Your beer deserves more than a production slot.
Scale your beer without sacrificing quality, control, or communication. Castle Island partners with established breweries and beer brands to bring existing recipes to production scale.
30 BBL Brewhouse
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25 Jacketed Fermenters
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Multiple Can Sizes
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Massachusetts Based Production
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30/60 Barell Batches
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Multiple Draft Formats
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30 BBL Brewhouse - 25 Jacketed Fermenters - Multiple Can Sizes - Massachusetts Based Production - 30/60 Barell Batches - Multiple Draft Formats -
A production partner, not just a production facility.
You know your beer. We know how to make more of it. Our team brings the equipment, brewing experience, and hands-on communication needed to take your existing recipes from small batches to production scale.
We compete on communication.
Our contract clients always know what’s happening with their beer, and we work to make sure there are no surprises. The modern beer market is rapidly changing and incredibly demanding. Our team is accessible and ready to help.
We offer large-scale capacity with a small brewery ethos.
Our team has worked at breweries of all sizes, and we understand what small brewers are up against. We are here to assist you every step of the way with scaling up your brand. Whether it’s challenges, questions, concerns, or advice, you are more than just a slot on the production schedule.
We compete on service.
Brewing your beer right is one thing, but it’s nothing if you’re not getting the support you need. Our team prides itself on quick responsiveness, a solution-oriented approach, and a philosophy of being supportive and easy to work with.
We treat your brand like it’s our own.
We know how much trust it takes to put your brand in someone else’s hands. That’s why we make sure we treat it with the same care and attention you would, and ensure every drop of beer comes out exactly as expected.
We partner with existing brands looking to scale without losing quality. Your flagship is growing and you can no longer keep up with production in-house. You have existing distribution and proven demand, but your capacity is constrained and you need help. Most importantly, you need to be able to spend your time focused on other aspects of your business.
Who we are A good fit for
Breweries scaling production to meet growing demand
Breweries who do not have a facility of their own, but have recipes and in house brewing knowledge/experience and operate as contract and/or gypsy brewers.
Who we are not A good fit for
Start-ups looking for an R&D facility to brew test batches of products that have yet to be brought to market.
Breweries looking for a partner to design recipes or create new products.
Recipe Review
Step 1
Recipe Drafting
Step 2
Pricing
Step 3
Sourcing
Step 4
The typical contract client onboarding process takes approximately 10-12 weeks, from first conversation to the first batch rolling off the packaging line. The recipe review, drafting, and pricing process typically lasts anywhere from 2-6 weeks, and our production schedule typically books out 6-8 weeks. In a perfect world we would have 90 days from first call to first can, but we’ve done more with less.
We work with top ingredient suppliers from all over the world, and chances are if we don’t have it, we can get it. Although we don’t require ingredients to be sourced by us, most contract clients prefer us to source everything, allowing them to take advantage of cost efficiencies while alleviating the logistical headaches of supply chain management.
Our lab is equipped with modern, state-of-the-art equipment to measure precise gravity readings, dissolved oxygen and carbonation accuracy from knockout through packaging. Our lab also maintains rigorous in-house yeast management, including precision pitching, plating, and micro-monitoring. We make sure your product hits spec and stays shelf-stable in the market.
Production
Step 5
Quality Control
Step 6
Logistics
Step 7
No annual minimums, no exclusivity clauses, no long-term supply commitments. We work batch to batch! We are more than happy to run a single 30 bbl batch or plan an annual schedule of 2,000+ bbls. We meet regularly with our clients for long-range production planning and demand forecasting, and we don't penalize partners when planned volume shifts. Business is dynamic and our process is built to be flexible with it.
Production Capabilities
We brew on an 30-barrel, 3-vessel system, and our cellar is equipped with 25 jacketed, stainless steel fermenters ranging from 30- to 60-barrels. Our facility is equipped with a Rolec DH-90, which allows cold-side additions including dry hops, purees, and extracts—all under pressure, without exposing your beer to oxygen or contaminants. Our Alfa-Laval centrifuge dials in appearance, from brilliant to hazy, with minimal batch-to-batch variation.
Packaging Capabilities
We package in three can formats: 12 oz, 16 oz, and 19.2 oz with low pallet minimums per format, a rare offering at the 30- to 60-barrel scale. Our in-house standard secondary packaging format is PakTech handles, which are regularly available in 4-pack and 6-pack formats; additional formats may be available upon request. Kegged product is also available, and we routinely work with clients that have both owned- and leased-cooperage. Keg cleaning is also available for a nominal fee.
logistics
We work with you and/or your existing distributor(s) to ensure your product is ready for shipment from our Norwood, MA facility when needed. We handle regulatory reporting (including COLAs and Formulas) and excise tax remittance with the Tax and Trade Bureau and the Massachusetts ABCC. All of this amounts to a smooth, hassle-free, post-packaging experience that allows you to focus on what you need to: growing your brand.
limitations
While there’s a ton we can do, there are a few things we currently do not offer. We do not handle recipe or brand development, we do not offer sales planning or analysis, and we do not offer distribution services. We are not equipped to produce non-alcoholic beer/wine, and we do not currently do any distilling or offer spirits-based RTD (ready-to-drink) cocktails. Additionally, there are some unique packaging formats and laboratory services that are beyond our current in-house capabilities. We are always happy to take a look at your product needs, and we will always let you know what we can and cannot do.