Worcester Business Journal

8 Worcester Business Journal | June 11, 2018 | wbjournal.com More breweries, more beer? * As of May 31 Source: Brewers Associaiton, Mass. Brew Bros As more Massachusetts breweries open, production is slowing down. n Barrels produced in Massachusetts n Breweries in Massachusetts As more craft brewers enter the scene, goals have shifted from increasing production to creating strong, local customer connections Intimate relationships BY ZACHARY COMEAU Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer 0 40 80 120 160 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 (Numbers in thousands) '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 57% 27% 25% 30% 23% 37% 4.6%* 24% 13% 13% 20% 17% 12% Year-over-year growth Year-over-year growth 0 40 80 120 160 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 (Numbers in thousands) '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 57% 27% 25% 30% 23% 37% 4.6%* 24% 13% 13% 20% 17% 12% Year-over-year growth Year-over-year growth C raRoots Brewing doesn't really have any plans to grow production far beyond its projected 500 barrels for 2018. "We're pretty darn happy with 500," said co-founder Maureen Fabry, despite initial expectations the brewery would double its 300 barrels from 2017. e Milford brewery opened in March 2017 aer brewing just 20 barrels out of Fabry's home in 2016. at's a large enough growth rate to place the brewery at No. 1 on national industry group the Brewers Association's list of fastest-grow- ing cra brewers in 2017. Doubling the 500-barrel mark next year won't happen, but that's by choice. "at really would change the purpose of our business," she said. e brewery's model is one built on sustainability in a rapidly changing cra beer market necessitating a scaled-down approach as new breweries threaten to oversaturate the market. Cra beer is still booming, but the number of barrels of cra beer produced in Massachusetts last year rose by just 12 percent – according to the BA – the lowest mark since 2011 despite nearly 100 new breweries coming online since the start of 2015. More breweries, slower production According to Mass. Brew Bros, a Tom Anderson, co-founder of Seven Saws Brewing in Holden, pours a beer at the new brewery. The brewery is now one of 160 in the state. PHOTO/ARIANA AUBUCHON

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