Tree House Brewing Working On Welcome Rock New Zealand-Style IPA

This morning, I have a new IPA collaboration coming from Tree House Brewing in Charlton, Massachusetts. This is Welcome Rock, and it will be a New Zealand-style IPA brewed with hops from Garston Hop Farm in Southland, New Zealand. The beer will clock in at 6.8%-AbV, and it will be packaged in 16-oz cans. Stay tuned for release details.

Label Text Tree House Brewing Welcome Rock:

“There’s a dust ochre trail that climbs above Garston Hop Farm, lined with stout shrubs bent from the rising wind. Bleached fence posts jut from the ground like tusks, teetering this way and that in the waves of grass. The mountain slopes appear barren and pleated, a quilt-work draped around the craggy seat of Welcome Rock. Looking down from this weathered stone, hewn by wind and rain, an emerald valley spills across the basin, dousing the landscape in lush emerald greens. Welcome Rock is a single IPA inspired by the pristine landscapes surrounding our friends at Garston Hop Farm. Pouring a sunny yellow color with peaks of sticky white foam, Mutueka in all it’s single-hop glory bursts from the glass. Notes of lemon jam, limeade, and plump blueberries float above its soft profile, fading into a dry, subtly herbal finish. The passion of these farmers and the surreal terroir they cultivate has made a lasting impression on how we view our craft. We hope this beer is a window into the world of New Zealand’s unique agriculture.”

About Tree House Brewing:

Tree House Brewing Company began in a small red barn in Brimfield, Massachusetts. Since day one our goal has been to present you with reliably delightful beer that can contribute positively to life’s precious moments, and serve them in a cheerful, communal environment. Having grown from a five-gallon Coleman cooler brewhouse to a state-of-the-art 60 BBL, German-engineered brewhouse, Tree House, an independent brewer-owned brewery, is driven by the same people with the same energy and the same intent to bring you joy as it was ten years ago.

Tree House owns and operates six facilities. The primary brewery, coffee roastery, and distillery is located in Charlton, Massachusetts. We take great pride in making our products from start to finish – you can taste the difference that this makes. We maintain a brewery in Monson, Massachusetts, a Farm Fermentory in Woodstock Connecticut, a brewery in Deerfield, a taproom and brewery on Cape Cod, and a golf course and taproom in Tewksbury.


Tree House is a highly regarded, independent, and brewer-owned brewery that originated in a small barn in Brimfield, Massachusetts in 2011. Founded by Nate Lanier, Damien Goudreau, Dean Rohan, and Jonathan Weisbach (initially brewing in Lanier’s kitchen), Tree House has become renowned for its direct-to-consumer approach and focus on fresh, high-quality beers, particularly their American-style IPAs, such as their flagship IPA, Julius. 

Here’s a closer look at Tree House Brewing Company:

History and growth
Starting in a small barn, the brewery faced a zoning dispute in Brimfield and relocated to Monson, Massachusetts in 2013, expanding their brewing capacity.

Despite being in a small space, their beers, like Julius IPA, gained popularity, with lines forming to purchase their limited releases.

Further expansion led them to their current main facility in Charlton, Massachusetts, in 2017, a substantial $18.5 million project that significantly increased their brewing capacity.

Tree House has continued to expand, acquiring a farm in Woodstock, Connecticut in 2019, and opening additional locations and outposts, including one on Cape Cod, one in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, one in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, and a location in Saratoga Springs, New York. 


Beers: Tree House is particularly celebrated for their American-style IPAs and stouts Their flagship IPA, Julius, is highly acclaimed.

Direct-to-Consumer: Tree House operates on a no-distribution model, meaning their products are only available for purchase at their physical locations, often requiring visitors to order online or at kiosks for pickup.

Multiple Locations: In addition to their main brewery in Charlton, they have locations in Monson
 (now home to their barrel-aging program), Woodstock (a Farm Fermentory), Deerfield, Sandwich (on Cape Cod), Tewksbury, and Saratoga Springs, NY.

Beyond Beer: Tree House has diversified its offerings to include coffee, spirits (including canned cocktails), and hard cider, with a focus on house-sourced and roasted ingredients.

Unique Experiences: Their locations are designed to provide a positive customer experience, including spacious facilities, outdoor areas, and even a golf course at their Tewksbury location. Some locations also serve pizza. 

Their direct-to-consumer model and popularity have led to long lines and wait times, especially for new beer releases, though this has reportedly eased somewhat with increased production and additional locations.

While praised for their beer quality, some customer reviews mention overcrowding at the Charlton location, particularly on weekends, and suggest visiting during weekdays for a more relaxed experience.

The brewery has faced legal challenges, including a zoning dispute in Brimfield in its early years, and allegations of financial conspiracy raised in a lawsuit by a minority shareholder in 2023. 

Tree House Brewing has achieved significant success by prioritizing the quality of their beer and crafting unique in-person experiences for their customers. While their popularity can lead to crowds, they remain a significant presence in the craft beer world and continue to expand their offerings and locations. 

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