USA: Boston Beer to develop brewery in Freetown

Finding an adequate water supply and tapping into a sewer system are two of Boston Beer Co.’s biggest hurdles in its preliminary proposal to develop a brewery off Ridge Hill Road in Assonet.

The producer of Sam Adams beer and 18 other beer products reassured a packed room of residents at the Multi-Purpose Senior Center on June 06 night that, despite these hurdles, the company is still interested in developing a brewery in Freetown, due to the town’s proximity to Boston and Route 24 and the large parcel of land available for development within the Campanelli Business Park in Assonet, The Herald News posted June 07.

The latter asset, a company representative said, would allow the beer company to expand if necessary.


The company is not sure how many buildings it plans to develop on the 25 to 48 acres of land, but Boston Beer Co. officials said they hope that if the plan is finalized, a brewery can open in 2008.

The Board of Selectmen and the beer company sponsored the question-and-answer session June 06 so the public could learn more about the company before Town Meeting June12. At the Town Meeting, residents will vote to reject or accept the tax increment financing agreement negotiated by the Board of Selectmen.

The TIF agreement, if approved, would last 20 years, averaging 32.95 percent, and would drop to 1 percent in the last six years.

Selectman Lawrence N. Ashley, who negotiated the TIF agreement with the beer company and is the selectmen’s liaison to the company, said the $10 million brewery will generate 75 more jobs. The company agreed that qualified Freetown and Fall River residents would be given the first employment opportunities, according to company representatives and Freetown officials. The average salary per year would be $45,000.

The company also owns and operates breweries in Boston and Cincinnati, Ohio. The company is proposing to build this third brewery to replace the work performed at subcontracting sites in North Carolina and New York.

Boston Beer Co. spokeswoman Michelle Sullivan said the company would rather produce all of its beer at its own breweries.

"We’re really about making a good beer - that’s what we are all about," said Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey D. White. "If we built a brewery, this would be our home, too. We would live and work here."

White would not comment on whether the company would lose interest in Freetown should the TIF be rejected by Town Meeting on June 12. He also would not comment on reports that Boston Beer Co. is looking at less than a dozen other locations.

Company representatives reassured residents that the traffic volume - estimated to be around 50 to 55 trucks during the peak brewing days of summer - would not be an issue if it develops a brewery. White also told residents that noxious odors would not be a nuisance to residents.

White said the brewery would not generate traffic because the site is within walking distance of Route 24, so trucks would not drive by any homes. White also said the company has designed a system that keeps offensive-smelling steam generated by the brewery from escaping the building. White also said the brewery would not cause any noise pollution, and the only sound audible to nearby residents would be truck noise.

He and other company representatives said that finalizing a water plan and a sewer plan remain the most challenging tasks.

Company representative Kathy Wade said the proposed Freetown brewery would be second in size to the company’s Cincinnati brewery and use 400,000 to 500,000 gallons of water per day. She said Freetown would likewise have to make arrangements through Fall River, where Assonet residents access water.

She said it would have to install a sewer line and access a pumping station in Fall River.

Board of Selectman Chairman John S. Ashley said the company and town officials are looking at close to handful of different combination options for a water system.

Water Commissioner Robert A. Ward said, although plans are preliminary, he is confident that the beer company and the town can devise a constructive water plan.

"I think they’ll be a good neighbor," Ashley said after the meeting. "They answered all questions. As far as the noise - I don’t see any as far as the trucks."

Most residents before and after the meeting appeared optimistic about the proposal.

"I think it is a good thing for the town. As far as TIFs, look at the reality -- you don’t get a good business without a TIF," said South Main Street resident Arnold Jose.

Finance Committee member Michael T. McCue said he is not convinced that a 20-year TIF negotiated with the company was worthwhile.

He added he was satisfied overall, especially with the discussion about the area’s traffic.

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