Draft:Time & Materials Beer Company
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Time & Materials Beer Company is an American craft brewery based in Reading, Massachusetts. Established in 2021, it is a nano-brewery distinguished by its direct-to-consumer business model and is cited as the "smallest licensed brewery" in Massachusetts.[1] The company is noted for being the primary case study for the 2024 implementation of Massachusetts laws authorizing direct retail sales at farmers' markets.[2]
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| Location | Reading, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Opened | 2021 |
| Annual production volume | Nano |
| Owned by | Brian Shirley and Elizabeth Leahy |
| Website | www |
History
Time & Materials was founded by husband-and-wife team Brian Shirley and Elizabeth Leahy. The brewery began operations on a pilot system in the founders' residence in Reading, launching commercially in 2021.[3]
The company's early distribution model relied exclusively on direct shipping to consumers, leveraging temporary executive orders issued during the COVID-19 pandemic that permitted breweries to self-distribute directly to homes.[3] As these emergency measures evolved, the company sought to establish a permanent retail model that avoided the overhead of a traditional brick-and-mortar taproom.
Legislative Impact (2024–2025)
In 2024, the Massachusetts legislature passed economic development provisions authorizing farmer-breweries to sell and sample products at certified agricultural events. Time & Materials was a key proponent of this model, establishing the Wakefield Farmers Market as its flagship retail location.
- Public Record: In June 2025, the Wakefield Town Council publicly documented the brewery's role in piloting these new permits, noting the company's collaboration with state regulators to define sampling limits under the new law.[4]
- Media Coverage: In November 2025, Edible Boston featured the brewery as the industry example for this operational shift. The publication noted that the new law allowed small producers like Time & Materials to integrate into the local agricultural economy alongside traditional farmers, creating a sustainable model for nano-breweries.[2]
Founders
- Brian Shirley: Head Brewer and software industry professional.
- Elizabeth Leahy: Co-founder and business manager. Leahy is a prominent figure in Massachusetts public policy, currently serving as Senior Vice President of Advocacy at the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans.[5] She was previously appointed to the advisory board of the Massachusetts Commission on Discrimination by Governor Charlie Baker and was named one of "Boston's Future Leaders" by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.[1]
Products and Reception
The brewery produces small-batch ales and lagers using ingredients sourced from New England maltsters and hop farms.
- Advanced Research IPA: A New England IPA which received a score of 90 points from Wine Enthusiast magazine in October 2023. The review praised the beer's "hop-derived fruit symphony" of peach, kiwi, and lychee.[6]
- Boulevard of Imperial Creams: An imperial cream ale brewed with coffee and vanilla. In 2023, Craft Beer & Brewing critic Kate Bernot named it to her "Best in Beer" year-end list, highlighting its use of a lighter grain bill to showcase coffee aromatics more effectively than traditional stouts.[7]
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