Beer lobby feeling good after distribution deal makes it to Baker's desk
Sam Hendler was still in his office at Jackâs Abby brewing in Framingham at 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday, with a livestream of the proceedings in the Massachusetts House playing on his computer. Hendler, the founder of the brewery, had spoken to Senate President Karen Spilka on the phone about an hour earlier, and everything seemed to be falling into place. After 10 years, the Legislature was on the cusp of finally approving a deal he helped negotiate with beer wholesalers over distribution rights for small craft beers. But he needed to watch the vote himself. He would wind up driving home and...