Blue Point names Jenna Lally president as Todd Ahsmann departs

Blue Point Brewing Co.’s former marketing director, Jenna Lally, who grew up in Rockville Centre, is replacing Todd Ahsmann as president of the 19-year-old Patchogue-based beer maker.

Lally joined Blue Point in 2016 and left in March to work as senior director of insights and innovation for The High End, beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev’s business unit in charge of craft brewers. AB InBev bought Blue Point in 2014.

“With our new brewery in the works and such a talented team, I couldn’t be more excited to return to Blue Point,” Lally said in a statement Wednesday. “I’m really looking forward to the expansion and continuing to build on our impressive portfolio of innovative beers.”

Ahsmann is leaving Blue Point for Goose Island Beer Co. and Virtue Cider Co. in his hometown of Chicago. Both those companies are also owned by AB InBev.

Ahsmann, who worked as marketing director of Goose Island before being named Blue Point president in 2015, said his history with the Windy City brewer goes back nearly 30 years.

“I actually bartended at the Goose Island brew pub in 1988, which is the year that Goose Island started. Goose has a special place in my heart,” Ahsmann said. “It was a very difficult decision, but I decided to go back to the place that started me on this beer journey.”

Ahsmann oversaw Blue Point’s expansion across the country — from 15 states to all 50 — and into foreign markets. He also led the company’s rebranding and repackaging efforts, the design and ongoing construction of its new brewery at Briarcliffe College, and the creation of varied, experimental beers.

He said his replacement, Lally, is “first and foremost . . . a Long Islander.” He commended her for “great marketing instincts” and said she has a passion for beer.

“She understands the culture” at Blue Point, he said. “I think she’ll be great at continuing that tradition.”

Blue Point, founded in 1998 by Long Islanders Mark Burford and Peter Cotter, grew to become Long Island’s largest craft brewery.