ABOUT US
Ipswich Ale and Essex County Brewing merge for a better brew
​
A new merger between Essex County Brewing Company and Ipswich Ale Company is shaking up business, but not the brews they’ve become known for.
The brands are calling the move a “Craft Brewing Alliance” that will combine operations at Ipswich Ale’s brewery and taproom at 2 Brewery Place in Ipswich over the next few months.
While the deal will leave Essex County Brewing without its own taproom, which it currently has at Mills 58 on Pulaski Street in Peabody, co-founder Paul Donhauser said it’s an exciting new venture for him and his team.
​
OUR HISTORY
Residents of Boston’s North Shore were first introduced to Ipswich Ale during the spring of 1991. With over 30 years of history behind it, Ipswich Ale has been in existence longer than nearly every other craft brewer in New England. Since that time, the Ipswich Ale portfolio of brands have developed into a tradition shared by not only the residents of eastern Massachusetts, but across New England.In January of 2016, the Ipswich Ale Brewery opened their onsite restaurant the Ipswich Ale Brewer’s Table, which features 15 tap lines and a diverse menu with a mix of tastes ranging from brewpub to New American cuisine.
OUR GANG
James (Jim Jamz) Dorau
Director of Operations
1963 Valentine’s day in quiet hops field a child is born. Not an unusual event…but this child had a full beard. Raised by wolves in the outer most reaches of Richardson, Texas James grew to worship the taste of beer. It wasn’t long before he left the den and headed north in search of the perfect brewery. For years he roamed from town to town solving crimes and breaking hearts only to hear the somber sound of the road calling to him and for his quest to continue. Finally in 1999 he became the Head Brewer at Ipswich Ale Brewery and the rest is history.
When Jim is not drinking beer he enjoys spending time with family, restoring an old house, and singing sea shanties with The Portermen
Myles Eason
Brewer's Table GM/Chef
A Food and Beverage Industry veteran with 40 years of cooking and management, Myles grew up on the Northshore and has worked his way along the east coast from Maine to Florida and the Caribbean as well. With experience and influences from Sicily to Northern Italian to French to Pacific Rim and West Indies, these flavors can often be found front and center on his eclectic menus or carefully incorporated into modern day classics. "With such a diverse beer portfolio there was no way to stick with just pub fare...I had to take it up a notch to have the dining experience match the amazing brewery space and cool beer vibe"
​
Myles is a Pisces who enjoys long walks on beaches and puppy dogs.
CHUCK FREEMAN
SALES MANAGER
A lifelong North Shore native, Ipswich has been his local go-to brand since its inception in ‘91. In April 2018, he joined the Ipswich team with eight years of beer wholesaler experience - most recently serving as brand manager. He received his certificate from the Siebel Institute in 2009 after successful completion of the concise brewing course, and became a Certified Cicerone in 2012 – although you’d be hard-pressed to get him to admit this. After years of exploring the myriad of beer styles out in the wild, these days he has special reverence for clean and elegant beers brewed true to style.
Chuck has more guitars than he’d care to admit, and always has his ears open for something tasty to listen to. Is it Bruins season yet?
Jim Beauvais
Production Manager
Jim founded Ipswich Ale Brewery in 1991 with business partner Paul Sylva. In 1999, he left Ipswich Brewing. Over the years he worked with startup breweries such as: Flying Goose Brewpub of New London, NH, Shinano Brewing Company in Nagano, Japan, and Pirate Republic Brewing Company in Nassau, Bahamas.
In January 2018, Jim returned to Ipswich Ale Brewery as the Production Manager. He’s climbed all but one of the 4,000-footers in New Hampshire.