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Cheers! Things are looking up! |
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Western Mass
Best Kept Secret!
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In 1992, Chris Lalli and Gary Bogoff of Montgomery, MA came to the conclusion that they both had a similar interest in life...to make beer. Not just any old beer, but fresh ale. Ale that was produced with the same ethics and craftsmanship of an artisan. Applying that same ethic to his work as a master tradesman, Gary found an enthusiastic partner in Chris.
After
three long years of planning and test brewing, and months of searching
up and down the Pioneer Valley for the right location, BBC found a home
in historic South Deerfield, MA. The building, a former cigar manufacturing
plant became the prime choice site. In December of 1993 after the site
was chosen, Deerfield Selectmen Chairman Franklin Sherburne voiced the
town's unanimous approval, "You're the type of business we'd want
here." In many respects the choice of South Deerfield, MA was a stroke
of genius. South Deerfield is an immensely popular tourist attraction due in
part to Yankee Candle Co., located less than a mile down the road. The
town of South Deerfield, MA saw the brewery as another feather in its collective
cap.
In the winter of 1994 construction began to renovate the brewery site. It was no small feat to transform the cigar factory into a cutting-edge micro brewery. Gary and Chris enlisted the aid and expertise of associates in the trades, and friends and family. It was a formidable undertaking that would continue through to September of 1994. The end of August was momentous as BBC received ATF approval and was now able to get down to the real business of brewing fresh ale.
BBC
began brewing fresh unfiltered, un pasteurized ale and reviving the time
honored tradition of another era of local quality ales. Within two years
of business BBC went from brewing 24 barrels- the equivalent of 774 gallons
at 31 gallons per barrel- per week, to 77 barrels-or 2,387 gallons- per
week.
By word of mouth and taste buds, Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale, BBC's flagship beer, became an instant success with beer-drinkers in all of western Massachusetts and beyond.
By 1999 BBC was in need of more space. Gary and Chris began an expansion by building a 3,000 square foot addition on the north side for the office.
Since 1999, there have been many changes with our physical building and product distribution. In January 2003, BBC brought on G. Housen, a distributor in Vermont. In April 2005, BBC opened a warehouse in Worcester, MA. Then in August 2005, BBC started self distributing in Connecticut.
As demand for BBC was growing, they were again in need of more space. So, in 2005, Gary and Chris made an expansion on the south side. This expansion was made for a four truck garage, a cooler, and a packaging room. As of August 2007 BBC brought on another distributor, Slocum & Son's, in Rhode Island. Beginning of 2008, our BBC location in Worcester was moved to North Oxford.
It
has been many years now since BBC began it's journey, and the
business is bigger and better than anyone could have hoped for. BBC is becoming more successful every day with
the help of friends and family who keep the business growing. BBC now brews 9 year-round flavors of ales as well as six seasonal ales.
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Berkshire Brewing Company Inc. 12 Rail Road Street South Deerfield, Ma 01373 Tele. (413) 665-6600 Fax. (413) 665-7837
Site updated by Amanda Shero ©2006 Site Created By Colleen Campbell ©2002 |