North Quabbin-based Honest Weight Artisan Beer to Host 3rd Anniversary Party

ORANGE, MA -- Honest Weight Artisan Beer, founded in 2015 by owner-brewers Sean Nolan and Jay Sullivan, invites the public to celebrate three years of beer in their West Main Street tasting room. Honest Weight brews tradition-inspired rustic ales and lagers, produced with a modern sensibility and with an eye toward exacting detail. The 3rd Anniversary Party will feature special bottle releases, exclusive beers on tap, local food vendors and a DJ dance party.

Saturday, November 10th Honest Weight Artisan Beer celebrates its three year anniversary with a day-long celebration in the its tasting room located in Orange, MA. The party is scheduled 12:00-11:00 PM.

Situated beside the Millers River in the former Minute Tapioca and Bedroom factory, the brewery within the current Orange Innovation Center proudly features its regional pride and manufacturing history along its walls. The tasting room is a regular hangout for the residents of neighboring towns and has become a destination for craft beer seekers. Owner-brewers Nolan and Sullivan opened the doors to their brewery in November 2015, offering samples and growlers to go. Nearly three years later, Honest Weight Artisan Beer is on draft and on shelves at over 100 bars, restaurants and package stores statewide. The tasting room currently offers pours of draft and bottled beer to enjoy onsite, bottles and growlers to go and plays host to various events from yoga classes to trivia nights and dance parties.

With two previous anniversary events under its belt, the Honest Weight Artisan Beer family is poised to present an exciting and memorable Three Year Anniversary Party. The day kicks off Saturday, November 10 at 12:00 PM in the tasting room. The barrel room down the hall will be open with exclusive new and vintage bottles for sale. The party’s food offerings will be catered by Athol’s Soup on the Fly from 12:00 - 8:00 PM. Evening dance party festivities will kick off at 8:00 PM with DJ Just Joan and continue until 11:00 PM.

Honest Weight Artisan Beer was founded by two best friends to bring fresh, quality beer to the North Quabbin town of Orange, Massachusetts. Owners Nolan and Sullivan aim to consistently produce delicious beer that is balanced, distinctive and inspired.

The brewery is located within the Orange Innovation Center: 131 West Main Street, Unit 104, Orange, MA 01364. For further event information please contact Event Coordinator, Sally Noble at: sally@honestweightbeer.com. Contact the tasting room at (413) 313-4412.

Is Crowdfunding for You?

By Julie O’Neill
Starting a new brewery takes money. Is crowdfunding the way to raise the funds you need?

Crowdfunding allows a company to raise money online without registration under securities laws. There are other exemptions from registration, the most popular being the safe harbor of Regulation D (“Reg D”) for private placements.

To use the Reg D safe harbor exemption, the company seeking investment is supposed to have a “preexisting relationship” with the investors it targets, and there are limits on the number of “unaccredited” investors to whom  the company can sell stock or other equity securities. If you do sell securities to unaccredited investors under Reg D, you need to comply with detailed disclosure requirements, and provide that disclosure to all your potential investors, whether accredited or unaccredited. For individuals, one is “accredited” if he or she has a net worth of at least $1 million, or an annual income of at least $200,000, or $300,000 with one’s spouse.

The new crowdfunding rules allow a company to bypass the preexisting relationship and accredited investor limitations, but there are issues with crowdfunding that should make you think twice before going that route for your brewery’s financing:

• You will have to file disclosure documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) at least 21 days prior to the initial closing. If there are subsequent material changes, you will need to file an amendment. You will also have to file regular progress updates and annual reports with the SEC. (Reg D does not require the filing of disclosure documents with the SEC.)
• Crowdfunding offerings can only be done online through a registered broker-dealer or funding portal, both of which charge fees for their services – usually 3% to 10% of the offering amount. (Reg D does not require the use of a broker-dealer or funding portal.)
• The crowdfunding rules limit you to a maximum raise of $1 million in any 12 month period. (Rule 506 of Reg D has no dollar limitation.)

The crowdfunding rules limit how much each investor can invest (Reg D does not). Because of these limits, your company could end up with tens or hundreds of equity holders who have each invested a very small amount. This can make getting equity holder consents and filing your tax returns a huge burden; it can also cause problems with later financings and exit transactions.

Even more to celebrate this Labor Day Weekend at Naukabout Brewery & Taproom

After Only Five Months The Cape’s Newest Brewery (Naukabout Brewery & Taproom) Expands. Tripling The Outdoor Beer Garden Space Just In Time For Labor Day’s NauktoberFest Celebration With The Wahlburgers Food Truck.

The Naukabout Brewery & Taproom opened to the public on March 29th, 2018 in Mashpee, MA on Cape Cod. After just five months in operation, Naukabout is expanding their lakeside beer garden space. Adding over 4,000 new square feet of patio they have more than tripled their outdoor space. Nestled alongside Lake Mashpee and the Mashpee River the new patio offers beer lovers a unique location to try one of the small-batch, hop-forward beers brewed right there in Mashpee. To celebrate the opening of the new beer garden Naukabout is hosting NauktoberFest this Labor Day weekend on Saturday 9/1 & Sunday 9/2 (11am-10pm). 

While Oktoberfest traditionally starts in late September, Nauktoberfest allows visitors and locals to partake in both the Summer and Harvest Season of Cape Cod. Joining the fun on Saturday is local favorite the Wahlburgers food truck; who will be serving up their classic burgers. On Sunday, celebrity Chef Jay Powell will be serving up some traditional Oktoberfest foods, kettle corn, and cotton candy. Naukabout will be releasing three brand new beers (Fest, Pumpkin and a new New England IPA). Games, activities and contests are lined up throughout the weekend: stein hoisting, grain sack toss, face painting, barrel rolling, stein hoisting, sausage toss and a costume/crazy hair contests (sign-ups on naukabout.com or at the taproom). 

With four separate terraced patio areas, visitors get the chance to experience the historic property from a variety of viewpoints. 

“We always wanted to expand our beer garden and we’re excited to be able to have it open for Labor Day. We built a brewery in a Cape Cod style house that's tucked away in the woods, perched up on a hill, between two bodies of freshwater. It makes for a unique Cape backdrop to enjoy a beer while playing games, watching the game or hanging with family and friends. Nauktoberfest is the perfect way to celebrate the grand opening of our expanded beer garden.”   - Peter Murner, Owner/GM

The Nauktoberfest event not only celebrates the completion of the beer garden expansion, but it kicks off a new phase for the Naukabout Brewery & Taproom. From football and baseball viewing parties to private events, concerts, fundraisers and other gatherings…Naukabout is excited to share their new space with the local community and to work with beer lovers who are looking for a place to host or attend a unique craft beer-focused event.

METROWEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO PRESENT LOOKOUT FARM HARVEST FEST SEPTEMBER 9TH IN NATICK, MA

Natick, MA - August 21, 2018 -Autumn in New England just got better! The MetroWest Chamber of Commerce announced that they will present the first ever Lookout Farm Harvest Fest September 9th from 12 NOON to 6:00PM in Natick, MA, to support programs and scholarships offered by the Chamber and its MetroWest Chamber Educational Foundation. The afternoon will be filled with live music, food, local vendors and exhibitors, craft brewers who incorporate locally sourced ingredients, and a variety of family-friendly events. Tickets are available now at www.lookoutfarm.com and www.metrowest.org.

Established in 1651, Lookout Farm is one of the oldest continuously working farms in the United States. on 180 exquisite acres with over 60,000 fruit trees. The farm is owned by local residents Joan and Steve Belkin who embrace a philosophy of healthy nutrition and respect for the environment.

The MetroWest Chamber welcomed the opportunity to partner with Lookout Farm to promote and celebrate how innovative businesses can continuously reinvent themselves and grow, while at the same time contribute to the quality of life enjoyed by so many MetroWest community members.

“What the Belkins have accomplished here is an extraordinary example of how farming in 21st Century suburban Boston can not only ‘survive,’ but significantly contribute to the local community and economy,” said Paul Joseph, President and CEO of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce and its Educational Foundation. “Diversifying beyond its traditional farming and ‘U-Pick’ operations, Lookout Farm now brews craft beer and hard ciders and hosts a variety of community and commercial events, often in partnership with local businesses and non-profit organizations like ours.

“We also wanted to celebrate innovative business models that have a positive impact on our quality of life in MetroWest. Modern agribusiness is a great example that touches everyone - on the dinner table, in our healthcare, via clean energy initiatives, or at a local pub. Local businesses not only contribute by creating jobs and tax revenue to our communities, but also by partnering to preserve open space and support cultural, educational, environmental, and social programs.”

Families can enjoy Lookout Farm’s signature activities that include such fun as train rides, oversized lawn games, a chill zone, farm-themed play area, children’s caterpillar ride, farm maze, hay pyramid, imagination playground blocks, moon bounces and children’s face painting. Local vendors and exhibitors will also be on site for a day of fall activities.

In addition to the food offerings from Lookout Farm,Firefly’s BBQ will serve their award winning bbq dishes. Music lovers can enjoy a full afternoon of live bands including two sets of country rock with Dalton and the Sheriffs, and performances featuring the tribal folk thump of Planet Nowhere and Portland, ME-based acoustic duo, Eastern Screech.

For craft beer enthusiasts there will be no shortage of selections at the Harvest Fest Craft Beer Pavilion. This ‘festival within the festival’ will present offerings from Bad Martha Brewing Company, Cambridge Brewing Company, Cape Ann Brewing Company, Castle Island Brewing Company, Exhibit A Brewing Company, Flying Ales Brewing, Ipswich Ale Brewery, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House, River Styx Brewing, Turtle Swamp Brewing, Wormtown Brewery as well as Lookout Farm Hard Cider and Lookout Farm Brewing Company,

“Harvest Fest is a great opportunity for us to showcase Lookout Farm, local agriculture and the businesses that support farming and the environment,” said Jay Mofenson of Lookout Farm. “Participating brewers are encouraged to source and incorporate local ingredients into their products and Harvest Fest gives us the opportunity to continue the conversation about the importance of local businesses, farming and sustainability.”

For tickets and additional information, including sponsorship and exhibitor/vendor booth opportunities, visit www.lookoutfarm.com and www.metrowest.org.

2019 Elections: Call for MBG Board Member Candidates

Members of the Mass Brewers Guild (MBG) board of directors are volunteers that serve to further the work of the association and its mission -- to protect and promote the interests of Massachusetts craft brewers. 

Unlike many nonprofit boards that serve to advise the organization’s staff, MBG board members also have to serve as staff, and work on behalf of the organization to deliver the created objectives and goals. With the support of only one full-time staff member, board members spend an average of 10 to 25 hours a month working on the MBG’s initiatives -- depending on the project or work cycle.

The guild board of directors currently holds nine seats, four of which are up for election in January 2019.

After serving as veteran board members since the MBG’s inception, both Drew Brosseau from Mayflower Brewing Co., and Michelle Sullivan from Boston Beer Co., have reached their term limits and therefore cannot re-run this year. They will remain supportive and passionate guides to the board of directors when called upon for advice and are welcome to re-run in 2020. Rob Burns, current MBG President and co-founder of Night Shift, and Ryan Daigle, from Gardner Ale House / Moon Hill Brewing Co., will rerun for a two-year term (the 2019 to 2021 calendar year.) 

The MBG’s board is seeking brewers, and brewery staff to consider joining the nonprofit’s leadership team to help further its work by donating their time, expertise and passion for the industry. 

The board’s nominating committee, which consists of Sam Hendler from Jack’s Abby Brewing Co. and Keith Sullivan from Medusa Brewing Co., are now accepting resumes with a letter of intent detailing the goals and or changes that the candidates would like to help implement within the organization. The deadline for submission is Oct. 5 and all candidates will be expected to speak before membership at the fall member meetup on Oct. 30 at Wachusett Brewing Co. 

Those submitting their resume should plan to get involved with the organization prior to the start of the year by joining a working committee. It will be important for the nominating committee to see a strong commitment from individuals wishing to have a seat on the board. 

The board seeks to diversify its members and strengthen its geographical representation. They are looking for all areas of expertise -- from law to marketing, to fundraising, event planning and general leadership. The nominating committee will put forth candidates that demonstrate a willingness to work together on issues and help serve the craft beer community. 

In December 2018, paid brewery members will have the opportunity to cast their vote to fill all four seats. If you are unsure of your membership standing with the MBG please reach out to the MBG’s executive director. 

A committed and passionate board is essential to accomplishing the work of the Mass Brewers Guild. Now more than ever, it’s vital for a strong board and leadership team to help guide the Massachusetts craft beer community forward and serve as a unified voice when confronting all issues that impact the industry. 

Those interested in joining the board can send their resume and cover letter to the MBG’s executive director, Katie Stinchon at Katie@massbrewersguild.org for review. In your cover letter please answer the following questions: 

·       Why do you want to join the MBG’s board of directors? 

·       Realistically, how much time you can dedicate to the organization a month?

·       Which committee you would like to donate your time to?

·       What major issues would you like to be involved in and how would you change them? 

What’s expected of MBG Board Members? MBG Board Members Will: 

·      Interpret the organization's work and values to the community, represent the organization, and act as a spokesperson

·      Listen carefully to board colleagues and members of the craft beer community 

·      Respect the opinion of fellow board members

·      Respect and support majority decisions of the board

·      Recognize that all authority is vested in the full board only when it meets in legal sessions

·      Keep well-informed about developments relevant to issues that may come before the board

·      Attend bi-monthly board meetings (six a year – 1.5 hours long) and understand that they may be relieved of board duties if they miss more than two meetings 

·      Actively participate in board meetings and actions

·      Become actively involved in at least one committee – driving goals and accomplishing tasks – (Marketing, Events, Government Affairs, and Membership) 

·      Support MBG events and initiatives through participation

·      Bring to the attention of the board any issues that will have an adverse effect on the organization or those we serve

·      Refer complaints to the proper level on the chain of command

·      Recognize that the job of a board member is to ensure that the organization is well-managed, not to manage the nonprofit

·      Represent all of those whom this nonprofit serves, not just a particular geographic area or interest group

·      Consider yourself a “trustee” of the nonprofit and do your best to ensure that it is well-maintained, financially secure, growing and always operating in the best interests of those we serve

·      Declare conflicts of interest between your personal life and position on the board, and abstain from voting or discussion when appropriate

MBG Board Members Will Not:

·      Criticize fellow board members or their opinions, in or out of the board room

·      Use the nonprofit organization for your personal advantage or that of your friends or relatives

·      Discuss the confidential proceedings of the board outside the board room

·      Interfere with the duties of the administrator or undermine the administrator’s authority with staff 

As a board member, the organization is responsible to you in the following ways: 

·      To keep its board members regularly updated on the organizational activities, programs, policies, goals and objectives as appropriate

·      It is expected that board members and the Executive Director will respond in a straightforward fashion to questions that are necessary to carry out fiscal, legal and moral responsibilities to the organization

·      If the organization does not fulfill its commitments, board members may call upon the Board President and E.D. to discuss the organization’s responsibilities

·      The organization will carry directors and officers’ liability insurance

The Mass Brewers Guild Mobile App Turns One Year Old

Dear Craft Beer Fans: 

Can you believe it’s been a year already?! 

Our mobile application, “Mass Craft Beer,” turns one this September, and we could not be happier with the amount of participation and feedback that we’ve had with the program so far. 

To date, there are more than 8k craft beer lovers who use our passport program, and are actively visiting breweries in Massachusetts. By visiting your neighborhood breweries, you are supporting small business owners who employ locals, drive travel and tourism to the state, and help to revitalize downtown communities. 

We hope you are drinking in all that the Massachusetts craft beer scene has to offer and are enjoying the adventure as you travel to different nooks and crannies of the state. 

If you’ve had the program on your phone since its inception you may be receiving a notice that your stamps are going to expire. 

What does that mean? 
Craft beer fans have exactly one year to visit 100 breweries and become “Beer Trail Conquerors” – 365 days after the date of your first brewery stamp, the slate wipes clean and points and badges start from zero. 

Why do we do this? 
To keep the passport program competitive, every year the MBG will create a big prize for Beer Trail Conquerors to climb to. This year it’s the opportunity to win a craft beer dinner with Jim Koch, from Boston Beer Co., Dan Kenary from Harpoon Brewing Co., and MBG president Rob Burns from Night Shift Brewing Co. 

Will users lose their stamps, check-ins or favorites lists?  
Stamps will remain in the user’s profile so they can keep a list of bragging rights of where they’ve been. However, they will appear in the expired tab under “My Stamps.” This is so that when you re-visit a brewery you can re-collect the stamp, earn points for it, and re-climb the leaderboard.

Your check-ins, reviews, and favorites list will remain in-tact. Your bio and photo will also remain on the MBG website if you’ve achieved Beer Trail Commander status. 

The goal of the MBG passport program is to encourage patrons to continue to visit breweries year after year and see what new offerings are available in their tap rooms. As new breweries continue to open their doors there will be plenty of tap rooms to explore and craft beer to enjoy. 

We will continue to add new badges and prizes to the program in the coming months to keep the excitement going for veteran users. 

Cheers, 
Katie Stinchon
MBG Executive Director 

City of Presidents American Pale Ale available exclusively at Quincy Center bars, restaurants

A complex, easy-drinking all-American craft beer
from Widowmaker Brewing

City of Presidents American Pale Ale is scheduled to arrive at Quincy Center bars and restaurants on Friday, August 17, the first and only craft beer brewed exclusively for distribution in Historic Quincy. 

             The deliciously flavorful, complex but easy-drinking pale ale was crafted by Widowmaker Brewingof Wood Road in Braintree, steps from the Quincy line. 

            “This beer celebrates the history of a great American city and pays homage to downtown Quincy’s rapid rise as one of the region’s most dynamic new dining destinations,” said head brewer Ryan Lavery of Widowmaker Brewing, a former longtime Quincy resident. “Quincy businesses and residents have supported our brand in great numbers and we’re excited to provide this exclusive offering.” 

            The beer is being released at a time when Quincy Center is enjoying a construction boom and is about to welcome a second wave of new eateries on the heels of last year’s arrival of 10 new dining destinations.  

Pending newcomers include Idle Hour, a cocktail-centric neighborhood bar featuring dishes from celebrated former Drink chef de cuisine Ashley Gaboriault; Rewild Plant Food + Drink, touted as America’s first plant-based beer hall and café; and Belfry, a new urban beer hall from the team behind critically acclaimed Quincy Center cocktail boite The Townshend. 

            The City of Quincy is also about to celebrate the opening of its world-class new downtown green space, the Hancock-Adams Common, in a Sept. 8 ceremony featuring local dignitaries, Mayor Tom Koch, Governor Charlie Baker and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and John Adams biographer David McCullough. This public park, boasting green space, fountains and monumental statuary of Quincy natives and Founding Fathers John Hancock and John Adams, promises to be the centerpiece of the new and improved Quincy Center. 

            In the spirit of Quincy’s historic past and bright future, City of Presidents American Pale Ale is a brewed with 100 percent all-American ingredients, including domestic malts and a blend of classic and nouveau American hops: Amarillo, Cascade and Citra. 

            It’s a cloudy hop-forward pale ale in the popular “New England style” of craft beer, but one that features a brilliant lemonade-yellow hue from the use of lightly toasted American malts. The sunny color symbolizes the dawn of a new day for Quincy Center. The beer’s soft texture and mouthfeel come from its use of American flaked oats. 

            City of Presidents American Pale Ale tastes great on its own or paired with favorite summertime dishes. 

The beer is available in 16-ounce cans with a label that features the facade of Quincy landmark Church of the Presidents, plus modernized images of Quincy’s favorite sons chilling out with sunglasses drinking this cool new brew: President John Adams, President John Quincy Adams and President of the Second Continental Congress John Hancock. 

The label was designed by Quincy artist Jacob Callaway of Verified Beer Traders. 

The first run of City of Presidents American Pale Ale will be available exclusively at Quincy Center bars and restaurants, including 16C, Alba, Angelo’s Coal Fired Pizza, Cagney’s, Fat Cat, The Fours, Fowler House, Fuji at WOC, Idle Hour, Malachy’s, Paddy Barry’s, The Pour Yard, Rozafa, S6, Shaking Crab, The Townshend and Zef Cicchetti & Raw Bar.  

Sap on Tap: Father and Son Duo Use Black Birch Sap As Key Ingredient in Noble Birch Beer

Offered at Rapscallion Brewery and
Restaurants Table & Tap and Kitchen & Bar

Randy Noble taps a black birch tree.

Sturbridge, Mass. | Just as the maple syrup season comes to a close in early April, another underutilized and often overlooked tree begins its tapping season, the black birch tree. 

The black birch does not stand out in the woods like its more well-known sister, the white birch, but upon close examination of the bark one would easily recognize the same notches and tick marks ingrained on the tree. Need another telltale sign? Snap off a twig, bring it to your nose and breathe in its wintergreen aroma. 

It’s this subtly-sweet extract from the tree that makes the “Noble Birch” beer, now available on tap at Rapscallion brewery and its restaurants, so unique. 

This labor of love is a collaboration brewed by father and son duo, Randy and Jonas Noble. 

Black birch twigs used for steeping. 

Randy, 63, an avid outdoorsman, hunter and longtime home-cidermaker, stumbled upon the recipe for a beer made out of black birch sap in an outdoor adventure guide. His son, Jonas, 35, the head brewer at Rapscallion Brewery, toyed with the recipe to make it more pliable for commercial brewing. 

No water is used in the production of this beer. Instead,  approximately 150 gallons of black birch sap is tapped and extracted from the trees on the brewery property by Randy, and chilled in large steel gallon drums. It takes about a week to collect this amount. The black birch sap flows quickly from the tree and is more fluid compared to maple sap.

Then, Jonas has a short amount of time to start the brewing process before the sap begins to perish and turn bitter. The liquid is infused with local honey and malt, and steeped with twigs from the same tree during the boiling process to increase its wintergreen nose and aroma. The beer pours clear and is completely hop free. 

“Noble Birch has a distinct quality to it -- I really kick up the carbonation so it drinks more like a refreshing soda,” says Jonas.

The beer is meant to be sipped due to its high alcohol content ranging from 9 to 12% ABV. The 2018 batch comes in around 10.5% and is served in a small goblet to keep consumers on their feet. 

This is the fifth year that Noble Birch has been brewed at Rapscallion Brewery and it has quite a following among its longtime customer base. The beer, which is served only on tap, typically sells out quickly due to the small quantity that the brewery can produce.  

“It’s not a beer that you’ll soon forget,” says Jonas. “Many like it as an aperitif or digestif, and we plan to work with our chef to experiment pairing it with some of our new desserts or even making some beer cocktails with it. It’s unlike any seasonal beer you’ll try.” 

Rapscallion plans to hold two releases of the Noble Birch, this summer and again in the winter of 2019. For more information, visit drinkrapscallion.com  

Want to try it? Get out there: 

Brewery & Tap Room
195 Arnold Road, Sturbridge, MA

Table & Tap
5 Strawberry Hill Road, Acton, MA

Kitchen & Bar
208 Fitchburg Turnpike, Concord, MA