Harpoon parent company buys Long Trail Brewing brands

Mass. Bay Brewing Co. (parent company of Harpoon Brewery), has reached an agreement in principle to acquire Long Trail Brewing Company, producers of the Long Trail, Otter Creek, and Shed brands. Long Trail was established in 1989 and Otter Creek in 1991. The two brands joined forces in 2010.

“The Long Trail family of brands represents more than just the right strategic fit for our business. After talking with Dan Fulham about ways we could potentially partner and create efficiencies when it comes to brewing in Vermont, it became clear that we’d be stronger together,” said Dan Kenary, CEO and co-founder of Mass. Bay Brewing Company. “We have been Vermont brewers for more than 20 years and are excited to deepen our already significant roots here, while being great stewards of these brands.”

As part of the agreement, Mass. Bay Brewing Company will continue to operate the Long Trail facility in Bridgewater Corners, but will begin brewing Long Trail, Otter Creek and Shed beers in its own brewery in Windsor.

“Dan Kenary and I have been friends for a long time – and we have a shared commitment to the Vermont community and passion for making great beer. So when the time came to choose someone to take the helm at Long Trail, I knew Dan and the team at Mass. Bay Brewing Company would be the right choice to carry on and protect the Long Trail legacy,” said Daniel Fulham, CEO of Long Trail.

WhistlePig Whiskey, based in Shoreham, will assume ownership of the Otter Creek and Shed brewery in Middlebury. After a transition period, WhistlePig will convert production capabilities to bottling and distilling and continue to use the extensive brewing capabilities in Middlebury. Founded in 2007, WhistlePig has become the #1 whiskey in the ultra-premium and luxury Rye category in North America.

Jeff Kozak, CEO of WhistlePig added, “We believe the additional production capacity in Middlebury will complement our grain-to-glass distilling and warehousing operation on our 500-acre farm and are hopeful we can continue to grow both our brands and job opportunities in our community.”