D
orchester Brewing, a staple in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, has undergone significant changes. The company co-founder sold the brewery and taproom to Plumbers & Gasfitters UA Local 12, a plumbers union with a property next door, for $10.2 million. However, this sale doesn't necessarily spell disaster for the brewery. Dorchester Brewing is leasing the property back from the union on a year-to-year basis.

    The funds from the sale will be used to pay down the company's debt, which includes variable-rate U.S. Small Business Administration loans taken out to purchase equipment. The pandemic has had a lasting impact on the brewery, with visits declining and still yet to recover. In response, Dorchester Brewing announced it would wind down its contract-brewing operations by next year.

    Despite this, the brewery remains committed to investing in the space, which includes a greenroom and rooftop deck. Co-founder Matt Malloy hinted at something "really fricking cool" coming to the property without revealing further details. The plumbers union, meanwhile, sees the purchase as a long-term play, potentially using the space as a training facility.