Nov. 12, 2022, mid to late afternoon.

LEADFOOT BREWING

95 North Chicopee St

Chicopee, MA 01020

413-315-9828

www.leadfootbrewing.com

Talk about surprises! Driving through the Willamansett industrial section of Chicopee, Kelley was first to spot the sign for Leadfoot Brewing. It looked like access was through a couple alleys, but I guess once you become familiar with the location you realize there is access directly off a city street. Ample parking available and access is gained through doors at the end of the metal building. There is a modest flight of steps and a wide and sturdy ramp leading to the entrance and an outdoor seating area for seasonal use. Once inside we were all taken in by the large and nicely decorated Tap room with plenty of tables as well as a horseshoe style bar. Adjacent to the Tap room, behind glass, is the brewery operation and all the stainless-steel vats, tanks, and other brewing equipment.

Entrance to Leadfoot Brewing Tap Room

From their website I was able to obtain the following information -

—  OUR STORY —

Leadfoot Brewery 

The Leadfoot story is a simple one: a lifelong journey of exploring the love of beer all around the world. Research (yes, we consider drinking beer "research") began in college but continued on to Prague in 1993, tasting original Pilsners in the Motherland. Stops in Germany, Ireland, London and Manchester proved beneficial. Japan and Taiwan left lasting impressions of worldly opinions on our favorite subject matter: fine crafted beers.

The Leadfoot idea became serious in 2013, with a commitment to patience and quality. A painstaking search for a brewery location that would accommodate big dreams and big plans led us back to the start of Brewing in Western Massachusetts. In 2017, planning began for startup at the old Hampden Brewing building in the Willimansett section of Chicopee, all while research continued.

With an opening in May 2019, Leadfoot Brewing’s flagship brews include Leadfoot Lager and Leadfoot Pilsner, as well as a locally sourced Pioneer Valley IPA.

The Leadfoot Family hopes to see you soon at a local event or at our Willimansett Tap Room!

TAPROOM HOURS

Friday 4-9pm

Saturday 12pm-8pm

Sunday 12-6pm

Child / Dog Friendly!

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. 

1894 - Hampden Brewing location first began production in 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!

We were greeted by a friendly staffer - I believe her name was Ellie - and she directed us to sit anywhere we liked, and she inquired if we were first timers - I guess she could recognize that slack jaw newbie look on our faces - and she advised that table service was standard - and that she would bring beverage and food menus when we were seated. The Tap Room bar was about half full and a couple of the tables were occupied. It looked like a neighborhood resource with mostly middle to older age patrons. The atmosphere was comfortable, the music was oldies, the volume unobtrusive, and a college football game played on a large screen on the wall behind the bar. We chose a high table and chairs adjacent to the glass partition.

Then we got down to business and looked at the beverage and food menus. Kelley started out with a Flight of four 5-ounce samplers that included October Fest, Leadfoot Lager, Monkey Punch, and Belgian White. Later she followed this up with a pint of October Fest. Lisa started out with a pint of Stout and Pumpkin Ale mix and (since she was our driver) she followed that up with a 5 oz. October Fest. I started with a pint of Monkey Punch followed by a pint of Leadfoot Lager. All the beer was cold and delicious. 

Beverage Menu

Food Menu

While we chatted away about everything from Sean's soccer season, Shaeleigh's Rowing season, and my anxiety about 'when is the new phone I ordered on Oct. 15th going to arrive?' we placed a food order which arrived relatively quickly. We started with the Charcuterie with olives, fig jam, and cheese & crackers and ended with twist pretzels with pub cheese and honey mustard. Ellie and the rest of the wait staff were attentive yet not overbearing and wished us well and hoped to see us again when we left around 6 p.m.

More pictures -

Kelley's Flight of 5 oz. samples.

Kelley and I with a view of the bar area.

My pint of Leadfoot Lager and "Lightweight Lisa" with a 5 oz. October Fest.

This was truly a pleasant surprise and we told them that they would see us again and we were so glad they survived the pandemic since they opened in 2019, just months before the outbreak. With the cold weather finally setting in we will need to pick and choose from the indoor brew pubs over the winter, but there would be no hesitation on our part to return to Leadfoot Brewing.

AND ... CHEERS!!!