protection Agency
A coalition of New England states announced the BetterBev Green Craft Beverage Recognition Program, a sustainability initiative funded in part by grants from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Pollution Prevention (P2) Program.
BetterBev was created to help beverage producers throughout New England fully understand their environmental practices, principles, and impact, with the goal of reducing production inefficiencies, improving health and safety, and conserving natural resources. Participating companies drive their continuous improvement by tracking waste generation and measuring the use of energy, water, and material inputs. For beverage producers that invest time and resources in sustainable practices, BetterBev will help them gain efficiencies, reduce costs, and receive recognition as a “green” business.
New England is a craft beverage powerhouse with one of the highest concentrations of craft breweries in the country. According to the Brewers Association, the region is home to over 600 craft breweries, not including other craft beverage producers such as distilleries, wineries, cideries, and meaderies. While these businesses create jobs, boost tourism, and promote economic development, they also use resources intensively. Breweries constantly heat, cool, and clean their operations, presenting excellent opportunities for cost savings. Similarly, side-streaming, reuse, and recycling strategies can minimize the environmental impact of spent grains, wastewater discharge, and packaging.
“We must constantly assess the impact our actions have on the environment, so we believe a beverage producer’s focus should be on continual improvement,” explained Luke Truman, Sustainability Coordinator for the Craft Beverage Sector Program at the New England Environmental Finance Center, located at the University of Southern Maine. “We’re grading ourselves against a constantly moving target, so we created the BetterBev program with a mindset of consistent effort, striving for improvement over time.”
Since 2022, the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island have received funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to establish Pollution Prevention (P2) technical assistance initiatives that help craft beverage producers improve their environmental performance. State-based Technical Assistance Providers (TAPs) have reached out to hundreds of craft beverage manufacturers to assess their production practices and provided recommendations to improve process efficiencies. Some states built very effective initiatives around these efforts, such as the New Hampshire Sustainable Craft Beverage recognition program (NHSCB) run by its Department of Environmental Services.
In 2023, building on the success of the NHSCB, state P2 programs decided to launch a sustainability recognition program for craft beverage producers throughout all of New England. This regional approach, which grew into BetterBev, has the potential to increase visibility, drive business participation, and disseminate environmental best practices.
“We were all moving in the same direction, working on similar initiatives, so it only made sense to partner and work together,” added Kathy Black, Pollution Prevention Program Manager for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. “The BetterBev Program amplifies the work each state is doing and raises awareness about how businesses can care for the environment and worker’s health and safety while making tasty craft beverages.”
BetterBev recognition can be earned after a beverage producer’s state oversight organization works with them to perform an audit and assessment of their environmental practices and impact. The audit and assessment covers 10 performance criteria:
Environmentally responsible sourcing
Water usage
Wastewater reduction
Stormwater management
Energy efficiency and conservation
CO2 use and emissions
Cleaning and sanitizing
Waste reduction
Packaging format and materials
Environmental culture
Beverage producers reaching specific performance thresholds over the ten areas will earn the BetterBev recognition. Those that don’t reach the required thresholds will be supported by their state oversight organization and receive the technical assistance necessary to improve their performance and receive recognition. The goal of the BetterBev program is to place every business on the path of continuous improvement, even if they are beginners looking for some basic tips or high achievers that want to invest in the latest green technologies.
The oversight organizations responsible for managing the BetterBev program in their respective state are:
Connecticut: Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts Boston
Maine: New England Environmental Finance Center at the University of Southern Maine
New Hampshire: Pollution Prevention Program at the Department of Environmental Services
Rhode Island: Department of Environmental Management
Vermont: New England Environmental Finance Center at the University of Southern Maine
To learn more about the BetterBev Green Craft Beverage Recognition Program, including how a producer can participate, visit the BetterBev program page at www.betterbev.org.
About BetterBev
The BetterBev program is managed by a group of state and university environmental organizations that provide a free sustainability assessment to craft beverage producers in New England, including but not limited to breweries, wineries, and distilleries. The goal of the program is to help companies improve environmental performance, reduce operational costs, and build recognition from peers and customers. Companies that meet the BetterBev sustainability criteria are eligible for BetterBev recognition, which includes a certificate, window signage, use of the BetterBev logo, and inclusion on a BetterBev map. Learn more at www.betterbev.org.
The Mass Craft Brewers Festival returns to Boston with peace, love, and all the best beverages
The festie on 4/20 is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Massachusetts Brewers Guild
On the heels of another successful Mass Beer Week, the state association for craft brewers is thrilled to remind you we’re throwing another party next month.
The Massachusetts Craft Brewers Festival returns to the Boston Center for the Arts Cyclorama in Boston on Saturday, April 20, featuring more than 40 Bay State breweries (and seltzer, and cider makers). The biggest fundraiser of the year for the Massachusetts Brewers Guild, ticket sales go right back to the craft beer industry by supporting the MBG’s programs and initiatives. The non-profit, membership-based MBG promotes and protects the interests of craft brewers in Massachusetts through industry and educational events, by providing resources and marketing support to brewers, by highlighting the Bay State as a top travel destination for craft beer, and by working at the legislative level to be a voice of craft brewers on Beacon Hill.
During the Mass Craft Brewers Fest, brewmasters and bosses from across Massachusetts will be serving up beer, cider, and seltzers they are most proud of: This annual event is truly by beer lovers, for beer lovers. Across two sessions from 1 to 4:30 p.m. and 6 to 9:30 p.m., ticket holders will have the chance to try unlimited samples from participating breweries (responsibly, of course) — all under one psychedelic, circular, sun-dappled roof.
The Sausage Guy, Wild Fox Pierogi, and Phyghit Pretzel Necklaces will return as featured food vendors for this year’s Mass Craft Brewers Fest. Outside snacks and pretzel necklaces are permitted, as are empty canteens to refill with water or sealed water bottles. Remember: H2o is your friend.
Tickets to the Mass Craft Brewers Fest are $55 and include unlimited beverage samples and good vibes. Designated driver tickets are available for $10. Last year’s event was completely sold out, so we highly recommend getting your tickets in advance so you can be sure to join the grooviest beer fest of the year!
Get ready to get down with these featured breweries:
7th Wave Brewing
Aeronaut Brewing Co.
Altruist Brewing Company
Amherst Brewing
Amory's Tomb Brewing Co.
Aquatic Brewing Co.
Bent Water Brewing Co
Bright Ideas Brewing
Castle Island Brewing Co.
Coastal Mass. Brewing
Dirigible Brewing Company
Dorchester Brewing Company
Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Co.
Flying Dreams Brewing Co
Harpoon Brewing Co.
Hopothecary Ales Brewery and Kitchen
Hot Plate Brewing Co.
Jack's Abby Craft lagers
Lamplighter Brewing Co.
Lost Shoe Brewing & Roasting Company
Mayflower Brewing Company
Medusa Brewing Company
Mighty Squirrel
Naukabout Brewing Co.
Night Shift Brewing
Oakholm Brewing Company
Penny Pinchers Brewing Co
Pigeon Cove Ferments
Portico Brewing
Rockport Brewing Company
Roundhead Brewing Co.
Rushford & Sons Brewhouse
Sam Adams Brewery
Shovel Town Brewery
The Brewery at Four Star Farms
The Girls Brewery
The Tap Brewing Company
Timberyard Brewing Company
Tree House Brewing
Twisted Fate Brewing
Untold Brewing
Wormtown Brewery
Follow #MACraftBrewersFest on social media for updates as the fest approaches. Breweries will be sharing their pouring plans as the event gets closer. Whether you’re jazzed for juice bombs, stoked for stouts, or fervent for farmhouse ales, the Massachusetts Craft Brewers Festival will have something for you. See you there!
Peace and love ✌️
Mass Beer Week returns March 2-9 with plenty of events on tap
The statewide celebration of craft beer isn’t just for breweries.
Since the Massachusetts Brewers Guild began sponsoring Mass Beer Week in 2017, the number of craft breweries operating in the Bay State has increased exponentially — and the annual celebration of them all is keeping pace.
Mass Beer Week is back March 2-9, 2024, with live events across the Commonwealth at breweries — and beyond. This year, keep an eye out for in-store tastings, discounts and special signage through Mass Beer Week at locations of Roche Brothers, Market Basket, Whole Foods and Total Wine & More.
Restaurants, package stores, movie theaters, bowling alleys and any establishment that sells Massachusetts-made beer can get involved in the fun by making a Facebook event and adding Mass Beer Week as a co-host. Is your establishment hosting a #MassBeerWeek event? Tag us on Instagram and we’ll share!
Of course, local breweries are the heart and soul of Mass Beer Week. The calendar of events is already stacked with happenings across the Commonwealth.
Here are some highlights:
Get your limited edition glassware
Mass Beer Week comes with an exclusive pint. The stylish Sidra tumbler is available to buy for $6 at dozens of craft breweries throughout the state. The pint includes this year’s Mass Beer Week dates and hashtags, and features a whimsical, 360-degree landscape designed by local artist and craft beer industry insider, Zach Manza.
“In the brewery space, anybody with a creative thing will end up wearing different hats. I love being in it,” says Manza, who won a contest sponsored by the Mass Brewers Guild to design this year’s commemorative glass.
Complete the Marlborough/Hudson Brewery Passport
Visit six breweries in this Central Mass. region for a chance to win a free limited-edition Mass Beer Week glass. Passports are available and can be redeemed at six participating breweries:
Medusa Brewing in Hudson is part of a regional passport you can complete during Mass Beer Week.
Clover Road, Hudson
Flying Dreams, Marlborough
Lost Shoe, Marlborough
Medusa, Hudson
Tackle Box, Marlborough
Wild Hare, Hudson
The first 200 people to complete the Marlborough/Hudson Brewery Passport will earn the exclusive glass. (It’s also available for purchase at any participating brewery.)
Check out a Mass.-made beer fest at Cape Cod Beer
Kick off the weeklong celebration with a Mass Beer Week Brew Fest at Cape Cod Beer in Hyannis on Saturday, March 2. Across two ticketed sessions (noon-3 p.m. or 4-7 p.m.), ticket holders can sip 12, four-ounce samples from more than a dozen breweries and keep their souvenir tasting class. Full pints are also available for purchase. Access to food trucks and more fun is in store. Tickets range from $30 to $38 with a $15 designated driver option also available.
Support Berkshires youth and community
Shire Beer Co. hosts the ninth annual Bianchi/Barbarotta Family Foundation Beer Tasting to kick off Mass Beer Week on Saturday, March 2. The event has raised thousands of dollars to fund scholarships for graduating high schoolers over the years and always promises a fun time. This year’s event at Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield features live music; famous meatballs, appetizers, a dessert table, and other food for purchase; and a cash bar in addition to the beer samples. Tickets are $25.
Tasty beer pairings
The Craft Beer Concierge — aka Boston resident and certified Cicerone Allo Gilinsky — and local bakers are matching beer with cupcakes at Boston-area breweries. Check out sweet pairing events with the Craft Beer Concierge at Portico in Somerville, Remnant in Somerville, and Distraction in Roslindale. Vanished Valley Brewing Co. and Manchester Cheesecake Company also team up with indulgent desserts and drinks during Mass Beer Week.
For those craving savory, check out cheese and beer nights with Mullahy's Cheese Shop at Lost Shoe Brewing and Roasting Company in Marlborough, and 7th Wave Brewing in Medfield.
Go all in on the final day of Mass Beer Week at Buzzards Bay Brewing in Westport with Farm & Coast, a lunch event exploring local flavor sourced from Farm & Coast Market in nearby Padanaram. Courses like deviled eggs with tasso ham and pickled chilis, Eva’s Garden greens with an apricot dressing, kielbasa served with fresh sourdough from Little Moss Restaurant and more are all matched with beer or cider pairings and a discussion led by Buzzards Bay founder Bill Russell.
And much more!
Brewery book fairs, trivia, craft nights, live music, open art studios, beer release parties, comedy shows and family-friendly events round out the calendar—and there’s more to come.
Any event highlighting Massachusetts-made beer can get on the calendar by adding Mass Beer Week as a co-host on Facebook or tagging #MassBeerWeek on Instagram. Check out the full lineup of events via the Mass Beer Week Facebook page, and keep checking back for fun things to do throughout Mass Beer Week.
However you celebrate Mass Beer Week, just remember: #DrinkMassMadeBeer.
And make sure to take a pic! The Mass Beer Week Photo Contest returns with three cool prizes. The first-place winner will receive two tickets to the Massachusetts Craft Brewers Fest on April 20; second place earns a $50 gift card to the Mass. brewery of your choice; and third place will get MBG swag including a cooler, hat and glassware. To enter, simply post pictures of anything Mass. craft beer-related to social media between March 2-9, using hashtag #massbeerweek2024 and tagging @massbeerweek and the brewery or breweries pictured. Photo contest winners will be announced on Tuesday, March 12.
Meet the Industry Insider Behind This Year's Mass Beer Week Artwork
Mass Beer Week returns March 2-9 with a logo designed by one of the industry’s own. Zach Manza, founder of Manza Media and an employee at Shovel Town Brewery in Easton, is the winner of the second annual fan-voted art contest hosted by the Massachusetts Brewers Guild. Manza’s original artwork will be used on collectible glassware available at participating breweries throughout Mass Beer Week, and across all promotional materials for the statewide celebration of craft beer.
Illustrator and Shovel Town Brewery cook Zach Manza designed the 2024 Mass Beer Week logo.
Manza, a lifelong illustrator, took inspiration from scenes across the Bay State for this year’s Mass Beer Week design. The Mashpee resident explains, “the western part is a can, and then it spills over” into the South Shore and Cape Cod. He credits his wife and muse, Stephanie, with the idea to center the landscape on a spilled can of beer, which relates to his day job and fits in with his playful, whimsical style.
Manza works in the kitchen at Shovel Town, takes photos for the brewery’s social media, and also collaborates with the marketing team to design label art. He started as a line cook two years ago, and has since reimagined the Easton company’s branding to feature a shovel-shaped template on every can. Consistent imagery is more marketable than the outsourced, can-by-can artwork Shovel Town previously commissioned, and collaborating with their employees fits the vibe of a local craft brewery, Manza says. His bosses, coworkers, and fellow craft beer fans “love that kind of community, where a guy who works here does the cans.”
Shovel Town Brewery’s redesigned cans. / Art and photo by Zach Manza
In January 2023, Manza also painted a full-scale wall mural inside the Easton taproom. The large, hand-drawn piece was a challenge for the self-taught illustrator, who likens his style to mid-century children’s books like Corduroy and Harry the Dirty Dog and typically uses pencil and watercolor (or, their digital equivalents on the illustration app Procreate).
Manza, who grew up in New Jersey, moved to Massachusetts after high school and has been a freelance illustrator ever since. He has illustrated many children’s books, including the Puffa the Lionhead Bun series, but publishing is a competitive industry with fairly low pay for artists, he shares. “In the brewery space, anybody with a creative thing will end up wearing different hats,” says Manza, who is also a musician. “I’m being compensated, and I love being in it.”
Zach Manza designed and painted an indoor mural at Shovel Town Brewery. / Photo by Zach Manza
Manza’s art will emblazon social media fliers, glassware and T-shirts to highlight Mass Beer Week and help drive traffic and tourism to our state’s breweries. Sales of the collector's glass—this year, 17-ounce Sidra tumblers—are a fundraiser to support the Mass Brewers Guild’s mission to promote craft beer in the Bay State.
Besides bragging rights, the artist received cash and a prize pack from the MBG for submitting the winning design.
Mass Beer Week runs Saturday to Saturday during the first week of March. Visit breweries throughout the state to get this year’s collectible glassware. To learn more about Mass Beer Week, check out massbeerweek.org
OSHA Consultation Program offers free health and safety support
Craft brewers, we know your employees are like family and that you want them to go home safe at the end of every shift. But maybe you need safety and health assistance with the chemicals used during the brewing process, with confined spaces in the brewing area, or with machinery used during daily operations at the brewery? The Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards (DLS) can help with those and any other hazards. DLS offers free safety and health consultations for small and medium sized businesses to recognize and control potential safety and health hazards. This service is provided by the Massachusetts On-Site Consultation Program.
Consultations are at no cost and are confidential. You, the employer, determines the scope of the consultation services you want to use, which can range from answering a specific safety or health question to providing a complete wall to wall worksite safety and health survey. We can even provide air sampling and noise monitoring also at no cost.
All the services provided by the On-Site Consultation Program are free, confidential, voluntary, and completely separate from OSHA enforcement. How it works:
1) An employer requests assistance from the On-Site Consultation Program by calling (508) 616-0461 (Option 2) or emailing MA-OSHAConsultation@mass.gov.
2) A Consultant from DLS will work with the employer to answer questions and schedule an on-site visit. During on-site visits the Consultant will review any required safety and health programs and identify any hazards in the workplace.
3) The Consultant and the employer will come up with a timeline for the employer to correct any serious and imminent hazards identified during the visit. Any identified serious and imminent hazards are required to be abated. While actively working with the On-Site Consultation Program, employers are granted a deferral from OSHA-programmed enforcement inspections.
Annually, On-Site Consultation Programs across the U.S. conduct more than 20,000 visits at worksites nationwide. Every year, more than two million workers are removed from hazards after employers take corrective actions identified during consultation visits. Shouldn’t your brewery be one of those worksites?
Participating in the consultation program can result in enhanced worker morale, and reduce injury/illness rates, lost workdays, workers’ compensation costs, equipment damage, and product losses. Read Benefits of the OSHA On-Site Consultation Program, An Economic Analysis (August 1, 2018) for more information.
"We've participated in MA DLS's Consultation Program two times with exceptional results. As our brewery has grown and processes have changed, we've found it necessary to revisit and regularly update safety protocols. During both consultations, Justin helped us identify workplace hazards and develop a robust set of OSHA-approved training programs to address and ensure employee safety. He also put us in touch with Deborah, a hygiene specialist, to review chemical use and best practices for maintaining employee health. Even after the consultations, Justin has remained a helpful resource for one-off safety questions and to provide advice on special scenarios. We're so grateful to Justin, Deborah, and the entire Consultation Program for their attention to detail and collaborative approach. We encourage companies from all industries to take advantage of this incredible resource."
Jack Hunsicker, CEO, Lamplighter Brewing Company
For more information go to www.mass.gov/on-site-consultation-program or read the Consultation brochure.
NEW Workplace Wellbeing Portal Available to Breweries
Infinite Ingredient, Hazelden Betty Ford collaborate to provide substance use, mental health resources to craft brewing industry employees
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - January 23, 2024 - The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and Infinite Ingredient, a non-profit working to support the mental and physical well-being of people working in the craft beverage industry, today announced a collaboration to help the craft brewing industry address substance use and mental health concerns among its workforce.
Beginning today, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s Workplace Wellbeing Portal, launched in 2023, will be available to the more than 150,000 U.S.-based people working for craft breweries, offering a confidential avenue to discuss and address substance use and mental health challenges.
Hazelden Betty Ford is the leading nonprofit system of substance use treatment, mental health care and family services — with sites and services across the U.S. as well as an acclaimed graduate school, publishing house and research center, and a global reach and reputation.
Founded in 2021, Infinite Ingredient has been focused on removing common barriers to mental and physical health resources and making resources available to everyone working for craft beverage producers across the world, starting with craft breweries in the United States.
“The craft beer and craft beverage industry is often treated both inwardly and outwardly as a giant party, in spite of the fact that each facet of the industry requires hard work and can often be grueling,” said Katie Muggli, founder and executive director of Infinite Ingredient. “The question I keep coming back to is: how can we demonstrate and cultivate a healthy relationship with alcohol, when producing, selling, and serving it is our job? This is our first step in providing answers to that question, and we're excited to launch this resource in collaboration with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.”
Mental health challenges, especially substance use and addiction, have long been ignored and under-discussed in the craft beverage industry. Providing people working in the industry with a safe space to explore such challenges and creating conversations around overall health in the alcohol industry have been goals of Infinite Ingredient since it launched.
“Most folks in the industry have seen or have even personally experienced the effects of consuming too much too often,” added Muggli. “Being able to collaborate with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation to offer these resources and provide access to this Wellbeing Portal for folks to confidentially have these conversations will be really important for providing that safe space.”
This is the first of what Infinite Ingredient hopes to be many tangible resources it can offer to individuals in the craft beverage industry.
“When an employee of a U.S.-based craft brewery signs up for the Hazelden Betty Ford Workplace Wellness Portal or calls, they will be able to explore a whole suite of resources including assessments to determine substance misuse risk, receive personalized recommendations, and connect to resources and services from Hazelden Betty Ford and elsewhere,” said Muggli. “The best part is that it isn’t just for the individuals working in the industry–it’s for their families and loved ones too–so help and guidance is available whether you’re exploring resources on behalf of yourself or someone else.”
This service allows employees to seek help confidentially.
“We don’t want anyone to struggle alone or avoid help out of fear, so we’ve designed our portal to provide people with resources they can access immediately and confidentially, and a place to call for additional help whenever needed,” said John Sakacs, outreach manager and large employer solutions specialist for Hazelden Betty Ford. “Help could be as simple as talking to somebody over the phone about what’s going on and receiving some feedback and direction.
Help could be guidance on assisting a loved one. Help could be learning about options available to those who are suffering and feeling alone. And help could also include direct assistance with initiating a treatment admission as a pathway toward recovery and a healthier, happier life.”
Calling the collaboration a “perfect marriage,” Sakacs—whose professional experience is supplemented by 21 years of personal lived experience in recovery—said Hazelden Betty Ford’s Workplace Wellbeing Portal helps remove the barrier of stigma and creates a healthier, more productive workforce.
“I know a lot of employees are suffering and need help. But they’re often afraid to get help in the workplace,” Sakacs said. “By creating these types of partnerships, providing confidential resources and also openly encouraging their use and access, we can reduce stigma as a barrier and help more people. Together, we’ll be able to get more people to walk through the door to help. Because the Workplace Wellbeing Portal and our specific collaboration with Infinite Ingredient includes many resources to support, nurture and educate families, we’ll be able to help them, too.”
To learn more about the Workplace Wellbeing Portal offered by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and Infinite Ingredient, visit infiniteingredient.org/wellbeingportal
About Infinite Ingredient
Infinite Ingredient is a non-profit founded in 2021 whose mission is to actively support the mental and physical well-being of individuals working in the craft beverage industry through outreach, education, and access to resources. To learn more, visit infiniteingredient.org.
About The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Harnessing science, love and the wisdom of lived experience, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is a force of healing and hope for families and communities affected by substance use and mental health conditions. As the nation’s foremost nonprofit provider of comprehensive behavioral health care, the Foundation leads the way in helping society rise above stigma and overcome addiction. With a legacy that began in 1949 and includes the 1982 founding of the Betty Ford Center, the Foundation now has treatment centers and telehealth services nationwide as well as a network of collaborators throughout health care. Charitable support and a commitment to innovation drive ongoing advances in care, research, programs and services to impact more lives. In addition to clinical care, Hazelden Betty Ford encompasses a graduate school of addiction studies, a publishing division, a research center, thought leadership and advocacy, professional and medical education programs, school-based prevention resources and a specialized program for children—with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in all of its endeavors. Learn more at HazeldenBettyFord.org.
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