E-Malt.com News article: USA, MA: Old Planters Brewing becomes first certified brewery in Beverly

Old Planters Brewing Co becomes the first licensed and operational brewery in Beverly, Wicked Local Beverly reported on August 13.

Matt Sullivan and Ben Garry started homebrewing beer about four years ago.

“We started really liking IPAs,” Sullivan said, explaining that it’s been really hard to get his hands on the hard to find, yet much sought-after Pliny the Elder, a double IPA from Russian River Brewing Company. “So we decided to try to make it ourselves … and it was good, but I still don’t know if that’s what a Pliny tastes like.”

About a year and a half ago, Garry and Sullivan began the brewery licensing process. During that time, the pair worked their way through red tape at the federal, state and local levels.

The brewery setup consists of a large boiling kettle, repurposed kegs that serve as the mash tun and hot liquor tank, as well as several 17-gallon fermentation tanks.

“We’re small,” Sullivan noted.

“The goal is to be in Beverly,” Sullivan said. “We have no outside goals except to try to build the brand.”

Along the way, Garry and Sullivan have been able to seek the advice of local “beer experts.”

They credit Bogie’s Beer & Wine owner David Liddle for helping them refine their first beer, Palfrey’s Pale Ale. “We’d have Dave try it and give us suggestions on how to improve it,” Garry said.

And, recently, Sullivan and Garry spent some time working with Steve Sanderson at Riverwalk Brewing in Newburyport. His advice to us was just to be yourselves, “do your thing and come up with a plan,” Garry said.

While the two are pleased with their first effort, Garry said they do eventually want to do the spectrum of ales, including an IPA and up to double and imperial IPAs.

“Anyone who enjoys IPA can enjoy Palfrey’s Pale Ale,” Garry said. “It’s a beer we’ve brewed for a while and that we’re confident in.”

Having only been operational for a few short weeks, Sullivan and Garry are still trying to build up their inventory.

“We only actually just got back to the point in production where we could enter contests,” Sullivan said of the current limited supply, explaining that during the licensing process, no brewing can occur in the facility.

In fact, there have already been instances when Garry and Sullivan have had to turn down offers to promote their product.

As for the name of the brewery, Garry said he and Sullivan were looking for something Beverly-centric.

Sullivan then explained how they landed on Old Planters Brewing.

“The Old Planters are the founding fathers of Beverly,” Sullivan said. “Each was given 200 acres of farm land … that acreage became modern day Beverly.”

Palfrey’s Pale Ale is actually named in honour of Peter Palfrey, one of the Old Planters.

“We’re not reinventing the wheel,” Sullivan said. “It’s four ingredients … it’s a very simple product, but it brings people together.”


14 August, 2015