Alcohol Producers Join Forces to Lift Spirits of First Responders

Creating and Distributing Free Hand Sanitizer to Community

PLYMOUTH, Mass. | If you’ve tried to get your hands on hand sanitizer or Clorox wipes lately you might have noticed quite a shortage. The barren shelves and low inventories across the country amid the coronavirus outbreak is a serious and dangerous problem, especially for our first responders, who don’t have access to a sink and soap while helping citizens on the road. 

During this ever growing health epidemic, local alcohol producers are joining forces to help lift the spirits of police officers, firefighters, home health aides, senior center employees and more  – by creating much needed hand sanitizer and delivering it to their locations and places of business, for free. 

When news that COVID-19 was rapidly spreading across the U.S. causing a hand sanitizer shortage, Dirty Water Distillery owner Patras “Pepi”  Avizonis, and Head Distiller Brenton MacKechnie, quickly jumped into action and found a recipe on the World Health Organization’s website.

“We had the alcohol, the peroxide, and a jug of Propylene Glycol or Glycerine, a thickener that stays on your hands long enough to get good coverage,” said Avizonis. “We also put a call out to the community to get our hands on additional raw materials to increase our volumes and the response has been incredible.” 

Several South Shore breweries have joined the effort donating further dissyllables – beer that is past the brewery’s freshness standards. Barrel House Z, Burke’s Ale Werks, Indie Ferm, Mayflower Brewing Co., Stellwagen Beer Co., and Untold Brewing Co., have all contributed to the effort by donating beer. It’s then distilled down to create a high concentrated alcohol, the main ingredient in the hand cleanser.  

“This was a no brainer for us to be a part of,” said Dan O’Donnell, president & general manager at Barrel House Z. “We want to have as much community outreach as we can right now - supporting restaurants, small businesses and helping our first responders. We all want to help in as many ways as we can even while dealing with our own issues during this health crisis.” 

To date, Dirty Water Distilling has produced and donated 175 gallons of free hand sanitizer and they are hard at work to produce more. The solution is 80% alcohol and can be used to sanitize high-touch areas and surfaces quickly and effectively. 

While Massachusetts currently has a ban for on-premise consumption until May 4, the distillery and breweries are open for to go sales through their retail counters. Those looking to support these small businesses can visit their locations at:  

** Please check the businesses websites & social media channels for updated retail hours of operation** 

Dirty Water Distilling & LlamaNama Beer Labs
10 Water St, Plymouth, MA 02360

Barrel House Z
95 Woodrock Rd, Weymouth, MA 02189

Burke’s Alewerks
200 Webster St, Hanover, MA 02339

Indie Ferm
127-3 Camelot Dr, Plymouth, MA 02360

Mayflower Brewing Co.
12 Resnik Rd # 3, Plymouth, MA 02360

Stellwagen Beer Co. 
100 Enterprise Dr., Marshfield, MA 02050

Untold Brewing
6 Old Country Way, Scituate, MA 02066

Raise a Glass to Mass During #MassBeerWeek

Statewide celebration of craft beer held
March 7 through March 14

BOSTON, Mass. | On Saturday, March 7,  Mass Beer Week kicks off its weeklong series of events featuring local beer on tap. Breweries, beer bars, package stores and restaurants have teamed up to feature MA beer with special beer releases, beer and food pairings, tap takeovers and more, to celebrate the ever-evolving beer culture across the Commonwealth. 

In 2007, there were just 30 breweries in Massachusetts. To date, there are 200 active breweries across the Commonwealth, with 49 additional taprooms and breweries slated to open by the end of 2020. 

New this year, Mass Beer Week glassware will be available at select tap rooms and events across the state. Limited quantities of the 16 oz. collectable can glass will be sold for $6, with proceeds benefiting the MBG. 

What’s on tap for Mass Beer Week:

·       Want to check out the state’s newest breweries? Get your tickets for Meet the Brewers Freshman Class of 2020. Attendees can experience a unique roundtable style tasting event as they sample suds from nine freshman brewers and hear their start-up story. Gourmet Eastern Standard Provisions Pretzels, a tasting glass, and new friends included. The event takes place at Lookout Farm in Natick on Saturday, March 7. Tickets are $48.

·       Be Bold – Get Cold! Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Co., in Framingham will host its first ever Polar Plunge to raise money for the Special Olympics of Massachusetts on Saturday, March 7. After the plunge, towel off and warm up with food, beer and costume awards! Grab your beer-loving, inclusion-celebrating friends and family, create a team, and start fundraising! 

·       Farmhouse beers and French toast, lagers and links, brown ales and bacon … need we say more? On Sunday, March 8 The Dirty Truth in Northampton will serve up a special brunch menu paired with an all local lineup of beers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

·       Gentile Brewing Co., joins forces with three local businesses to bring “Books, Brunch and Brews,” to the taproom during Mass Beer Week on Sunday, March 8 from noon to 5 p.m.  Copper Dog Books will bring a traveling bookstore to the brewery while guests can snack on scalzones from FARE WELL, and sip coffee from Kid Dream coffee, and of course - delicious Gentile brews. Families and dogs welcome.  

·       Standing Out from the (Six) Pack: A Panel Discussion of Craft Beer Design: listen and chat with some of New England’s best beer can, logo, and digital designers. Starting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8 enjoy beers alongside a one hour long panel with visuals of their creative and some of their personal favorite work. The discussion will close out with a Q&A, beer, pretzels and time to chat with the designers. 

·       Say cheese … and Beer! Lost Shoe Brewing & Roasting Co., brings the Vin Bin into the taproom for a beer and cheese pairing event on Wednesday, March 11 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

·       Pucker up sour lovers. The Idles of March ushers in Friday the 13th of Mass Beer Week at Idle Hands from noon to 11 p.m. Every version of the brewery’s popular “Kill Your Idles series” will be on draft at the same time. Hot Chix will also serve up their Nashville style fried chicken sandwiches starting at 5 p.m.

·       Final judging for Barrel House Z’s Homebrewers competition will take place Saturday, March 14. Learn more HERE. The winner will have their beer put into production and released as one of Barrel House Z’s Mythical Creatures.

·       Wormtown is turning 10-years-old and throwing its biggest party ever! Food from MamaRoux, Say Cheese,and The Burgundian: Coffee and Waffles along with music from Flock of A**holes and the Blue Light Bandits. Wormtown will also release its ten year anniversary beer “Decade Dance,” an over the top imperial pastry stout that will be the brewery’s most decadent beer ever! You won’t want to miss this celebration kicking off on Saturday, March 14 from noon to 10 p.m. 

·       On Saturday, March 14 brewers will team up and face-off on the ice to help raise money for the that Mass Brewers Guild in the MBG’s Winter Classic charity hockey game. Friends, family, and craft beer fans can spectate and enjoy a pint in the stands with beer sales benefitting the MBG. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. 

Visit MassBeerWeek.org for the full lineup of events. 

Mass Beer Week is hosted by the Mass Brewers Guild and made possible thanks to volunteers and industry friends at BeerAdvocate, Craft’d Co., Fat Basset Design and the Mass. Brew Bros. The Mass Brewers Guild is the state’s trade association that works to protect and promote the interests of craft brewers across the Commonwealth. For more information about the Mass Brewers Guild, visit MassBrewersGuild.org. 

Mass Beer Week Home Brewer Competition

2018 was an amazing year for craft beer in Massachusetts and 2019 is gearing up to be even better. To celebrate all that is great about Mass beer, the Mass Brew Bros along with Mass Brewers Guild, Beer Advocate, and Barrel House Z, will hold a Home Brewers Contest. 

Winner will have their recipe brewed at Barrel House Z for release in the BHZ taproom.

Here’s what you need to know:

• You must be a resident of MA and over 21 

• (1) entry per person

• Your entry can be dropped off at Barrel House Z on February 13 or 14 from 4-9:00 pm

• Style considerations: ABV must be under 8%, no sours or wild fermentation (winning recipe is subject to review before brew day at BHZ)

• Preliminary judging will occurs at BHZ

• Final judging on March 9that BHZ with winner announced that day

• Entry must be bottled and sealed (12 oz to 22oz size—no growlers please)

• With your entry, please include your name, home address, email, phone number, beer style and ABV

Questions?  Contact Dan O’Donnell at dodonnell@barrel.house

MA Breweries Raise Awareness and a Pint to Support Veterans

Joining the Black Ale Project to start an important conversation over a beer

Former Marine and non-combat veteran of the Persian Gulf War, Dave Pappas, 47, is partnering with breweries across Massachusetts and the country to support the Black Ale Project, a craft beer initiative to raise money and awareness on behalf of U.S. war veterans.

Pappas, a craft beer lover and former blogger, is tapping into the power of the Massachusetts craft beer industry to support this cause close to his heart. The Black Ale Project, founded in 2015, isn’t a charity organization itself but serves as a conduit to support existing veteran charities. The idea is simple: breweries brew a special dark beer and donate all or part of the proceeds to a veteran charity of their choice.

Bay State breweries Medusa Brewing Company, Wormtown Brewery, and Stone Cow Brewery have already collectively raised more than $11,000 for the New England Center and Home for Veterans, Veterans Inc., and the Boston chapter of Pets for Vets. Castle Island Brewing Company, Idle Hands Craft Ales, and True West Brewing Company currently have their Black Ale Project beer for sale in Massachusetts and will donate to their selected veteran charities once the beer sells out.

“This project was not designed to place a heavy financial burden on the participating breweries, so they choose how much they will donate,” says Pappas. “Whether it’s 100 percent of the proceeds or a dollar a glass, we just ask that breweries be completely transparent with the consumer in regard to their contribution.”

Pappas does not handle the money at any time during the process; each brewery writes a check and delivers it directly to their chosen charity. He will provide a list of local veteran nonprofits that have been vetted by Charity Navigator upon request, and hopes that breweries keep in touch and build long-lasting relationships with these local organizations.

“Every glass of beer poured starts a conversation about the struggles our veterans face,” says Pappas. “Suicide, mental and physical health issues, homelessness – these are topics we want people to talk about and ultimately do something about.”

Massachusetts breweries joining the cause this year include Brewmaster Jack, Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Company, Brazo Fuerte Artisanal Beer, Barrel House Z, Henry & Fran Brewing Company, and Bone Up Brewing Company. Wormtown Brewery is also planning a second release later this year.

“We are proud that so many of our Massachusetts breweries are signing onto this project and working to provide support to our service men and women,” says Katie Stinchon, executive director of the Mass Brewers Guild, a nonprofit organization that protects and promotes Mass craft breweries. “Massachusetts craft breweries care about their communities and the ways in which they can make them stronger. We are grateful to the Black Ale Project for bringing this mission and message into tap rooms, backyard barbecues and homes across the Commonwealth and country.”

Supporting the Black Ale Project is easy: buy a beer, help a veteran. For more information, visit blackaleproject.org.

Freshman Brewers Raised $2,500 for the Mass Brewers Guild

The Mass Brewers Guild packed Castle Island Brewing Co. in Norwood, Mass.,  on Saturday, March 4 during its sold out, “Meet the Brewers: Freshman Class” event, where seventy patrons participated in an afternoon of speed-dating for beer.

Groups of ten were given ten-minutes with each brewery to hear their story, taste their beer, and ask questions before rotating to the next brewer.

The roundtable style event was the first of its kind hosted by the Mass Brewers Guild, with the goal to foster learning and education of the brewing process, and inspire deeper connections between brewers and craft beer lovers.

The line-up of freshman brewers included; Barrel House Z, Bone Up Brewing Co., Castle Island Brewing Co., Craft Roots Brewing Co., Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing, Lamplighter Brewing and Start Line Brewing.

“The afternoon was a huge success, and just as much fun for the brewers as it was for the guests,” says Rob Burns, co-founder of Night Shift and President of the Mass Brewers Guild. “We hope to launch several "Meet the Brewer" style events in the future and turn it into a series that our friends and fans can follow and attend.”

Thanks to the generosity of the brewers donating their time and beer, and the craft beer loving community for purchasing tickets, the event raised $2,500 for the Mass Brewers Guild.

The Mass Brewers Guild is a nonprofit organization that works to protect and promote the interests of craft brewers across the Commonwealth. From lobbying on Beacon Hill to creating marketing and educational programs for brewers, the Mass Brewers Guild works to ensure that breweries across the state remain successful and independent businesses.