Worcester could be a craft beer town
In 2018, craft brewers made up 13% of all beer made in the U.S., up a percentage point from 2016.
That’s good for $28 billion in revenues split among the country’s 7,000+ craft breweries.
Even as less beer was consumed in the country overall from 2017 to 2018 – down 1%, according to the trade group Brewers Association – craft beer’s star is rising.
The share of that market in the city of Worcester last year was split among four breweries, with another facility added in January. By 2021, Worcester should have at least eight brands being brewed in the city after Wachusett Brewing Co., Bay State Brewing Co. and Soul Purpose join Wormtown Brewery, 3Cross Fermentation Cooperative, Flying Dreams Brewing Co., Greater Good Imperial Brewing Co. and Redemption Rock Brewing Co.
While eight is certainly not a number to sneeze at, it still pales in comparison to beer-lover destinations like Portland, Maine with 22 breweries and Burlington, Vt. with 11 breweries, where visitors can walk around all day imbibing at different locales.
Yes, Central Massachusetts has several well established breweries including Tree House Brewing Co. in Charlton and Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers in Framingham, which attract a substantial number of visitors in their own right, but they are not part of a larger beer scene in their neighborhood.
Worcester, on the other hand, feels like it can grow its craft brew niche further, not by adding more large facilities, but by encouraging more of the smaller brands like Redemption Rock or 3Cross, who are brewing a few hundred barrels and primarily selling their creations onsite. With a strategy to become even more of a craft beer destination, support from the Worcester Planning Board and City Council, and a little more buzz, the city has the potential to develop a corridor of craft beer facilities.
While Portland benefits from a strong base of tourists, Worcester County has more than twice the population of Cumberland County in Maine and benefits from a significant college population.
Reaching critical mass with our craft brewers would likely add to the number of outside visitors attracted to the region.
The culture in the craft brew industry is already extremely collaborative with the five existing Worcester breweries partnering on numerous marketing and manufacturing efforts, including working together to make a distinct Worcester beer.
Whether it’s restaurants or craft breweries, the more entrepreneurs who are producing a high-quality product, the better it is for all. The craft brew scene in Worcester has yet come close to a saturation point, and that encouraging the expansion of the industry can have a significant upside in keeping Worcester’s buzz going strong.
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