While they offer many seasonal and specialty libations, you can always count on their classic “Be Hoppy” IPA. Brewed from malt grown nearby in Hadley, MA, this brew is sure to leave you smiling; Wormtown knew this when they created the beer and translated that sense of happiness to both the name and the label.

Even before the age of emojis was in full swing, the yellow smiley face has been a ubiquitous feature of American culture. In fact, according to the Smithsonian, it was created over fifty years ago right in Worcester, MA by Harvey Ross Ball! The bright yellow smiley is a prominent feature of the “Be Hoppy” labels and is appropriate not only for the icon’s symbolism of light-hearted happiness, but also for Wormtown’s commitment to the local community. This brew has a variation of the classic smiley face and the Wormtown “W” logo in the brand’s bright yellow, which juxtaposes perfectly against the label’s black background. The smiley face has become a key feature of Wormtown’s brand with this cornerstone beer. Pair it with their “Don’t Worry” IPA and good luck trying to drink it without whistling that classic 80s tune by Bobby McFerrin!

A close second is being a stalwart member of their community. Their tagline is “A Piece of Mass in Every Glass,” and that’s more than just a catchy slogan. From sourcing as many ingredients locally as possible, to partnering with other businesses in the community (Table Talk Pies and even other central MA breweries like Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing and Trillium Brewing, to name a few), Wormtown takes its commitment to community involvement seriously.

We have to say though, our most admired initiative of theirs toward community involvement is their “Worcester’s Bravest” brew. The beer was brewed this December in partnership with Wachusett and Greater Good breweries. This Belgian Wit beer is about so much more than great flavor. All proceeds from sales will go directly to the family of Worcester firefighter Lt. Jason Menard, who was tragically killed fighting a four-alarm blaze in November. This was their second edition of the beer; the first was released in 2019 with all proceeds benefiting the family of fallen firefighter Christopher Roy. While the loss of these brave men is devastating, Wormtown and their partner brewery’s initiative to assist the community and the families of those lost is more than commendable. Dion provides the labels for these brews at no cost, because we also believe in the importance of community involvement and helping those in need in any way we can.