Q&A With Jonas Griggs: Head Brewer

Q: “Tell me a little bit about your journey as a brewer. What drew you to brewing in the first place?”
A: “Haha, to be honest, it all started because I wanted to drink beer but I wasn’t 21…When my buddies and I figured out that we could buy brewing equipment at 18, we became very involved in the process and the way things were done. It was definitely more of a hobby, I never thought when I first started home brewing that it would turn into this 12 years later.

Q: “Where did you brew prior to Great Falls?”
A: “The first brewery I worked for was Steady Habit Brewing Co. in Haddam, CT. They gave me a shot as a home brewer to step in on promotional level. From there, I went to Overshores Brewing (East Haven, CT) where I brewed for a number of different breweries in the state. After that, Thomas Hooker Brewery (Bloomfield, CT) took me on as a shift brewer, where I quickly moved up the ranks to head brewer and established myself in the craft beer community.”

Q: “What speaks to you the most about brewing beer? What do you like most about it?”
A: “I very much enjoy problem solving. I like having to be mechanically savvy and think on my feet quickly. It keeps me on point because the brewing process can be very unpredictable. Problem solving is something that every brewer has to be good at, because generally there’s not a day where everything goes exactly as planned. You have to be prepared to adjust accordingly.”
“In terms of what I enjoy most about brewing beer is seeing people’s reactions. I pour my heart and soul into a recipe and there’s nothing more satisfying than watching someone enjoy my product.”

Q: “What do you look for the most when you are creating a beer?”
A: “Creating a beer true to style. I try to follow a beer’s intricacies from the grain bill all the way to carbonation and packaging to ensure proper execution and perfection.”

Q: How do you go about creating a new beer?
A: “Generally, I look to other people in the industry. I gain ideas from what they have done, I ask customers about what they’re looking for, and I do a ton of research just so that I know as much as I possibly can before creating the recipe for the product. It’s a lot of back and forth through my notebook on how to push the envelope in hopes of making the next greatest beer.”

Q: “Any future plans or things to look forward to now that you’re part of Great Falls Brewing?”
A: “I hope to integrate myself not only to the brewery, but to the community. I look forward to opening up a new chapter and overall experience for Great Falls Brewing. I look forward to many new innovations, and really making sure that we’re a prominent destination on CT’s already thriving craft beer map. I can’t wait to share a beer with each and every one of you!”