For over 100 years, if you wanted a craft beer in Manchester, it had to be brought in from somewhere else. That changed on February 27, 2025, when Manchester Brewing opened at 122 E Main Street, becoming the village’s only spot actually to brew on-site. This past weekend, they marked their first year of operation.
Manchester Brewing Heads to the Mill
We dropped by the party at the Manchester Mill, where Jason and Jessica Cooper (the owners) were hosting the anniversary celebration. It’s across the street from the brewery and, in my opinion, a perfect location for the event. Manchester Brewing’s space is ideal for locals to find their favorite spot at the bar, enjoy a meal, or gather for events like trivia night. Still, for their anniversary party, there’s definitely not enough space.
A Personal Thank You
The owners, Jason and his wife, Jessica, were personally thanking everyone. Not just for coming, but they said, “Without you, this wouldn’t be possible.” It wasn’t just a polite gesture; it’s a recognition that in a small village like Manchester, the business belongs to the town as much as it does to the Coopers.
The event space at the Mill was roomy yet cozy, with plenty of space for the live music, food, beer, and conversation. Of course, the Coopers brought tacos! It is as much of their trademark as the beer.
Beers on Tap
Speaking of beer, the anniversary party featured:
- 122 Seltzer – raspberry or spiced pear
- MAT cream ale
- Creamsicle Malt Liquor
- Milltown Extra Stout
- BBA Highland Heavy 7%
- Spuddle IPA -6%
- Plus a variety of N/A beers
We filled our plates and grabbed a couple of beers; the first was their flagship, the MAT cream ale, and Chuck got the BBA Highland Heavy. For his second round, he got the Spuddle IPA. According to Chuck, “the Highland Heavy was a strong ale with a bit of roasted character. On the other hand, the Spuddle was nicely hopped with a bit of haze. Both were tasty when paired with the delicious tacos.”
The Kedron Band
Providing a heaping helping of bluegrass adjacent Americana music was Kedron. Hailing from Chelsea, the band plays a genre-blending mixture of acoustic music that is lively and emotive. For such a young band, they have exceptional musical chops. When combined with the superb vocals, their performance was simply outstanding.
Pictures
There are a few more photos in our gallery from the Manchester Brewing anniversary party.
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