Yankee Brew News Archive

Middlesex Expands, Relocates, Greatly Expands Capacity

Originally Published: 06/96

By: Kerry J Byrne

Bryan Friguliette is living large.

Well, not yet anyway. But he is brewing large. Or at least larger than before.

In March the owner and head brewer of Middlesex Brewing Company moved into an expansive 9,000 square foot facility in Wilmington, Massachusetts. For the three previous years he had been running a cottage brewery out of his home in Burlington. At first he brewed his three products on the side as he held down a full-time job. Soon the job became part-time and then disappeared as began devoting all his working hours to his cottage brewery. Then came the most recent change, the move to the new facility at 844 Woburn Street.

The new brewery is complete with its own bottling line and will allow Friguliette to sell beer in 12-ounce bottles and six-packs. Mill City in Lowell is the only other Massachusetts brewery that sells beer actually brewed in the state by the six-pack. His beers had been available only in 22-ounce bottles. He is now kegging his beer as well. His draught accounts are listed below.

Friguliette is brewing on a beautiful, spit-sparkling 15-barrel system from Price-Shonstrom of Ontario. He believes it is one of just three Price-Shonstrom brewing systems in the United States. He said he expected brewers from across the country to take time off from the National Craft Brewers Conference in Boston in order to come to the brewery and check out his system.

The size of the equipment upgrade is most clearly evident when you look at the old two-barrel kettle Friguliette used for brewing at his home. The kettle still floats around the Wilmington brewery, but, compared to the new stuff, it looks like a long-gone piece of Friguliette's brewing past. He raves about not just the equipment but about the technical support he has received the from the manufacturers. "Any time I've needed help they've been there," said Friguliette.

He seems to be enjoying his new set-up and the new-found respectability that comes with it. "The products haven't changed a whole lot," he said. "But people's perceptions of them have. I think people consider me a more serious brewer now because I'm not just working out of my house." He said half jokingly, "This is more of a so-called job because I have a place to go. Now I can separate my so-called life from my work."

His three products are an oatmeal stout, brown ale and raspberry wheat. He has tossed around the idea of adding new brews to the line--he certainly now has the capability--but has no concrete plans as of yet. The sweetish stout is mildly hopped with Willamette, Chinook and Cascade hops. The smooth, meaty body is the result of 15-20 percent oats in the mash.

The deep, rich brown ale gets its color from chocolate malt. It also uses Willamette, Chinook and Cascade hops and is balanced by a blend of Canadian and English malts. The raspberry wheat is thankfully, for my palate, more wheat than raspberry. "Most definitely a wheat beer," said Friguliette, citing its 50 percent wheat malt. The "natural" raspberry flavoring is most noticeable in the aroma and is balanced by a hint of Cascade hops. It finishes clean and dry, not fruity.

Middlesex Brewing does not yet have tour times but they can be arranged by appointment by calling the brewery at (508) 657-8100. Middlesex products are being distributed by East Coast Beverages. Friguliette's draft accounts are at: the Horseshoe Pub, Hudson; Sunset Grill & Tap, Allston; Porcini's Restaurant, Watertown; the Black Cow, Hamilton; Huckleberries, Newton; Redbones, Somerville; the Brewery Exchange, Lowell; the Plantation Club, Worcester; Skeeter's Tavern, Brockton; Union St. Bar and Restaurant, Newton; Stars on Hingham Harbor, Hingham; and Sissy K's, Faneuil Hall, Boston.

Photo caption:

The old and the new--Middlesex owner Brian Friguliette stands next to the brew kettle he used at the cottage brewery he ran out of his home in Burlington. Behind him are the shiny new conditioning tanks at his new brewery in Wilmington.