Hitchcock Brewing Company

HBC, named after ancient Glacial Lake Hitchcock, started as 10-barrel farm brewery in May 2016.  It was located in Whately, MA amidst views of Sugarloaf Mountain, Hitchcock Hopyard, historic tobacco barns and acres and acres of active farmland.

The brewery’s opening was the culmination of a 30-year vision for the husband and wife team of Rich & Geneva Pedersen. After working for 30 years in their respective professions, Rich in the IT field and Geneva in the medical field, they decided to retire and follow their dreams. 

Rich has been a home brewer for over 30 years and Geneva loves gardening, hiking and all things outdoors. With the rise in craft brewing and their combined passion for brewing and gardening, they decided to make a new career for themselves brewing beer and growing hops. In 2013, they planted over 800 hop plants. Over the winter of 2015, Rich converted the barn into a brewery. The first batch of beer was brewed and sold by mid May 2016. 

With steady growth over the first 3 years and not enough space to expand in the original brewery, the search for new space began in the summer of 2018.  By January of 2019, solid plans and commitments were made to move the brewery to Bernardston. Lots of permitting, planning and construction ensued.  Expecting the brewery to grow substantially with the move, the decision was made to stop growing hops so that the focus could be on the brewery 100%. By late September 2019, all work was completed and the brewery was open for business with a grand re-opening the first weekend of October 2019. 

In our new location, we are continuing our business in a beautiful but different country setting.  We are expanding from a small tasting room in Whately where the air was filled with the smells of farms and fields and the sounds of birds and tractors, to a large taproom in Bernardston where the smell of freshly brewed beer wafts over the 2 large bars and the sound of live music fills the room.

Rich brews primarily American Ales. He also uses local produce (raspberries, blueberries, maple syrup, pumpkin, and squash) whenever possible. He makes beer that he likes to drink meaning they are full of flavor, crisp and clean, low on acidity, and true to style. His passion for all things beer shows through in the quality of his beer, his committed attitude for his customers and his enthusiastic conversations about the brewery and beer in general.

 
 

BREWERY LOCATION & MAILING ADDRESS

203 South Street, PO Box 536
Bernardston MA 01337

BREWERY HOURS

MONDAY:CLOSED
TUESDAY: CLOSED
WEDNESDAY: 4-8PM, CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS JANUARY 1st to MAY 1st
THURSDAY: 4-8PM
FRIDAY: 3-9PM
SATURDAY: 12-9PM
SUNDAY: 12-6PM

 FOOD MENU:

  • Nachos & Salsa

  • Jumbo Bavarian Pretzel with cheese and/or mustard

  • Pizza Slices

  • Chili (Seasonally)

  • Hotdogs with chips

  • Nachos with chili (Seasonally)

ALL BEERS ON TAP AVAILABLE FOR:

  • Poured Pints to drink on site

  • 16oz 4-pack Cans for purchase and off site consumption

  • We no longer fill growlers.

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