USA, NH: AB InBev invests in state-of-the-art can line at its Portsmouth brewery

Anheuser-Busch, the country’s leading brewer and American manufacturer, on February 17 announced its $6 million investment in its Portsmouth, NH brewery. The funding will go toward building a state-of-the-art can line at the facility, which produces the company’s beer, cider and hard tea offerings. The revamped can line will enable the facility to brew and package a forecasted 29% more beer in 2023. In 2024, production is expected to increase to produce 56% more beer.

“As a company, we’re committed to investing in our facilities and supporting our local communities by creating and sustaining jobs,” said Brendan Whitworth, CEO of Anheuser-Busch. “Our Portsmouth brewery plays an important role in producing beers and other high-quality products for our consumers to enjoy. This isn’t just an investment in our local facility—it’s an investment in a community where we live, work and operate.”

Anheuser-Busch’s Portsmouth, NH brewery has a storied brewing history. In 1996, Washington state-based Redhook Brewery built the facility to be an exact replica of its original Woodinville, WA brewery, making Redhook the first bi-coastal craft brewing operation in the U.S. In 2016, the current can line was added to accommodate consumers’ changing preferences from bottles to cans. In 2018, the Cisco Brewers Portsmouth pub opened onsite, and ever since, it’s served as a community gathering place for beer enthusiasts, frequently hosting public concerts, parties and weddings.

“It was great to join Anheuser-Busch for its announcement of a $6 million investment its Portsmouth brewery. This will create jobs, strengthen our economy, and ensure that New Hampshire remains one of the premier brewery destinations in the country,” said Senator Maggie Hassan. “From creating jobs to bolstering tourism, breweries have always played a vital role in New Hampshire’s economy, which is why I have worked across party lines to deliver tax cuts for breweries in our state and across the country, something I will continue to do.”

The investment will enable the brewery to produce more innovations, including Cisco Brewers’ collaboration beer with the New England Patriots, Forever New England.

“Our team is made up of incredible, innovative brewers and this upgrade to our canning line will allow us to brew even more delicious, high-quality beer for years to come,” said Nick Murray, General Manager at the Portsmouth, NH brewery. “We take pride as an important member of the Portsmouth community, and are extremely grateful for this investment that will enhance our ability to produce some of America’s most loved beers and more.”

The facility was built on 13 acres within the Pease Development in Portsmouth, NH. The brewery itself is over 104K sq. feet in total, which includes 92K sq. feet of production and 12K sq. feet of the adjoining brewpub and event space. Construction on the canning line began in late 2022 and was completed in early 2023.

Anheuser-Busch owns and operates more than 120 facilities around the country and employs more than 19,000 hardworking people. The beer industry in the U.S. creates more than 2 million jobs and generates more than $330 billion in economic activity each year.

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