Municipal Brew Works Celebrates their 5th Anniversary
The co-owners of Municipal Brew Works in downtown Hamilton recall their Grand Opening in 2016 with a bit of a mythic quality: no one knew, after all, just how well-received their new brewery would be. In the end, there were 45-minute waits for beer because hundreds of people showed up to celebrate a new brewery in downtown, and no one complained – they were just excited.
Since that day, Hamiltonians and nearby beer lovers have shown up in droves for live music nights, music trivia evenings, and special beer release days. At the same time, MBW has become a regular socialization stop in downtown, as is shown by the expansion of their patio over the years.
The dream actually began in 2014, when five locals came up with the idea of launching a brewery and envisioned Heritage Hall in downtown Hamilton as a location. Mark Jackson remembers the delivery of the large brewing equipment needed to open, sometime in March of 2016, as the moment reality sunk in.
“I call it Super Tuesday,” says Jackson. “We got a picture of the five of us with all the equipment still on pallets, and it was a very proud day that really hit home: it was reality and really happening.”
After debuting with four signature beers, including their still-very-popular Approachable Blonde, the team came up with many other beer varieties. Some have joined the tap list permanently while others are seasonally brewed and enjoyed at particular times of the year.
Goodman remembers a particular release with bittersweet memories: after the tragic loss of a firefighter, Patrick Wolterman, in Hamilton, the MBW team chose to commemorate him with a special summer ale that continues to pay tribute to the bravery of first responders while also donating proceeds to the grief support organization Companions on a Journey.
“The first time we tapped our Woltermelon Blonde, the Hamilton fire department and the family came in and we were closed to the public. We toasted to Patrick’s life and got to know Patrick’s family pretty well,” says Goodman. “It wasn’t just about the beer, it was about paying tribute and bringing a community together.”
Through the years, the team has continued to find ways to help their town pull together in times of adversity. When COVID-19 shutdowns threatened some of the income they had counted on through distribution of kegs to bars and restaurants, Hamilton’s DORA policy allowed them to sell take-out beers that grew in popularity. It was a win-win, giving people safe socializing options outdoors while also helping to keep most of the MBW team employed.
“The amount of DORA cups we went through during the initial shutdown and reopening meant we only laid off one person for about two weeks,” says Goodman. “We fared pretty well despite the challenges.”
Another contributor to 2020’s success was the launch of their hard seltzer line. After initial worries that making hard seltzer, a flavored seltzer product with a low ABV similar to beer, would take sales away from their beer products, MBW realized they were reaching a totally different audience with the flavored seltzers.
“It appeals to a lot of folks who might not like the taste of beer, or are looking for a gluten-free option so it brought in an entirely new crowd,” says Goodman.
Mark Jackson was a big fan of the idea of putting their popular beers into cans and distributing them in addition to the kegs of beer they distribute through local bars and restaurants. The other four co-owners decided not to tell him that they’d moved forward with achieving his goal.
“They set me up, deciding to surprise me by ordering the canning line and getting it all set up without me,” Jackson said. “When I walked around the corner, I got to see the first cans roll off after pushing for it for so long.”
The canned products are already in some grocery stores, with an expanded distribution starting soon – check your local beer aisle this fall for MBW products.
Jim Goodman is excited for the arrival of Spooky Nook; the team has now announced that they’ll be opening their second location as part of the Spooky Nook complex, with a taproom devoted to experimenting with more small-batch beers.
“It’s going to be a 5000 square foot space with a tap room and fermenters so we can do small experimental batches. Our approachable blonde and orange agave have won medals in various beer competitions, and their demand keeps our existing tanks full all the time,” says Goodman. “The new tap room will give us the option to make more innovative, creative beers.It will also allow us to make special beers for conventions or “house beers” for local bars and restaurants”
The team at MBW have an action-packed plan for their five year anniversary on June 12th.
“We’re going to take up pretty much the whole weekend with special beer releases, multiple food trucks, live music and a Sunday open mic night,” says Goodman.
They see big events like the anniversary as a way to express their gratitude to the community that has grown to see MBW as a gathering place.
“People have been with us every step of the way, constantly supporting us through COVID, bringing birthday parties, retirement parties, class reunions, memorials, etc. to celebrate here. We are very proud to provide a platform that brings our community together and we never want to take that for granted. The relationships we’ve have made since starting have been amazing,” says Goodman. “We want to thank our staff, families, friends, and community for helping us fulfill our dream.”