Applause erupts as Dan Kenary gestures to the crowd. Gather around folks. We’re at the Harpoon Brewery in Boston. It’s a place with a story as rich as its beer.
Harpoon Brewery, also known as Mass. Bay Brewing Company, began its journey in 1986. Imagine Boston back then. It was a city that hadn’t seen a brewery in over 15 years. Harpoon was the first to get a permit to manufacture and sell alcohol in Massachusetts. They proudly claimed Massachusetts Brewing permit 001.
The early days weren’t easy for Harpoon. They didn’t see a profit until 1992. But their perseverance paid off. In 1993, Harpoon introduced its IPA. This beer quickly became their flagship. It helped define the American India Pale Ale style. You could find it on tap everywhere in Greater Boston.
Harpoon is known for its annual festivals. The first Harpoon Octoberfest in 1990 drew 2,000 people. Recent Octoberfests have drawn over 15,000. They also host a St. Patrick’s Day festival in March and Harpoonfest in May. These events are huge.
Harpoon also gives back to the community. In 2001, they started the Harpoon 5-Miler road race. It has raised over $2.2 million for ALS research. In 2002, they launched the Harpoon Point-to-Point. This cycling race raises money for the Vermont Foodbank. It once raised over $100,000.
In 2000, Harpoon expanded. They bought the former Catamount Brewery plant in Windsor, Vermont. This increased their brewing operations.
A significant change came in July 2014. Harpoon became employee-owned. Rich Doyle, the cofounder, sold most of his shares. They went into an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. This made Harpoon the twelfth-largest craft brewery in the United States at the time.
Even blizzards couldn’t stop Harpoon for long. In 2015, they temporarily suspended production. It was the first time since their founding. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they fought food insecurity. They donated money from beer sales to food banks.
Harpoon acquired Long Trail Brewery in June 2022. This deal included the Long Trail, Otter Creek, and Shed brands.
Harpoon offers a variety of beers. They have seasonal beers like Octoberfest and Camp Wannamango. Their 100 Barrel Series features one-of-a-kind batches. They also brew year-round beers. These include the award-winning Dark, UFO Hefeweizen, and Boston Irish Stout. You might even find Harpoon beers at local bars. “Sevens Ale” is brewed for the Sevens Ale House in Beacon Hill.
Harpoon has collaborated with other companies too. In 2018, they teamed up with Dunkin’ Donuts. They released Dunkin’ Coffee Porter. They’ve continued to release collaborative beers every year since.
In 2022, Harpoon partnered with the Boston Bruins. They created a limited-edition beer called Hometown Hat Trick. They also introduced a blood orange IPA with Davio’s restaurant. That same year, they launched a non-alcoholic IPA. It’s called Open League.
Don’t forget Harpoon’s pretzels. They make them on-site from leftover yeast.
So, as you savor your Harpoon beer, remember its history. From a small brewery to an employee-owned success story, Harpoon embodies the spirit of Boston. Cheers to Harpoon.