Greasy Luck Brewery Opens in Downtown New Bedford in Early December
Greasy Luck Brewery during its soft opening before Thanksgiving. / Photo provided
With a curious reference to New Bedford’s historic whaling industry, Greasy Luck Brewery is making a name for itself in downtown New Bedford. The historic city’s first modern brewery officially opens on Purchase Street on December 5.
The name—which will be prominently explained near the entrance, per an earlier South Coast Today article—is a quaintly graphic wish for a successful whaling voyage. Despite effectively meaning “I hope you slip around on the deck after harpooning a whale,” the phrase was used beyond that prominent industry circa the early 20th century, historians told South Coast Today.
“Reinvesting in our hometown is really where the whole concept came about,” partner Mark Martinho previously told Boston, before Greasy Luck had a brand.
Martinho, whose family is behind New Bedford’s legendary Antonio’s Restaurant, has partnered with Al Peters, co-owner of downtown spots Cork Wine & Tapas Bar and Rose Alley Ale House; and engineer Christian Farland. The trio are all lifelong New Bedford residents.
The New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce recently awarded the managing partners for adding job opportunities in the downtown district, as well as prioritizing local contractors during the Greasy Luck buildout.
Greasy Luck takes over a spacious, one-time bank building with a full-service brewpub with a SmartBrew system on view, as well as events space that can accomodate 300-plus guests, says Farland. The large events space has room for overflow dining, plus a lounge area with cornhole, life-size Connect Four, and other games. Upstairs, a fully restored former board room is a private dining room with seating for 60. The brewery side can fit about 125, with seating for just more than 70. An additional restored vault room houses members’ only steins.
Farland, who took classes in the Business of Craft Beer program at the University of Vermont, says Greasy Luck is just the third U.S. brewery to install the SmartBrew technology. He has worked closely with the company’s brewmaster Brian Watson, who developed Greasy Luck’s recipes, and is planning a visit to New Bedford in early 2017.
Greasy Luck will debut with four house brews: White Album IPA, New Beige Blueberry Ale, Purchase Street Pale Ale, and Whaler Spout Coffee Stout. In addition to the originals, offerings from Long Trail, Jack’s Abby, Rogue, Buzzards Bay, and other craft breweries, plus nitro-poured coffee, comprise the rest of the bar’s 24 draft lines.
The brewpub will be open daily for lunch and dinner with a menu by executive chef Sydney McClymonds (the Pasta House in Fairhaven). Expect comforts like poutine, buffalo chicken cracklins, and smoked potato bisque, as well as mains like maple-glazed chicken, short ribs, and shrimp Mozambique, plus salads, and sandwiches, like IPA slow-roasted pulled pork with pickled red onions.
Greasy Luck debuted the night before Thanksgiving with a members’ only soft opening, and it has also begun hosting events. Visiting the South Coast this weekend? There’s a jazz album release party at the venue on Friday, December 2.
Greasy Luck Brewery, officially opening Monday, December 5, 11 a.m.-2 a.m., 791 Purchase St., New Bedford, 774-425-4600, greasyluckbrewery.com.
