Peter Marsala pours a sample of the Far From the Tree Craft Cider at Friday night’s Hops and History fundraiser at the Lynn Museum. Photo by Paula Muller
By Leah Dearborn
LYNN — Downtown Lynn got a taste of culture and beer at the 7th annual “History and Hops” fundraiser at the Lynn Museum & Historical Society on Friday night.
Representatives from Narragansett, DownEast Cider House, Far From the Tree Cider and a nonprofit homebrew company out of Gloucester called Agape Brewing Community were present at the event with samples.
Bent Water Brewing Co. and the Ipswich Ale Brewery Tapmobile were also on site.
“With Bent Water coming so close to home, it’s really piqued interest in craft brewing in the area,” said Carolyn Cole, programs manager of the Downtown Lynn Cultural District. Cole said that the real goal of the night was to draw interest to the museum and Lynn’s downtown.
“I’m a Lynn resident and I like to see things like this happening in the downtown,” said attendee Scott Nowka, who listed Bent Water’s Thunder Funk IPA as his favorite beer of the night.
Bent Water Brewing Co. founder Aaron Reames gave a presentation on the history of hops that went back to the birth of beer 9,000 years ago. Assistant brewer Adam Golab also took the floor to talk about the science of the brewing process.
Reames said that Bent Water was part of “History and Hops” last year when the brewery was only four weeks old and that the Lynn community has provided a great deal of support since their official opening.
Printed sheets with historical facts about beer were positioned on tables around the first floor of the museum and attendees could participate in a 50/50 raffle for a chance to win half of the night’s proceeds.
Bent Water is the only brewery in Lynn now, but it’s not the first to exist in the city. Judith Marshall, education and research specialist at the Lynn Museum, said the Waterhill Brewery stood on Woodman Street in 1912.
Marshall pointed out a photo of the Waterhill Brewery that is part of a pop-up exhibit the Lynn Museum put together for the evening.
Marshall said the pop-up exhibit, which will stay up for a few more weeks, consists of photographs pertaining to the history of beer and alcohol in the city.
“I think it’s a really creative way to showcase the downtown and the history of the city,” said state Rep. Brendan Crighton, who attended the event.