USA, MA: Mystic Brewery announces upcoming closure

Chelsea’s Mystic Brewery (174 Williams St.) is closing soon, winding down operations over the next few weeks, founder and brewer Bryan Greenhagen announced via the brewery’s Instagram account on September 27.

“During [the next few weeks] we will be celebrating what our brewery has accomplished by releasing some final batches, special beers, and selling off our beer archive as well as selling off all of our barrels to the public,” Greenhagen wrote, noting that details will be announced as plans are made. “All of us at Mystic extend our eternal gratitude to everyone who helped us and supported us in our mission to change beer culture for the better in Boston and beyond.”

Greenhagen founded the brewery in 2011, drawing inspiration from old Belgian traditions. The taproom debuted in 2014. In early 2018, former Eater Boston beer writer Alex Wilking described the brewery as one of five to watch that year. “In what seemed like an about-face, Mystic more or less rebranded and emerged as a hop juggernaut for the city late last year,” Wilking wrote. “Where there was once an IPA-less catalog, the Chelsea brewery is now pumping out double IPAs like Illegal Dance Moves, a 9 percent ABV monster made with Citra and Mandarina Bavaria hops, and more anomalous styles like Fabrication X, a hoppy farmhouse ale brewed with lactose. Where there was once a long list of corked-and-caged bottles, there are now cases of 16-ounce cans that sell out instantaneously.”

The brewery didn’t abandon its farmhouse roots, though, Wilking continued. “Saison Renaud remains a staple, and newer releases like the Brett Renaud and the can-conditioned Table Beer simultaneously challenge convention and retain tradition. If the brewery keeps at this pace, Boston drinkers should only expect bigger and badder things from the brand.”

Indeed, the brewery announced a planned expansion the following month; it was set to take over what was once a candlepin bowling alley in Malden. The 17,000-square-foot space would include a brewery, taproom, cheese counter, and outdoor space. In mid-2019, however, Mystic confirmed that the expansion would not be happening.

“Personally, I am very proud of the many Mystic alumni going on to their own success as well as the incredible team of great people we have now,” Greenhagen wrote on Instagram. “We are sad to wind down our work here, but we are proud of what we accomplished and know in our hearts that the impact of Mystic will remain long after the doors are closed.”

01 October, 2019