Meet the Brewers: Freshman Class of 2023

The Mass Brewers Guild Highlights New Breweries
with a Roundtable Tasting Event
Saturday, March 4 from Noon to 3 p.m.

NATICK, Mass.| Kick-off Mass Beer Week and sample some of the newest suds being made in the Bay State at “Meet the Brewers: Freshman Class of 2023,” set for Saturday, March 4 from noon to 3 p.m. at Lookout Farm in Natick. The event brings together seven of the state’s newly launched breweries for an intimate, roundtable style tasting event with unique access to brewers.

The lineup includes: Break Rock Brewing Co., Dirigible Brewing Co., Hopothecary Ales & Kitchen, Hot Plate Brewing Co. Strong Side Brewing Co., The Girls Brewery and Twisted Fate Brewing Co.

Tickets are $50 and all proceeds will benefit the Mass Brewers Guild, the state’s trade association that exists to protect and promote the interests of craft brewers across the Commonwealth. The fundraiser aims to foster learning and education of the brewing process and inspire deeper connections between brewers and craft beer lovers.

“This is a full circle moment for some of the breweries that are being featured this year – many who attended this event as a craft beer fan, picking the brains of the brewer across the table to learn what it takes to open their own operation. Now, they’ll be the ones dispensing advice, sharing their start-up story and brewing history, ” says Katie Stinchon, executive director of the Mass Brewers Guild. “This is the first-time that we’ve had this event live and in-person since 2020. It’s one of our most anticipated beer tasting events and we are so glad to bring it back.”

How does the event work? Upon arrival, guests  be are broken up into groups of eight. Each group will then have twelve minutes with each brewer to enjoy up to three samples, ask questions, and hear the story behind the beer before rotating to the next brewer. Attendees will also receive a souvenir MBG tasting glass, a gourmet soft pretzel from Eastern Standard Provisions and additional refreshments throughout the afternoon.

Meet the Brewers: Freshman Class of 2023 will take place in the Lookout Farm Brewing Co. taproom located at 89 Pleasant Street South, Natick, Mass. Tickets are limited. For more information about the Mass Brewers Guild, or the state’s breweries, visit massbrewersguild.org. To purchase tickets to Meet the Brewers: Freshman Class of 2023, click below

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Local beer enthusiasts can help make Quincy's first craft brewery a reality

Break Rock Brewing partners with MainVest to bring world-class craft beer to the City of Presidents

QUINCY, MASS. – Quincy is the largest city in New England without a local craft brewery – but that’s about to change and Boston beer lovers can help make it a reality. 

Break Rock Brewing LLC has announced a partnership with MainVest, the crowd-source funding site devoted to reshaping America’s Main Streets with innovative, locally owned businesses, many of them celebrated new brands in the food & drinks space. 

The fundraising campaign began on June 13 and ends on August 14. 

“We are committed to bringing a world-class craft brewery to Quincy and we’re excited to offer this opportunity to our neighbors to help make it a reality,” said Break Rock Brewing founder, brewer and president Jay Southwood. “Working with MainVest affords the hard-working, beer-loving people of Quincy and neighboring communities a chance to invest the city’s only craft brewery while helping enhance this diverse, dynamic community.”

MainVest offers residents, neighbors, craft beer fans and investors an easy opportunity to help open Break Rock Brewing Co. 

Details of the opportunity are found here on the MainVest website. 

Southwood is a South Shore native, Dorchester resident and Boston beer industry veteran who currently works at Mayflower Brewing Co. in Plymouth. Break Rock’s brewhouse will be headed by Vilija Bizinkauskas, also a South Shore native who currently brews beer for Drop In Brewing Co. in Middlebury, Vermont.

 Southwood and his team are working to a secure a location in Quincy. The Break Rock brand and its motto – “Work Hard. Drink Well” – pays homage to the city’s working-class heritage and industrial history, specifically the city’s internationally celebrated former granite quarrying industry. Bunker Hill Monument, among other iconic buildings and monuments around America, are built of Quincy granite. 

Break Rock will brew and distribute beer in an around Quincy, and also serve beer in its own neighborhood taproom.

 “Drinking beer should be casual and fun, something to enjoy after a hard day of work,” said Southwood. “We expect our brewery to be a little bit different than most contemporary craft beer taprooms.”

“Guests will find a warm, welcoming neighborhood tavern that happens to brew world-class American craft beer. Break Rock Brewing will be a place for everyone from local sports fans to experienced craft beer aficionados, offering great beer in a casual, laid-back environment.”

Southwood and the Break Rock team is working to finalize a location in Quincy and anticipates opening and serving the community by 2020.

For more information about investing in Break Rock, visit the MainVest website. You can also follow Break Rock here on its website or on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. 

“Break Rock will combine the best of the modern taproom with everything you love about your favorite neighborhood pub – a fun and inviting atmosphere, a sense of community, and great beer,” said Southwood. 

Quincy was briefly the home of Quincy Ships Brewing Co., featuring beer from legendary New England brewer Tod Mott. But that operation closed its doors in 2002.