MONHEGAN —Ten miles out on Monhegan Island, Matt and Mary Weber are just like most Maine islanders — always working. Matt’s a full-time lobsterman and Mary’s a teacher and right now, their jobs are in full swing. But at the end of the day when most people come home to unwind and relax, Matt and Mary are back to work again with their recently launched seasonal brewery, Monhegan Brewing Company. Even though they have closed the microbrewery for the season, there are still orders to fill and marketing to be done.

With Monhegan’s lobstering season from Oct. 1 to June 7, we had to catch up with the Webers by email and ask more questions about their unique microbrewery. They specialize in small batch, hand-crafted beer brewed by Danny McGovern, a visionary with more than 20 years in the Maine brewing industry.

Q: What's the back story on you guys? And why did you pair up with another brewer?

A: Danny McGovern is Mary's father.  Mary grew up with home brew equipment all over her house and, when she was 16, he [McGovern] started Lake St. George Brewing Company in the mid 1990s (one of the first Maine microbreweries) out of their home.  Since this was the very beginning of the craft brewing movement, his only market was in the Portland area, so self-distributing proved to be time consuming and expensive.  After closing Lake St. George, he went on to work at Belfast Bay Brewing Company, where he created McGovern's Oatmeal Stout, which is still on the market, but now contract brewed and distributed by Shipyard. He then moved on to Marshall Wharf, where he still brews.  We all decided to go into business together for a few reasons:  

1. We live here.  It's a beautiful place and it attracts a very eclectic mix of visitors and residents.
2. Danny wanted to be an owner again and he wanted to create a family business that would allow him to pass on the knowledge of his craft to us and future generations.

Q: Maine has seen a total explosion of microbreweries since the 1990s. But you're the only outer-island brewery in Maine. How is that an advantage — and also a disadvantage?

A: Being the only outer-island brewery is an advantage in the sense that everyone who visits the island in the summer (and it's a LOT of people!) hears about us and/or visits us.  We're obviously the only microbrewery on the island, and, given the movement toward supporting local food/economy/business, people are thrilled to be able to buy a product that was produced right on the island.  There are lots of fans of Monhegan, so that name alone gives us notoriety. Our product is what people are loving, but the name gets them to notice it. Obviously the disadvantage to having a brewery on the island is that we have to get everything out here.  It is expensive and sometimes logistically tricky.  Distributing off island also presents those same challenges.

Q: Describe how your careers have influenced the type of beers you make along with the labels you've given them.

A: As you know, Matt catches lobsters. And this winter, we will be doing a rum barrel-aged beer that is influenced by rum’s maritime history.  Besides our Trap Stacker Special Ale, names are less influenced by his profession, but rather by our home.  Lobster Cove APA is named after the cove that is pretty much our front yard.  Shipwreck IPA is named for the D.T. Sheridan, a tugboat whose remains are still on the island.  Our idea has been to name all of our beers after island historical landmarks.

Q: Do you trade your beer with other islanders? If so, for what?

A: We don't trade beer, but we do have an exchange going.  The Island Farm Project is happy to take our spent grain for compost.  In exchange, they are growing hops for us.  This helps both parties, as waste removal is tough on an island.

Q: Tell us what Monhegan Brewing Company's next steps. How do you plan on getting your beer noticed?

A: The plan for our second year of business is to participate in beer events across Maine, starting with the beer/wine tasting at Camden Snow Bowl's toboggan event this February, Down The Chute Beer & Wine Tasting 2014.  We will add to our bottle line-up by next spring, including some limited releases, one of which is a Quadracentennial brew that we will release this summer to commemorate 400 years since Capt. John Smith landed on Monhegan.  This will be a huge event on the island next summer.

For a limited time, you can currently find Monhegan Brewing Company’s Trap Stacker Special Ale (22 oz $10.99) at French and Brawn Market Place.

For more stories about who else is microbrewing in the Midcoast check out:

• 24 Hours in the Midcoast for the ‘Craft Beer Lover’

• New Rockland brewery launches at Rock Harbor along with three new craft beers

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com