D. L. Geary Brewing Company

Geary Brewing Company is New England's First Craft Brewery currently located in Portland, Maine, USA. It was incorporated in October 1983 by David and Karen Geary. As of March 2017, Geary Brewing Company is now owned and operated by Robin and Alan Lapoint of Freeport, Maine.

At the time of its inception in 1983, there were only 13 so-called microbreweries in the United States, almost all of them in California and the Pacific Northwest. Geary's, as it is more commonly known, was one of the first new microbreweries during America’s late 20th-century brewing renaissance.[1]

In the winter of 1984, David traveled to England and Scotland for training and research of brewing. With the help of Peter Maxwell Stuart, a Scottish nobleman and brewer who arranged introductions and itineraries, he worked in half-dozen small commercial breweries from the highlands of Scotland to the south coast of England. There were fewer resources for craft brewing at the time, so upon returning to the States, David and Karen began the long and difficult process of creating a business plan finding appropriate real estate, specifying equipment and raw materials, and raising the capital necessary to begin brewing. Once enough money was collect and two years had passed, the size and design of the brewery began to take shape.[1][2]

Since 1986, brewing has taken place at the original brewhouse in Portland, Maine. Now a tasting room (covered in hops) offers samples and tours of the iconic brewery.

Through hiring Alan Pugsley (would go on to be a co-founder of Shipyard Brewing Company), an English biochemist. At the time Pugsley was one of the top brewing consultants in North America, under the direction of David and Karen the recipe for Geary’s Pale Ale was created using classic elements from some of Britain’s best breweries. Brewing began in the fall of 1986 and once David sampled and approved of the Geary's Pale Ale, the brewery was ready. On December 10, 1986, the first pints of Geary's Pale Ale were sold; signaling the arrival of New England's first microbrewery. Their beer offerings eventually expanded to some 10 beers, with some being limited time seasonals. In 1987 D. L. Geary Brewing Company's first big distribution break occurred when supermarket chains, Hannaford and Shaw's started carrying their beers. It was not until 1990, that they distributed outside of the United States Northeast.[1][2]

In 2006 Geary’s London Porter won a New York Times blind taste test when put against 24 other Porters.[3] During the later 2000's the beer market and the number of breweries has grown exponentially in Maine. The formerly known, D.L. Geary Brewing Co. had been overshadowed by newer and hipper breweries, leading to lower production. According to numbers from Maine's Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations, Geary's beer production dropped by 34.5 percent from 2011 to 2015, while craft beer production as an industry had increased from 2011 to 2015.[4] Increased competition along with decreased production, a devastating loss of one of the founders, Karen Geary, and a general loss of passion eventually led to the sale of the brewery new owners in March of 2017.[5]

Under the new ownership of Robin and Alan Lapoint, Geary Brewing Company is gaining its second wind. The Lapoint's are long-time Maine residents who, like many other Mainers, share fond memories of this influential brand. They are dedicated to the preservation of Geary Brewing Company, and to stewarding it into the future. The new owners of the brewery are committed to the preservation of the heritage line of English ales perfected by David Geary and intend to direct the brewery into a dynamic new phase that includes the favorites from the past and new favorites for the future.

Under the revitalization of the brand, Geary Brewing now has 5 closed fermenters that allow them to brew a new contemporary line of beers, that include a new England-style IPA, a family of lagers, and seasonal double hopped IPAs. Geary Brewing Company also has an intimate, friendly tasting room for guests to sample 8 on tap beers including special releases from their new pilot brewing system. Guests can sample single pours, flights, or buy packaged beer at the tasting room, as well as enjoy one-of-a-kind tours of this historic brewery. From April-November, Geary Brewing also opens an outdoor beer garden where guests can enjoy their beers in a quiet and slow-paced atmosphere. During select Saturdays throughout the summer, the brewery hosts events with charitable partners and local food trucks in their outdoor beer garden.

References
  1. "History". D.L. Geary Brewing Co. Retrieved 2017-05-26.
  2. "Maine Attraction: 30 Years of D.L. Geary Brewing - All About Beer". All About Beer. 2015-11-04. Retrieved 2017-05-26.
  3. Asimov, Eric (October 18, 2006). "A Journey to the Dark Side". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  4. Writer, James PatrickStaff (2016-11-28). "Geary's sales dip as upstart craft beers crowd the market - Portland Press Herald". Press Herald. Retrieved 2017-05-26.
  5. Writer, Dennis HoeyStaff (2017-03-09). "D.L. Geary Brewing being sold to Freeport businessman - Portland Press Herald". Press Herald. Retrieved 2017-05-26.
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