All Oxbow beers are brewed there and utilize the soft spring water that is drawn from an artesian well that sits ad-jacent to the brewery. The brewery is in a converted barn and has been dedicated to the pursuit of crafting unique farmhouse ales of distinctively European influence. The name Oxbow is inspired by the bends in these rivers, the Dyer in particular, which features stunning horseshoe-shaped oxbows where the river covers tremendous ground to travel what could otherwise be a very short linear distance. The brewery is nestled in an enchanted forest amongst rolling farmlands and winding tidal rivers, of which the ebb and flow provide a constant reminder that the coast is near. Oxbow is a small farmhouse brewery founded by Tim Adams and located in rural Newcastle, Maine. The park’s location right off of Route 44 is ideal, he said.Oxbow Brewing Company Oxbow Brewing Company are Gruit fans and produce a wide variety of herb and spice beers, all within their signature style of American Farmhouse Ales. While he loves New Hartford, where the family has lived for six years, Mattheis said he feels the Canton location is good and has the advantages of being near a busy thoroughfare and area. “We’ve always had to travel at least a half hour to go to a brewery,” he said. Kent Falls Brewing Co., the state’s first farm- located operation, is up and running and Mattheis would likely be the first in the Farmington Valley.Īs an active participant in the CT Beer Trail with his wife, Mattheis said it struck him how there were few options in the area. Three have opened this year and another six or so are in the planning stages, he said.ĭespite the growth, there have been few breweries in the northwest corner and Farmington Valley areas. In 2011, there were some five active breweries in the state and by the end of 2013 that grew to approximately 16, according to Mattheis. One aspect of that was liquor sales on Sunday but the ability for self distribution was another huge change, he said. Mattheis is part of a growing trend, one that he said was helped greatly by the change in liquor laws in 2012. An IT professional by trade, this is his first small-business venture. Mattheis said he is grateful to those who are willing to help along the way. Taking a nod from another brewery, even $5 contributors get eternal thanks, their name on the wall, a hearty handshake with each visit and a sticker. For a $125 donation, backers get a sticker, their name on the wall, a 64-ounce growler with 12 monthly refills. To help raise funds, he is also in the midst of a Kickstarter campaign, which runs through the end of the month and includes several incentives, including the growler club. In the meantime, Mattheis is working on installing equipment and retrofitting the space where he can brew, fill growlers and host tastings. He’s also received the necessary federal permit and has applied for a state permit as well. In January, the Canton Planning and Zoning Commission granted Mattheis a special permit to open the business, which is located in an industrial park right off Route 44 that contains a mixture of exercise and dance facilities, service shops and office space. “It’s one of those beers that seems to have universal appeal,” he said. His signature beer will be a cream ale that’s light enough to satisfy the casual drinker but unique enough for the craft connoisseur. While he plans on making many types of beer, Mattheis said he’ll generally be able to offer four types at a time. One advantage of a small system is the flexibility. The company will offer direct growler sales and market to local restaurants and stores. His estimate is that he can produce 200 barrels, or approximately 6,200 gallons, his first year in operation. Mattheis said Tidal River will be a “nano brewery.” While that doesn’t carry a formal definition, it means he will start small, with a three-barrel system and an eight-barrel fermenting capacity. “Craft beer is something that’s very personal to the brewer and to the customers but at the same time that aesthetic carries through the rest of the business and the ideals of the company,” he said. Mattheis calls such efforts part of a “self-made, DIY aesthetic.” It’s part of a business rooted in the growing popularity of local food, craft beer and craftsmanship.
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