Recent Pugsley Brewing Projects + News
October, 2024 - Orange Bike Wins Medals
PBPI was thrilled to learn that Orange Bike Brewing Company (the gluten-free brewery we installed and worked with in Portland, ME, in 2023) won two medals in the gluten-free section at the 2024 GABF: Oktoberfest with silver and Pilsner with bronze in the "overall" best beers category for gluten-free beer.
“I congratulate brewer Jason Kissinger and the OBB team for keeping up the great brewing standards implemented at OBB. It is particularly satisfying that 2 of our original beer recipes should feature in the medals”
September, 2024 - The Passing of Kevin keefe
I am so sad to have heard of the passing of Kevin Keefe, owner of Granite Brewery in Halifax, NS, Canada, and a true pioneer in the Canada Craft Brewing World. Peter Austin and I first met and trained Kevin at the Ringwood Brewery in 1984 which included brewing at our 7-barrel brewpubs in Winchester and Southampton plus a new brewery commissioning visit with me for the Holt Plant and Deakin Brewery in Wolverhampton, England. Kevin was a very smart businessman and fun to be with. When I commissioned Kevin's new “ Peter Austin” brewery in January 1985 it was my first tour across the pond, there was an incredible amount of snow and it was frigid cold, Kevin gave me a pair of slip-over waterproof shoe covers as I was ill-equipped for this very foreign weather. The weather and commissioning in North America ended up being a prelude to what would become my future life in Maine and the USA. Granite Brewery was the first brewpub to open on the East Coast of Canada and also the first Peter Austin brewery to be installed in North America. Kevin's brother Ron Keefe and his niece Mary Beth run the second Granite Brewery in Toronto very successfully to this day. I will miss Kevin and his dry sense of humor and person. RIP my friend - Alan Pugsley. See Obituary HERE
July, 2024 - Rupee wins silver at U.s open Beer Championships
Rupee, the Premium Indian Lager brand that PBPI was contracted to develop, won Silver at the U.S Open Beer Championships! The Mango Wheat Ale took silver in the “American Fruit Wheat - Mango” category. This is one of the world's most competitive and prestigious beer competitions, PBPI and Alan are honored to be a part of Rupee’s journey to continued success! See all 2024 winners HERE
July, 2024 - Orange Bike Brewing Co, ME
In July, Orange Bike Brewing proudly announced the country’s first non-alcoholic, dedicated gluten-free beer! PBPI collaborated and consulted with the Orange Bike team to develop the recipe and production protocols of this groundbreaking Non-Alcoholic American Pale Ale. This NA American Pale Ale is now pouring exclusively in their taproom at 31 Diamond St Suite D, Portland, ME 04101.
May, 2024 - Lost Cowboy Brewing Co, NH
PBPI has completed the commissioning of a 7-barrel "Original Peter Austin Brick-kettle Brewing System" for Lost Cowboy Brewing Company in Nashua, NH. The brewery is the first "brewpub/restaurant" for the Michael Timothy Group which we were excited to be a part of. Michael Timothy restaurants (Surf (x3), Mike’s Italian, and Buckleys Great Steaks) are renowned in NH for high-end quality food; hence, PBPI was contracted to do the same for the beers. The starting lineup was a Light Lager, Helles Lager, Czech style Pilsner, Session IPA, Double IPA, and a London style Porter. The Lost Cowboy officially opened on 21st May 2024 with its 390-seat restaurant and 90-seat bar.
“I was very excited to be part of this venture. The entire project was very professionally thought out and executed, and the food, décor, and staff are first class. We wish owners Michael and Ian Buckley plus their whole team good luck”
Visit Lost Cowboy Brewing Company’s website HERE
You can visit Lost Cowboy at 546 Amherst St, Nashua, NH 03063
March, 2024 - Orange Bike Brewing, ME
Richard Pfeffer, owner of Gritty McDuff’s Brew Pub and Alan’s first brewpub installation in USA, stopped by Orange Bike Brewing Company in Portland to taste the latest project beers. Richard, Tom Ruff (founder), and Alan Pugsley enjoyed the gluten free beers together while talking shop!
“36 years between installations in the same town (Portland,ME) with both breweries making great beers, lots of fun”
December, 2023 - Orange Bike Brewing, ME
PBPI have completed the commissioning of Orange Bike Brewing Company, Portland, Maine which is Portlands first ever Gluten Free Brewery. The beers that kicked off the opening on 18th November 2023 were a Helles lager, Czech style pilsner, Belgian WIT, ESB, nitro stout, NEIPA and a seasonal dark winter lager.
“We are very excited that all the beers have been received very well. It’s a great feeling to see and talk to people who are either full on celiac or gluten intolerant and being able to safely enjoy a great selection of world class beers. The beers have been equally acclaimed by non gluten intolerant folks so it’s a win win environment.
We wish Tom Ruff (founder/owner) and his team including brewer Jason Kissinger (an Alan Pugsley trained brewer from Davidsons brewpub in NY) all the best for exciting times ahead.
”
December, 2023 - Bravo Brewing, RI
PBPI is glad to report that Bravo Brewing Company in Pascoag, RI have successfully commissioned their new 5 barrel “Peter Austin Brick Kettle" brewhouse which will enable Bravo to more than triple the production of their very successful beers.
Bravo Brewing, Pascoag RI
“Chris Mishoe is very excited to bring the extra efficiencies that this
system brings to his operation.”
September, 2023 - Lost Cowboy Brewing - NH
PBPI are excited to have been contracted by the Michael Timothy Dining Group to provide the expertise and equipment for the start up of a 7 barrel “ Original Peter Austin Brick Kettle Brewing System “for the owners’ ( Michael and Ian Buckley) new venture – Lost Cowboy Brewing Company in Nashua, NH. This full on Restaurant/Brewpub will feature TexMex style food with a variety of lagers and ales brewed in the new brewery and is scheduled to open in Spring of 2024.
September, 2023 - Leader Brewing wins n/a Award
Alan Pugsley was thrilled to learn of Leader Brewing Companies success at the 2023 GABF (Great Amercian Beer Festival) by earning a Bronze medal in the overall NA category for their “Night Strike Irish Stouty Brew” which we helped develop. PBPI helped Leader Brewing get off the ground 18 months ago in Melbourne Beach, FL and this is a just reward for all the hard work Max Green ( owner/brewer) has put into creating superb tasting NA beers, which can be a tricky market to be successful in. Congratulations Max.
See the results from GAFB HERE
September, 2023 - Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin Accolade
Alan Pugsley was delighted to hear that after 20 years of production and all the industry changes and gyrations that Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin Ale he formulated back in the day still stands out as best of the crowd. Congratulations Shipyard
July, 2023 - Remembering David l. Geary
“It is with great sadness that David has passed. I will always be grateful to David for giving me the opportunity to come to the USA and be involved at the very beginning of the American Craft beer industry . We would never have thought back then that there would be over 8,000 breweries in the USA today. Rest in Peace David. “”
Alan Pugsley was sad to hear of the passing of David L. Geary, the Maine brewing pioneer who initially brought Alan over to the USA in June 1986 to help design and build the D.L.Geary Brewing Company plus design the flagship brew, Gearys Pale Ale.
You can see News Center Maine’s story about David HERE
July, 2023 - New Rupee beer- Brunswick,Maine
Alan Pugsley was excited to work with Van and Sumit Shamar owners of Rupee again to assist in formulating an exciting new beer Mango Wheat Ale .
It is hoped this summer seasonal offering will be as successful as the award winning Rupee Premium Lager Beer!
“It’s great to be working back with Chris again to assist in this expansion project . Bravo was unfortunate to have
Covid kick in about 3 months after their initial opening but was able to
survive through that period with a lot of hard endeavor and increased
canning for the outside sales. It’s great to see that Chris has now outgrown the original brewing system and
needs to expand to continue to grow both his inside and outside sales of his
great beer line up.”
April, 2023 - Bravo Brewing Expansion. Pascoag, RI
PBPI has been contracted by Bravo Brewing Company and owner Chris Mishoe to
assist in expanding his 2019 installed 2 barrel barrel brewery up to a 5
barrel brewhouse capable of brewing twice a day. Bravo have ordered a 5
barrel " Original Peter Austin Brick Kettle Brewing System to be installed
in late June for a July commissioning all being well.
March, 2023 - Gluten-Free Orange Bike Brewing. Portland, Maine
PBPI is excited to have been engaged by Orange Bike Brewing (OBB) Company and founder/owner Tom Ruff to provide and install a 10 barrel “ Original Peter Austin Brick Kettle Brewing System” at their location at 31 Diamond Street, Portland, Maine. OBB has elected to purchase a used 10 barrel system from PBPI that was originally installed in GA in 1997 but has subsequently been in storage since 2005. The brewery will have a full inside and outside tasting room and a canning line to provide for customer takeout sales and a few outside accounts. It is hoped to start brewing late summer/early fall. This will be Alan’s first venture into Gluten Free beer.
“renovating and restoring one of our original 90’s systems is exciting but the most exciting thing is that this will be Portland, Maines very first all Gluten Free brewery. We have been doing a series of pilot brews over the past 18 months with Tom Ruff utilizing all gluten free grains such as millet and buckwheat and we are very excited about the outcome and quality of a variety of styles of beers.”
“Thank you Alan for the latest round of gluten free beers. There are no words to let you know how much I appreciate you and how much you’ve done for this project. You are a brilliant Brewer and our family thanks you for all you’ve done to help us get through these stressful times” - Tom Ruff
February, 2023 - st. john brewers. st. thomas, usvi
PBPI would like to congratulate St. John Brewers for the opening of the
St.John Brewers Production and Hospitality Center in St. Thomas. This
facility has been commissioned with a 25 barrel system able
initially to produce their St.John Brewers soda line plus their very
successful " LOVE" hard seltzer line . The products
are all being canned with specialty bottles and draft options. Eventually a
25 barrel brewhouse and fermenters will be added for production of their highly popular
beers
“Once again it has been a pleasure to work with Kevin Chipman and Chirag Vyas in helping them fulfill their ambitions with this project , we look forward to the next installment of the brewery when
it happens.”
October,2022 - Nate and Kelsey Kennedy Visit Maine
We were delighted to welcome Nate and Kelsey Kennedy to Portland, Maine
in October, 2022. Nate and Kelsey are building Grit and Gyle Brewing
Company down in Kyle, Texas for whom PBPI are consulting. It is hoped to
open the facility in 2023. Meanwhile, the Kennedys came up to Maine to tour
some of our breweries, taste a variety of beer styles and generally discuss
their exciting new project!
Nate and Kelsey Kennedy Tour Maine Breweries with Alan
September, 2022 - st. john brewers. st. thomas, usvi
“ I am very happy for my good friends in St. John , their journey over almost 20 years from establishing a brand and contract brewing with me at Shipyard Brewery, to installing the 5 barrel brewpub and Taproom to now has not been easy . Littered with bad situations such as the fire that burnt down their original taproom, to the hurricanes Irma and Maria that devastated the Virgin Islands to the pandemic their road has not been easy. Kevin and Chirag have shown great fortitude, patience and character to come through everything with a very successful business based on producing World Class beverages and a great experience when visiting their TapRoom and stores. Well done guys and thanks for including us in your next chapter.”
PBPI is excited to be working with Kevin Chipman and Chirag Vyas of St. John Brewers again, this time assisting them in the equipment supply and consultancy for their new 25 barrel brew-length plant located in St. Thomas.
The 4,000 square floor facility has been designed initially to produce their highly successful seltzer brand – Love City – along with their very popular sodas to include root beer and ginger beer and can and keg on site.
It is later planned to install a 25 barrel brewhouse so that they can produce all of their beers and products in house in the US Virgin Islands.
March, 2022 - Leader Brewing. palm bay, florida
PBPI is excited to have commissioned its first dedicated NA (non-alcoholic) brewery in Palm Bay, Florida. Leader Brewing is owned by Max Green who decided 18 months ago to research and pursue the establishment of an NA brewing facility. The first 2 beers to be packaged in keg and 16oz cans are "Danger Close" American Pale Ale and "Night Strike" Irish Dark Brew.
Max Green, Founder of Leader Brewing in Palm Bay, Florida
“I have been very excited working with Max over the past 18 months developing proprietary brewing and fermentation processes to enable the production of beers that are full flavored and according to style.”
About The Beer
Unlike many NA products Leader Brewing does not remove alcohol along the way but instead brews beer resulting in products under 0.5 % ABV which is the legal threshold for "Near Beer" in the USA.
January, 2022 - Celebrating 40 Years!
After 40 years of brewing and building breweries Alan Pugsley would like to thank everyone for supporting him through these many years of numerous brews and beers especially his wife Lesley, his family along with all the brewery clients , associates, colleagues and friends he has met along the way
“There cannot be any other industry quite like it whereby you make so many friends with clients and trades people and all that encompasses the Craft Brewing business . After 40 years and over 100 breweries later along with countless other brewing adventures I still cannot believe that I haven’t worked a day in my life !! Thanks to everyone who has enabled this amazing life . Cheers!”
October, 2021 - Rupee Beer
Alan Pugsley is happy to report that a years-long collaboration with Rupee
LLC owners Van and Sumit Shamar has come to fruition - a classic style
Helles lager has been brewed and canned and is now available in most Indian
restaurants and more in the New England region. Rupee LLC and PBPI initially did a pilot brew in Maine before working with Dorchester Brewing near Boston, MA for the production of the final product. It is ultimately hoped to produce this beer and concept
internationally for this very exciting and somewhat specific target market.
The product will also initially be available in some of the larger beer
stores in Maine and New England.
About The Beer
In true Indian-brewing fashion, Rupee beer features malted barley, rice and maize. Saphir, Hallertau, and Saaz hops are used to produce this Helles Lager at 4.75% ABV that is ideally suited to the unique spices and flavors of
Indian cuisine. The beer has a slight sweetness up front followed by a clean, refreshing flavor accentuating the great balance between the malts and hops.
Rupee Beer featured in Beer & Weed Magazine, August 2021 https://beerandweedmagazine.com/3d-flip-book/august-digital/
December, 2020 - The Jonny Appleseed Of Craft Beer
In December, 2020, Brew View Vermont wrote a piece on how Alan become the brewer he is today.
To read the full story, check out the link below:
View Story Here
December, 2020 - Brewing With BackBeat
Alan Pugsley and Pete Harkins , the owner of Back BeatBrewing Company in Beverly, MA, collaborated on a special beer for the Holiday season in mid November. Here they are seen enjoying the fruits of their collective labor at the launch on 12th December 2020.
“I had a lot of fun brewing with Pete and I think we both learnt a lot from each other, Pete coming more from the home brew background and myself the career professional brewer ”
About The Beer
The beer is an English Style strong ale in the fashion of a souped up ESB (Extra Special Bitter). The beer utilizes 6 different grains and 5 different hop additions to create a complex beautifully balanced product which is amber in color and has a maltiness up front accentuating the crystal malts used and an English subdued hop profile which gives testament to this style of beer. The beer is casked into firkins and is served through a beer engine at 50-55 F and is very soft and silky to the taste
Alan and Pete enjoying a cask conditioned “Downeaster Extra Extra Special Bitter” at BackBeat Brewing Company in Beverly, MA
“It is great to see that the entrepreneurial spirit has not been broken by this pandemic and we look forward to working on these great new projects”
November, 2020 - Brighter Horizons For Brewers
After a quiet few months during the Covid19 pandemic PBPI is happy to report being engaged in a number of new projects as entrepreneurs look to a brighter future
Grit and Gyle Brewing Company in Texas.
Leader Brewing Company in Florida
International new beer development project
CO2 reclamation project for craft breweries
September, 2020 - Brew View Vermont
In September, 2020, Brew View Vermont wrote a piece on one of Alan’s consulting projects Outer Limits Brewing company. The brewery system at Outer Limits Brewing Company in Proctorsville, VT is a classic 10 barrel “ Original Peter Austin Brick Kettle Brewing System” and was installed and commissioned in 2019. The brewhouse employs a single infusion mash tun along with the direct fired kettle and a hop percolator.
To read the full story, check out the link below:
View Story Here
“Alan has been a strong influence on all aspects of our brewery as well my growth as a professional brewer”
A piece from Yankee Brew News
August, 2020 - Yankee Brew News
In August, 2020, Yankee Brew News wrote a piece on one of Alan’s consulting projects Bravo Brewing. Based in Pascoag, Rhode Island, Alan helped Chris Mishoe turn his brewing dream into a reality. Alan was brought in for equipment setup and installation, product quality control, and the overall process of brewing start-up to ensure the best results.
“Training with Alan was one of the most rewarding experiences, we learned so much from him.”
January, 2020 - Remembering Terry jones
It is with great sadness that we learnt of Terry Jones’ passing on 20th January 2020 at the age of 77.
Terry along with other members of the Monty Python crew contracted with Peter Austin to build their Penrhos Court Brewery in 1977 after a chance meeting with Peter in a pub in Herefordshire. This was Peters first dabbling into the micro brewery business post his retirement from Hull Brewery. Peter had so much fun doing this project it inspired him to build his own little brewery in his home town of Ringwood, Hampshire - the now well renowned Ringwood Brewery - let alone all the other new brewery projects that have followed over the past 40 years.
Terry Jones at Penrhos Court Brewery
A letter written by Terry Jones to Peter Austin, thanking him for consulting of the Monty Python star’s brewery in 1977
Alan Pugsley joined David Geary and the crew of the D.L. Geary Brewing Company to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the first pouring of Gearys Pale Ale at Three Dollar Deweys, Portland, Maine.
December, 2019 - Geary’s Celebrates 33rd anniversary. Portland, ME
Back in June of 1986, David Geary contracted with Alan Pugsley to build his brewery and be Head Brewer for a two year period. Alan designed the Gearys Pale Ale recipe following David’s instruction for taste profile. At that time, there were about 50 total breweries in the USA. Once Gearys started kegging and bottling, it became the first new packaging brewery East of the Mississippi since Prohibition. “At that time we had no idea where this journey would take us“, said Alan Pugsley. “Here we are 33 years later still drinking a fantastic Gearys Pale Ale, but now with over 7,000 breweries throughout the USA.
“Congratulations go to David for being a real Pioneer and visionary in the Craft Brewing business and “Thanks” for bringing me over to the USA to participate and help in the growth of North Americas Craft Breweries.”
December, 2019 - Outer Limits Brewing. Proctorsville,VT
Alan Pugsley spent 10 days with Outer Limits Brewery in Proctorsville, VT during November helping to get the brewery ramped up for the much anticipated very busy Holiday and Ski season . Along with additional brewery training , several brews, visiting outside accounts , Alan put together on site a unique Winter Warmer Ale recipe for Outer Limits’s first seasonal offering
“I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again, I’m honored to be part of the Peter Austin family and approach to brewing. We have a high standard of brewing that’s unique and it shows ”
“I was excited to spend several days with Wesley and the crew and don the boots again for digging the mash, cleaning some vessels along with the additional training and a general brewery and beer review.”
““It was great to see such excitement in the crowd over the beers and ambiance of the tasting room. I was thrilled to see owner Chris Mishoe’s dream finally come to fruition and the smiles on his face said it all despite the hard work . It has been a pleasure working with Chris and
fine tuning their dream to enable it to kick off with such success. It never gets old!“”
November, 2019 - Bravo Brewing Co. Pascoag, RI
PBPI would like to congratulate Bravo Brewing in Pascoag, RI for their extremely successful opening on 9/9/19. Crowds were lined up at the door at noon and did not abate until closing at 8 pm. Between tasting paddles and pints of beer over 1,000 pints were served in 8 hours. The crowd seemed to love the beers and were extremely happy to see such a good selection of 10 beers to start out with.
June, 2019 - Outer Limits Brewing. Proctorsville,VT
Outer Limits Brewery officially opened its doors on 5th July 2019 featuring 8 different styles of ales and lagers in its beautiful upstairs pub featuring a very unique pizza oven. In October the brewery shipped its first kegs to local accounts as it ramps up preparing for the hugely anticipated busy ski season.
“Alan, your knowledge of brewing and ability to do what you do is par to none. The Winter Warmer is f...ing incredible! You wrote that recipe so quick with no test batch. It simply amazes me. Thank you so much for being my teacher, I’m honored!”
