The Mass Brewers Guild Celebrates The State’s Most Dedicated Craft Beer Fans

Second Annual MBG Beer Trail Conqueror Beer Pairing Dinner

Worcester, Mass. | The table was set for fifteen as brewers and craft beer fans came together to break bread during an eight course beer pairing dinner at BirchTree Bread Co., in Worcester on Monday. 

Brewers, MBG Beer Trail Conquerors, craft beer fans and MBG board members.

The event was hosted by the Mass Brewers Guild, the craft beer industry’s trade association, to celebrate fans who achieved Beer Trail Conqueror status by visiting 100 breweries in one year using the nonprofit’s passport program. The mobile app, “Mass Craft Beer,” celebrated its second anniversary this past September and currently has 14,200 users and downloads. 

Twenty nine craft beer super fans conquered the trail this year, and names were chosen at random to win a seat at the table. 

MBG Beer Trail Conquerors Hull resident Cassandra Celatka, Quincy resident Dana Miller, Billerica resident Charlie Smith and Sutton resident Lisa Hodge, attended the dinner alongside special guest brewers Keith Sullivan, VP of the MBG and co-founder of Medusa Brewing Co., Sam Hendler, Treasurer of the MBG and co-founder of Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Dean Rohan, co-founder of Tree House Brewing Co., and Dani Babineau, co-founder of Redemption Rock Brewing Co. 

Keith Sullivan, MBG VP and co-founder of Medusa Brewing Co.

“This is our Thanksgiving,” said Keith Sullivan, MBG Vice President and co-founder of Medusa Brewing Co. “To share a meal with the people who support our industry and share our passion for what we do every day is very special.”

Chef Rob Fecteau, co-owner of BirchTree Bread Co.

The menu was carefully crafted and curated by Chef Rob Fecteau and his team who took the diners on a culinary adventure.  The first course was duck liver mousse with spiced pumpkin and prune cake, followed by a crudo of sea bass and sesame tahini, smoked eel nigiri, crispy chicken with orange and passion fruit glaze and a venison duo with citrus zest and blue cheese. To close out the meal the chef brought out a refreshing cranberry granita followed by a decadent brown sugar molasses cake. 

Crudo of sea bass with sesame tahini, blueberry gastrique and shiso relish paired with Redemption Rock Brewing Co.’s My Blueberry Heaven wild Maine blueberry sour.

Each bite was evenly matched with fan favorites like Ghost Lantern from Medusa Brewing Co., Hoponius Union from Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, TREAT from Tree House Brewing Co., and My Blueberry Heaven from Redemption Rock Brewing Co.  

“It’s a really cool thing that the Mass Brewers Guild puts on this dinner and gives us the chance to meet the people behind our favorite breweries,” said Lisa Hodge, a two-time Beer Trail Conqueror and dinner winner. “We would visit all the breweries anyway, but this just makes it that much more fun to take on the challenge.” 

Bob and Rob of The Mass. Brew Bros.

The Mass Brewers Guild’s free app, “Mass Craft Beer” is available in iTunes and Google Play stores and is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Mass. Brew Bros. who assist with data collection and Fat Basset Design for their designs and artwork. Funds raised through the Mass Brewers Guild’s festivals, help to cover development updates, maintenance costs and the incentive program. 

About the Mass Brewers Guild
Founded in 2007 by a group of committed and passionate brewers, the Mass Brewers Guild, is organized for the purposes of promoting craft brewing and protecting the interests of craft brewers across the Commonwealth. The association is membership based and open to all Massachusetts breweries licensed by the federal Tax and Trade Bureau and the Commonwealth’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. The nonprofit creates a community of brewers while shining light on the broad range of breweries and styles offered throughout state. Through industry and educational events, its mobile application beer trail map, and by providing resources and marketing support to brewers, the nonprofit works to highlight Massachusetts as a top travel destination for craft beer in the U.S. The board also continues its work at the legislative level, fighting for license and franchise law reform, and serving as the voice of craft brewers on Beacon Hill. The Massachusetts Brewers Guild is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit corporation.

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.

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.

Mass Brewers Guild Hosts two events to Celebrate #MassBeerWeek

BOSTON & HUDSON, MA | This year, the Mass Brewers Guild is working in conjunction with the folks at BeerAdvocate to host and promote Mass Beer Week. 

Power Beer Fest, Saturday, April 29, will kick-off the weeklong celebration of Massachusetts craft beer with more than 60 Mass brewers under one roof – the largest gathering of MA Craft breweries in festival history.

Mass Beer Week will focus exclusively on Massachusetts brewers, their beers, and supporting the beer community.

On Monday, May 1, hosted in partnership with the Rail Trail Flatbread Co. - MA Brewers will take over the taps for a meet the brewer style event and a line-up that’s not to be missed.

Head brewers and owners from Brick & Feather Brewing Co., Castle Island Brewing Co., Idle Hands, Jack’s Abby, Lamplighter Brewing Co., Medusa Brewing Co., Night Shift Brewing and Wormtown will be onsite to raise a pint and mingle, and a special offering from each brewery will be opened every half hour.

The Rail Trail Flatbread Company, one of Massachusetts most renowned beer destinations, is an associate member of the MBG and supports its mission to protect and promote craft brewers and breweries across the Commonwealth. 

The event will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Pay as you consume. The Rail Trail Flatbread Company is located at 33 Main St., Hudson, MA 01749.

For more information about the Mass Beer Week, visit MassBeerWeek.com.