Parent company of Jack’s Abby, Wormtown led Central Mass. beer production in 2024
Photo | Courtesy of Jack's Abby
The Hendler brothers (from left) Sam, Eric and Jack, co-founders of Jack's Abby Craft Lagers and Hendler Family Brewing Co.
Hendler Family Brewing Co. in Framingham led Central Massachusetts breweries in production volumes in 2024, the year the entity was created to facilitate the expanding beer brand portfolio of the founders of Jack’s Abby.
The firm, which purchased Wormtown Brewery in Worcester in April 2024 and followed that up with the purchase of Everett-based Night Shift Brewery in October, produced 86,000 barrels of beer last year, according to data provided by The Brewers Association.
With 31 gallons to a barrel, that’s enough beer to fill just over four Olympic-sized swimming pools. That production volume is about a 27.1% increase over the 67,652 barrels Jack’s Abby produced in 2023, before the creation of its new parent company.
Tree House Brewing Co., the Charlton-based, self-distributing brewer, produced 40,262 barrels in 2024, a slight increase from the 39,172 barrels it produced in 2023. Known for a cult-like following which draws long lines to its locations, Tree House has expanded its footprint from Boston to Saratoga Springs, New York since 2023.
While data from Wachusett Brewing Co., which was acquired by New Hampshire-based Smuttynose Brewing in January 2024, was not included in The Brewing Association’s Massachusetts data, the firm told the WBJ Research Department it brewed 15,010 barrels in 2024, putting it third in Central Massachusetts. Prior to being acquired, Wachusett had produced 15,000 barrels in 2023.
Worcester-based Greater Good Imperial Brewing Co. produced the fourth-most beer of any Central Massachusetts brewer in 2024, at 10,600 barrels. That’s down slightly from the 11,000 barrels it reported in 2023.
Bay State Brewing Co., which has a taproom in Worcester, came in fifth at 2,416 barrels, while Cold Harbor Brewing Co. in Westborough came in sixth, producing 2,400 barrels.
These figures come as the craft beer scene has faced a bit of a reckoning; Worcester-based Redemption Rock Brewing Co. closed its doors for good at the end of 2024 and Exhibit 'A' Brewing Co. in Framingham sold its real estate holdings and moved operations to Western Massachusetts. All of this came as 399 breweries across the country closed in 2024, more than the 335 which opened, according to VinePair.
In addition to considering mergers, local beer firms have begun to explore expanding their offerings to stay competitive following the apparent end of the craft beer boom. In May, Hendler Family Brewing Co. launched Masshole Light Lager, a brew meant to provide a locally-produced alternative to light beers produced by global beer behemoths like Anheuser-Busch InBev and Molson Coors, according to Mass. Brew Bros.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was updated to include brewing stats from Wachusett Brewing Co.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.
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