Mercury Brewing Company

Mercury Brewing Company

Industry	Brewery
Predecessor	Ipswich Brewing Co.
Founded	1999
Headquarters	USA
Products	Beer, Soda
Owner	Robert Martin
Website	ipswichalebrewery.com

Mercury Brewing Company is a brewery founded in 1999 in Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA.

History

The Mercury Brewing Company emerged in 1999 when Rob Martin, then Director of Operations for Ipswich Brewing Company, purchased the brewery and renamed the company Mercury Brewing and Distribution Company. While continuing production of Ipswich Ale, Martin expanded the company with Stone Cat Ales and Lagers, Mercury Premium Sodas, and numerous contract brewing agreements.

In 2007 beer production topped 14,000 bbl (434,000 US gal), a 44% increase from 2006. Soda production came to 1180 bbl (36,580 gal), an increase of 22% from the previous year.

Brands

• Ipswich Ale
• Five Mile Ales
• Stone Cat - In 1999 Mercury Brewing Company bought the Stone Cat brand from Modern Brewers in Cambridge, MA.
• Mercury Soda Pop

Mercury Brewing Company Timeline

1991: Ipswich Brewing Company founded by Paul Sylva and Jim Beauvais. Ipswich Ale and Dark Ale introduced on draft and in 64 fl oz growlers and 1 liter swingtops.

1995: Product line extended with Ipswich IPA and Oatmeal Stout; all styles introduced in 12 fl oz bottles.

1996: Ipswich 1722 Commemorative Porter is introduced.

1997: Ipswich Brewing Co. forms alliance with United States Beverage for sales and marketing support. Ipswich Winter Ale is introduced.

1998: Product line extended with Porter and Nut Brown. All packaged product contracted by Clipper City Brewing Co., in Baltimore, MD. Ipswich Ale Mustard is introduced.

1999: January: Ipswich Brand purchased by United States Beverage. Brewery still separately owned and operated.

1999: September: Rob Martin purchases Ipswich Brewing Co. from Sylva and Beauvais and renames brewery “Mercury Brewing and Distribution Company”. Martin buys Stone Cat brand; sells and self-distributes Stone Cat Ale, I.P.A., and E.S.B.

2000: Mercury Premium Soda line is established as 13 flavors of caffeine free, old-school sodas made with real sugar. The Stone Cat brand is expanded to include: Blonde, Blueberry Ale, Hefewiezen, Octoberfest, Pumpkin Ale, Winter Lager, and Scotch Ale. Mercury also starts contract brewing for Dornbush and Farmington River beer companies.

2001: Mercury Bubbly Water line is introduced. Dornbush ceases production.

2002: Cisco Brewers enlist Mercury to brew their Whale's Tail draft.

2003: Mercury purchases Ipswich Ale brand from United States Beverage. All Ipswich production reverts to Mercury. Ipswich Summer is introduced and Ipswich E.S.B. is discontinued. Ipswich is available in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

2004: Endurance Brewing Company contracts Mercury to design a recipe and brew Endurance Pale Ale.

2005: Ipswich Harvest Ale is introduced as a Fall seasonal. Contracts grow to include Cisco Brewers Whale's Tail and Sankaty Light, Cape Ann Brewing's Fisherman Ale and Fisherman's IPA(no longer a Mercury contracted customer), and the entire Z Street portfolio.

2006: New contracts include various Opa-Opa Steakhouse and Brewpub Ales and John Harvard's Pale Ale and Amber Ale. Beer production tops 9700 BBLs and 15,000 cases of soda for 2006. Distribution of Ipswich is expanded to parts of Pennsylvania and New York City.

2007: Capacity is expanded with the addition of three 80BBL fermentation tanks and three 128BBL bright tanks. Contract work expands to include Hook & Ladder, Offshore Ale, Sherwood Forest Brewers, and Kennebec River Brewing Company. Ipswich distribution is expanded to all of New Jersey and New Hampshire. Mercury now produces 47 different beers and 19 soft drinks. In 2007, beer production topped 14,000 bbl (434,000 gal), a 44% increase from 2006. Soda production came to 1180 bbl (36,580 gal), an increase of 22% from the previous year.

2009: Accepted a contract to begin brewing the Clown Shoes Beer line at the facility