Matt Gallagher Named New Head Brewer @ Portsmouth Brewery

Portsmouth, NH – Change is in the air at Portsmouth Brewery as Head Brewer

Tyler Jones is departing to become part owner and Head Brewer at the newly-formed Black Hog Brewing Company in Oxford, Connecticut. Current Assistant

Brewer Matt Gallagher, Tyler’s first hire at the Portsmouth Brewery, will take over

as Head Brewer. 

Tyler started at the Portsmouth Brewery as an assistant in 2007 and, after a

seven month stint at sister brewery Smuttynose, returned in the summer of 2012

to become Head Brewer.  “As a 21 year old, I looked at the brewhouse during

my birthday celebration and dreamed of having a chance to try it out someday.

Needless to say, to have brewed so many batches here is an unbelievable

dream to have come true,” said Jones. The departing brewer listed Ginga Ninja

(his wedding beer), Royal Impy Stout and the historical, botanical beers he

brewed with Heirloom Gardener, John Forti, as favorites from his time at the

helm.

Matt Gallagher started as a bartender at the Portsmouth Brewery but moved into

the brewhouse after less than a year. Asked about his vision for the Brewery,

Gallagher doesn’t see any massive shifts on the horizon: “Tyler has done such

a great job keeping beers on tap and keeping the quality up, that I’ll simply

maintain that. I am however, looking forward to bringing our customers what

they most want.” Matt says talking to customers is one his favorite parts of the

job and that it offers a great chance to learn his immediate market. “Hops are on

everyone’s minds, so I plan on always having an IPA on tap. Many patrons have

also given me feedback on our saisons and I’ll be revamping those, as well, while

continuing to brew all the rotational beers our patrons love to drink.“   

May 2 will be Tyler’s last day at Portsmouth Brewery. With Gallagher’s

experience he’ll be able to hit the ground running, said Jones, “Matt is an

excellent brewer. He’s already created a few popular beers, like Night Nurse

black IPA and Grizzly Skinner imperial pale ale, and I look forward to drinking all

of his new brews when I return to the Seacoast. I know he’s not short of ideas or

skill.”
.