WACHUSETT BREWING ACQUIRED

An icon of the Massachusetts craft brewing scene has been acquired. Smuttynose parent company Finestkind Brewing has purchased Wachusett Brewing in a deal that will unite two New England legacy craft beer brands. Smuttynose will eventually produce Wachusett beers at its Hampton, New Hampshire-based facility. Sixty Wachusett employees, including the company’s hospitality team, will join Finestkind, which represents about 90% of its workforce. The deal includes Wachusett’s Westminster, Massachusetts-based facility and equipment, as well as the brand and intellectual property. Wachusett’s year-round portfolio includes Blueberry Ale, Blood Orange Ale, Country Pale Ale, Mass Soul IPA, MASSive Haze IPA, Wally Juice IPA, Wally IPA and Sir Veza. Seasonally, the brewery also offers Quinn’s Amber Ale, Summer Ale, Strawberry Belgian ale, Oktoberfest, Pumpkin Ale, Frosty Day IPA and West Coast IPA. No changes to Wachusett’s product line up are planned in the near future and both of of their Brew Yards at the Westminster facility and in Worcester will remain open. A group led by cider entrepreneur Brett Williams acquired a stake in Wachusett in September 2020. Wachusett co-founder Ned LaFortune retained his ownership stake in the business at the time. This is the second acquisition Smuttynose has made in recent months. In November, it acquired Brooklyn, New York-based Five Boroughs Brewing. In addition to its now three beer brands, Finestkind also produces Island District Cocktails, ready-to-drink, vodka- and tequila-based cocktails. The company has its sights on becoming a bigger craft beverage platform. Both Wachusett and Smuttynose were founded in 1994 and will turn 30 this year.