New Program Aimed At Spurring Community Investment in Massachusetts Craft Breweries

MAINVEST AND MASSACHUSETTS BREWERS GUILD ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF “INVESTING IN MASSACHUSETTS CRAFT BREWERS” A LOCALIZED PROGRAM ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO INVEST AS LITTLE AS $100 DIRECTLY INTO OUR BURGEONING CRAFT BREWING SCENE.

The Mass Brewers Guild, the state’s trade association that exists to protect and promote the interests of Massachusetts craft breweries, has partnered with Mainvest, a Salem-based investment platform enabling small businesses to harness community investment to fuel their growth, to launch “Investing in Massachusetts Craft Brewers,” a program to enable individuals of any income level to become investors in the growing Massachusetts craft beer community.

“Owning, operating and growing a successful craft brewery takes capital -- funds that can be difficult to come by in today’s tight lending market,” says Katie Stinchon, executive director of the Mass Brewers Guild. “Mainvest has helped several of our state’s breweries get up and running so they can help revitalize downtown areas, employ locals and drive traffic and tourism to our state. We are excited about our new partners in this space and the support local investors can provide to aid these small business owners in fulfilling their dreams.” 

Over the past five years Mainvest has helped over 350 small businesses, and over 50 craft breweries, across America access capital to maintain and grow their small businesses, providing local communities with great food, good beer, local jobs, local wealth building opportunities and spaces that support and build community. Through Mainvest’s innovative platform, they allow anyone to become an investor in their community, investing with as little as $100 in local businesses and real estate offerings, strengthening the connection people have to their small businesses while providing capital on friendly terms to local entrepreneurs. 

“Massachusetts Craft Breweries have become a major force in local economic development, job creation and community building,” said Jonathan Berk, Mainvest’s VP of Growth and Partnerships. “We’re thrilled to be able to work with Massachusetts Brewers Guild to provide individuals across Massachusetts the opportunity to invest directly in their favorite local breweries while providing area breweries with this new opportunity to access the capital they need to sustain and grow their operations locally.”

Anyone interested in raising funds for their brewery or signing up to be alerted of new investment opportunities in Massachusetts breweries can sign up on the “Investing in Massachusetts Craft Brewers” landing page (mainvset.com/massbrew).

An explainer video from a recent webinar can be found below:

Local beer enthusiasts can help make Quincy's first craft brewery a reality

Break Rock Brewing partners with MainVest to bring world-class craft beer to the City of Presidents

QUINCY, MASS. – Quincy is the largest city in New England without a local craft brewery – but that’s about to change and Boston beer lovers can help make it a reality. 

Break Rock Brewing LLC has announced a partnership with MainVest, the crowd-source funding site devoted to reshaping America’s Main Streets with innovative, locally owned businesses, many of them celebrated new brands in the food & drinks space. 

The fundraising campaign began on June 13 and ends on August 14. 

“We are committed to bringing a world-class craft brewery to Quincy and we’re excited to offer this opportunity to our neighbors to help make it a reality,” said Break Rock Brewing founder, brewer and president Jay Southwood. “Working with MainVest affords the hard-working, beer-loving people of Quincy and neighboring communities a chance to invest the city’s only craft brewery while helping enhance this diverse, dynamic community.”

MainVest offers residents, neighbors, craft beer fans and investors an easy opportunity to help open Break Rock Brewing Co. 

Details of the opportunity are found here on the MainVest website. 

Southwood is a South Shore native, Dorchester resident and Boston beer industry veteran who currently works at Mayflower Brewing Co. in Plymouth. Break Rock’s brewhouse will be headed by Vilija Bizinkauskas, also a South Shore native who currently brews beer for Drop In Brewing Co. in Middlebury, Vermont.

 Southwood and his team are working to a secure a location in Quincy. The Break Rock brand and its motto – “Work Hard. Drink Well” – pays homage to the city’s working-class heritage and industrial history, specifically the city’s internationally celebrated former granite quarrying industry. Bunker Hill Monument, among other iconic buildings and monuments around America, are built of Quincy granite. 

Break Rock will brew and distribute beer in an around Quincy, and also serve beer in its own neighborhood taproom.

 “Drinking beer should be casual and fun, something to enjoy after a hard day of work,” said Southwood. “We expect our brewery to be a little bit different than most contemporary craft beer taprooms.”

“Guests will find a warm, welcoming neighborhood tavern that happens to brew world-class American craft beer. Break Rock Brewing will be a place for everyone from local sports fans to experienced craft beer aficionados, offering great beer in a casual, laid-back environment.”

Southwood and the Break Rock team is working to finalize a location in Quincy and anticipates opening and serving the community by 2020.

For more information about investing in Break Rock, visit the MainVest website. You can also follow Break Rock here on its website or on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. 

“Break Rock will combine the best of the modern taproom with everything you love about your favorite neighborhood pub – a fun and inviting atmosphere, a sense of community, and great beer,” said Southwood. 

Quincy was briefly the home of Quincy Ships Brewing Co., featuring beer from legendary New England brewer Tod Mott. But that operation closed its doors in 2002.