Blackstone Aleworks

Keith's picture

Some of you may have noticed that I have a fictitious brewery logo for an avatar. Some of you might be aware that I am a homebrewer of beer. A few of you have tried my beers and possibly enjoyed them.

After some deliberation, I have decided to try and make Blackstone Aleworks a reality. Yesterday, I sent off some initial inquiries to the licensing and zoning boards as well as pertinent members of the city council. My hopes are not very high, because I'm trying to do something that may not have precedent: operating a brewery on residential property.

My neighbors need not worry, as there won't be any columns of stainless steel rising out of my backyard or any taprooms. I just want to install a small, pilot system in my garage and license for commercial sale. It's worked in other states (one just licensed in New York and another in Vermont), but I'm not sure if the Woo will prove to be progressive enough for the idea.

I am going to document my progress at my blog over at Blackstone Aleworks (http://www.aleworks.org). If you're a craft beer lover in the Worcester area, you might find it to be of interest, and supporting voices might be critical to success at some point in the future.

Thanks,

Keith

delnieve's picture

Re: Blackstone Aleworks

Good luck!

duncan's picture

Re: Blackstone Aleworks

way to go Keith, your beer is delicious, best of luck!

Yetitibbs's picture

Re: Blackstone Aleworks

That's awesome. Good luck and I'm buying if you are selling.


Daddio's picture

Re: Blackstone Aleworks

Are you hoping for a mail-order business? If not, will your house need to be deemed a Commercial Zone? I have my fingers crossed, there's not NEARLY enough breweries in Central Mass and I'll be sure to buy what you got selling! Good luck!!!


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Keith's picture

Re: Blackstone Aleworks

Everything I make would be kegged and delivered to local bars. Draft only. :)

gaberollins's picture

Re: Blackstone Aleworks

This is great Keith. Good Luck!

I am excited to see what comes of it all.

preachahroe's picture

Re: Blackstone Aleworks

very cool keith, best of luck!


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JoeBro's picture

Re: Blackstone Aleworks

How much for a Keg?

Yetitibbs's picture

Re: Blackstone Aleworks

I sampled some beer last night. Very quality. I am very impressed. I want more!!

Keith's picture

Re: Blackstone Aleworks

At this stage, I wouldn't be licensed for sales direct to public, so you'd have to visit fine establishments like The Armsby Abbey or the Dive Bar. I am going to look into the possibility of filling some growlers for places like Austin to carry, though, if I have the supply to do so.

JoeBro's picture

Re: Blackstone Aleworks

If you get into the Dive. I promise to only drink your beer anytime I go.

Fucking A! w/ a ^5!

Keith's picture

Re: Blackstone Aleworks

Well, my attempt at running this on residential property was promptly shut down. Apparently Worcester has plenty of code that prevents most manufacturing unless it's in a commercial/industrial zone. I was given an example of someone recently being shut down for something considerably less interesting than beer. I did sort of expect this, but it's a bummer.

This leaves me no option but to try and find some properly zoned space. Unfortunately, it has to be on the cheap side, with an owner who doesn't mind a fairly unconventional tenant. If anyone has ideas or connections, please let me know. There's so much vacant space in Worcester, but it surprises me how expensive some of it is despite being empty for ten years...

gaberollins's picture

Re: Blackstone Aleworks

It seems to me that you should be able to find some super cheap space that is zoned for manufacturing if you look hard enough. Seems I am always hearing about space like this, although I can't give any examples right now unfortunately.

Keith's picture

Re: Blackstone Aleworks

Yeah.. I think that my problem with manufacturing space is that my requirements are actually quite small. I can operate in about 500 square feet, or even less, at this scale.