LYNN — History buffs and beer lovers enjoyed the best of both worlds Friday evening.
For the ninth year in a row, the Lynn Museum hosted its History and Hops event with an array of local breweries. Guests sampled beer from Bent Water Brewing Company, Far From the Tree Craft Hard Cider, Narragansett Brewing Company, and the Newburyport Brewing Company, all while taking a tour of the building’s historic displays.
“This is just a really fun night,” said Sue Walker, the museum’s public engagement coordinator. “It’s a chance for people to come out and not have to dress up. They can just let their hair down and drink some great beer.”
Attendees also chowed down on some fine food provided by Revolution Pie + Pint and Philly Pretzel Factory while sipping on their chosen brew. Each of the breweries had a table set up where people could walk up and ask questions about specific beers or ask to sample what was on the table.
Throughout the evening, a slideshow projected on a wall gave guests a surplus of information about the brewing process and some fun facts about beer. Hops, the flower of the hop plant, are used in brewing beer to give the beverage a bitterness when used early in the process and an aroma when added at the end. Hop flowers are also a preservative, and help to extend the life of beer.
Last year’s History and Hops was the Lynn brewery’s first public event. Drew Russo, executive director of the Lynn Museum, said it is great to have a brewery in the city with good, quality beer. Aaron Reames, one of Bent Water’s owners and co-founders, said Russo and a number of city officials believed in the brewery before he even had the chance to.
“Three years ago we had nothing but an idea and Drew really brought us in, believing we’d succeed …” said Reames. “So we’ll do anything we can to help the city and everyone who believed in us before we had anything tangible.”
Russo said Dena Capano DiPardo came up with the idea for the event when she worked at the museum. He said every year has a bigger turnout, which allows them to bring in more breweries for guests to sample.
“I’m a bit of a history buff and I like beer,” said Lynn resident Joanne O’Brien. “It’s great being able to sample all these local breweries.”
O’Brien attended the event with her longtime friends Denise Dudevoir and Kathie Gerecke. The three women have been friends since they graduated St. Mary’s High School together. They agreed it’s great the event raises money for the museum, promotes local breweries and the downtown area, and keeps Lynn a destination people want to come back to.
“We’re having a girls night out while our beer-drinker husbands are back at home,” said Dudevoir, who traveled from Bradford to make the event.
Dudevoir said she feels nostalgic seeing the old signs they have hanging up throughout the rooms which are from prior businesses in Lynn that were around when she was growing up. She pointed to a vintage sign from an old store called Burrows and Sanborn’s, which she said was her favorite to shop at when she was in high school.
Seth Albaum was turning tables and keeping the evening alive with some oldies music. He said it was his fourth year in a row as DJ for the event and it’s his favorite because he gets to play songs all about beer and drinking.
“People really like this event,” said Russo. “Every year, with events like this, you worry if it has a shelf life, but it just keeps getting bigger.”
