Most people celebrate the opening of a new business by snipping a ceremonial red ribbon. Not Matt Spitz. The Moustache Brewing Company co-owner will be snipping a lot more than that tomorrow afternoon, when the new microbrewery opens its doors to the public for the first time. The celebration will begin with the ceremonial shaving of Spitz’s considerable whiskers.
But Moustache Brewing Company’s fans needn’t worry. Tomorrow’s shearing will leave the owner’s trademark handlebar moustache intact.
“He does this every year,” said his wife and business partner Lauri. “He starts growing the beard on the first day of fall and he shaves it off on the first day of spring.” This year, the hirsute brewer held out for the grand opening.
The couple has been working into the wee hours to get their artisanal brewery — and their beer — ready for opening day.
Initially Moustache’s brews — currently “One Drop Pale Ale,” “Everyman Porter,” “Milk & Honey Brown Ale,” and “You *Might* Shoot Yo’ Rye Out” — will only be for sale at their Hallet Street tasting room. The microbrewery doesn’t yet have the capacity to brew enough beer to service all the people who want to buy it for resale.
With their existing equipment, they can only brew four kegs at a time — and it’s a daylong process.
“We can’t keep up with the demand,” she said. “We have a waiting list of 50 accounts that we can’t service,” Lauri Spitz said. Their goal, she said, is to raise capital through investors and/or financing to purchase a seven-barrel fermenter and a seven-barrel bright tank. The $40,000 price tag will allow Moustache to increase production of their craft beers very quickly, Lauri Spitz said.
The couple is confident about their fledgling company’s prospects.
“The reception’s been great,” Matt Spitz said.
The Spitzs, who started dating in high school, began brewing together about eight years ago. Their passion for their craft, and the reaction from friends, family and a growing army of fans, led them to think about taking their craft from a hobby to a business. They looked into possible locations all over the island, but found Riverhead Town the most receptive municipality.
“We were talking to Greg and Dan,” Lauri Spitz said, referring to Greg Martin and Dan Burke, co-owners of Long Ireland Beer Co., which opened its brewery on Pulaski Street in September 2011 and they suggested we look at Riverhead. When we visited their place, the town supervisor happened to be there and he said Riverhead would love to have another microbrewery. Everyone in the town’s been great.”
They started looking around Riverhead and found an industrial space on Hallet Street, just north of the MTA rail yard. They took occupancy in February 2013, rolled up their sleeves and went to work renovating the space and furnishing it with equipment purchased with the help of a successful KickStarter campaign that raised $31,413 dollars from 534 backers — exceeding their $25,000 goal.
The self-described beer geeks say they’re now ready to take it to the next level.
But first, the beard.
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