FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City’s First Waterfront Beer Garden slated to open in Late July or Early August 2018
July 17, 2018 – Boston, MA – The Esplanade Association (esplanadeassociation.org) today announced a new partnership with Everett-based Night Shift Brewing, Night Shift Distributing and Night Shift Events to open the Owl’s Nest: The Esplanade Beer Garden. The newest addition to Boston’s burgeoning beergarden scene will be the most visitor-friendly yet, with a riverfront location along the Charles River, a beautifully landscaped interior under the lush Esplanade tree canopy, and a spacious, family-friendly set- up with lawn games and flexible seating. The opening date for the Owl’s Nest is yet-to-be determined, but is expected for late July or early August 2018.
“We couldn’t be more excited to launch our Owl’s Nest beer garden concept on the Esplanade this summer,” says Michael Oxton, Co-Founder of Night Shift Brewing. “We’re going to offer Bostonians a riverside experience that’s craft-focused, family-friendly, and consistently engaging.”
The Owl’s Nest was selected from a competitive RFP process run by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR), who retains care, custody and control over the 64-acre Esplanade and other parklands in the Charles River Basin on behalf of the public. Together with the Esplanade Association, state officials have sought to identify innovative ways to heighten the food and beverage concession offerings on the Esplanade while preserving the unique characteristics of the park that attracts over 3 million visitors annually.
Related: DCR Selects Night Shift to Operate 2 Seasonal Beer Gardens Along Charles River
The Owl’s Nest is the product of a unique partnership between the Esplanade Association, a non-profit friends group that works exclusively in support of the Esplanade, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through DCR, and the Night Shift collection of brewing, distribution and event production companies. Night Shift will contribute a portion of every beer and wine product sold to DCR to support ongoing operations in state parks while also making a contribution to the Esplanade Association to further its efforts to revitalize and enhance the Esplanade.
The Esplanade Association identified four objectives in seeking a brewery-partner to respond to DCR’sRequest for Proposals: (1) Provide a high-quality experience that features craft beverages and food, (2) Present a thoughtful aesthetic design for the historic Charles River Esplanade, (3) Develop and execute anoperations plan that seeks to protect the park and collaborates closely with DCR’s Operations Staff onbest practices for activating the Esplanade, and (4) Create a revenue stream that would be dedicated to revitalizing and enhancing the Esplanade itself.
“We are delighted to partner with Night Shift to produce a one-of-a-kind beer garden on the Esplanade,” offered Michael J. Nichols, Executive Director of the Esplanade Association. “We share DCR’s vision forenhanced concession offerings on the Esplanade and believe there will be no better place to gather in Boston this summer than along the Charles River at sunset enjoying the Owl’s Nest.”
Night Shift Brewing is a decorated six-year-old brewery and the recipient of various honors and awards for its diverse lineup of beers and an overall selection as Best Brewery in Boston Magazine’s 2017 ‘Best of Boston’ awards. Night Shift Distributing partners with more than two dozen beer, cider, wine and spirit companies, many of whom will be available at the Owl’s Nest this summer. Further, Night Shift has agreed to also partner with DCR on a beer garden this summer at Christian Herter Park in Allston, up the Charles River from the Esplanade.
Final planning is still underway for the Esplanade activation, but the Owl’s Nest is expected to operate on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00pm to 10:00pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00pm to 10:00pm, and Sundays from 12:00pm to 8:00pm. Last call will be 30 minutes prior to closing on all evenings. The specific location on the Esplanade will be at the western edge of Fiedler Field, nearest to the Dartmouth Street footbridge. Final details are subject to state and city permitting regulations and a finalized license between Night Shift and DCR.
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Related: Updated Map of Metro Boston’s Seasonal Pop-Up Beer Gardens
About Night Shift Distributing:
NSD is a pioneering, Massachusetts-based beverage distribution company borne out of the success of Everett-based Night Shift Brewing. NSD’s priority is helping the craft beverage business communitysucceed within the MA marketplace. They offer fellow producers total brand control, excellent customer service, and a like-minded distribution partner. NSD has grown quickly since its 2016 inception, adding a wide variety of local and out-of-state partners to its beverage portfolio, which is anchored by the Night Shift Brewing brand.
About Night Shift Brewing:
NSB was founded in 2012 by a trio of friends with a shared passion for homebrewing. Through culinary inspiration and determined innovation, they aim to create memorable craft beers that offer a wide array of unique, complex flavors. NSB has operated a successful 5,000 square foot taproom on a daily basis in Everett since 2012. They service 100,000+ guests a year and host private and special events, as well as regular programming for athletic clubs, charities and craft beer lovers.
About the Esplanade Association:
The Esplanade Association (esplanadeassociation.org) is a 100% privately-funded nonprofit organization that works to revitalize and enhance the Charles River Esplanade, sustain its natural green space, and build community in the park by providing educational, cultural, and recreational programs for everyone. Working in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Esplanade Association is dedicated to improving the experiences of the millions of visitors who enjoyBoston’s iconic riverside park.
About the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR):
DCR manages state parks and oversees more than 450,000 acres throughout Massachusetts. It protects,promotes, and enhances the state’s natural, cultural, and recreational resources.
