Craft beer, wine, distillers impact the economy

area that may have fallen into disrepair or to build on the vibe coming from the new business, attracting younger people, interesting new businesses and artists.

If you open to the public and serve alcohol, then you need food. This often results in collaborations with food producers or restaurants or food trucks. Sometimes a brewery serves their own food, such as L ebanon’s BrightSide Brewery or the Norwich Inn’s Jasper Murdock Alehouse. Others, such as Able Ebenezer Brewing located in an industrial park in Merrimack, N.H., have menus from local restaurants available for patrons to order food to be delivered there.

We all remember the television show “Cheers,”where as the theme song went “everybody knows your name.”These businesses often become our “third place,”a term first defined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his book entitled “The Great Good Place,”where he defines the Third Place as a place where people spend their time aside from the first place (home) and second place (work). A social destination that attracts people to gather, to converse, to eat and to drink. These businesses contribute to a community’s vibrancy by becoming a place to gather and for social interaction. And in their travels to this destination, people often visit nearby businesses —buying food, a gift, running an errand, getting gas for the car —and spending money that supports numerous other local businesses.

In some cases, the brewery, winery or distillery becomes its own event center, hosting events such as weddings, reunions and corporate gatherings. This in turn often leads to support for ancillary businesses, such as photographers, caterers, florists, musicians and event coordinators, among others.

SILO Distillery in Windsor is a great example with its upstairs room that can be rented for bridal showers and other events.

Tourism is an important industry in both Vermont and New Hampshire. The outdoor economy of both states attracts visitors from all over. But what to do when the weather is not great? Our local breweries, wineries and distilleries are having an impact here as well by providing places to gather, tours to see how they make their products and, of course, for tastings.

Visit the state tourism websites of either Vermont or New Hampshire, and you find food and drink tours outlined. In the Upper Valley, we created our own “trail”of Upper Valley Adventures: Find it at tinyurl.com/ UpperValleyAdventures.

Whatever your preference in drink, making it a locally produced beer, wine, or liquor keeps the purchasing dollars circulating in the Upper Valley and supports many businesses, all in one sip. Cheers!

Upper Valley Business News

Deborah Hauser, director of strategic growthat FourSeasons Sotheby’sSouth Burlington, Vt., has been named chief operating officer of the real estate firm, which has locations in Fairlee,Hanover andNewLondon.

SKC Floral Design LLC,a florist and giftshop owned by Samantha Charles,has opened 34 Pleasant St.in Claremont. More information: skcfloraldesign.com.

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