SIX PACK QUESTIONNAIRE SERIES: STRONG SIDE BREWING CO.

Meet Dave Hughes, wearer of all hats, at Strong Side Brewing Co.

Full Name? David Hughes

Your title? Owner / Brewer (Salesman / Social Media Manager / Delivery Driver / Accountant)

Brewery Name? Strong Side Brewing

Brewery Location?  No physical location yet - operating as a contract brewery. Contracting out of Start Line Brewing - Hopkinton MA. You can find our tap locations on our website!

#1) What made you decide to get into the craft brewing industry?*

 A good friend of mine got a homebrew kit in 2010, and I went over to hang out on brew day. The very next day - I went out and bought all of my own equipment. It's been a steady ramp up since that day. Through many different living situations / major life events, I've always found a way to keep the homebrew hobby growing and improving. So much so that I started working part time at a commercial brewery to learn professional practices, and worked up enough courage to give it a go on my own!

#2) Which of your beers do your customers enjoy the most and why?*

 I'm operating as a contract brewery at the moment - so my flagship series of beers is fairly limited. I produce 3 sister beers that all have similarities, but ramp up in abv %. It's a hazy - hop forward series of brews: "Future Self" 5.2% NE Pale Ale, "Groundwork" 6.5% NE IPA, and "Take the Leap" 8.0% NE Double IPA, that all work together to tell a story. I'd say the fan favorite is Take the Leap. It seems to move the quickest out at bar / restaurant accounts!

#3) What's your favorite thing about your brewery?*

 The message. I will work to produce top quality beer for Strong Side's entire existence, however, I feel that Massachusetts is packed full of breweries putting out absolutely amazing beer. I want Strong Side to stand out with its message. I want to promote positivity and motivation. We're all in this together. We all face adversity day in and day out. We can all dig deep and tap into our own personal Strong Side to overcome any obstacle that we face. Then we can celebrate with a beer!

#4) Besides your own, what Massachusetts craft beers or breweries impress you the most and why? *

I'd argue that here in MA we have the largest concentration of incredible breweries in the country, so this is a wicked tough question. I'm definitely highly influenced by those that I feel are dominating the NE IPA style in not only the state, but have become recognizable names nationwide. Tree House, Trillium, and Vitamin Sea I hold in very high regard. That said, my host brewery - Start Line Brewing - has long been one of my favorites! The beer is top notch, they have tremendous variety, the food is outstanding, and they provide one of the best all around tap room experiences in the state! I love what Sterling Street Brewing in Clinton and Lost Shoe Brewing in Marlborough have built, as well, and look to both as inspirations for the future Strong Side Brewing location!

#5) What’s a little known fact about you or your brewery that you think customers would get a kick out of? Something unique, funny or unusual?

My wife and I got the opportunity to brew beer for our own wedding! The feedback from that night is really what set me on my path to pursuing this professionally. We made an American Wheat with all of the bridesmaids "Ladies in Waiting", a west coast IPA with all of the groomsmen "GuyPA", and coffee stout as a couple "The Big Day". We "outsold" commercial beer options available at the wedding by something like 300%. It made for one magical night!

#6) Do you remember your first gateway craft beer? What did you love about it and why? 

Honest answer, I was a rum and coke guy forever. I'd have all the domestic light beer at parties and such but was never impressed. Sam Adams Boston Lager was probably the first craft beer that I ever tried that really caught my eye. I went on a Sam Adams only kick for close to a year - trying every style that I could find. However, when I had my first pint of Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA, I remember exactly where I was. It was a monumental moment. It was that glass that really started my craft beer journey!

SIX PACK QUESTIONNAIRE SERIES: JACK'S ABBY BREWING CO.

Meet rob Day, VP of marketing at jack’s Abby Brewing Co.

Full Name? Rob Day

Your title? VP of Marketing 

Brewery Name? Jack's Abby Brewing Company

Brewery Location? Framingham, Mass.

#1) What made you decide to get into the craft brewing industry? I fell in love with Craft Beer when I was in college and my brother replaced my selection of High Life with Sam, Stone and Sierra.  I was hooked on what beer could be and as I explored the business of craft beer I was sold immediately.  The culture, camaraderie and potential were mesmerizing.  There weren't many marketing jobs in craft at the time and it took me another 10 years to break into the business, but here I am raising one with you all for the past 6 years.

#2) Which of your beers do your customers enjoy the most and why? We've got different types of customers so this is hard to answer.  On a day to day basis House Lager steals the show out in the world.  I think people love the incredible and nuanced taste and quality in a beer flavored beer.  On the other end of the spectrum our Blood Orange Wheat is a taproom favorite week after week.  Some people look down on fruit in beer, but this lager ends up being really refreshing, juicy and the beer a lot of people start their craft journey with.

#3) What's your favorite thing about your brewery? It's all about the people.  The people who work here, the people who come here.  We work really hard to be self-aware, community minded and constantly improving.  In a challenging world you can't ask for more than that.

#4) Besides your own, what Massachusetts craft beers or breweries impress you the most and why? As a fan first, I've been to over 100 Mass breweries former and current.  And I still get out there and visit as many as I can.  So I'm going to punt on naming names and just say I love them all!

#5) What’s a little known fact about you or your brewery that you think customers would get a kick out of?  I'm not sure how "little known" this fact is, but it's regularly confused so I will go for it.  Jack's Abby refers to Jack Hendler and his Wife Abby - not the monastic Abbey and that's the reason for the spelling.   Prior to the brewery opening, Jack made a wedding beer called "Jack's Abby" and his two co-founding brothers, Sam and Eric, thought it was a good name for the whole operation.

Six Pack Questionnaire Series: Lost Shoe Brewing & Roasting Co.

Meet Rachael Stillman, Assistant Brewer at Lost Shoe Brewing & Roasting Co.

Full Name? Rachael Stillman

Your title? Assistant Brewer

Brewery Name? Lost Shoe Brewing & Roasting Company 

Brewery Location? 
19 Weed St
Marlborough, MA

#1) What made you decide to get into the craft brewing industry? My older sister used to be the sales rep for Moon Hill Brewing and introduced me to craft beer right when I turned 21. I've bartended at some dive bars in the past, but there's really something special about a taproom setting and talking with craft beer customers.
 
#2) Which of your beers do your customers enjoy the most and why? I think more than anything, people go crazy for the collab beers and seasonal beers. It's great to see people coming out on a mission to try something they just saw posted on social media. Walking in Darkness was stout we brewed in collaboration with Dave at Strong Side Brewing and it was really well received. 
 
#3) What's your favorite thing about your brewery? Our taproom is my favorite. Since we do coffee and beer, it feels pretty lively at any point in the day. For the holidays, the taproom gets transformed into a winter wonderland, "The Lost Forest", where we bring in dozens of trees and decorations. 
 
#4) Besides your own, what Massachusetts craft beers or breweries impress you the most and why? I started my career in craft beer at River Styx Brewing and they definitely have nailed pastry stouts and cocktail inspired beers/seltzers. I've seen the crazy brainstorming that goes into their ideas and it's super admirable. Their Day of Darkness stout event is one you don't want to miss.

As far as a stand out beer, With Fang & Claw was a French saison that Sterling Street released in collaboration with Amory's Tomb for their first anniversary. Fingers crossed maybe they'll see this and bring it back?
 

#5) What’s a little known fact about you or your brewery that you think customers would get a kick out of? Something unique, funny or unusual?   The name Lost Shoe is an homage to Marlborough's history in shoe manufacturing. I think Lost Shoe's place in the downtown Marlborough community is really unique too. Double T's Tavern up the street made a beer cheese for one of their burger specials with our Festbier. And Welly's roasted pumpkins for our Eastwitch beer and later put it on tap. 

#6) Where do you think craft beer is headed? What do you think craft brewing is going to look like five years from now? Before I was in the craft beer industry, I worked on my family's dairy farm in Lunenburg. We had our own processing plant where we pasteurized, homogenized, and bottled our milk. My family still has a farm store but has stopped milking cows and processing milk. As the fate of the dairy industry becomes more dismal, I think we're going to see a lot more dairy farmers switching gears and getting into the beer industry. I've found the production skills are super transferable. I think farmers will see the success of breweries like Stone Cow and want to make a transition. 

Six Pack Questionnaire Series: Exhibit 'A' Brewing Co.

Meet Matthew Steinberg, head brewer and co-founder of Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Co.

Full Name? Matthew Steinberg

Your title? Co-Founder / Head Brewer

Brewery Name? Exhibit 'A' Brewing Co.

Brewery Location?  81 Morton Street Framingham, MA 01702 

#1) What made you decide to get into the craft brewing industry?

As a college student I had a roommate that was already homebrewing and I immediately took to it. I found a passion within the process and the ingredients and it just felt right. Once I graduated, I had several opportunities in other industries, but brewing just kept calling me. My first brewing job solidified my desires to do this for a career and I haven't looked back since.

#2) Which of your beers do your customers enjoy the most and why?*

 This is a tough one. We sell more of The Cat's Meow IPA than any of our other beers, but Goody Two Shoes, our Kolsch is always the one that people talk to me about. Brewers, bar owners, and our regulars definitely find our Kolsch to be one of the best available. People love this beer because it is crisp, clean and truly an authentic tribute to the style. 

 #3) What's your favorite thing about your brewery?*

 The people. We have this wonderful diverse staff that all come from different lifestyles and communities. They make our place special and bring the energy, focus and kindness we all want in our workplaces, our local breweries and taprooms.  

#4) Besides your own, what Massachusetts craft beers or breweries impress you the most and why? *

CraftRoots in Milford is that brewery for me. They are small and have an authentic approach to brewing. They use 100% local grains in their beers and continue to have a loyal following in their inviting taproom. Maureen and the team at CraftRoots impressed me from day one. Whether it was the warmth of their space, the positivity coming from the smiles off their staff and guests' faces, or the high quality beers they produce. Get yourselves to CraftRoots. You will certainly enjoy what they are doing in Milford.

#5) What’s a little known fact about you or your brewery that you think customers would get a kick out of? Something unique, funny or unusual? 

Juggling... I love to juggle and used to juggle in the brewery often. A little too busy these days for that sort of nonsense though at work. I still use juggling as a way to relax after a long day at the brewery. It helps keep my mind focused and my hands and eyes at attention.  Also, the number 42 shows up in all our labels and marketing material. It's the answer to the ultimate question.

#6) Where do you think craft beer is headed? What do you think craft brewing is going to look like five years from now?

The industry is flat. Breweries need to consider this as a very serious issue. We must stay ahead of the trends and continue to innovate. But innovation isn't just creating a new beer style. It's being smart with our decisions and making our places wonderful and positive work environments for our staff.  Local ingredients!! We have now hit the moment when imported grains and local grains are about the same price. We have been using local grains from Valley Malt since day one and I am proud to see the pricing gap shrinking.

We think often about stability in our brewery. We work every day to create a brand that is exciting and will continue to find its way into peoples' homes. In five years I expect more innovation with regards to sustainability, with the use of local grains. 

Six Pack Questionnaire Series: Bright Ideas Brewing Co.

Meet Danny Sump, director of brewing operations at
Bright Ideas Brewing Co.

Full Name? Danny Sump

Your title? Director of Brewing Operations

Brewery Name?  Bright Ideas Brewing

Brewery Location? North Adams  & Westfield - Coming Late Spring 2023!

#1) What made you decide to get into the craft brewing industry? Back in 2012, I was looking for a career change and craft beer was starting to boom. I called up the local craft brewery asking for a job and they said yes. I started the next day washing kegs (and growing a beard).

#2) Which of your beers do your customers enjoy the most and why? Our Czech Pils (Czechs Out) or Kold Kolsch usually sell the best, but our beer geeks love our Phantasm IPAs and our Quaffable Waffle pastry stout series. We brew quaff waff with waffles, a waffle topping (such as blueberry or strawberry), maple syrup, chocolate, vanilla, and milk sugar. Banana is definitely our favorite of the group.

#3) What's your favorite thing about your brewery? The best thing about our brewery is the freedom and personality. The brewery, taproom, and general vibe are an extension of our employee's personalities. Our brewers get to brew the beer they like, the beertenders can play their favorite music, and our graphic designer has freedom of interpretation for all labels and artwork. When you come to our taproom or drink our beer, you really get a feel for who we are as a company.

#4) Besides your own, what Massachusetts craft beers or breweries impress you the most and why? There are a lot that impress me, but if I had to narrow it down, I would go with The Brewery at 4 Star Farms in Northfield, 2 Weeks Notice Brewing in West Springfield, and Great Awakening Brewing in Westfield. Chris is doing a killer job at 4 star farms brewing with local malt and hops. The setting is also unique as it is located on a hop farm. Besides brewing great IPAs, 2 weeks notice has created that "feels like home" atmosphere for their taproom. Some of the most friendly and fun people can be found working and drinking there. Great Awakening is one of the more creative breweries in Western Mass. They have a beautiful taproom and the variety and execution of their beer is fantastic.

#5) What’s a little known fact about you or your brewery that you think customers would get a kick out of?  Our North Adams brewery is located on the campus of the largest contemporary art museum in North America. Mass MoCA contains 250,000 sq ft of visual art space. Bright Ideas is located in the front of Courtyard A with easy access brewery only parking across the street. We will also be opening a new production facility and taproom in Westfield by late Spring. We have 2 connected warehouses totaling 11,000 sq ft and will increase our production by 600%.

#6) What’s a style that you think is under-appreciated that you’d encourage other craft beer drinkers to try? I would say European dark lagers as a whole. I think general perception is that dark beer is heavy and bitter, but Schwarzbier, czech dark lager, etc... is very nuanced, balanced, and light. I believe dark lagers, when done well, are very enjoyable even to the pedestrian palate.  

Six Pack Questionnaire Series: Moby Dick Brewing Co.

Meet Scott Brunelle, head brewer at Moby Dick Brewing Co.

Full Name:
Scott Brunelle

Your title:
Brewer

Brewery Name:
Moby Dick Brewing Co

Brewery Location:
New Bedford, Mass.

#1) What made you decide to get into the craft brewing industry? I kind of lucked into an assistant brewer role while tending bar at Brewmoon Boston. Unlike most craft brewers I had only home brewed once before I was actually paid to brew. 

#2) Which of your beers do your customers enjoy the most and why? We have a wide range of regular guests as well as a wide variety of styles available. I like to think if a group of people come in they should be able to find a beer on our list that they will enjoy. Our regulars try new offerings but tend to favor my west coast IPA as well as my European Lagers.

#3) What's your favorite thing about your brewery? My favorite things about my brewery is that I picked out the equipment and that I have full autonomy over all phases of the brewing operation.

#4) Besides your own, what Massachusetts craft beers or breweries impress you the most and why? 

I love all Ma breweries. Saying that I love CraftRoots since they make great beer and Maureen was my intern at RB Braintree many moons ago. I am also a fan of Mayflower since they are in the town that I live in and have great staff, great beer and great ownership.

#5) What’s a little known fact about you or your brewery that you think customers would get a kick out of? We are technically in a National Park, The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. We are in a building that used to be a fruit company(Tropical Banana Company) so we have hooks in our basement where they used to gas the bananas in order to kill the tarantulas.

#6) Do you remember your first gateway craft beer? What did you love about it and why? My first gateway craft beer was Sierra Nevada Pale ale. I just remember loving the color, the appearance and the aroma. It was just so much more complex, flavorful and more  interesting than all of the mass produced American lagers that I had tried in the past. ​

Six Pack Questionnaire Series: Harpoon Brewery

Meet Megan Baker Wilson, Director of Digital Strategy

Full Name: Megan Baker Wilson

Your title: Director of Digital Strategy

Brewery Name: Harpoon Brewery

Brewery Location: 306 Northern Avenue Boston, MA 02210

#1) What made you decide to get into the craft brewing industry?

Beer was something that I became passionate about in my early 20s. I loved the artistry and innovation behind craft beer, and I loved the community that came along with it. People in the craft beer community are passionate, hardworking, and fun – and I think that was something I really identified with. 

#2) Which of your beers do your customers enjoy the most and why?

 Nothing beats Harpoon IPA. It has been our best-selling beer for decades for a reason – it’s crisp, refreshing, and perfectly balanced. So many people have great memories attached to that beer. It’s certainly a go-to beer for a lot of people in New England. 

#3) What's your favorite thing about your brewery?

 The pretzels! (Just kidding). My favorite thing about Harpoon is our culture of employee ownership. As an employee-owned brewery there is a sense that we are all in it together and we are encouraged to always think about ways we can improve the business. There is constant ideation and innovation from all levels and departments – it’s what makes us special. 

#4) Besides your own, what Massachusetts craft beers or breweries impress you the most and why? 

As someone who lives in the south shore, I’m a big fan of Widowmaker Brewing. They have amazing packaging, and they do a lot of fun innovative beers of all different styles. I am also a big fan of the newly opened Break Rock Brewing in Quincy. The tap room is fun and laid back with gorgeous views of Marina Bay, and they make good, clean beer with a focus on classic styles which is totally my jam.

#5) What’s a little known fact about you or your brewery that you think customers would get a kick out of? Something unique, funny or unusual?  We take our employee owners on cultural trips as a reward for tenure. Starting at the five-year mark, you get to go on an all expense paid trip to Europe! After that, we do a mix of domestic and European trips every 3-5 years. 

#6) What’s a style that you think is under-appreciated that you’d encourage other craft beer drinkers to try? Cream Ale – hands down. As someone from Rochester, NY, Genny Cream Ale has had such an impact on my love for craft beer and whenever I go to a brewery and see they have one on tap I have to try it. 

Six Pack Questionnaire Series: Amory's Tomb Brewing Co.

Meet Allen Quinn, co-founder of Amory’s Tomb Brewing Co.

Full Name? Allen Quinn

Your title? Co-Founder

Brewery Name? Amory’s Tomb Brewing Co.

Brewery Location? Maynard, MA

#1) What made you decide to get into the craft brewing industry?  My brother-in-law and co-founder, Richard Barron, and I started brewing together many years ago, and I wanted a change from a 15-year career in sales and marketing. I have a near constant drive to create and share — be it art, music, food or drink. Opening a small community taproom helped me move away from my previous career and provided a rewarding creative outlet.

#2) Which of your beers do your customers enjoy the most and why? Our customers love our pseudo-flagship, Saison I Classic, as well as many of our other European inspired offerings. These recipes reimagine classic styles but utilize many local ingredients, which make them both familiar and unique (in addition to being delicious). Our customers also enjoy our more creative and modern offerings, but the connection is usually tied to more traditional concepts such as drinkability, balance, and technique.

#3) What's your favorite thing about your brewery? My favorite thing about our brewery is that we are weird, and niche, and quirky, and don’t follow what others are up to. We brew for the thoughtful and discerning, and through that focus make approachable beers for people to connect with regardless of their relationship to the overall beer category. 

#4) Besides your own, what Massachusetts craft beers or breweries impress you the most and why?  The last few years Notch has absolutely killed it. I always enjoyed their beer, but they quickly became one of my favorites in the state with deep dives into traditional styles and methods. Their team has gone all in on quality and presentation, and it’s truly inspiring to watch them progress and mature into the company’s second decade. 

#6) Where do you think craft beer is headed?  What do you think craft brewing is going to look like five years from now?  I think craft beer will split into at least two distinct segments, especially as the beverage markets continue to change and hybrid styles become more prominent. I think that more traditional styles and practices will exist under one category, while smoothies and massive fruit/lactose/pastry styles will find a home closer to RTDs.

#6) What’s a style that you think is under-appreciated that you’d encourage other craft beer drinkers to try? Anything that isn’t labeled IPA. There is an entire world that exists outside of these three letters, and I would implore drinkers to reach out of their comfort zone and check out a traditional style that may be new to them.