Drink Mass. Made Beer and Celebrate #MassBeerWeek

Local craft beer events happening statewide March 5 through March 12

Feb. 23, 2022 | On Saturday, March 5,  Mass Beer Week kicks off its weeklong series of events featuring local beer on tap. 

Breweries, beer bars and restaurants have teamed up to feature MA beer with special beer releases, beer and food pairings, tap takeovers, contests, crafting 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 214 active breweries with 30 additional taprooms and breweries slated to open by the end of 2022. 

Limited quantities of the 16 oz. collectable Mass Beer Week glass will also be sold for $6, with proceeds benefiting the MBG, at participating member locations. 

Dust off your jeans, grab your friends, and support local breweries. A growing list of more than 60 events can be found at MassBeerWeek.org. Here’s some highlights: 

What’s on tap for Mass Beer Week?

·       Put on your dancing shoes on and head out to The Brewery at Four Star Farms in Northfield for back to back weekends of live music and a special New England IPA release March 5-13. Check out the lineup at Fourstarbeer.com/events

·       The Marlborough/Hudson Brewery Passport returns for its third consecutive year! Visit all five breweries between March 5 and March 13 and receive a stamp at each location with your purchase. The first 200 people to complete the passport will receive a FREE limited edition Mass Beer Week glass. Passports can be picked up at any of the participating breweries: Flying Dreams, Ground Effect, Lost Shoe, Medusa & Tackle Box – get one while supplies last. 

·       Tour The Underworld on Saturday, March 5: join Co-Founder/Owner/Brewer Jackie Cullen on a tour of the newly expanded & renovated River Styx Brewing Co. She’ll answer questions and provide an in-depth look at what goes into making your favorite River Styx beers. Tickets are $20 each and include a 1 hour tour/Q&A, limited edition 2022 Mass Beer Week glass, and a pour. Get yours today 

·       Get a taste of Mardi Gras on Saturday, March 5 at Idle Hands Brewing Co., as Revelry “Nawlins” Cuisine takes over the taproom for a food and beer event. 

·       Plant yourself at Fieldcrest Brewing Co., Sunday, March 6 at 2 p.m. for a Succulent workshop and suds for #MassBeerWeek – tickets are $44. Get yours today!

·       These Irish eyes are smilin’ – head over to Granite Coast Brewing Co., on Monday, March 7 for a Create & Escape DIY Workshop to craft your own wooden St. Patrick’s Day custom sign. Tickets are $60 and include all materials, instructions and a craft beer. 

·       Think you know beer? Prove it. Escape your couch to Bone Up Brewing Co. on Monday, March 7 for Beer Themed Trivia for your chance to win prizes and drink amazing beer. 

·       Wednesday, March 9 take a tour of Sterling Street Brewery with head brewer Mike Souza and enjoy a handpicked flight. Tickets are just $20 and attendees take home a Mass Beer Week glass. 

·       Eat your cookie and drink it too – Cape Cod Beer releases its Chocolate Raisin Bock on Thursday, March 10.  A contemporary spin of a traditional German-style bock. The addition of raisin creates an earthy fruitiness that is balanced by dark, roasty cacao nibs giving it that chocolate flavor. This small batch brew is available at the brewery only in pints & tastings. 

·       Cheese please! Join Remnant Brewing Co. head brewer Charlie, and resident cheese expert Maddie for a fun night of tasting and chatting about the most perfect combo - beer and cheese! You’ll be set up with (4) 6 oz pours to pair with (4) different cheeses and talk through the elements and flavors that make this duo friends. Tickets are $45.

·       Close out Mass Beer Week on Saturday, March 12  at Oakholm Brewing Co., to share a pint of Fireside, a smoked maple porter, brewed with Stone Path Malt out of Wareham, Mass and pure Vermont maple syrup. A collaboration created with the Mass. Brew Bros. Uncle Joey’s Cannolis, Big T’s BBQ and Pup’s Wood Fired Pizza are serving up perfect pairings for the release party. 

Visit MassBeerWeek.org for the full lineup of events.  

Mass Beer Week is hosted by the Mass Brewers Guild and is made possible thanks to industry friends 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. 

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Brew Like a Lady

Boston Pink Boots Society & Collaboration Brew Day Takes Place March 8.

Each year across the U.S., chapters and members of the Pink Boots Society -- a national nonprofit organization that supports women in the craft beer industry -- partner with breweries and individuals, adorn pink boots, and brew a unique selected beer style during, “Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day.” This country-wide event takes place annually on March 8, in celebration of International Women's Day. 

Pink Boots Collaboration Day works like this: A hop blend is chosen during harvest season by Pink Boots members, and made available nationwide to commercial brewers to feature in its recipe. Generously provided by YCH Hops, this year’s blend includes Palisade®, Simcoe®, Mosaic®, Citra® and Loral® hops. This exclusive hop blend is the only suggestion to this year’s recipe. Each team must be led by a woman and/or a majority of the participants on the team must be women.

The beer is then sold at participating breweries with proceeds benefiting the Pink Boots Society’s local chapter. Funds provide educational scholarships, and help to sponsor events and meetings for members to meet mentors and have the opportunity to network with other women in the profession.

More than 25 local breweries are set to participate in the brew day and including Aeronaut Brewing, Big Elm, Bone Up Brewing, Craft Roots Brewing, Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing, Greater Good, Harpoon Brewery, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Lamplighter, Mayflower Brewing, Notch Brewing, River Styx Brewing, Riverwalk Brewing, Trillium Brewing and Wormtown Brewery. BSG CraftBrewing will donate yeast and specialty malts to any New England brewery that registers to join the effort.

Those interested in learning more about the Boston Pink Boots Society, or to learn how they can be involved are welcome to attend a chapter meeting on Feb. 19 at Notch Brewing in Salem, Mass. Open to all women in the brewing industry, members or allies.

Please register via this Facebook Event Page.

For questions or more information about the Boston Pink Boots Society, contact pbsboston@pinkbootssociety.org

Meet the Brewers: Freshman Class of 2018

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

NATICK, Mass.| Haven’t had the chance to check out some of the state’s newest breweries? The Mass Brewers Guild has you covered. “Meet the Brewers: Freshman Class of 2018,” will bring together nine of the state’s newly launched breweries for an intimate, roundtable style tasting event with unique access to brewers.

The lineup includes: 7th Wave Brewing, Lookout Farm Brewing Co., Moby Dick Brewing Co., River Styx Brewing Co., Shakesbeer, Shovel Town Brewery, Turtle Swamp Brewing, Untold Brewing and Widowmaker Brewing.  

Tickets are $40 and all proceeds will benefit the Mass Brewers Guild, the state’s trade association that works 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.

“We had a record-breaking number of breweries launch in the state last year - 39 to be exact - and we are expecting 25 additional breweries to come on board in 2018,” says Katie Stinchon, executive director of the Mass Brewers Guild. “This event makes it easier for our craft beer fans to keep track of our freshman breweries, and gives them the opportunity to wrap their lips around some of the Bay state’s new beer. This is the second year that we are hosting this event. It’s a different approach to a beer festival that both our attendees and brewers really enjoy.”

How does the event work? Upon arrival, guests will be 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 and the brewery before rotating to the next brewer. Attendees will receive a souvenir MBG tasting glass and gourmet, Bavarian pretzels from Wicked Twisted Pretzels.

Meet the Brewers: Freshman Class of 2018 will take place at Lookout Farm Brewing Co., 89 Pleasant Street South, Natick, Mass, on Saturday, March 3 from noon to 3 p.m. 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 2018, visit mtbfc2018.eventbrite.com.

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