The owner and sole employee of the Northampton-based brewing operation does everything from brew the beer to label the bottles.
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More than one serving a day increases your risk.At just 24, Tyler Guilmette is a one-man brewing force. He is successfully making the transition from home brewer to the so-called "nano-brewer" category by using the high-energy approach he employs as head track coach at Longmeadow High School.
As the owner and sole employee of Northampton-based Brewmaster Jack Brewing, the young entrepreneur does everything from brew the beer to label the bottles. His only help comes from a design artist friend who created the label, and his father, who helps make the custom tap handles. Currently his only beer is Stray Dog lager, but he plans on expanding when he can.
I got Tyler to take a few moments out of his somewhat breathless schedule to answer a few questions.
What got you into brewing and when was that?
I used to walk by a brewing supply shop on King Street every few days on my way to the grocery store. Every time I walked by I thought "well that seems like fun." So I saved up and bought a homebrew kit just before my 22nd birthday. That was when I first moved to Northampton in 2009.
When and why decide to go from home brewer to nano brewer?
It was tough making the switch to be a full-time beer guy. I was working a job with the greatest bosses and co-workers you could imagine but I still wasn't happy. I stick by the idea of "you only get one life so enjoy it." Eventually it just came down to a question of how I wanted to spend my days. That was in the summer of 2011.
Why start with a lager, which takes longer to make?
I experimented with turning the recipe into an ale but the beer just didn't have the same character. I liked how the lager recipe was smooth and easy to drink. I think that appeals to a wide range of beer drinkers.
Why the name Stray Dog?
I was trying to come up with a name that matched the style of the beer. The norm for "session" beers was either to make a pilsner style or to add a ton of aroma hops for flavor. I made this beer to go in a different direction and stray from the norm.
Where are some places you can get your beer?
The tap lines are always changing so it's tough to say which restaurants or bars have it at any given time. I keep an updated map on my website, www.brewmasterjack.com, and I always keep my Facebook followers updated on new locations.
What are some styles you plan in future?
I have a few different recipes I'm working on right now. The next few will most likely be a stout, and IPA, and an Imperial Amber. I'll probably release at least one this summer; most likely the IPA. It will be limited supply though. It's taking me a very long time to get the right hops for the recipe.
I heard you make your own labels and tap handles?
I made the basic design for the labels. I was lucky that a friend of mine from college, Laura Norris, is an extremely talented graphic design artist. She was able to put everything together for me. All the tap handles are hand-made from wooden balusters and a branding iron. My dad brands them and I add the metal bases.
Why "Jack"? That's not your name.
Jack was my great-grandfather, a home brewer back in the 1930s.
What are short term and long term goals with this brand?
My short term goal is to increase sales enough to start using 100 percent local grain instead of just 25 percent. The grain is a little bit more expensive than the European stuff I'm using right now. Long term goals? As long as I can make a sustainable living from this I'll be happy.