Tod Mott Likely to Land Near South Berwick Maine & Start w/Four Beers Including Kate The Great

Tod Mott, who has been head brewer at Portsmouth Brewery since 2003, recently left that job to open a new brewery in southern Maine.

When I spoke with him last week, he didn’t have a name, a license or a location. He is hoping for South Berwick, where he lives, but would be OK with any place between the Berwicks and Kittery or York. He was scheduled to meet with state officials this past Monday for various licenses and approvals needed to start the brewery.

"There are no breweries in this area — they’re all up north," he said.

Mott said the operation will begin as a tiny brewery, producing about 500 barrels a year. Among the beers will be the most famous beer he brewed at Portsmouth, Kate the Great imperial stout.

"They will keep the name Kate the Great, but I’ve got the recipe," Mott said. "Tyler (Jones) was my assistant for four years, and is a very competent brewer, but I promise you it won’t be the same."

Mott plans to open with four beers — probably an IPA, a stout of some sort other than the imperial, a rye and a saison — along with some seasonal ales.