Wachusett Brewing Company
 | |
| Industry | Alcoholic beverage |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder | Ned LaFortune, Peter Quinn, Kevin Buckler |
| Headquarters | Westminster, Massachusetts, United States |
| Products | Beer, ales, lagers, seltzer |
Wachusett Brewing Company is a microbrewery and craft brewery in Westminster, Massachusetts.
Founded in 1993, by former attendees of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Wachusett Brewing Company is Worcester County's first and only brewery and was well-accepted by the town of Westminster. One of the founders said, "The town has just opened their arms. The area's been hit hard by lay-offs and they're excited to see a new business and a new industry try to make a go of it."[1]
The company maintains a relationship with the founders' alma mater and has arranged for students of Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Department of Chemical Engineering to earn college credit in cooperation with the brewery. In 2005, the company's founders received the college's Ichabod Washburn Young Alumni Award for Professional Achievement.[2][3]
Wachusett Brewery founders Ned, Kevin and Peter developed a significant appreciation for beer while attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Adventures in biking, canoeing and hiking that led the trio to the Northern New England states allowed them to visit some of the first operating craft breweries. Armed with a “we can do this” attitude the three cast off from their careers in engineering and biology to found the Wachusett Brewing Co. in 1993. Wachusett Country Pale Ale was introduced to the beer fans of Massachusetts the next year after lots of experimenting to get the formula just right. When Wachusett opened, the three designed and built most of the equipment; did the brewing and filling; selling and delivering; and everything else that a small startup brewery needed.
Along the way the founders were joined by some of the most passionate and capable co-workers in the brewing industry. Wachusett Ales & Lagers continue to be hand crafted with the finest ingredients available, bottled, canned and kegged exclusively in the Westminster facility. Wachusett Brewing Company has never strayed from the three founder’s plan to brew and sell the freshest, highest quality beers possible.
In 2006 Wachusett graduated from Microbrewery to Regional Specialty Brewery status by producing over 15,000 U.S. barrels and was now the second largest brewer in Massachusetts.
Wachusett has assembled a production brewery that can produce up to 50,000 U.S. barrels (700,000 cases) of beer annually. The kegging line can produce up to 60 ½ barrel kegs/hour and the bottling line produces up to 500 cases/hour of 12 oz bottles. The canning line is the crown jewel of the Wachusett facility. It can produce 2,000 cases/hour of 12 oz cans.
The quality of the people at Wachusett and the quality of the beer are the most important factors leading to 20 years of success. Over 85% of Wachusett is sold in Massachusetts with 99% (400,000 cases) sold in New England. We believe is a validation of our quality and commitment to being a great local brewer. In addition to the strong local sales Wachusett has one of the finest QA/QC labs in the craft beer industry. Wachusett’s quality manager has every instrument and technology available to a craft brewer to ensure all points of quality are measured and monitored.
In 2016, Wachusett announced their DBA, Craft Cocktail Company. The brewing, production, & packaging of Nauti Seltzer takes place at the Westminster facility.
References
- ↑ Yankee Brew News Archive, "Wachusett Brewing Company Introduces Craft Beer to Worcester County"
- ↑ Worcester Polytechnic Institute WPIwiki
- ↑ Worcester Polytechnic Institute Office of Development and Alumni relations