Hoptimystic Brewery: Small Brewery making BIG positive changes
Inspiration to explore can come from the most unlikely of places as I quickly discovered recently. I was inspired to find a brewery two hours away because of a purchase at Greg & Jane’s Beer store in Epping, NH. The beer was “Sweet Emotion” from Hoptimystic Brewing Company in Enfield, New Hampshire. A portion of the proceeds supports Steven Tyler’s charity, Janie’s Fund.
Janie's Fund is a philanthropic initiative founded by Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler in partnership with the nonprofit Youth Villages. Inspired by his hit song "Janie's Got a Gun," the fund is dedicated to bringing hope, healing, and critical resources to girls who have suffered the trauma of abuse and neglect.
(For more information about Janie’s Fund please visit this link here: JANIE’S FUND.)
As a longtime Aerosmith fan, the image of Steven Tyler on the can immediately caught my attention. I had to try it—and I was glad I did. It was smooth, flavorful, and memorable. After a few sips, I wanted to know who made it and where it came from.
I expected the beer to be produced near Boston. When I learned it was brewed in my own state, New Hampshire, I knew I had to visit the brewery.
It was not a quick trip. Google Maps put the brewery just shy of 100 miles from home—about a two-hour drive—so I had to set aside most of an afternoon.
Getting Hoptimystic!
Hoptimystic Brewing Company, located in Enfield, New Hampshire, near Mount Sunapee is a small brewery that has produced several award-winning beverages, including some memorably named lagers to boot (Matches The Drapes, Doesn’t Match The Drapes, and Smooth Hoperator to name a few!).
Operating from a welcoming brewery and restaurant space, the Enfield location opened and started pouring beer August 5, 2025 and thankfully have been thriving ever since. (I realize a brewery that's been in operation less than a year isn't really anything new, but I take it as a sign of great things will happen with this brewery since they've partnered with a major musical artist and contributing to a worthwhile charity).
First impressions of Enfield is that it's a quiet town that's small you'd miss it if you blinked while driving through. Located on the southern end of town is Moscama lake, a moderate size lake which would make one heck of a backdrop to enjoy some local beverages with your friends during a camping trip.
During my roadtrip over to Hoptimystic and Enfield, I discovered the historic sight of the Leviston Tannery that had as many as 50 people under their employ at its peak (so the marker declared). What made this interesting was the little blurb that the town of Enfield was chartered in 1761, and the tannery was in operation between 1848-1888. This indicated a slower pace than other towns I'm sure. I'm sure the residents appreciate the presence of a brewery to liven things up.
A word of caution for anyone visiting (unless a local can correct me) but parking is at a premium. I parked about a five minute walk away from the brewery (at a spot designated for the Northern Rail Trail hiking trail) and enjoyed a nice sunny stroll across the lone bridge back into town. Upon arrival, there were a few people enjoying the sun and beer outside while a semi-raucus crowd enjoyed the libations inside.
There's plenty of seating for any size of party, even in such a small, cozy space like the one Hoptimystic occupies. This venue was small enough it took only one person too run the operation, pouring beer, making food, AND making sure the tables were cleaned! He was so efficient at what he did, he even played host and chatted with guests seated at the bar!
Tasting Hoptimystic!
Having already sampled one of their beers prior to this visit, I knew I would be in for a treat. What I didn’t expect was just how tasty everything else would end up, and I’m not just referring to their beers.
When it’s time to pick a beer, I typically go for the most outlandish or creatively named ones, not just a particular style, and Hoptimystic had them in spades, King of Spades that is (which is the name of their stout).
If you’re like me and can’t decide on just one, take comfort in knowing they offer flights of four pours for a reasonable price. For this particular trip, my flight included the following beers: Smooth Hoperator, Ginger Souls, Mocktoberfest, and the one I had to try because of the name: Matches The Drapes. (Fun fact about this one is that it’s a blonde ale and its “sister” beer “Doesn’t match the Drapes” is a blonde ale with mango notes - and yes you HAVE to try both!)
The beers packed a flavorful punch and I really wanted to try them all but caved in to my responsible side and left after four pours ( I had a two hour drive back home after all).
The alcohol to flavor ratio was extremely satisfying and didn’t leave the mouth and tastebuds feeling like I had just swished mouthwash. There have been some beers (I hate to say) that had no flavor and just alcohol notes. Not pleasant. But not the case here.
To help with the beers I had a sampling of their hot dogs and the food at Hoptimystic was much like their beer: Very delicious!
I decided to try out the house-made chili and have both dogs slathered with steaming chilli…no regrets! Big beefy flavor mingled with the beans and a slight spice to the sauce was the perfect topper for these hotdogs.
The food and beer did a fine job of complementing each other, both bringing out more layers of flavor with each bite and swig. This was extremely enjoyable and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this combo to anyone visiting the brewery.
Last Call (Parting Thoughts):
Nestled near quiet Moscoma lake and bordering Vermont via the White River Junction, the town of Enfield plays the role of cozy ski town (to Whaleback Moutain) to perfection. The laidback atmosphere and the one-road-through-town-you'd-miss-if-you-blink all but potentially keeps the brewery off the radar. One can't but help feel like someone that's like a local or someone that's been given a well-kept secret when you set foot inside Hoptimystic Brewing Company's barroom.
The dogs that were playing outside in the sunshine foreshadowed the vibe that was encountered inside: playful and definitely friendly. The beer was tasty and the food was an excellent pairing to what people were drinking.
If you find yourself in this part of New Hampshire, I'd definitely recommend a visit to Hoptimystic Brewing Company. You will have feel as if you've just discovered one of New Hampshire's hidden beer gems and one you won't soon forget.
Whether you are an Aerosmith fan, a craft-beer enthusiast, or simply looking for a worthwhile New Hampshire destination, Hoptimystic Brewing Company makes the drive worthwhile. I left with a better appreciation for the beer, the story behind it, and the people creating it.
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