For over 30 years now there has been an outstanding project of passion brewing in South Deerfield. With dedication to quality and consistency and placing a premium on flavor, Berkshire Brewing Company (BBC) has raised the standard for all beers sold in Western Massachusetts and throughout the Northeast.
These hardworking craft folk opened the door for hundreds of commercial breweries in Massachusetts. Over the years they’ve expanded their offerings to meet the market, while consciously maintaining price points that allow good beer to be an affordable luxury.
Started in 1994 by Gary Bogoff (Pictured) and his co-founder, BBC was the first commercial production brewery in Western MA. At that time Gary was working as a contractor, they built the facility themselves utilizing a former tobacco production building in South Deerfield.
With the market at that time dominated by major labels like Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Coors, it is perhaps unsurprising that the growth of the homebrewing movement was generating a demand for a higher quality product – and the ability to create it. It was the ability to purchase ingredients like malt syrup at the local beer and wine shops that allowed homebrewers like Gary Bogoff to hone their skills. And while not every homebrewer can parlay their passion into a successful business model, the partnerships that brought about the grand opening of Berkshire Brewing on October 1st, 1994 have proved that it can be done.
Starting from a brew capacity of seven barrels at a time, their brewing schedule quickly progressed from once a month, to twice, then eventually once a day, and then twice a day. By the time they built the first addition to their building in the year 2000, they were working four employees in alternating 12-hour shifts to keep the brewery producing twenty-four hours a day for an annual yield of 6,000 barrels. An expansion at this stage was no small undertaking, but upon completion it practically tripled their brewing capacity from seven barrels at a time to twenty – an increase of 546 gallons per batch.
These years in particular saw an explosion of small breweries launching across the country. At the time when BBC launched, Gary had known pretty much everyone in the business. With the rapid expansion of the industry, it soon became difficult for all these brewers to keep track of each other.
From 1994 to today, the total number of breweries in the country has increased from around 500 to around 10,000. For a long time, it felt to Gary like new folks were popping up every week.
These days, Massachusetts hosts over 200 breweries. And while the variety and availability of great beer is a boon for the consumer, it has created a level of competition that wasn’t present in the earlier years. With shelf and tap space limited, brewers now find themselves in a fickle market that they’ve appropriately dubbed “rotation nation.” The great work they’d done to develop the palate of the consumer had created a monster that could only be satiated by constant change and stimulation.
And as the market grew and shifted, so did the evolving demand for packaged product. At one point BBC was the largest user of growler containers on the East Coast. In the early days it was a fantastic deal, roughly $2 a pint for their finest brews. In time, however, the demand for glass ebbed as a renewed interest in canning swept the industry. It’s hard to beat aluminum for reduced weight and versatility, so seven years ago BBC invested in their own canning line. No longer would they have to transport their own beer to an outside facility for canning.
Since then, they have produced 17,500,000 cans in-house, significantly cutting the cost of shipping and processing. And if you’re feeling nostalgic, you can still purchase their heritage line of brews in their classic 22oz glass bombers.
Through the years, BBC kept trucking along, focusing on their own development. After the hurdle of ramping up production in 2000, the biggest speed bump has likely been 2020 and the changes COVID brought with it. Steel Rail was, and is, on tap across the state. When restaurants, bars, and taverns all took a hit, so did BBC. Going from a keg a week at almost every bar in the area to nothing is a big shift.
While many operations have reopened, some have closed their doors for good, and folks still aren’t going out as much. That being said, last year was a great year for the company, and this year is looking just as good, with a bit of time left on the calendar.
And what a great year it has been, celebrating their 30th with a big bash in Greenfield full of music, food, and beer – including their first ever Pumpkin Ale. Designed by Gary’s son Noah (BBC’s current Head Brewer), they came up with a flavorful pumpkin doppelbock and named it after Gary himself.
It was a hit, and all 1,000 cases sold within just a few weeks. They were even able to pour the beer through a 1,200 pound pumpkin for their celebration, in partnership with Pumpkin Pete. Of course they had to harvest the seeds to continue Pete’s heritage line of giant pumpkins – and what better way than to lift it with a forklift and drop it, to the great amusement of all involved.
Through the Autumn season they also release their Turkey Trotter, a delicious brown ale, from which they donate a percentage of profit to the Food Bank of Western Mass. The same is true for Shabadoo, BBC’s classic black and tan. Since 1997, the company has donated close to $300,000 to support the incredible work the Food Bank does. While it’s a shame the need for this support continues to grow, it’s one way the Brewery is happy to help its friends and neighbors through the valley.
Gary Bogoff, Co-Founder (Left) and Brett Reiter, President (Right)
Through the Autumn season they also release their Turkey Trotter, a delicious brown ale, from which they donate a percentage of profit to the Food Bank of Western Mass. The same is true for Shabadoo, BBC’s classic black and tan. Since 1997, the company has donated close to $300,000 to support the incredible work the Food Bank does. While it’s a shame the need for this support continues to grow, it’s one way the Brewery is happy to help its friends and neighbors through the valley.
Berkshire Brewing Company
12 Railroad St, South Deerfield, MA 01373
(413) 665-6600