Portsmouth's Ragged Island Brewing Co. expands distribution into Massachusetts

PORTSMOUTH — Ragged Island announced Thursday that the brewery will expand its distribution into Massachusetts.

In partnership with Night Shift Distributing, the Portsmouth-brewed craft beer will be available in bars, restaurants and liquor stores in Massachusetts starting this month, according to a press release sent by Ragged Island.

"Our goal in expanding to Massachusetts is to offer our products to our neighbors where they live and work,” Matt Gray, President of Ragged Island Brewing Co., said in a release. “We are focused on creating excellent products for our local market and that includes Fall River, New Bedford, Westport and Dartmouth and the rest of Bristol County."

Until now, the beer has been available in a limited number of venues and stores in Rhode Island.

“With Ragged Island Brewing located just a stone’s throw away from the Massachusetts border, it made perfect sense for them to bring their beers North,” says Rob Burns, co-Founder and President of Night Shift Distributing in the release. “Rhode Island has a quickly growing craft beer scene and we are excited to partner with our first RI-based brand. Ragged Island’s unrivaled liquid combined with the team’s like-minded entrepreneurial spirited team make this partnership a perfect fit for the Night Shift Distributing portfolio.”

The expansion into Massachusetts is a part of Ragged Island’s larger overall growth, which also includes construction of a new farm brewery on Bristol Ferry Road in Portsmouth, slated to open in 2021.

The new property will include a custom-built brewery, taproom, beer garden and event spaces, with plans to grow hops and other crops used in the beer brewing process.

Ragged Island also recently brought General Manager Bill Schmidt and Sales Manager Justin Keating on to their team in order to support the continued development of the brewery.

The official kickoff for Ragged Island's entry into the Massachusetts market will be on Jan. 15 at a Pint Night and Tap Takeover at Scottie's Pub in Fall River.