Harpoon Brewery Doubles Brewing Capacity

Boston, MA –The Harpoon Brewery, New England’s largest craft brewer, has begun installation of over $1.5 million worth of new brewing equipment at its Boston-based facility, taking the first steps toward doubling its production capacity. The brewery installation will take approximately ten weeks to complete.

On Friday, October 25 at 10:00 am, the brewery will celebrate the arrival of the new equipment with a dedication ceremony presided over by Mayor Thomas Menino. The ceremony will take place amidst the construction at the South Boston brewery.

The new equipment includes four brewing vessels ranging in size from 8.6 feet in diameter to 16.1 feet in diameter. The largest tank, the Lauter Tun, boasts a capacity of over 10,000 gallons. The tanks were built by a German manufacturing company, Huppmann, and shipped to the US assembled in crates. Huppmann employees will be on sight to oversee the installation.

"We are excited about our new brewing equipment, because it will enable us to continue to brew our high quality beers while keeping up with the increasing demand for Harpoon in Boston," says Rich Doyle, Harpoon CEO and co-founder. "We are very proud to be a thriving business in this city, and to be a national leader in the growth of the craft brewing industry," he adds.

Founded in 1986, the Harpoon Brewery, which has grown over 730% between 1992 and 2002, now produces in excess of 70,000 barrels of beer on an annual basis. The company, which was ranked by Inc. Magazine as one the 500 fastest growing privately owned U.S. companies in 1996 and 1997, currently employs 65 people at its Boston, MA and Windsor, VT breweries.

The Harpoon Brewery distributes its products throughout the Northeast. The Harpoon Brewery’s line of craft beer features nine year-round beers, including its signature Harpoon IPA, and four special seasonal selections. In June 2000, the Harpoon Brewery purchased the Catamount Brewery in Windsor, Vermont. For more information contact Liz Melby at (617) 574-9551 ext. 523 or visit their website at www.harpoonbrewery.com.