The aroma of wood-fired pizza drifted through the evening air. Neighbors lingered over cold pints at picnic tables. It’s the kind of scene the town of Bow has rarely seen before.
Dan and Kelly Thomas have opened Hoptimystic Brewing’s new Bow location, turning the property on 516 South Street into an outdoor beer garden focused on craft beer and artisan pizza.
“We knew from day one, when we bought the property, when we kind of bought the brewery, we wanted wood-fired pizza,” Dan Thomas said. “That was never a question.”
To bring that vision to life, the couple partnered with 900 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria based in Manchester, to offer a wide variety of pies from classic Margherita to more unconventional options like a S’mores dessert pizza.
Priscilla Lane-Rondeau, owner of 900 Degrees, said the collaboration was about local businesses coming together.
“It’s fun because we both have very reputable names, and we thought, why not just do this together?” she said. “It’s just really supporting that local community. It’s nice to bring it to a town or an area that doesn’t have that.”
Dan and Kelly Thomas originally planned to construct a brewery and restaurant on the property near the public library and Exit 1 off Interstate 89. The proposal included a 2,500-square-foot first floor with a tasting room and restaurant, along with a slightly smaller brewery in the basement.
But those plans were derailed by water-capacity limitations at the site.
Instead, two modified trailers were brought to the site — one serving craft beer from a row of taps and another outfitted with a pizza oven.
The beer garden occupies a parcel of South Street next to Chen Yang Li, a Chinese restaurant that has long been Bow’s only dining option.
David Stack, Bow’s town manager, said the beer garden currently does not have a major impact on the town’s tax base since there is no permanent structure on the property, but it could create new opportunities
“It’ll bring different people to town,” Stack said. “They may look around and see there are other opportunities to develop in this area.”
Until now, heading out for a drink or even just a place to sit and socialize meant getting in the car and driving to Concord or Hopkinton.
Nicole Casey, a Bow resident of ten years, stopped by Wednesday evening for the first time. Sitting at a picnic table with a light beer in hand, Casey watched as her children played corn hole and other games nearby while the family dog, Doug, wandered alongside them.
“This is awesome. We love going with the kids, so this is really nice to be able to take them out and have them run around and play,” she said.
Hoptimystic Brewing’s beers are brewed at its Enfield location, with a rotating selection of craft brews served on tap at the beer garden in Bow. They also have a tasting room in Sunapee.
Since its soft opening over Memorial Day weekend, the beer garden has attracted visitors from across New Hampshire, thanks in part to the loyal followings both Hoptimystic Brewing and 900 Degrees have built over the years.
Teddy Fulton, managing partner of 900 Degrees’ Bow location, said the project took three years to bring to life and the community’s excitement has made the wait worthwhile.
“I can really see it in the faces of the people that live in Bow,” he said. “They’re really excited to have something different, something a little out of the ordinary.”
