Worcester Business Journal

"For over a decade I was concentrating on being a brewer and starting a business. My strength really came from being able to brew beer and source local ingredients," said Ben Roesch, brewmaster and co- founder with Tom Oliveri of Wormtown Brewery. "Then everything expanded so fast." Worcester's Wormtown Brewery has grown its production from 2,800 barrels a year in 2014 to an estimated capacity of A llen Fletcher isn't worried about marijuana in Worcester's emerg- ing entertainment destination the Canal District, though he would prefer if it was sold a bit differently. "If it was a recreational marijuana parlor, it would be exciting," said Fletcher, the first vice president of the neighbor- ho o d g roup Canal District Alliance. "It would contribute to life on the street; it would contribute to the district." Instead, the Canal District is getting a medical marijuana dis- pensary. While Fletcher is excited about any business moving into the neighborhood and looks forward to working with the new owners, a medical marijuana facility is essentially a highly securitized phar- macy and runs contrary to the vibe the Canal District Alliance is trying to cre- ate of a walkable neighborhood where people can hop from bars to shops to restaurants to entertainment venues. "The presence that medical mari- juana exerts on a street is sort of like a doctor's office. I would rather have it on the second floor somewhere. If they're going to have tinted glass and a buzz-in system, that's not thrilling to us," Fletcher said. As Massachusetts starts bringing together the various elements of the medical marijuana law that was passed in 2012 – Worcester moved to not oppose two of its planned four dispen- saries in the past month, although both Accounting growth 6 Westborough accounting firm AAFCPAs grew significantly this year. WBJ >> To Subscribe Central Massachusetts' Source for Business News April 11, 2016 Volume 27 Number 8 www.wbjournal.com $2.00 This issue's green business focus section looks at brownfield projects and bank loans for solar projects. FOCUS: Green Business 12 Canal District cannabis Concerns raised in emerging entertainment district about pharmacy-like dispensary BY LAURA FINALDI Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer Allen Fletcher of the Canal District Alliance said his group does not oppose a medical marijuana dispensary. Brewing Executives The three Hendler brothers (from left: Jack, Sam and Eric) initially divided their responsibilities for the operations of Jack 's Abby Craft Lager to play to their strengths of beermaking, sales and finance. Growth in craft market quickly turns beer geeks into leaders in $22-billion industry BY SAM BONACCI Worcester Business Journal Digital Editor B reweries are the epitome of startup businesses, grow- ing out of the passion of a brewer focused on the product's quality. However, the enormous potential within the craft beer industry can mean year-over- year increases in the triple digits once things take off. With such accelerated growth, founders of the company can be left reeling to keep up with their shifting responsibilities. >> Continued on Page 10 >> Continued on Page 18 P H O T O / E D D C O T E Shop Talk 8 Q&A with Michael Stausholm, CEO of pencil-seed firm Sprout 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 0 100 200 300 400 500 2010 2010 2011 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016* 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016* 2011 2015 2016* 150 18,500 30,000 46,750 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 0 100 200 300 400 500 2010 2010 2011 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016* 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016* 2011 2015 2016* 150 18,500 30,000 46,750 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 0 100 200 300 400 500 2010 2010 2011 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016* 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016* 2011 2015 2016* 150 18,500 30,000 46,750 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 0 100 200 300 400 500 2010 2010 2011 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016* 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016* 2011 2015 2016* 150 18,500 30,000 46,750 Nationally, craft breweries went from having 5.7 percent of the total beer market in 2011 to 12.2 percent in 2015, now raking in more than $22 billion annually. That growth has fueled local startup companies into significant industry players in the region and the country. TOTAL BARRELS PRODUCED Jack's Abby Craft Lager 3Cross Brewing Co. Wormtown Brewery Wachusett Brewing Co. TOTAL BARRELS PRODUCED TOTAL BARRELS PRODUCED TOTAL BARRELS PRODUCED * Estimated Source: The companies Brewing by the numbers:

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