USA, MA: Channel Marker Brewing becomes the first new brewery to launch in Massachusetts in 2019

The first new brewery to open in Massachusetts in 2019 welcomed its first taproom patrons over the weekend, the Wicked Local North of Boston reported on January 9.

Channel Marker Brewing, located in Beverly’s Porter Mill building on Rantoul Street, began pouring on Saturday, Jan. 5, serving up four IPA varietals and a peanut butter porter; a sixth beer, a pale ale, was added to the lineup on Sunday, January 6.

Founded by longtime friends Tim Corcorran, Justin Negrotti and Jake Crandell, Channel Marker Brewing is the first of several taprooms expected to open in Beverly this year.

Leading up to the grand opening, Negrotti, Channel Marker’s head brewer, said social media and other outlets helped make sure community members and craft beer lovers from all over the North Shore were kept in the loop and well informed about what to expect.

“We were hoping for the best ... but yet not sure what the turnout was going to be like,” he said, explaining that a line began to form outside at around 2:30 p.m. “When we opened on Saturday, we were instantly at capacity, and had about 75 people waiting to get in.”

Overall, the first day of operation was a huge success, with approximately 300 people coming through the doors of the taproom.

“I was surprised at how many people I’d never seen before, all looking to try our beer,” Corcorran said.

Negrotti agreed.

“The biggest compliment was people waiting an hour to get into a place they’d never been for beer they’d never tried,” said Negrotti. “That spoke volumes ... We’ve worked really hard the last year to put this place together on a tight budget, and we’re so excited to be able to open it up to the community.”

And, so far, Negrotti and Corcorran said the feedback they have received has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It’s about the beer, it’s about the environment, and it’s about making this an inviting place, a place people want to come back to,” said Corcorran.

Of course, having the support of the community, including those already in the industry, has been extremely important to everyone associated with Channel Marker.

Paul Gentile of Gentile Brewing and Matt Sullivan and Ben Garry from Old Planters Brewing both sent well wishes, and Pete Harkins, who will be opening Backbeat Brewing on Park Street later this year, stopped by to welcome Channel Marker to the neighborhood.

“It meant a lot to us to have some of the other breweries in town reach out to us,” Negrotti said. “Being the new guys in town, it means a lot to have their support.”

Unable to predict how much beer they would end up going through on Saturday and Sunday, Corcorran and Negrotti said they were never in danger of running out, and they have a good supply heading into this weekend.

That also means folks will be able to enjoy take-home beer very soon, and will eventually see Channel Marker brews on tap at local bars and restaurants. And canning of the beer is expected to begin within a month.

Negrotti said some different beers, including a fruited kettle sour, a juicy double IPA and another lactose IPA, are in the works and will be available in the taproom soon.

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