USA, MA & NH: Wachusett Brewing Company reportedly purchased by Finestkind Brewing

Central Massachusetts legacy brewery Wachusett Brewing Company has reportedly been purchased by New Hampshire-based Finestkind Brewing, the Worcester Telegram reported on January 21.

Finestkind Brewing, the owners of Smuttynose Brewing Company in Hampton, is expanding its reach into Central Massachusetts and has no immediate plans to change Wachusett’s beer lineup, according to The Boston Globe.

Calls for comment from the Telegram & Gazette to Wachusett Brewing and Finestkind Brewing were not immediately returned.

Founded in 1994 at co-founder Ned LaFortune's family farm in Westminster, Wachusett Brewing has become a staple of the Central Massachusetts brewing scene.

Along with the Westminster brewery, Wachusett has a brew yard at the Worcester Public Market in the Canal District.

The company opened a larger brewhouse at its Westminster location in 2015 and announced it would be an anchor tenant for the Public Market in 2019.

Wachusett's beer line includes the well-known blueberry ale and Wally Juice IPA. The company serves multiple beers year round as well as several seasonal beers; the lineup largely consists of varieties of ale.

Steve Kierstead, Smuttynose’s CEO, said in an interview with the Globe that Wachusett's commitment to quality aligned with Smuttynose's values and that its leading role in the fruit beer category would help diversify Finestkind's portfolio.

Wachusett’s 15,000-barrel production would also add to Finestkind's capabilities. Kierstead also praised Wachusett's taproom business as among the strongest in the region.

While Kierstead told the Globe no immediate changes would come to Wachusett's lineup, the company will review the brand and did not rule out future changes.

Finestkind is making the purchase after previously announcing the purchase of Brooklyn-based craft brewery Five Boroughs Brewing Co. in November.

Smuttynose is known for its Finestkind IPA and Old Brown Dog, a brown ale.

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