Yankee Brew News Archive

Geary's Was First in More Ways Than One

Originally Published: 12/96

Dear YBN:

Someone just brought to my attention the Maine/New Hampshire column in the October-November 1996 issue of Yankee Brew News, in which Mark Hall awards Pat Lawton the dubious honor of being "the first woman to own and operate a brewery in Maine." With all due respect to Ms. Lawton, I would like to point out that Karen Geary started the D.L. Geary Brewing Company ten years ago with David Geary. This certainly makes her the first woman "to own and operate" a brewery in Maine. In fact, since Geary's was the first microbrewery east of the Rockies, she was the first woman owner on the East Coast, and quite possibly in the entire country!

I point this out not to be petty about details, but to give Karen credit where credit is due. She worked hard for her company from day one, meeting with investors and finding suppliers--difficult tasks back when microbreweries didn't exist in the East. She made all the tap handles when Geary's started, bottled beer, cleaned tanks, "popped six packs," managed the money (!), and handled all those other nitty gritty details that made the business what it is today.

I am glad that Pat Lawton has joined the ranks of the many other women in the brewing industry today; but I would also like to point out that a brewer is a brewer and a beer lover is a beer lover, regardless of gender.

Sincerely,

Kelly Geary Lucas

Brewster

We stand corrected. - Editor-in Chief