Change is in the air at Portsmouth Brewery
as Head Brewer Tyler Jones is departing to become part owner and Head Brewer at
the newly-formed Black Hog Brewing Company in Oxford, Connecticut. Current Assistant
Brewer Matt Gallagher, Tyler’s first hire at the Portsmouth Brewery, will take
over as Head Brewer.
Tyler started at the
Portsmouth Brewery as an assistant in 2007 and, after a seven month stint at
sister brewery Smuttynose, returned in the summer of 2012 to become Head
Brewer. “As a 21 year old, I looked at the brewhouse during my birthday
celebration and dreamed of having a chance to try it out someday. Needless to
say, to have brewed so many batches here is an unbelievable dream to have come
true,” said Jones. The departing brewer listed Ginga Ninja (his wedding beer),
Royal Impy Stout and the historical, botanical beers he brewed with Heirloom
Gardener, John Forti, as favorites from his time at the helm.
Matt Gallagher started
as a bartender at the Portsmouth Brewery but moved into the brewhouse after
less than a year. Asked about his vision for the Brewery, Gallagher doesn’t see
any massive shifts on the horizon: “Tyler has done such a great job keeping
beers on tap and keeping the quality up, that I’ll simply maintain that. I am
however, looking forward to bringing our customers what they most want.” Matt
says talking to customers is one his favorite parts of the job and that it
offers a great chance to learn his immediate market. “Hops are on everyone’s
minds, so I plan on always having an IPA on tap. Many patrons have also given
me feedback on our saisons and I’ll be revamping those, as well, while
continuing to brew all the rotational beers our patrons love to drink.“
May 2 will be Tyler’s
last day at Portsmouth Brewery. With Gallagher’s experience he’ll be able to
hit the ground running, said Jones, “Matt is an excellent brewer. He’s already
created a few popular beers, like Night Nurse black IPA and Grizzly Skinner
imperial pale ale, and I look forward to drinking all of his new brews when I
return to the Seacoast. I know he’s not short of ideas or skill.”
About the Portsmouth
Brewery:
New Hampshire’s original brewpub has been
serving all types in the heart of Portsmouth’s historic Market Square since
1991. Founded by the folks behind the Northampton (MA) Brewery, the
creative cuisine of Chef Jon Hebert seeks to use as many local ingredients as
possible in both brewpub standards and internationally-inspired dishes for more
adventurous eaters. Beer offerings from Head Brewer Matt Gallagher cover
virtually every style as well as other ideas that defy categorization. The Portsmouth Brewery is open from 11:30am to
12:30am, 363 days a year.
