New Taproom Takes Old-Pub Digs In Framingham

FRAMINGHAM, MA — A Framingham brewpub has opened where, well, Framingham brewpubs do.

But Winch & Pulley Beer Co. is owning the geographical props.

The city’s newest brewer, which launched Thursday at 81 Morton St., acknowledges the local legacy of two well-established brands.

“Jack’s Abby started here. Exhibit ‘A’ brewed here. Now it’s ours,” the business says on its website.

The digs are gritty – an industrial complex off Waverly Street – but that’s not unusual for a startup in the craft brewing industry.

Winch & Pulley currently has four beer varieties for sale at its Framingham taproom. They can also be found in about 80 Massachusetts and Rhode Island stores.

Bespoke beer is a big industry in the commonwealth, with over 200 breweries and taprooms operating here.

Massachusetts ranked 17th in the United States for the number of craft beer barrels produced in 2024, according to the most recent data available from the Brewers Association, a national trade group.

Still, the interest in local brews may be waning.

Local beer production fell 4% that year, according to the association, and the number of craft breweries nationwide declined for the first time since 2005.

In Framingham, no trend is clear. Jack’s Abby still does business here, at 100 Center St. Exhibit ‘A’ relocated to Williamsburg, near Amherst, in 2024.