History

TIMELINE

1868

The Glynn family started the Highland Brewery in 1868 in Springfield, MA before expanding their operations to Chicopee and starting the Hampden Brewing Company.

Hampden Brewing location first began production in 1894.

1894

1948

In 1948, the Chicopee Brewery purchased the Harvard Brewing Co. of Lowell, MA and became known as the Hamden-Harvard Brewery Inc. The legendary Hampden Ale remained the local beer of choice throughout its production run in Chicopee.

1975

The Piels Brothers of Brooklyn, NY purchased the Chicopee Brewery and began phasing out the Hampden brand. When Schaefer Beer took over the Piels brand, the Chicopee location was closed in 1975.

2017

In 2017, Leadfoot Brewing began renovations of a large metal building that was erected in 1961 for can and bottle storage on the north side of the packaging hall.

2019

The roughly 5,500 square foot building serving as both brewery and taproom, rich with history and character, opened in spring 2019; once again producing craft beer in the Willimansett neighborhood of Chicopee, MA. We hope you will visit us!