Barrel House Z 2016
As most of you know, June is our 4th year anniversary month (woohoo!!) We’re proud and humbled by the journey we’ve been on since 2016. Even during challenging times, it’s important to take a moment to celebrate all that we’ve been accomplished and all that we’re looking forward to. Our entire team, and each fan of BHZ, has helped guide us on our path. We thank you all for your contributions! The community we have seen come together over these past four years is incredible.
Way back in 2016, our founder, Russ Heissner started Barrel House Z with a team determined to brew small-batch, creatively conceived beer. Heissner, who got his start as Harpoon’s first head brewer, decided it was time for him to get back to his brewing roots. The founding team was hard working and extremely resourceful … just like all the folks working at 95 Woodrock Road today. Sunny and 79° was our first beer and we’re incredibly proud of every other beer we’ve brewed, from barrel-aged stouts to IPAs to kettle sours. By our count, we’ve brewed about 168 beers—and we’re always looking forward to the next brew day.
In honor of our birthday month, we’re excited to announce some great celebratory releases this month. Here’s a few highlights. More surprises to come!
● Berry Fields 4 Ever || Fruited Oat Ale 4.4%
Raise a glass to our four-year anniversary with this fruited oat ale conditioned with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Berry-bursting flavor and super drinkable.
● Townie Double || Irish Ale, Fermented in Bully Boy Whiskey Barrel 10% Even bigger + smoother notes of caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, and toffee. Touch of char + oak-y tannins.
● Lemon Drop Hard Seltzer 5% Another crazy-good, cocktail-inspired seltzer. Glorious lemon fizz with just the right sweetness.
● Strawberry + Kiwi Crush || Kettle Sour 4.2% Bright notes of strawberry + kiwi, plus a tangy, refreshing finish. Sessionable ABV
● Pengtaur || NEIPA 7% Coming back by overwhelming demand! Juicy, ripe fruit balanced by bright grapefruit and lime zestiness. Right haze. Right Juice. Right Acidity.
Want to give a quick taproom update now that our Bay State is in Phase II. We carefully considered re-opening our taproom as Phase II allows—outdoor-use only. After much discussion, we made the tough decision to keep our taproom closed a few weeks longer. We will reopen (never fear!), but we want to see how the next few weeks play out and plan accordingly. When the taproom re-opens, you’ll find a thoughtfully planned, safe, true extension of the BHZ experience we all love ... and miss! Beer to-go sales will continue in our Back Annex. We’re changing & extending our summertime hours to serve you better:
BHZ Back Annex: Wednesday – Saturday 12-7pm • Sunday 12-4pm
We can’t sign off without acknowledging the unrest our society has gone through following the death of George Floyd. At Barrel House Z, we wholeheartedly support the call to unite and push for equality. Change must happen. We’re working to determine how we, as a small business, can best use our voice and experience to assist. We support diversity in business and will work to listen and learn more about the challenges facing people of color. A Minnesota craft brewery we admire noted, “beer and conversation go hand-in hand … and if a conversation is hard, it’s worth having.” We couldn’t agree more.
Looking forward to next year’s anniversary and the continued the joy of bringing people together over beer! Whether that’s a beer in our taproom (eventually)—or a beer at home, in the yard, or on the front stoop. Our connections are real—and always best with beer that’s local, fresh, and cold.
Cheers. Be well + be kind–
TEAM BHZ
