Mighty Squirrel Craft Brewery, Tap Room Opens

WALTHAM, MA — There has been a lot of celebration over at Mighty Squirrel brewery on Waverley Oaks road near the border with Belmont. Last week Waltham's first brewery got the green light to open up shop.

And now, after months of prep and a number of soft openings, including one on Tuesday night where the owners invited neighbors to come get a tour and test the beer and see the space, the brewery is ready to welcome the rest of the city. Opening day is Dec. 7.

"We were interested to see what it was like," said Rita Kassabian who lives across the street with her husband John. They got a flier in the mail and had watched the construction over the past year so they swung by to see for themselves.

Both said they were impressed and could picture hosting parties or bringing guests over to grab a few beers and order food delivered.

Although the tap room doesn't serve food, they have a tablet with fast ordering for a business down the street. There's a coffee shop in the back that will serve Atomic coffee, based in Beverly. But the bulk of the warehouse-like space is dedicated brewing equipment. Visitors have a front and center view of how the beer is made with tanks and the canning equipment in the middle of the space.

Downstairs there will be more tanks, a silo for the ingredients and a special refrigerator to keep the canned beer, although that won't be a public area. After taking a tour of the space downstairs that still has some work to be done, according to founder Naveem Pawar, John Kassabian said he'd come back.

"I hope he can make his dream come true," he said referencing Pawar.

Founders Henry Manice and Pawar launched their concept of a beer for active people some four years ago. They got the idea for the name after they were off having lunch together near a taco truck when they saw a squirrel come along and brazenly steal a taco, sling it over its back and head off. That was a mighty squirrel, they joked. But the more they thought about it, the more they realized the truth in that. The concept of "small but mighty" is one that the craft brewing industry knows well, too, as they face up against giant mainstream beer companies.

Almost two years ago Mighty Squirrel the craft brewery that started with some low-carb high protein sport beer (yep) and eventually transformed to more traditional craft beer, promised to set up shop in the Boston area. They got the ZBA approval in March for a 23,000-square foot state-of-the-art facility with its own tap room.

Pawar envisioned a space where the tap room was the main attraction. Where people with young families come and see the magic being made in an interactive way after coming in from a hike or a bike ride from the nearby trails - or from the bouldering at neighboring Central Rock set to open in January.

There's a glass wall next that separates the tap room from the space its leasing to the popular Manhattan-based rock climbing gym. Although the space is under construction right now, the plan is for the bouldering company to move in. The glass wall allows folks inside to watch the boulderers and gives those who go in to climb the idea about heading over after for a drink.

It's a natural fit, said Pawar.

"We love craft beer, and we try to live a healthy lifestyle," he said.

The most frequent question staff get is about food, said Leibowitz, the director of sales. No food, but there are four beers on tap but the plan is to add to that list. There are 40 draft lines at the ready in the tap room. For friends who don't drink alcohol? They have Spindrift and coffee.

"I think the beer is fresh," said Walter Pieizle who lives around the corner and whose family once owned land where the brewery stands, he said. What does he think of the changes? "I think it's good."

The official Launch Party is Friday, Dec 7 at 5 p.m.

Hours at the 411 Waverley Oaks Road location:

Coffee Shop: partnering with Atomic Cafe - own cold brew coffee will be open 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Tap room will be open 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. weekdays, and until 11 p.m. on the weekend.

Related:

Mighty Squirrel Craft Brewery, Tap Room To Open Soon

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Photos by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff