Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials Can All Find A Home in Our Breweries

By: Maureen Fabry, head brewer and owner of CraftRoots Brewing Co., board member of the MBG

CraftRoots co-founder and taproom GM, Robin Fabry, has always had a strong drive towards outreach to seniors. She regularly bring beer tastings to Cornerstone At Milford, a senior residence nearby the brewery.  Robin takes a personal interest in making sure that as beer lovers age, they remain in touch with the social benefits that come from sharing a well-crafted pint of beer with friends old and new.  

Milford has a tremendously vibrant Senior Center which hosts a variety of programs: educational workshops, personal fitness classes and enrichment opportunities including off-site field trips. When they approached CraftRoots about hosting their Men's Group for a field trip, she was thrilled. 

"We planned to make a day of it and walk them through the entire brewing process from grain to glass,” says Robin. “We did an in depth tour of the brewing equipment and followed with a beer tasting paired with lunch. It was a great afternoon."

Their visit began with brewer and co-founder Maureen Fabry teaching about the local craft malt and hops she brews with and explaining the brewing process but it didn't take her long to realize that the group of fifteen retirees had as much knowledge to share with her as she did with them. Their range of work experience was broad---a food inspector for the US government, a professional musician, and even a former Anheuser-Busch employee who schooled her on the quite liberal policy for on-the-job "sensory analysis" back in the day.

The significance of the craft beer movement was front of mind for this group and they were definitely beer savvy. "Nearly all of the guys had experienced drinking iconic beer styles like pilsner and Kolsch in the homeland where they originated. It was very cool. This group was sophisticated in their knowledge about beer and were even early adopters of the NE IPA style," laughed Maureen. 

Boomers didn't grow up on craft beer like Millenials and some Gen Xers have, but their openness to exploring new beer styles and brands and linking them with new experiences can be just as strong as the later generations. In many ways, Boomers have passed into a new life phase reminiscent of young adulthood in their drive to experiment and explore. As they retire from careers and the drive for productivity, they have newfound freedom to venture out and enjoy building relationships with new breweries and their brands. 

This feature is a part of a the MBG’s Inclusion & Diversity Success Story Series with the goal to share best practices, recruitment strategies, and event & program ideas that members can bring home to their breweries. Does your brewery or business have a story that they’d like to share? The MBG’s Diversity Committee wants to hear it! Reach out to MBG Executive Director Katie Stinchon at katie@massbrewersguild.org for more information.

CraftRoots Brewing Named Among Fastest Growing Craft Breweries of 2017 by the Brewers Association

CraftRoots Brewing was named one of the fastest growing small and independent craft breweries by the Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade group representing small and independent craft brewers. The inaugural list offered insight into the diversity of growth within the craft brewing industry.

“This is really exciting for us and such a cool illustration of the vibrant creativity that is originating and taking off in craft breweries nationwide. Our grassroots approach to brewing genuinely local beer from New England agriculture meant we had humble beginnings, but our community loves what we’re about and the beer we brew. For us, this isn’t about chasing big growth and the big guys. It’s about being genuine, local and fresh. Thanks to everyone who supports our brewery and taproom, Milford and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are #1 on this list.” said Maureen Fabry, brewer + co-founder, CraftRoots Brewing and Mass Brewers Guild board member. 

CraftRoots Brewing was ranked #1 among 50 small and independent breweries from across 25 states. Median growth from 2016 to 2017 for these breweries was 216 percent; the median size of breweries on the list went from 284 barrels in 2016 to 963 barrels in 2017. These brewing companies represent 5.5 percent of craft’s growth by volume for 2017 and include eight brewpubs, 40 microbreweries and two regional craft breweries.

“With 5 percent growth overall for small and independent brewers in 2017—and microbreweries and brewpubs delivering the majority of that—we wanted to spotlight some of the breweries driving that growth,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. “As the growth base for craft becomes more diffuse, these fast growing brewing companies illustrate that a diverse set of success stories still exist.”

Methodology: The list presented includes only small and independent breweries with all of their production at their own facilities. Breweries had to have opened 12/31/2015 or earlier to be considered. It only includes breweries that reported to the Brewers Association’s annual Beer Industry Production Survey; breweries with staff estimates or data from state excise tax reports were not considered. Finally, breweries must have had data from at least three years to be considered.

About CraftRoots Brewing
Founded in 2014, CraftRoots Brewing is grounded in a grassroots approach to beer. We brew fresh and flavorful beers that highlight New England-grown grain and hops, connecting you to local farmers and craft maltsters.

Learn more by checking us out at: www.craftrootsbrewing.com

Facebook: @CraftRootsBrewing

Instagram: craftroots_brewing

Twitter: @CraftRootsBrew

Local Breweries Raise a Pint and Funds for the Mass Brewers Guild During #MassBeerWeek

Local breweries are coming together to host “MBG Pint Nites,” with the goal to raise awareness and funds for the Mass Brewers Guild during Mass Beer Week.

Mass Beer Week, held from April 20 through April 28, is the state’s celebration of locally made craft beer.

All breweries, tap rooms, restaurants and bottle shops are encouraged to get involved in the festivities by hosting their own unique events. The only requirement to be involved in Mass Beer Week is that the event must focus exclusively on beer brewed in the state of Massachusetts.

Battle Road Brewing Co., CraftRoots Brewing, Harpoon, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Mayflower Brewing Co., Medusa Brewing Co., Moon Hill Brewing Co., Night Shift Brewing Co., and Sam Adams, will all hold a designated MBG Pint Nite during the weeklong celebration, where a $1 of all beer sales that day will come back to the nonprofit organization.

The Mass Brewers Guild is the state’s trade association that works to protect and promote the interests of craft brewers across the Commonwealth.

Want to support the cause? It’s easy. Flex your pint lifting biceps and belly up to a tap room on the following days to help raise funds for the MBG:

Battle Road Brewing Co.
20 Sudbury St., Maynard, MA
Tuesday, April 24

CraftRoots Brewing
4 Industrial Rd, Milford, MA
Wednesday, April 25

Harpoon
306 Northern Ave., Boston
Wednesday, April 25

Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers
100 Clinton St., Framingham, MA
Thursday, April 26

Mayflower Brewing Co.
12 Resnik Rd # 3, Plymouth, MA
Thursday, April 26

Medusa Brewing Co.
111 Main St., Hudson, MA
Monday, April 23

Moon Hill
74 Parker St, Gardner
Thursday, April 26

Night Shift Brewing
87 Santilli Hwy, Everett
Thursday, April 26

Sam Adams
30 Germania St., Boston
Thursday, April 26

Be sure to share, and tag, your delicious beer on social media #MassBeerWeek -- For questions, or more information about the Mass Brewers Guild, visit MassBrewersGuild.org.

Mass Brewers Guild Hosts First New Brewery Bootcamp

60 attendees sell out Conference to Learn from Experts 

Yesterday, at the Springdale Barrel Room in Framingham, MA, a crowd of 60 new breweries and breweries in-planning gathered at the "New Brewery Bootcamp," a full day seminar offered through the Mass Brewers Guild. 

The afternoon covered topics such as employee law, insurance risks, taxes, distribution, real estate leases, waste water management and more. Experts from Bowditch and Dewey Attorneys, Bernstein Shur Law Firm, Edelstein & Company CPAs, GHM Insurance, and Weston & Sampson shared their best practices and advice for navigating the industry. 

Co-founder of Jack's Abby Craft Lagers and Mass Brewers Guild treasurer, Sam Hendler, presented on the challenges of getting beer to market, and president of the Mass Brewers Guild and co-founder of Night Shift Brewing, Rob Burns, spoke candidly about his growing pains as an experienced brewer and entrepreneur. 

"This conference was born out of popular demand and a need in the Massachusetts craft beer industry," says Rob Burns, co-founder of Night Shift Brewing and president of the Mass Brewers Guild. "There are 30 breweries in-planning slated to open this year and we want to provide these budding entrepreneurs with the resources they need to remain successful, independent businesses. Opening a brewery is about more than brewing great beer." 

The sold out, ticketed event helped to raise $1,000 for the Mass Brewers Guild, a nonprofit organization that works to protect and promote the interests of craft brewers across the Commonwealth. Due to its success organizers say it will become a yearly program. 

To date, more than 122 breweries exist across the state and employ more than 3,000 locals. MA craft breweries drive traffic and tourism to the Commonwealth and pour world-class craft beer to thirsty locals and travelers. Massachusetts’ breweries are ranked among the best in the world, country and region, with accolades and awards being announced weekly.

For more information about the Mass Brewers Guild, or its upcoming events, visit MassBrewersGuild.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.