
Massachusetts
The Bay State
Massachusetts is where most would agree beer began in America. It was here that the Mayflower dropped the Pilgrims off to guarantee they had enough beer for the return trip in the early 1600s. In 1634 the first American Public house was licensed, and shortly after, the first brewing license in America was given to Robert Sedgewick.
West Boston Brewery was the first Boston brewery started in 1796, but closed in 1814. Soon after, in 1852, Massachusetts passed their own Prohibition law, which was then repealed in 1868. The brewing scene in Boston boomed in the late 1800s, but sadly this progress was interrupted by the nationwide Prohibition from 1920 to 1933.
After the Prohibition ended, Haffenreffer & Co. led the beer industry until the craft beer revival in the 1980s. Jim Koch was the 1984 pioneer of the Boston Beer Company, better known today as Samuel Adams, the second largest craft brewer in the country. From here, the craft beer industry just continued to flourish.
With almost 200 breweries in Massachusetts and over 130 of those being craft, it seems there is constantly new breweries in Massachusetts opening up. Without listing all 200, some of the top breweries in Massachusetts are:
• Boston Beer Works which has seven locations
• Clown Shoes Beer in Ipswich
• Idle Hands Craft Ales in Malden
• Jack’s Abby in Framingham
• Mayflower Brewing in Plymouth
• Mystic Brewing in Chelsea
• Night Shift Brewing in Everett
• Notch Brewing in Salem
• Somerville Brewing/Slumbrew in Somerville
• Spencer Brewery in Spencer
• Tree House Brewing in Monson
• Trillium Brewing in Boston and Canton
Our monthly Craft Beer Club has had the pleasure of featuring some of the best beers in Massachusetts from some of the best craft breweries in Massachusetts, including:
• White Lion Brewing Company
• Ipswich Ale Brewery
• Newburyport Brewing Company
• Cisco Brewers
• Jack’s Abby Brewing
• Cape Ann Brewing Company
We love finding and trying new Massachusetts beers from Massachusetts breweries, and look forward to all the ones we get to share with you in the future!

White Lion Brewing Co
Springfield, Massachusetts' first craft brewery with a selection of compelling, creatively crafted brews
Founded in 2014 by Raymond Berry, Jr. , White Lion Brewing Company is ...
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Ipswich Ale Brewery
One of the oldest craft breweries in New England known for its award-winning flavor
Ipswich Ale Brewing has more than twenty-five years of history behind ...
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Newburyport Brewing Co.
One of the Northeast's top canned brewing enthusiasts quickly becomes a major player
Founded in 2012 by two local Newburyport, Massachusetts entrepreneurs, ...
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Cisco Brewers
The sole brewer on Nantucket Island has been pleasing locals and visitors since 1995
Cisco Brewers is part of a unique family of br ...
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