Tod Mott leaving Portsmouth?

Discussion in 'New England' started by EnronCFO, Jul 7, 2012.

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  1. EnronCFO

    EnronCFO Pooh-Bah (1,969) Mar 29, 2007 Massachusetts
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    Heard a rumor last night that Tod Mott was stepping down as head brewer of Portsmouth Brewery later this month and will then assume some sort of promotional/beer ambassador position for both Portsmouth and Smutty. He'd still be involved with the brewing activities of Portsmouth, but not on a full-time basis. Maybe this is already public and I'm late to the party, but it was news to me. Anyone else heard this or have any insight?
     
  2. Lukaduke

    Lukaduke Initiate (0) May 22, 2012 Maine

    Heard this rumor as well... but I heard he was starting his own brew project in Southern Maine:astonished:
     
  3. Lukaduke

    Lukaduke Initiate (0) May 22, 2012 Maine

    In other news when I saw him @ the Festival he told me he had just finished a collaboration with the Alchemist in Portsmouth... so keep an eye out on that draft list !
     
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  4. EnronCFO

    EnronCFO Pooh-Bah (1,969) Mar 29, 2007 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Yeah, the hopped up imperial milk stout should be on later this month I guess. Very excited for it.

    And Tod unleashed with his own brew project would be awesome, but I would hate to see him leave Portsmouth.
     
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  5. Drazzamatazz

    Drazzamatazz Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2009 Maine

    I heard this as well from a source I think could be trusted. Southern Maine really isn't that far from Portsmouth though, and if he's going to do his own thing minds well get a little closer to home right?
     
  6. FrankLloydMike

    FrankLloydMike Maven (1,284) Aug 16, 2006 Massachusetts

    Wow, this would be a huge bummer. He's easily one of the best brewers in New England, and as far as I know his stint at Portsmouth is fairly unusually long for a non-owner brewer. Portsmouth Brewery is probably identified with him as brewer, as much as just about any brewery in the region is with its brewer. He's also a pretty big fixture in the Portsmouth and New Hampshire beer circles. So it will be a big deal if he does indeed leave.

    But if he's starting his own place in the area, that could be great news as well. I'm assuming Portsmouth would find another talented brewer--though it would be hard to fill Tod Mott's shoes--and then we'd have another brewery in the area. I'd love it if he stayed right in Portsmouth somewhere, but I'm not sure where he lives or where he'd like to work. I'd hope, at least, to see his beer served in the town that has come to be so identified with his beers among BAs though.

    So I'll be sad if it's true. On top of Will Gilson leaving Moat Mountain, this will leave a huge void in the New Hampshire brewing community. There are still a number of long-time professional brewers in the state, a growing number of new breweries, and talented new brewers at older breweries, but it will be a blow to lose two, high-profile, top-notch brewers who have been around for so long, in such a short period of time. But assuming this rumor is true, I wish him all the best in whatever he does, and I'll be looking forward to any new projects he has coming up.
     
  7. smutty33

    smutty33 Pooh-Bah (2,088) Jun 12, 2009 Connecticut
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    Say it ain't so Joe !!
     
  8. Drazzamatazz

    Drazzamatazz Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2009 Maine

    I think I remember hearing he lives in Eliot or South Berwick, so while technically Southern Maine, minds well be Portsmouth.
     
  9. FrankLloydMike

    FrankLloydMike Maven (1,284) Aug 16, 2006 Massachusetts

    My mother and stepfather live in Eliot, and I'd say that's definitely the case. Just to avoid the pain of getting out-of-state beer into NH, I really hope Tod Mott continues to brew on the Portsmouth side of the river--if he's actually leaving. For as long as I've been drinking, Tod Mott's beer and Portsmouth have been nearly interchangeable in my mind. As the old NH poet once said, nothing gold can stay, but dammit, I'd be sad if Tod Mott's beers weren't available in Portsmouth. Obviously, it's his craft, his life and his decision, but selfishly, that's what I hope.
     
  10. duchessedubourg

    duchessedubourg Savant (1,157) Nov 2, 2007 Vermont

    Will Gilson from Moat has moved to my hometown here in VT with his wife & daughter, and I am already putting him in touch with our local business development association in case he gets a hankering to open a brewpub here. Our town sewer system is grossly under-utilized, and they are desperate for a high-volume water-using business. Here's hoping!
     
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  11. FrankLloydMike

    FrankLloydMike Maven (1,284) Aug 16, 2006 Massachusetts

    You don't need to give away the town, but is it near Burlington or I-89? I don't see myself ending my annual trip to Moat Mountain any time soon, but I'd love to add a visit to a future Will Gilson-led brewery on my trips up to the Burlington area. Will Gilson is a hell of a brewer--it was great to enjoy some of the last beers he brewed up at Moat Mountain this past week--and I'd love to see him make something of that sewer system! In the meantime, the growler of Hoffman Weiss in my fridge has me looking forward to 6pm.
     
  12. duchessedubourg

    duchessedubourg Savant (1,157) Nov 2, 2007 Vermont

    I think he would prefer to keep it on the down-low if/until he puts a plan together - not one to start rumors of impending new breweries, so I will respect his desire for discretion for now. This is more my wishful thinking than any concrete plan on his part.
     
  13. FrankLloydMike

    FrankLloydMike Maven (1,284) Aug 16, 2006 Massachusetts

    Gotcha, and that's what I figured. But I'm with you on the wishful thinking--I'd love to see him brewing again in the future if that's what he decides to do.

    Not to get too off-topic from the original thread, but I just wanted to add how much I really love Will's beers at the Moat--some of the cleanest, best examples of well-done beers without reinventing the wheel I've had anywhere. Going up there and being treated with a wonderfully crisp pint has been one of the highlights of my summer the past six years. I've been so happy to have his beers available in cans and bottles, and now I'm glad that (presumably) at least his recipes for those beers will live on. I'm sure he's left the Moat in good hands, but I was really sorry to see him go. The same is true of Tod Mott. While I'd love it if they were both still brewing in the state, I wish them all the best in whatever they do next.
     
  14. EnronCFO

    EnronCFO Pooh-Bah (1,969) Mar 29, 2007 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Agreed on Will's beers, his hefeweizen is still my all-time favorite in the style. However, I could never justify the costs of their bottled and canned beers. Maybe they've come down in price since, but when they first starting hitting shelves around here the prices were way out of whack with the competition.
     
  15. FrankLloydMike

    FrankLloydMike Maven (1,284) Aug 16, 2006 Massachusetts

    I agree about the hefeweizen--there are several others I've enjoyed, but none have yet touched the Hoffman Weiss. As far as the bottle and can costs go, I've never purchased a bottle, though I've received a couple as gifts. I have purchased several cans, though. When they first came out, the prices seemed a little high at some places, but in the last year (maybe a little less), I've always picked them up for about $5-6. I saw they were $5 at the brewery. That's certainly not the cheapest beer around per ounce, but a $5 bomber (especially given the extra 2 oz) is among the cheapest I've seen. I really like the Iron Mike Pale Ale, but given how many good pale ales there are out there, I've been much more excited about the Boneshaker Brown. There are very few brown ales that I'm excited to have, but Moat's is one of them--much hoppier and less syrupy-sweet than the standard. I'll gladly drop $6 for a standout in the style from time-to-time. In any case, I'd really love to see them get some more draft accounts (and I've never heard anyone argue with their draft prices)--they've got pretty good distribution in Portsmouth, but nothing in Manchester or anywhere else outside the White Mountains that I know of.
     
  16. straffordmilitia

    straffordmilitia Initiate (0) Apr 10, 2009 New York

    Stop in at The Brewery tomorrow for a pint....
     
  17. Bierman9

    Bierman9 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,669) Dec 20, 2001 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    W
    Would if I could but I can't so I won't.... But I HEAR ya loud and clear....

    Prosit!
     
  18. gdkersey

    gdkersey Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 Massachusetts

    Nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more!
     
  19. FrankLloydMike

    FrankLloydMike Maven (1,284) Aug 16, 2006 Massachusetts

    You don't have to spill the beans, but for those of us who can't stop in tomorrow, will we know more then?
     
  20. Longstaff

    Longstaff Initiate (0) May 23, 2002 Massachusetts

    Good luck to Tod, and I hope this means he can offer an IPA on a regular basis in the future. ;-)

    I would follow Tod Mott anywhere he decides to brew....

    I'm sure Portsmouth will do just fine without him as they offer more than just good beer - and Kate day could probably live on based on past reputation alone.
     
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