Great North Aleworks

Author: greatnorth

By in Tasting Room, News 0

Great North…To Go & Delivery!

UPDATE: Now accepting delivery orders until 12-noon on Friday, March 27th for delivery on Friday, March 27th.

We have some updates for this week! Online ordering is now available for pick-up at the brewery or free delivery all while supporting the New Hampshire Food Bank! 

To Go Ordering: You can order beer & merch online, and you can pick it up at our retail counter, or we can bring it out to your car. You can order here and select “Pick-up” as the fulfillment type.

We will be open the same hours as last week – 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wed/Thu/Fri and 1:00-4:00 p.m. Sat/Sun.

Delivery: We are now offering pre-paid pick-up at our brewery and free delivery to your home on orders of $40 or more! Our delivery areas are:

  • Greater Manchester, Hooksett, Goffstown, Londonderry, Derry
  • Greater Portsmouth, Dover, Rochester
  • Greater Concord, Hopkinton, Epsom
  • Greater Nashua, Merrimack, Bedford

Here’s how it works:

  1. Visit https://great-north-aleworks.square.site.
  2. Shop for cans, growlers, kegs and merch.
  3. Pay in advance through the website.
  4. Select “Delivery” as the fulfillment type.
  5. We will accept orders starting now through 7 a.m. Friday, March 27th.
  6. All deliveries will be made on Friday, March 27th. We plan to begin deliveries at 9 a.m. and have all deliveries completed by 7 p.m. Please ignore the delivery time that the website will show on check out. This is a setting we cannot change at the moment – the deliveries will be on Friday, March 27th between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. only for this week.
  7. The person who’s name is on the order must be present for delivery and have a valid ID.

In short, you can now pre-pay and pick-up at the brewery and we are accepting orders now through 7 a.m. on Friday, March 27th for delivery. The only delivery day this week will be on Friday, March 27th. There is no delivery fee. We just ask for a minimum order of $40. Total includes anything available including all beer and merch. 

And the best part of all, we will donate $1 for every 4-pack, 6-pack or growler you purchase to our friends and neighbors at the New Hampshire Food Bank! 

This is a new process for us, so please be patient. 

Here is a current list of what we have available in cans, growler fills, and kegs as of 3/26/20.
By in Tasting Room, News 0

Great North…To Go!

NOTE: Listing of available beers at the bottom of this post has been updated as of 3/19 6:05 PM.

With the Governor’s order that all NH restaurants and bars close, our Tasting Room will be open for to-go service only until the order is lifted.

The hours for this coming week are below. We will re-evaluate as we go and determine what our hours will be after that.

 – WED, 3/18 4-7 PM
 – THU, 3/19 4-7 PM
 – FRI, 3/20 4-7 PM
 – SAT, 3/21 1-4 PM
 – SUN, 3/22 1-4 PM  

Beer available to go will be cans, growler fills, and kegs. Please feel free to call ahead (603) 858-5789 and we will get your order ready (beer list and pricing are at the bottom of this post). Calling ahead especially for growler fills or kegs, will definitely speed up the process and eliminate wait time. If you call and get our voicemail, please leave a clear message with your name, phone number, order, and expected pick-up time. We’ll do our best to be ready for you. 

During this time, we will not be filling non-branded growlers (for example stainless steel, ceramic, GrowlerWerks, etc.). If customers come in with one of these for a fill, we will offer you a new Great North glass growler at no charge. All customer owned Great North Aleworks branded growlers will be swapped for a new one. 

Since normal Tasting Room events are not possible at this time, we will be doing a ‘to-go’ version of our Raise a Glass & Cash fundraiser. During the weeks that we are operating in a to-go manner, we will donate $1 for every 4-pack, 6-pack, and growler fill to our friends and neighbors at the New Hampshire Food Bank.

We will be regularly sanitizing high traffic areas (front door handles, cooler handle, retail counter, and point of sale touch screen).

As always, we appreciate the support of all of our customers, your support of other breweries, bars, restaurants, and retail stores. 

Here is a current list of what we have available in cans, growler fills, and kegs:

By in News 0

Great North Aleworks partners with Nappi Distributors to send its award winning beers to Maine

Manchester, NH • December 20, 2019—Great North Aleworks is excited to announce a partnership with Nappi Distributors to expand its distribution to the state of Maine. 

Starting in November 2019, Great North will ship year-round favorites Moose Juice IPA, Tie Dyed (Dry-Hopped Pale Ale) and RVP (Robust Vanilla Porter) in 16 oz canned four-packs and draft. Special Releases such as Chocolate Milk Stout and Hazy Rotation (a series of rotating New England IPAs) will also be available throughout the year.  

“Bringing Great North beers to Maine has been a goal of ours since Day 1. Lisa and I both started our professional careers in Maine in the mid-late 90s and have always appreciated its beer scene; we are thrilled to finally be a part of it.” said Rob North.

Great North Aleworks is near the completion of a year-long expansion project that included increased fermentation capacity, a centrifuge, a 1300 square foot drive-in cooler, and 2.5 barrel pilot system.

“Nappi Distributors is excited to begin this partnership with Great North Aleworks. Their unique portfolio, including Moose Juice IPA, is a natural fit for the state of Maine. Rob and his team are making some of the best beer in New England and we’re pleased to welcome them to the Nappi family.” said Ben Royal Craft Brand Manager for Nappi Distributors.

To kick things off, Nappi and Great North will be at the famed Great Lost Bear in Portland, Maine for a launch event on Friday, December 20, 2019 from 4-6 p.m.

By in News 0

Jim Koch visits Great North

Mike, Jim and Rob at Great North in 2019

In October 2019 we had a special guest stop by the brewery. Samuel Adams Founder and Chairman Jim Koch was in Manchester and made some time during his busy schedule to check in on his old friends Rob, Lisa, and Mike.

Back in 2010 our Founder Rob North won the Samuel Adams Patriot Homebrew Competition. This gave him the opportunity to brew his award winning beer at the Sam Adams brewery in Boston and have it served on tap at Gillette Stadium for the 2010 New England Patriots season. That beer would later evolve into one of our original releases, a smoked ale called Smokin’. Not long after Jim visited Manchester to film a TV pilot and was a guest at Rob and Lisa’s home where they homebrewed together in the North’s driveway.

The year before that in 2009 our Lead Brewer Mike Robinson won the Samuel Adams LongShot homebrew competition with his Old Ale recipe. Mike’s beer was part of a 6-pack that was distributed nationally. He traveled with Jim to the Great American Beer Fest and spent time with him judging future LongShot competitions.

Now both Rob and Mike are professional brewers! So it was a full circle moment hosting Jim and showing him around our brewery and sharing our beers over stories old and new.

Thank you to Jim and Samuel Adams for always supporting homebrewing and independent brewers!

By in Beer, News 0

Where to find CoWITbunga, Dude!

Searching for a 4-pack or pint of the official beer of the 2019 Granite State Comicon? The list below will be updated daily as it ships to stores and bars throughout New Hampshire. A small amount is also available in Massachusetts.

As of 3:33 p.m. on 9/16/19:

Calef’s Country StoreBarrington
George Calef Fine FoodsBarrington
Harvest Market of BedfordBedford
SCAS WorthenBedford
U.S. 202 Express Mini-MartBennington
Candia First Stoppe Country StoreCandia
Barley HouseConcord
Capital BeveragesConcord
Georgia’sConcord
River Hill MarketConcord
Metro MarketDerry
Downtown Discount BeveragesDover
Smiley’s Discount BeverageDover
Thirsty Moose TaphouseDover
Jakes Market & DeliEnfield
Proctor’s Gen StoreEnfield
Greg and Jane’s Beer and WineEpping
Brookside Market & DeliExeter
On The Vine MarketplaceExeter
Thirsty Moose TaphouseExeter
J’s Corner Restaurant & LoungeGorham
Country Corner MileGreenville
Hill Village Country StoreHill
Bert’s Better BeersHooksett
New England Tap House & GrilleHooksett
Lakehouse TavernHopkinton
Ayottes MarketHudson
BrewtopiaKeene
Castros Back Room VKeene
Case N KegLaconia
FunspotLaconia
Litchfield Food MartLitchfield
Littleton Freehouse Taproom & EateryLittleton
Lazy Dog Beer ShoppeLondonderry
Londonderry Quick Stop ConvLondonderry
Renegades PubLondonderry
Ancient Fire Mead & CiderManchester
Birch on ElmManchester
Boards & BrewsManchester
Bodwell Food MartManchester
British Beer CompanyManchester
Candia Road ConvenienceManchester
Central Ale HouseManchester
Cheddar & RyeManchester
Crown TavernManchester
Doubletree by Hilton Manchester DowntownManchester
Electric AvenueManchester
Foundry RestaurantManchester
Kwik Stop Hanover StManchester
Nickels MarketManchester
PackieManchester
Portland Pie CompanyManchester
North End SuperetteManchester
Strange Brew TavernManchester
Thirsty Moose TaphouseManchester
Case N’ KegMeredith
Barley & HopsMilford
Beer StoreNashua
Bright SpotNashua
Broad St GulfNashua
Craft Beer CellarNashua
Flight CenterNashua
Newberry FarmsNewmarket
Bocko’s Gas & ConvenienceNewport
Vista Bev & MarketNorth Conway
Prost! Specialty Beer & WineNorth Hampton
Ray’s Stateline MarketPelham
City Tobacco & Beverage Center #3Plaistow
Louis N Samaha StorePlymouth
Cornerstone Artisanal Pizza & Craft BeerPortsmouth
Gary’s Beverages IPortsmouth
JM North of the BorderRindge
McKinnon’s MarketplaceSalem
Salem Village MarketSalem
The City Tobacco and Beverage CenterSeabrook
Shiva MarketSomersworth
Prime ButcherWindham
Windham Country StoreWindham
Fadden’s General StoreWoodstock
Wayne’s MarketWoodstock
By in News 0

New Hampshire’s Great North Aleworks will send award-winning IPA and more to Massachusetts via Night Shift Distributing

The agreement will introduce the Greater Boston area to a variety of Owner Rob North’s recipes

MANCHESTER, NH – A newly-inked deal between Manchester, NH-based Great North Aleworks and Chelsea, MA-based Night Shift Distributing will bring the two-year-old brewery’s beer south to the Great Boston area starting in October.

Great North Aleworks first caught the eye of Night Shift Distributing CEO Rob Burns when the brewery’s flagship Great North IPA took silver in the American IPA category at the 2016 World Beer Cup.

“We are extremely excited to share their award-winning IPA with the thirsty folks of MA,” Burns says. “Great North IPA is an amazing balance of the classic West Coast style but with a distinctive New England touch.”

For Great North co-founders Rob and Lisa North, the partnership means an entirely new audience for their varied lineup of beers; previously only available in New Hampshire and Connecticut. “Many of our current customers live in Massachusetts and enjoy our beer while visiting New Hampshire. It’s exciting to know they’ll now be able to enjoy our beers at home. We also look forward to welcoming new fans of our beer at our brewery and tasting room located just 20 minutes north of the MA/NH border,” said Rob North.

Along with the award-winning Great North IPA, thirsty Massachusetts residents should expect to try the Tie-Dyed Dry-Hopped Pale Ale: an aromatic and refreshing session beer; as well as RVP Robust Vanilla Porter: a complex and enticing dark offering that marries toasted malts with pleasing vanilla sweetness. These three beers make up the core lineup for Great North, but other seasonal and limited offerings will likely make their way to Massachusetts in time – including Moose Juice IPA and Tragically Hopped Double IPA.

Great North’s offerings will be available in 6-packs of 12oz cans, as well as on draft at local bars and restaurants. Canned beer was a priority for the brewery from the get-go, “Two of our core values are quality beer and accessible beer. We believe that cans help to achieve both goals, by keeping beer fresher for longer over bottles, and in a package that is more portable than glass. Can filling technology has made great strides in the last decade allowing breweries like Great North and Night Shift to adopt this format does what’s best for the beer and our customers,” said North.

The two will celebrate the partnership with a weekend of events from October 12th through the 14th. More information can be found at nsbeer.co/greatnorthlaunch.

About Great North Aleworks
Great North Aleworks is a 20 barrel production brewery located in Manchester, NH. Founded by Rob and Lisa North, the brewery’s goal is simple – to craft flavorful, food-friendly beers, while maintaining a fanatical devotion to quality. For more information visit: www.greatnorthaleworks.com.

About Night Shift Distributing
Night Shift Distributing began in 2016 with a fresh approach to beer distribution in MA. With four years of self-distribution roots in the brewing industry, Night Shift Distributing is disrupting the MA wholesaler landscape by offering breweries a like-minded distribution partner with a strong focus on beer quality and freshness, brand control, and customer service. For more information, please visit www.nightshiftdistributing.com.

By in Beer, Brewing, Production, News 0

Great North Aleworks Partners with Isle Brewers Guild

Great North Aleworks quality assurance lead John Cataldo speaks with IBG brewer Aaron Crossett at Isle Brewers Guild in Pawtucket, RI.

Manchester, NH • July 5, 2017—Great North Aleworks is pleased to announce a partnership with Isle Brewers Guild (IBG) of Pawtucket, Rhode Island to help expand their production capabilities. IBG is designed as a partner brewery, where Great North can brew its beers under the care and supervision of its own staff. Other IBG partner breweries include Narragansett Brewing Co. and Newburyport Brewing Co.

Starting in July, Great North will be brewing its award winning flagship Great North IPA at IBG under the careful watch of owner and head brewer Rob North, as well as quality control and assurance manager John Cataldo.

Every detail has been thoroughly reviewed to insure that Great North IPA tastes the same whether it is brewed in Manchester or Pawtucket. From the water chemistry, to the dry-hop technique, the beer will be the same.

The reason for this partnership is to allow Great North the ability to keep up with the demand for Great North IPA, as well as meet the growing demand of other beers such as Tie Dyed dry-hopped pale ale.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have found a partner like IBG with a state-of-the-art facility, an all-star team, and a shared obsession to quality. Our partnership will help us provide a reliable supply of fresh, consistent, and exciting beers to our loyal customers in New Hampshire and Connecticut.” said Rob North.

Great North Aleworks quality assurance lead John Cataldo speaks with IBG quality assurance/cellar supervisor Jodi Andrews at Isle Brewers Guild in Pawtucket, RI.

About Great North Aleworks

Great North Aleworks is a 20-barrel production brewery located in Manchester, New Hampshire. Founded in August 2015 by award winning homebrewers Rob and Lisa North, Great North specializes in brewing flavorful, food friendly beers, with a fanatical devotion to quality. 

Great North’s beers are available in cans and kegs throughout New Hampshire thanks to a distribution partnership with Amoskeag Beverages and in Connecticut with Sarene Craft Beer Distributors. Year round offerings include: Great North IPA (India Pale Ale), RVP (Robust Vanilla Porter), and Tie Dyed (Dry-Hopped Pale Ale). Seasonal beers include: Northbound (American Pilsner), Cranberry Wit, Chocolate Milk Stout, and Tragically Hopped (Double IPA). Other special releases and collaborations are available throughout the year. 

Great North Aleworks has a tasting room located at their brewery where guests can take a tour, have a growler filled, sample beers, and enjoy a pint.

Learn more at www.greatnorthaleworks.com.

About Isle Brewers Guild

Isle Brewers Guild is a craft beer cooperative that provides a “production partnership” for craft brewers facing manufacturing, packaging and distribution restraints. IBG gives partner brewers the facility and equipment to maintain control of their brewing and packaging processes.

IBG’s brewing, packaging and distribution operations take place on a 131,000-square-foot brewing campus located at 461 Main Street in Pawtucket, R.I., which includes a 100-barrel brewhouse, a tasting room, indoor and outdoor event space, classroom space and corporate offices.

IBG’s partners include Devil’s Purse Brewing Co., Farmer Willie’s Craft Ginger Beer, Great North Aleworks, Narragansett Brewing Co. and Newburyport Brewing Co. and Sons of Liberty. 

Learn more at www.islebrewers.com.

By in Events 0

Canada Day Trivia Answers

Thanks to all who came by the brewery on July 1st to help celebrate Canada Day. We all had a blast & we hope you did too! A lot of people participated in Canada Day trivia – as promised, the answers are available via the link below.

The maximum number of points that could be earned was 43. The winner was Josh Abugov with 42 points (there were 4 other answer sheets in the 40’s). Josh will receive a $25 gift certificate for the win!

Canada Day Trivia Sheet Answers

By in Events, Beer, News 0

July Happenings & Updates

Tragically Hopped Release – July means it’s time for the next release of our Double IPA, Tragically Hopped. It will be available on draft in the tasting room on Saturday, July 1st (samples, 10 oz pours, and growlers to go). Cans (16 oz, 4-packs) will be available in the tasting room starting on Thursday, July 6th. It will also be available in stores, restaurants, and bars in NH and CT in the coming weeks.


Tasting Room Updates

  • Extended Friday Hours – For the months of July and August we will be opening our tasting room at 1 p.m.
  • Patio – Starting July 1st, you’ll be able to enjoy a beer on our new outdoor patio. Stop by and check it out!

New Hampshire Brewers Festival – Join us on Saturday, July 22nd in Concord, NH for the 4th Annual New Hampshire Brewers Festival. This “For the Brewers, By the Brewers” festival is a one of a kind event, featuring the largest single collection of New Hampshire’s breweries any where. Visit the festival website for more info, to see the list of 45 breweries attending, and to purchase tickets.


Tasting Room Events

We have a lot of upcoming events in the tasting room. Here are the highlights…

July 6th – Brewed & Acoustic Open Mic Night – Join us in the tasting room from 6-8 p.m. for an evening of original music led by local singer/songwriter Alli Beaudry. Alli will perform some of her own music in addition to the many other aspiring musicians that will take to the mic! We will also have featured artist, Jordan Levesque! Jordan will perform a number of her original songs. Performer sign-ups start at 5:45 p.m.

July 13th – Dolph Hoyt Presents Great North Trivia – Dolph Hoyt Presents will be hosting pub trivia in the tasting room on Thursday, July 13th, 6-8 p.m. Recommended team size is 3-6 people. The winning team will win bragging rights and a Great North Aleworks gift card!


July 20th – Raise a Glass & Cash for NH Angels Walking to Fight Cancer – Join us in the Great North Aleworks Tasting Room from 3:00-7:00 p.m. to support the Team NH Angels Walking to Fight Cancer. We will donate $1 from every flight, pint, growler fill, and 6-pack sold to this great cause!


July 27th – The Great Cribbage Tourney – The Great Cribbage Tourney returns on July 27th from 6-9 p.m. Please sign up before 5:30 p.m. the day of the tournament so we can prepare the brackets. You can sign up in the tasting room (ask for the sign up sheet at the bar), or send us a note on our Contact Us page. There will be a prize for the Champion and the winner of the Second Chance bracket. All skill levels are welcome!


August 26th – Save the Date! – It’s hard to believe we are approaching our 2nd Birthday, so we will once again be throwing a Great North Birthday Bash in the tasting room. More details to come!
By in News, Events, Beer 0

Great North Aleworks is now available in Connecticut!

We’re excited to announce that we recently signed a distribution agreement with Sarene Craft Beer Distributors making our beers available in the Nutmeg State! Cans and kegs of Great North IPA, Tie Dyed, Robust Vanilla Porter, and Chocolate Milk Stout will begin showing up in stores, bars and restaurants throughout the state beginning February 28, 2017.

To celebrate our launch, Rob and Brian will be in Connecticut later this week for some special events:

Please share the great news with your friends and family in Connecticut!