For the last few years, Alex Gilbert Aviles and his wife, Gretchin, have always had a passion for true craft beers that are made in New Hampshire and elsewhere, but they could never find a place where they could just enjoy craft beer until they decided to create one here in Portsmouth.
On Sunday afternoon, Aviles said he is about two months away from opening the WHYM Craft Beer Cafe behind the Wren's Nest Village Inn on Lafayette Road. He is currently renovating 2,000 square feet of space behind the hotel into a casual pub and beer garden where patrons will be able to come, enjoy craft beer from all over the world and converse.
"WHYM stands for water, hops, yeast and malt, the four ingredients used to make craft beer," Aviles said.
Aviles said the couple's new beer cafe will be able to serve up to 80 people, with an outdoor beer garden that can accompany 20 to 30 patrons. If they can get all of the necessary approvals from the city as well as the New Hampshire Liquor Commission, Aviles said they hope to open by May 15.
When asked what he believes will set WHYM Craft Beer Cafe apart from the city's many other restaurants and craft beer makers, Aviles replied, "We're going to bring a craft beer experience, not just a place that serves craft beer."
As far as he and his wife can tell, New Hampshire currently does not have one place that sells nothing but true craft beer that is made in the Granite State and elsewhere. His goal is to offer 180 craft beers by the bottle with 10 draft lines.
Aviles, who worked in logistics management before he decided to open WHYM Craft Beer Cafe, believes the couple will do well as word of mouth spreads about the experience they will offer to true craft beer fans.
"I feel like we are going to do pretty well in the first few months," he said.
Currently, WHYM Craft Beer Cafe does not have a website, but the new establishment does have a Facebook page.
B*G*MAKEOVERS Advanced Skin Care & Spa
8:49 am on Monday, March 18, 2013
Wow...I can already hear craft beer lovers rejoicing! Awesome Idea...
Gretchin Aviles
12:26 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Robert, thank you for taking the time to speak with my husband, Alex. He is truly a beer geek, with a goal of bringing together a community of beer lovers. Thank you for the FANTASTIC article!
-Gretchin, WHYM
Happy Madison
7:40 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
PERFECT!!! You've answered my prayers!!!
Katherine Kiser
8:54 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
My husband and I just visited NH this past weekend and toured some local breweries. It was great! I guess we will have to go back again once this opens! :-)
David
1:31 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Not sure what the author is talking about . . ."but they could never find a place where they could just enjoy craft beer until they decided to create one here in Portsmouth."
The Barley Pub in Dover fits the bill. Great beers and been around for 10+ years.
Jen f
8:30 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Great idea! Can't wait to visit...hoping there will be a delicious blueberry beer! ! Can't decide who to take first my hunny or a girls night out!