Yankee Brew News Archive

What's Brewing: A Modest Proposal

Originally Published: 04/96

By: Brett Peruzzi

OK, I've had it. I've sat here patiently for nearly five years as editor of Yankee Brew News, watching excitedly as dozens of craft brewers have popped up all over New England. But the South Shore of Massachusetts, my lifelong home, has unfortunately been left out of this boom so far.

Sure, I can go to Boston and be in good beer heaven, but what about a local brewer we can call our own? It's a total wasteland between Boston and Hyannis. I don't get it. Besides Boston/Cambridge, there's brewers on the North Shore galore, and a fair share to the west in central and western Massachusetts. Of course, I won't even talk about the orgy of good beer whenever I can get myself up to Maine or Vermont. Even New Hampshire is catching on. Hell, I can even get local beer in plenty of places in tiny Rhode Island and tony Connecticut.

So what's up, craft brewers of New England? I assure you the market is here, if only the beer would come. A few hundred thousand residents, some upscale towns crawling with free-spending, high disposable income types, plenty of restaurant/industrial space and affordable land, and a beautiful seacoast.

What more could you want? Tourists? We've got 'em. A million tourists visit the towns from Quincy to Plymouth every year. And speaking of Plymouth, check out America's Hometown on a summer day; stop by Plymouth Rock or the Mayflower. Legions of thirsty folks who would just love to park it in a brewpub for lunch or dinner and down a few pints. Did I mention how irritating it is when I buy Pilgrim Ale or Plymouth Rock Ale at my local liquor store, since neither is made anywhere on the South Shore, never mind in Plymouth?

So how about, brewers? Can I count on one of you to rescue us from our craft brewless-state? I've heard a few new brewpub rumors recently, but rumors we've had, reality is what we need. Are you coming, or what? Let me know. To show my gratitude, I hereby vow to shovel the spent grain out of the mash tun of the first batch of beer brewed commercially on the South Shore.

Please hurry. The revolution is full swing without us. And we're damn thirsty.