BOSTON – Harpoon Brewery is teaming up with another local New England distillery to join the fight against COVID-19 by producing and distributing hand sanitizer for workers on the frontlines. Together with Salem, Mass.-based Deacon Giles, Harpoon Brewery has begun dispensing batches of hand sanitizer.
Initial shipments have been donated to Boston YMCAs in order to support the emergency childcare centers open to essential workers. Current and future shipments of the hand sanitizer are also being shared with the Boston Resiliency Fund in order to get this vital product in the hands of essential frontline workers.
“There is nothing more important than supporting workers putting themselves at risk for the sake of others during this time,” says Dan Kenary, CEO and co-founder of Harpoon Brewery. “Beer and spirits producers are in a unique position to be able to use our primary product and production methods to create hand sanitizer, which is vital in helping fight the spread of this virus. We are proud to be partnering with Deacon Giles to support our frontline workers right here at home.”
“We feel fortunate to have the capabilities to shift our production to create hand sanitizer for those who need it most,” says Jesse Brenneman, President of Deacon Giles Distillery. “When we decided to move forward with this project, we knew we had the opportunity to partner with other players in the alcohol industry to make an impact. We are excited to be working with Harpoon Brewery on something so important to the community and help in a tangible way.”
Due to restrictions to on-premise consumption, many breweries and distilleries across the country have the available resources and equipment to help produce ethanol-based hand sanitizer. To make the product, Harpoon Brewery sent Deacon Giles beer that was left untapped at the brewery, which they then distilled and turned into hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizer was then shipped back to Boston for Harpoon to begin distribution.
The runs are being packaged in half gallon jugs. Other Massachusetts craft beverage producers involved in this effort include Aaronap Cellers, Boston Wort Processors, Far From The Tree Cider, Granite Coast Brewing, Ipswich Ale, and Notch Brewing. For more information, visit http://www.harpoon.com.
About the Harpoon Brewery
The Harpoon Brewery was founded in 1986 by beer lovers who wanted more and better beer options. When the Brewery was founded, Harpoon was issued Brewing Permit #001 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, since it was the first to brew commercially in Boston after a dormant period of about 25 years. Since then, it has expanded to a second brewery in Windsor, VT. Harpoon’s line of craft beer features its award-winning IPA and seasonal beers, along with special limited releases. In 2014, Harpoon became an employee-owned company.