White Lion brings brewing back to Springfield

June 30, 2021 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

White Lion founder Ray Berry, Jr. thanked his staff for helping to make his dream a reality.
Reminder Publishing photo by G. Michael Dobbs

SPRINGFIELD – In 2014, Ray Berry Jr. started a dream that culminated in the official opening of the White Lion Brewery and Taproom on June 23.

It was in 2014 that Berry started his White Lion beer line by brewing it at a contract brewery in Ipswich and starting the work of getting his beer into bars, restaurant and stores.

Berry’s accomplishment was celebrated not only by Mayor Domenic Sarno, state Rep. Bud Williams and state Sen. Adam Gomez, but also by Jim Koch, the co-founder of Sam Adams Beer and a seminal figure in American craft brewing.

Both Sarno and Koch cracked open a beer during their remarks.

“That’s music to my ears,” Sarno said of the can popping open.

Berry explained to Reminder Publishing he had originally planned to have a brewery and taproom in Springfield by late 2017 or early 2018, but there were “a couple of hiccups.”

He had to find a location that met the criteria for a brewery. Fortunately, he reconsidered the space at Tower Square that had been the site of a restaurant and spoke to the new ownership of the building.

He called it “an ideal location.”

Besides serving the full line of White Lion Beer, the taproom’s kitchen will be run by Chef Andrew Brown, of High Brow Wood Fired Kitchen of Northampton, Berry said. The food service should start in about two weeks, he added.

Berry said future plans would include entertainment in the taproom, which holds 120 guests. Berry will feature music, comedy and spoken word performances.

Sarno said with the opening of White Lion, “It’s back to the future,” alluding to the rich history of brewing in Springfield that ended in the late 1940s.

Berry is one of only five African-Americans who own breweries in the commonwealth. There are currently 220 craft beer producers.

Koch said he met Berry six years ago and said “I saw in him, myself, although he’s better looking and better dressed.”

He understood Berry’s struggle to establish the White Lion brand and recalled, like Berry, of driving cases of his beer from bar to bar and store to store convincing business owners to try it.

“It’s not easy to start a small brewery,” he added.

Koch also noted Congressman Richard Neal is “the best friend in Washington D.C. to the community of small brewers,” referring to legislation for which Neal has been an advocate.

Berry stressed the opening of White Lion was team effort and thanked his Head Brewer and operating partner Mike Yates. “He believed in just a dream.” Berry added.

He also stressed the diversity of the company and said to the audience, “We are a true reflection of you. You are a true reflection of White Lion.”

For more information, go to www.whitelion.com.

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