What happens when a food scientist tastes his first craft beer?
Naturally, he wants to figure out how it’s made, and that is where the Zony Mash Beer Project story begins. Fast forward years later, head brewer Mitch Grittman has moved to New Orleans to pursue a career in food science, developing flavor profiles for the Smoothie King franchise by day, while becoming an award-winning home-brewer by night. His path eventually crossed with native Philadelphia restauranteur and developer, Adam Ritter, and conversations about a shared love of beer lead to late nights crafting brews on a small set-up in a warehouse owned by Ritter on Broad Street. The brew sessions inspired thoughts of opening a full-scale brewery, and when an irresistible opportunity dropped in their lap, they grabbed it. The duo moved a few doors down from the warehouse into the historic Gem Theater - one of only two remaining African American movie theaters still standing in the city – taking over a recently shuttered brewery and began transforming the space, and the local beer scene.
Zony Mash Beer Project, is just that, a project, bringing together creative ideas and an element of fun.
The name is an homage to the venerable New Orleans funk band The Meters, sharing the name with the title of an album of rare b-sides in order to pay respect to the city they now both call home. With the quest to provide more than just a warehouse experience for patrons, Ritter treated the space with creative aesthetics, and in addition, returned it to its origins for use as an entertainment venue.
Embracing his own creativity and access to large scale equipment, Grittman began brewing batches of unique beers, combining his expertise in flavor profiles, the science of yeast, and utilizing a wide range of interesting ingredients such as coffee from local roasters Congregation, juices including carrot and dragon fruit, and additions such as coriander and butterfly pea. The newest offering is a line of spiked seltzers for those gluten free drinkers, available now in cans.
With 21 taps in the tasting room, a strong showing in local bars and restaurants, favorable press, in-house weekly releases, and an extensive barrel age program, Zony Mash Beer Project is set to join the marketplace with exceptional beverages, pleasing packaging, and a unique presence that encourages the consumer to join in the fun.
