Worm Turns: Jack's Abby Buying Wormtown Brewery

WORCESTER, MA — Two of the region's biggest local beer makers will become one this summer, with Framingham-based Jack's Abby announcing plans to buy Worcester's Wormtown Brewery.

The two breweries already have wide distribution in New England, but the sale will create a new single brewery that will be one of the top 10 largest family-owned brewers in the U.S. The new entity will be known as Hendler Family Brewing Company, although both beer brands will remain.

The Hendler family said the new entity will produce about 110,000 barrels of beer per year, almost double what Jack's Abby produced alone in 2023, according to industry estimates. The company will still be the third-largest in Massachusetts, but will be close behind the state's No. 2 brewer, Mass Bay Brewing Co., maker of Harpoon.

Jack's Abby co-founders and brothers Jack, Eric and Sam Hendler said in a message to customers that Wormtown's Worcester and Foxborough taprooms will remain as it is with no Jack's Abby on tap for now. Same goes for Jack's downtown Framingham headquarters.

"The pandemic put unimaginable pressures onto Massachusetts breweries which have been compounded by the ensuing supply chain instability, record high inflation, employee shortages, and a ton of other challenges for small to midsize brewers," CEO Sam Hendler said in a news release. "Wormtown — headlined by Be Hoppy IPA, is a stalwart brand in Massachusetts and we are incredibly excited to secure the ongoing legacy of their craft and products."

Wormtown got its start in 2010, first operating out of Peppercorn's along Park Avenue. The company recently expanded its Shrewsbury Street taproom, taking over the space of a now-closed restaurant. Jack's Abby got its start about a year later, jumping into the beer market with a hoppy spin on traditionally not hoppy lager styles.

Both breweries saw recent milestones linked to sports teams. Wormtown with the opening of its Gilette Stadium taproom and restaurant, and Jack's Abby becoming the official brewer of the Boston Celtics.

With Wormtown and Jack's Abby as the brewer's two main brands, the company will also launch a contract brewing operation called Jack's Beverage Co. The new brewing company will have about 200 employees, which will include many of the non-ownership staff employed by Wormtown.

Related: Decocting A Decade: Jack's Abby Looks Back On 10-Year Anniversary