![]() Bay has something to do with the beer that you order at your favorite bar or pick up at your local package store. Each person that walks the halls of Mass. As we head towards the fifth anniversary of employee ownership, we are celebrating a lot of special moments in the rich history of our pioneering craft brewery. These conversations have not always been positive, but we have made a great deal of progress in reinvigorating our brands, especially Harpoon IPA. As employee owners, we regularly discussed the realities of the industry and our performance. The playing field has changed in the game of beer and as a company we are eager to take on those challenges. The bottom line? The ESOP is a great milestone in helping Harpoon Brewery to stay independent and dedicated to our mission: brewing great beer and sharing unforgettable beer drinking experiences. We want to see our products succeed and our customers have positive experiences when they try our beer or enjoy a pretzel in the Harpoon Beer Hall. Bay is invested in the success of our company. ![]() Each year, additional shares get allocated to individual ESOP accounts based on repayment of the loan we had to take out to make all this happen. Our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) was established in July of 2014, when rather than joining the crowd that every week seemed to be selling out to industrial brewers or private equity, we decided to double-down on remaining independent. Bay owns a piece of the company without having to invest their own money to purchase stock. In short, when a company becomes employee owned it means that every person who works full-time at Mass. So what does that ACTUALLY mean? We tend to brush over it when we’re talking about the details, but in fact, those details are pretty important. ![]() Bay we’re proud to say that we’re Employee Owned. And there’s probably a lot that you don’t know about the people behind what it takes to create some of your favorite liquid. It also remains a visitors’ center – there’s a gift shop to the left of the bar if you’re in the market for some Harpoon memorabilia, not to mention growlers and six packs of beer.There’s probably a lot that you know about beer and the brewing process. And while the space is grand, it remains humble of nature. The Harpoon Brewery Beer Hall is just the latest step in that evolution. Harpoon started small, started here, and stayed local, even though their beers are now sold all over the country. This wasn’t some multinational beer conglomerate opening a bottling plant in Boston one day, flooding the market with its product, and ramming marketing slogans down our throats. Maybe that’s because I remember when Harpoon only made an IPA, and I got to watch as they expanded to seasonal varieties, complex specialty brews, even a cider. And one of the things I’ve always loved about this brewery – aside from the beer – is that despite its growth over the years, it’s maintained the character of a small, personal operation. Harpoon is a bona fide Boston institution. No wonder everyone seems to like working here. As another staff member told me, “the training here was great they really encouraged us to try the beers and get to know them.” It was a great recommendation by Jessica, and I never tire of helpful bartenders who know their beer and want to make sure you enjoy what you’re drinking. Approaching the bar and seeing so many options I’d never tried, along with so many familiar classics, I found myself momentarily overwhelmed and settled on a Celtic Red. If you’re a Harpoon lover, seeing this many varieties of their beer in one place is like a wet dream come true. There are about 15 to 20 beers on tap, all Harpoon of course (as if you’d come here and order a Coors Light). It was a pleasure to share in the good vibes. Bartenders, servers, and managers alike appeared happy to be working there, excited to finally have guests, and eager to talk about everything from the beer to the new addition to their brewery. The staff’s enthusiasm was both unmistakable and contagious. Melissa and I, enjoying the benefits of our membership in the free “Friend of Harpoon” club, scored tickets to one of the Beer Hall’s pre-opening sessions this past week. If you still need your personal space, there’s a second, smaller bar on the far end of the room. There are also multiple banks of beer taps, which minimizes waiting and lessens crowds gravitating to a single bartender. I lost count of the number of chairs, but there’s no shortage of them and the opposite side of the bar offers ample standing room. ![]() ![]() Pardon the limitations of my camera, but I’d need a wide-angle lens to capture even half of the mammoth bar, which looks to be slightly shorter than an airplane. ![]()
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