Geaghan Bros. Expands to Brewer, Maine

geaghan

Brewer, Maine – While much of the craft beer industry is celebrating American Craft Beer Week, Geaghan Bros. Brewing Co. had their own local celebration today as they celebrated the official opening of their brewery production facility expansion in Brewer. The celebration included an official ribbon cutting, and Brewer’s Deputy Mayor Bev Uhlenhake presented the Geaghan Brothers Larry, Peter, and Pat along with Larry’s son Andrew a key to the City.

The brewery in Brewer will have a 20 barrel brewing system with 40 barrel fermenters. This is about eight times the production capacity, from the 5 and 10 barrel system currently being used at Geaghan’s Pub & Craft Brewery in Bangor. The increase in capacity will allow for more distribution, and the bottling of Geaghan Bros. branded brews in 6 pack and 12 pack varieties, which is something new for the Greater Bangor market. The closest brewery with 6 packs available in stores is Atlantic Brewing Co. out of Bar Harbor

The brewery in Bangor will still be operational to meet their demand and supply the Pub, serve as a test lab for working on new beer recipes to go into the brewery’s lineup, and the primary location to taste Geaghan brews and tour brewery productions, as the Brewer facility is currently zoned just for manufacturing.

“I am very excited that they have chosen Brewer for their brewing and bottling operations. On a personal note, I am especially excited because Geaghan’s Pub is one of my favorite restaurants in the area,” said Brewer’s Mayor Matt Vachon in an interview earlier last week.

The expansion has allowed Geaghan’s to create several new jobs, with the likelihood of adding more as demand and distribution increase. Additionally, most of the work to complete the project has been done by other local companies.

“It has always been important for us to stay as local as possible, and support those who have supported us over the forty years our family has been in business. Everything from the updates in electrical, to the bottling line, to the tanks that have been custom made to fit our needs and this space, have come from companies here in Maine. Our goal is to one day be able to make our beer using resources just from the state,” stated Andrew Geaghan, owner and head brewer.

Brewer’s Director of Economic Development, D’arcy Main-Boyington shared her thoughts on the expansion, “We are thrilled to welcome Geaghan’s to Brewer! The Geaghan family has been a fixture in this community for many years, and we are pleased that they have decided to expand their business to this side of the river. I am sure I am not the only one in the community that is looking forward to the day when I can purchase a bottle of beer that says “Brewed and bottled in Brewer, Maine.”

Bottling will start off right away with the brewery’s flagship Smiling Irish Bastard, American Pale Ale. The label depicts Geaghan Brothers’ uncle Bernie Welsh a Bangor police officer during the middle of the 1900’s. Locations that have already committed to bringing on the beers include: Hannaford, Shaw’s, RH Foster, Tradewind’s and several other independent stores including Brewer’s newly opened Tiller & Rye.

About

Geaghan Brothers Brewing Company started in 2011 as part of the family owned and operated Geaghan’s Pub, that originally opened in 1975. Geaghan Bros. Brewing Co. offers a variety of craft beer styles brewed locally in Bangor and Brewer, and can be found throughout Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, Aroostook Counties.