About
Crafting quality lagers and IPAs with a focus on traditional German brewing techniques in Easthampton, MA since 2014.
In 2010, after working for a brewery in Eastern Massachusetts and attending the Siebel Institute for brewing, Eric began looking for a location for a new brewery. He visited over 60 different sites, but all had risks of contamination because of their previous history as a manufacturing site. Refusing to put the quality of his future brews in jeopardy, he looked west, considering locations in Southampton, Three Rivers, Palmer, and Easthampton. He ultimately settled on a hay field in Easthampton at the base of Mount Tom, located on Fort Hill Road. A former dairy farm, the site had never been used for manufacturing.
Why Easthampton? The water.
Per the German purity law, water is one of only four main ingredients that go into our beer. We strive to use the highest quality ingredients in our beer, and the water was no exception. Easthampton’s water comes from the Barnes Aquifer system, a complex of several productive aquifers extending about twelve miles underground. In 2015, Easthampton won the gold medal for best tasting water in the 16th annual Great American Water Taste Test. We like to think better water means better beer, and we think you’ll agree.
Finding the right location was just the beginning. In November 2012, Fort Hill Brewery rose under the watchful eye of Mount Tom. Construction went on for two years before the first beer, an Oktoberfest, was released in 2014. The same month, Fort Hill Brewery opened its doors to the public, offering tastings, tours, and growlers, as we continue to do a year later today.
The other key reason for Easthampton - Eric liked it here. Easthampton is a nice town and a great place to live!
Phone
(413) 203-5754
Location
30 Fort Hill Road
off of East Street
Easthampton, MA 01027
Hours
Thursdays: 4:00 - 7:00
Fridays: 4:00 - 8:00
Saturdays: 2:00 - 8:00
Sundays: 2:00 - 6:00
Tasting Room
Our Tasting Room and outdoor patio are open Thursdays 4:00 - 7:00, Fridays 4:00 - 8:00, Saturdays 2:00 - 8:00, and Sundays 2:00 - 6:00. We usually have a food truck, but you are also welcome to bring your own food. We do not take reservations - tables are on a first come, first serve basis. Feel free to bring your pooch as long as they are on a non-retractable leash! Children are also welcome, but must remain with you at all times.
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Fort Hill Brewery is growing. We sell primarily in Western Massachusetts, the Greater Boston area and select markets in Europe. Our current openings are listed below. Please contact us at info@forthillbrewery.com with a current resume. (No phone calls or drop-ins, please.)
Brewery Representative - Boston/Eastern MAssachusetts
(Particularly South Shore, please see below)
Brewery Representative - WEstern MASSachusetts
Sales Manager - Massachusetts
(In addition to functioning as a Brewery Representative, the Sales Manager hires, trains and oversees our salesforce. Please see below.)
Brewery Representative - Boston / Eastern MA
The Brewery Representative works independently to develop new accounts and maintain existing accounts. The Representative will function in an Outside and Inside Sales capacity.
Our Products:
Fort Hill Brewery has a broad portfolio with about 20 products which includes not just IPAs, lagers but seltzers as well. Our most popular offerings:
Fresh Pick – our flagship beer, an IPA made with Citra and Mosaic hops in a proprietary process that has resulted in multiple awards.
Jigsaw Jazz – a very smooth double IPA with 9.3% alcohol and a dry flavor.
Hera Pils – a Czech Pilsner with Czech Saaz Hops. Our lagers are so good that we have even done contract brewing for larger breweries.
Our Philosophy:
Our philosophy is to sell 5-star beers at a 3-star price.
We do not utilize distributors in order to keep a close relationship with customers.
The Representative’s Responsibilities:
Customer Service:
Existing Customers: Fort Hill has a large existing client base (stores, bars and restaurants). The Representative will communicate with Customers to ensure that their product needs are met on a timely basis.
Potential Customers: The Representative will seek new Customers from lists provided by Fort Hill as well as candidates identified by the Representative.
Promotional and Other Activities:
Conducting waitstaff / bartender educations, beer tastings and promotions
Regular travel in the market to service retailers, bars and restaurants
There may be an occasional requirement to work weekends (e.g., tastings).
Minimum Qualifications:
A pleasant personality and a lot of enthusiasm.
High School Diploma or GED. Bachelor's degree preferred.
Valid driver's license, a registered and insured vehicle.
Ability to occasionally lift and move cases of beer.
Hours / Compensation:
12-15 hours per week minimum, or, full-time.
Compensation will be attractive and will include a mix of salary, commissions and discretionary bonuses.
1776 Brewing Company (dba Fort Hill Brewery) is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. In order to help ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who wish to request accommodation in the job application process can contact eric@forthillbrewery.com for assistance.
Sales Manager - Massachusetts
In addition to working as a Brewery Representative, the Sales Manager will be responsible for hiring, training and monitoring our salesforce.
Additional Qualifications:
Sales management experience – A track record of success in managing a salesforce, preferably in the beverage industry.
Hours / Compensation:
12-15 hours per week minimum, full-time preferred.
Compensation will be attractive and will include a mix of salary, commissions, over-rides and discretionary bonuses.
1776 Brewing Company (dba Fort Hill Brewery) is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. In order to help ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who wish to request accommodation in the job application process can contact eric@forthillbrewery.com for assistance.