Page 23 - BusinessWest September 4, 2023

“Having a really awesome space for people to visit has been at the core of moving us forward through the years.”
building — people were wondering what was going on back here when we first moved in,” he recalled. “But the city and the building owners got this grant money, and they were able to improve utilities — electrical, water — and add the parking lot you see now.”
Draught Choice
Over the years, ABB has added a number of new labels to the portfolio while continuing to produce many of what could be called its legacy brews, including Dirty Girl, a Western-style IPA; Galactic Insanity, a New England-style IPA; and Curbside Pils, a Bohemian- style Czech pilsner that has become a staple of the brewery. Additions over the years include Lola’s Saison, a pale-golden- colored, Belgian-style farmhouse Saison; Oktoberfest, ABB’s interpretation of a classic Marzen-style brew; Odin Quadrupel, the most complex Belgian-style ale in the portfolio — and the beer that started Tarlechi down the path to opening ABB — and Zappa Zappa Zappa, another New England IPA featuring a new and esoteric hop called Zappa.
These beers and others are available in the tap room, and also in cans in package stores across the region, said Tarlechi, adding that, like most breweries in this region, cans became the distribution model of choice, rather than ‘growlers,’ the large, half-gallon glass jugs that were popular several years ago, or the smaller bottles.
“It turns out that the aluminum can is actually a much better vessel for containing beer,” he explained, noting that a mobile can- ning operation comes to the brewery three or four times a month. “It doesn’t let any light in, the seal on it is much more durable than a bottlecap, and it’s easier to ship and easier to store.
“Once the cans came onto the market, it really changed every- thing — it allowed us to get into more locations,” he went on. “It’s a lot easier to sell to retail package stores with cans — they’re a little more attractive.”
But, as noted earlier, this venture has become about much than the beer, although that is still, and always will be, the main attraction.
Which brings us back to the space, to events like Food Truck Fri- days, and also to a food truck that has become a permanent part of
Mike Cook (left) and Will Meyer opened their Vegan Pizza Land trailer at Abandoned Building Brewery in May.
Staff Photo
the landscape in Easthampton, one selling vegan pizza. They all fac- tor large in the business plan moving forward.
“Having a really awesome space for people to visit has been at the core of moving us forward through the years,” Tarlechi said, adding that the space has
certainly evolved over the
years and has become a
destination of sorts, espe-
Brewery
>>
Continued on page 45
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