Greater Boston's First Irish Craft Brewery On Tap For Norwood

NORWOOD, MA - Greater Boston's first Irish-themed brewery was unanimously approved by the Board of Selectmen for a pouring permit recently to open at the Norwood Space Center at 83 Morse St. in Lot 4, the former site of Percival Brewing Company.

Manager Carl Sharpley explained the vision for Irish Brewing Boston, which will be a small production brewery in a space of 5,000 square feet with approximately 140 seats. It will offer brews of beer and freshly ground coffee and will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.

"This is a new concept; it's the first concept of its kind," he said. "It's Irish themed, Irish-American themed."

It will offer coffee for the top o' the morning patrons and craft beer after noon. There will be four to six different styles of beers initially made on the premises. Packaged snacks also will be sold, and there is potential for collaboration with local food trucks and bakeries.

Selectman Allan Howard asked if only their beer would be sold.

"We have plans to work with Irish craft breweries in Ireland and import craft beer into the country," Sharpley said. He also spoke of working with Norwood brewery Castle Island Brewing Company to "co-brand beers together as the Norwood breweries."

He also plans to send his brewmaster to Ireland to work with a sister company there.

"We hope to make Norwood famous in the west of Ireland," Sharpley said.

"We're famous there already," joked Selectman Helen Abdallah Donahue.

Sharpley added that he has 10 years of brewing experience running Santa Monica Brew Works, which offers California-inspired beer. He also has two decades of experience in the hospitality industry.

The brewery also will be seeking a permit at a later date for an outside smoker and hopes to be able to offer outdoor seating in the summer.