Brewery opening in Canton, MA – Blue Hills Brewery
I saw this article last week. I have tried to search for Blue Hills Brewery on Google and I was unable to locate their website, but the story seems to check out. If you hear of an update, please let me know.
When searching for Andris Veidis, I located information that Hope Brewery won multiple awards at the GABF.
1988 – GABF – European Pilsners – Hope Lager
1989 – GABF – Amber Ales – Hope Red Rooster Ale
Sounds Promising…
Sean
2Beerguys.com
Drink Craft Beer, You’ve Earned It!!!
On tap, a craft brewery in Canton to open on Turnpike Street
CANTON – For beer brewer Andris Veidis, success will be measured by the barrel and by how well his new pale ale pours.
Veidis and business partner Peter Augis, with financial backing from friends, are preparing to open the town’s first craft brewery, Blue Hills Brewery, in an unassuming 3,000-square-foot warehouse space on Turnpike Street. By the fall, they hope to turn out their first bottles and kegs of Blue Hill India Pale Ale, made from Veidis’s own recipe.
The 41-year-old Veidis, who said he loves nothing better than brewing beer, will be the “chief brewer and bottle washer,” aided at least part time by Augis, 53, a self-employed artist and contractor.
While Veidis has been researching the best deals on new and used brewing equipment, Augis has been laying tile and designing the inside spaces and letting his mind run wild about everything from signs to marketing strategies to new types of beers and the design of the bar for the tasting room.
“We’ve been talking about this for about eight years,” said Augis, of Westwood. “It’s been hard to make this first step.”
Veidis, who lives in Canton, hopes to be able to acquire a combination of new and reconditioned pieces by September at the latest. The men are investing about $250,000 to start the brewery, Veidis said.
The brewery is expected to produce about 120 to 150 barrels – or about 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of beer – a month, Veidis said.
Although the two men don’t remember exactly when they became friends, they have both traveled in Latvian circles in the Boston area most of their lives. Their two other partners – one from New York and the other from Latvia and Poland – are also longtime friends. “Beer is a big part of the culture,” said Veidis. Augis agreed: “My mom’s 92. She still loves beer.”
The partners hope to have a solid product in local bars and restaurants in time for Octoberfest celebrations this fall and come strong into the local market for the summer of 2009. The timing will depend on quickly getting the brewing equipment and federal licensing.
The company received a variance and positive feedback from the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals last month. The brewery would be in a unit of a building at 1020 Turnpike St.
Zoning board chairman Paul Carroll said the brewery would have very little impact on the area of Turnpike Street, also Route 138. Carroll said a couple of neighbors were concerned about possible odors, but said any concern would be addressed, most likely by increasing the height of the chimney or placing a filter on it.
Veidis said the odors from the brewing last for about two hours on days the wort is being made and is a “sweet, inoffensive” smell.
Veidis said he has thought about brewing beer since he was a young child and his father brewed his own beer.
He made home brew for many years and was working with Augis in South Boston when friends encouraged him to apply to be an apprentice at Harpoon’s brewery nearby. He started cleaning kegs and storage tanks and, after a few months, was allowed to work alongside the 4 a.m. shift brewers. He wasn’t paid and reported directly to his regular job afterward, helping Augis with construction and design at an art gallery.
Veidis wasn’t married, which was good, he said, “because I wasn’t a very fun fellow in those days.” He is now married and his wife, Alysa, is a nurse practitioner at Boston University Medical Center. They have a 20-month-old son, Talis.
Veidis landed a paying job at Hope Brewing Co. in Rhode Island, putting out their Red Rooster Ale. He also worked at the Main Street Brewing Co. in Worcester, a brew-pub that has since closed.
His formal training came when he attended the American Brewers Guild’s “boot camp,” a 22-week class on brewing science and engineering at the University of California at Davis.
Veidis has been working out his recipes the past few years with his brother, Martin, of Newton. Veidis said the first brew the company will make from his recipes will be an India Pale Ale, a golden beer only slightly fruity with the taste of hops. The second will be a lighter extra pale ale for “the hot summer night when you have just finished mowing the lawn.”
Veidis said that when he drinks beer himself, he stays away from those with flavors. “Personally I’m kind of old school. However, beer is about personal tastes. I’m happy to make whatever sells.”
Augis, who prefers a porter, said, “making beer is an art. If something puts a smile on your face, I call it art.”
18 Responses to “Brewery opening in Canton, MA – Blue Hills Brewery”
June 29th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
It’s all true,the mahogany bartop in the tasting room is the shape of a nine foot long pilsner glass. coming soon to good use !!
ka butu musu zemite viens alus ezerins
August 28th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Looking forward to it. I work in Canton , maybe I’ll stop in with a homebrew or three
September 11th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
well I work in a print shop out back, and just seen the sign out front. I don’t think the smell will bother me at all…. well welcome to 1020 hope you guys do great
September 18th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Have they been around working lately?
I’m thinking of stopping in with a few bottles of homebrew for some sampling.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Has anyone been in there? Are they in production yet? I live down the street from there and am interested in checking out the tasting room.
November 4th, 2008 at 7:24 am
All I know is the sign is up.
I’ve driven by a few times but didnt see much in the way of activity at that time of day (4:30-5:00PM)
November 4th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I work down the street as well and I stoppd in today and spoke with Andris. They are hoping to go live around New Years, still waiting for some equipment and working things out with Canton.
Andris seems like a great guy, and is looking forward to getting involved in the area with promotions and beer tasting/brewery tour events…you’ve gotta see that bar…
Can’t wait!
R
“Beer…the source of, and solution to, all life’s problems.” –H. Simpson
November 13th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I am the organizer of Beer Summit and I just received an e-mail from Andris stating that he would like to attend the show on 1/16 and 1/17 at the Castle in Boston MA so they appear ready to go any time now.
I assume this will be their first festival so this is great news.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Tim,
Thanks for the great news. It will be interesting to try their beers at the Beer Summit.
Sean
2Beerguys.com
Drink Craft Beer, You’ve Earned It!!
December 17th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Hey Guys,
I stopped by the brewery today after seeing it for quite some time and they said they should be up and running in the next week or two. They did get a website up and running http://www.bluehillsbrewery.com/ it has an info flyer on it for further info.
January 1st, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Beer Enthusiats
The brews are fermenting and will be at the Winter Summit Beer Jubilee at The CASTLE in Park Square January 16&17,09. Our FIRST GLASS POURED will be at Doyle’s Bar in Jamaica Plain ( along with the BLUE HILLS GIRLS ) on January 29&30,09. Come CELEBRATE with all of us and lets’ make History Together.I promise a good time , great beer and good cheer.
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:10 am
Got buterflies yet Peter? I’ll certainly be taking a night off from work to catch one of the Doyle’s events! It’s been a long time coming, and we wish the best of success to you and Andris. Two good men, making very good beer!
May 19th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Hey guys…
Blue Hills is hosting a beer festival in June at the Irish Cultural Center in Canton. Should be a great time with an abundance of strong ales and the new hefe they’re breaking out soon.
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2009
Time: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
Location:
Irish Cultural Center of New England
200 New Boston Drive
Canton, MA
May 24th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Ðу точно, как говорÑÑ‚, полезное Ñ€Ñдом!
May 30th, 2009 at 12:08 am
Andris & Peter,
Greetings from a lettin brewer in Philadelphia. Novelu jums daudz panakumu! Wish you plenty of success! Any Baltic influenced brews forthcoming?
September 18th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Bought my first six pack at the newton discount liqueur store (Needham St). There was a great sales guy pouring samples.
IPA is really good, cant wait to clone it.
Good luck and Nazdrova!
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:24 pm
[...] from 2:00-6:00pm. And say Hi to Mike for us! For more reviews on Blue Hill Brewery check out: http://www.2beerguys.com/blog/2008/05/16/brewery-opening-in-canton-ma-blue-hills-brewery/ http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/19213 [...]
April 22nd, 2010 at 6:06 am
this brewery is doing well and many new brews have been developed just in the last few months, friday 3:30 to 7:00 and saturday 2:00 to 5:00 stop by and experince truly great tasting beer…cheers!!!
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