Drew Brosseau says he’s hoping to save Mayflower Brewing Co., his 17-year-old pioneering craft brewery in the Plymouth Industrial Park that has gained a reputation among beer drinkers throughout New England.
In a message to the Massachusetts Brewers Guild – and reposted on Reddit – Brosseau earlier said he planned to end production at the end of January. But on Monday, Brosseau told the Independent he was still trying to find a way to keep the brewery in business.
“We are working hard to keep the brewery in place and running, open for business,” he said of the company, which promotes itself as “America’s hometown brewery.”
“We appreciate everyone’s support over the years,” Brosseau said. He declined further comment.
Mayflower’s struggles come at a time when the craft beer industry has been consolidating and contracting. The downturn has been attributed to oversaturation in the marketplace and changes in consumers’ habits. People are drinking less beer, especially those who are turning to cannabis products as an alternative to alcoholic beverages.
On top of that, the U.S. surgeon general recently warned about the link between drinking and some cancers, which could further drive down sales of alcoholic beverages.
Katie Stinchon, executive director of the Massachusetts Brewers Guild, lauded Brosseau and his company.
“Drew Brosseau is just an incredible person, an incredible brewer, and has been supporting other breweries in our community for the past 17 years” she said. (Brosseau is one of the guild’s founding board members.)
Mayflower is among seven breweries in Plymouth, which has become a destination for beer lovers. Founded in 2007, it is also the oldest and by far the biggest. The others are Vitamin Sea, Untold Brewing, Second Wind, IndieFerm, Llama Nama, and Sour not Sorry.
Mayflower makes and packages all its beer at it 9,000-square-foot facility in the Industrial Park, where there is also a taproom, a retail store, and a beer garden.
The brewery also operates a summer beer garden on the village green in the Pinehills, and at many events throughout the year.
It distributes its own beer in Eastern Massachusetts and has deals with distributors in Central and Western Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, and Maine.
The company’s current beer lineup includes Crispy Business, a Kolsch-style ale; its signature porter; four IPAs, including the original, Leisure Mode, New World, and Love and Wrestling; and its Thanksgiving Ale.
“Almost everybody knows their porter, their flagship ale,” said Stinchon. “Everyone looks forward to their Thanksgiving Ale.”
The company’s current beer lineup includes Crispy Business, a Kolsch-style ale, its signature porter, and four IPAs: the original, Leisure Mode, New World, and Love and Wrestling, as well as its Thanksgiving Ale. She called news of Mayflower’s possible closure disheartening.
“They’ve been one of the foundations of the craft beer industry in Massachusetts,” she said.
Stinchon said Mayflower is putting its intellectual property up for sale, which means that the brand could keep going under new ownership, much as Castle Island Brewing recently did when it bought Cambridge Brewing Company.
Nationwide, for the first time since 2005, more craft breweries closed in 2024 than opened. Massachusetts has 236 breweries. In 2024, she said, 17 closed and 17 opened.
“It used to be that you could open up a brewery in any part of the state or the country, for that matter, and it would be this overnight success,” Stinchon said. “That really isn’t happening anymore.”
She pointed to soaring costs of ingredients (including water), electricity, and health care.
But she does not expect the kegs to run dry.
“Breweries are still opening,” she said. “Craft beer is not going anywhere.”
Fred Thys can be reached at fred@plymouthindependent.org.