LIKE MANY BREWERY ORIGIN STORIES THE ROAD TO STARTING DEVIL’S PURSE BREWING COMPANY BEGAN IN THE KITCHEN.
Friends and avid home brewers Matt Belson and Mike Segerson brewed their first batch together in the fall of 2010 on a simple kit Belson and his wife received as a wedding present a decade before. What started as a hobby quickly evolved into a passion. Occasional brewing sessions became weekly get-togethers to brew beer, bottle, and keg, and just as importantly, to drink and talk about craft beer.
“Pretty much all we do is discuss, brew, drink and think about great beer,” said Segerson.
From these late night brew sessions came the idea for Devil’s Purse Brewing Company, the desire to open a craft brewery on Cape Cod, and the focus on making exceptional handcrafted beer.
As their home brewing proficiency improved, Belson and Segerson spent just as much time researching what it would take to successfully launch a small craft brewery on the Cape.
They traveled to breweries in New England, Florida, Colorado, Oregon, and Germany, meeting with professional brewers who generously spent time talking and answering questions about running a commercial brewery. In 2013 and 2014, Belson and Segerson attended the Craft Brewers Conference, organized by the Brewers Association.
After lots of site visits around the region, a great location was found in the wonderful town of Dennis. Brewing equipment was purchased in April of 2014, and so too began the lengthy process of securing permits and renovating the space. Permits were received by Jan. 1, 2015 and the first test batch of beer was brewed Feb. 27, 2015.
The opportunity to showcase their handcrafted beers to the public is one Belson and Segerson relish: "We brew beers that we love to drink and we are committed to using only the finest ingredients in our recipes, "said Segerson. “We are excited to share them with our awesome Cape Cod community and for all lovers of craft beer to enjoy.”
“Starting Devil’s Purse Brewing Company has been and remains an incredible journey,” said Belson. “We could not have come this far without the support of our families, friends and positive guidance from incredible people along the way.”