New England Brewfest

Throwback Brewery

A Profile

Brewery: Throwback Brewery

Owners: Annette Lee (Head Brewer) and Nicole Carrier (Head People Person)

Location: 121 Lafayette Road Unit 3, North Hampton NH 03862
    Phone: 603 379 2317
    Hours: Thursdays 4-7, Friday 4-7, Saturday 1-4

When you think of the locovore movement, you envision small local farms with chickens scratching the ground and pigs oinking in their pens.  You think of tasty veggies, yummy eggs, and  succulent meat.  But why should it stop there? Why can't beer be considered in the same light.  With the greater interest in craft beer, there has been subsquent growth in small breweries.  Back before prohibition there were breweries in just about every town and in some cases in neigborhoods.  The number of breweries in the United States is just now getting back to pre-prohibition levels, and Throwback is one of the new breed of hyper-local breweries.

The People

Annette Lee started home brewing after she was introduced to it by some of her coworkers.  She worked as an environmental engineer until she left that business to start the brewery.  In 2007 Lee attended the Seibel Institue of Technology Master Brewers Program, after which, she spent time interning with Smuttynose Brewing to round out her education. She says that the time spent in school and at Smuttynose really prepared her for a career as a professional brewer.  When asked what her favorite style of beer is, she says she likes most styles but her least favorite is IPAs.  She leans towards the darker side of the beer spectrum, porters and stouts.  

Nicole Carriers story is much the same, she found a passion for craft beer 20 years ago while attending college at Dartmouth.  A decade later she was introduced to homebrewing by friends and her interest in craft beer really peaked. She currently works for a software company as well as at the brewery.  Nichole is the head of marketing, deliveries, and “People Stuff” as well as helping Annette come up with ideas for the beer they brew.    
Nicole says that the mix of skills that they both bring to the table, add a unique creativity that enhances the flare and flavor of their beers.  The two also rely on a cadre of family, friends, volunteers, and loyal customers that help around the brewery, as well as acting as a testing panel on new beers.

The Brewery

Started in August of this year, Throwback Brewery, is one of New Hampshire's newest breweries.  The owners built a business that encompasses the idea of a local brewery being a reflection of the locavore movement.  They use ingredients from local farms as well as grain from local maltsters.  They can't get everything they need local, but they are looking to that in the future.  After brewing, the grains and hops they use are recycled back to local farms to be feed to animals.  
          Nicole says that in the future they would like to move further toward greening up the brewery, but it is cost prohibitive right now.  The grains they use are from Valley Malting in Hadley, Massachusetts which shares a similar business ideal as the brewery.  Annette says that she can taste a difference in these grains, which are heirloom variety's of barley and wheat.  The grains that they aren't able to source locally are bought organic from Briess and North Country.  Their hops, are from Foothill Farms in Munnsville, New York.

The Culture of Beer-ior

What is Beer-ior?  It is a term that Annette and Nicole have coined from the term “Terrior” which is french for “Sense of Place”.  It is a word used by the wine industry to denote seasonal and geographical influences on wine.  The ladies of Throwback wanted to impart a similar notion with their beer.  The process of using local ingredients gives the beer a unique taste that can not be duplicated by breweries anywhere else in the world, or even the state for that matter.  According to Carrier this focus on localism makes recipe formulation a challenge, but a simple trip to the farmers market can bring on great inspiration. Spicy Bohemian Jalapeno Pilsner anyone?

The Beer

Throwback currently bottles 5 of their beers (see the list below), the rest are in draught or growler format and are served at local restaurants and bars as well as at the breweries tasting room.  

This winter Throwback is introducing their “Unafraid of the Dark – Farmers Stout and Porter” Series.  This program will be releasing a new beer every two weeks from January through March.  From their website:

Winters in New England can be long, dark, and cold. One of our favorite ways to keep warm on these chilly nights is to sit in front of a roaring fire with a pint of full-bodied beer.  That’s why we are excited to introduce our Unafraid of the Dark – Farmers’ Stout & Porter Series!  Starting the first week in January, we will begin releasing a unique batch of dark beer every two weeks, until just about the end of March.  Each beer will feature an ingredient grown at a local farm, or, in one case, an ingredient made by a local organic business. We’ll have six in total, so hopefully that gives you something to look forward to when you’re shoveling out this winter!

Here are four of the six beers we plan to make:

• Wake Robin Farm Chocolate Ginger Stout

• White Heron Chai Porter

• Meadow’s Mirth Fennel Flower Stout

• Brookford Farm Hidatsa Squash Porter

We will be announcing the remaining two beers once we finish some testing.  While we can’t tell you exactly what they are now, we can tell you that all the beers will be made with the freshest of local ingredients we can find, and will have just the right balance of flavor and drinkability. And, I can also tell you, that we are experimenting with the extra tasty bacon from New Roots Farm with one of our existing porters.  We also are still tinkering with the bourbon barrel.

The name Throwback says it all, this is a brewery that harkens back to the days when beers were a local phenomenon.  The owners believe in running the business in the way they live their lives, by supporting local the agriculture and economy.  They allow the local choice of flora and fauna drive innovation, and recipe development.  If you find yourself in North Hampton, NH stop in, say Hi to Annette and Nicole and do your part to support local beer.