History
All the world’s a stage … and one brewery owner has taken full advantage of the many plot twists in life. Beginning his young adulthood wishing to become a great stage actor and director, Hugh Sisson never set his sight sails toward the beer industry. So Heavy Seas Brewery, located in Maryland, were unchartered waters.
“It was definitely accidental,” Hugh said about his life before the brewery. “It was the 70s, and I was a college student who didn’t like beer.”
Hugh was lucky enough to adventure across the pond soon after school. As it turns out he did like beer, just not American beer, at least not what was available in that decade. When the 80s hit, the winds changed, bringing in regular European craft imports onto American soils.
So when Hugh’s father tossed him the keys to the newly opened Sisson family tavern, he jumped aboard and excitedly entered into the pub industry. Hugh sought to create an environment similar to the ones he experience while abroad in London. The family tavern was the first pub to have Guinness on tap.
Hugh wanted to craft both the environment and the beers. But at the time, it was illegal to own a brewpub. So he and his father and a former senator lobbied to legalize brewpubs in Maryland. Success!! In 1989, Hugh’s family brewpub became the first in Maryland, with Hugh acting as head brewer. This began a string of breweries leading up to the birth of Heavy Seas. Hugh was always more interested in the beer business than the industry. He began Clipper City Brewing Co. and acquired Oxford before developing the Heavy Seas line. The final line took sail full speed ahead, outpacing its forefathers and becoming the primary brand to keep from confusing both common pirates and customers.
The biggest problem the fleet has today is just keeping up, said Hugh. But that’s a problem worth having.
Heavy seas is all about channeling the seven seas and finding your inner pirate. Many of the crafts are bold and adventurous, like the release this month. It’s an imperial chocolate stout and aged in a bourbon barrel. The oak of the barrel adds another layer of complex flavor. Look for it on the shelves of your nearest distributor. It is one of the many adventurous crafts the brewery offers.
“This is a brand that lines up with the swashbuckler and explorer in all of us,” Hugh said.
Set sail and charter the sensational waters of these great crafts.
Come Aboard for a Tour
Tours of the Heavy Seas brewing facility happen every Saturday, and visitors can sign up online. There are about 50 visitors per tour. The leaders are well educated and entertaining; Hugh even gives one himself at least once a month.
Hugh described the tours this way: “While they’re educational, we’re not going to bore you to death.” There’s also a calendar online chalk full of events from “Pint Night” to special beer tastings in different cities.
If you travel to taste the beer in its homeland you’ll find a beautiful, classic mahogany bar waiting. And of course, there will be plenty of adventure on tap.
“It’s pyrate, it’s adventure,” Hugh promises. “The theme of the brand is to have a trek of a swashbuckler explorer.”
Beers
The beers are broken up into three fleets. Each offers a different array of delightful crafts.
Pyrate Fleet
These year-round beers showcase the most robust crafts offered by Heavy Seas. One of the favorites is the Loose Cannon, which plays with three delicious hop types to craft an IPA bursting with flavor. It is one of Hugh’s classic favorites. Another of his favorites is the Winter Storm. It is another IPA, but this one uses hops from the West Coast and the UK. The full body constructs from the mix of pale and darker malts, which also produces especially tasty nuttiness. Curl up with this Winter Storm to beat the snowstorms!
Clipper Fleet
This second tier fleet offers award-winning beers and features flavorful session beers. The Classic Lager is one of the most popular. It is clean and crisp and classic lager. It serves as a great jumping off point for pirates who are new to craft beers. Like the others in its category, it holds a medal, earning a bronze at the Great American Beer Festival.
Mutiny Fleet
Creativity is the key to this fleet. Sold only in 22-ounce bottles, these are the boldest beers. From pumpkin ales to caramel toffee flavors, these beers play with a handful of different taste notes. One of the most interesting is the Siren Noire. It is named after the famous sirens whose sweet singing lured sailors off-course, and its charm will do the same to drinkers. The beer is full of intense chocolate flavor and finishes dry. Mount Hood hops take away some of the bitters to craft smooth flowing malt. It’s extra tasty.