U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, on Thursday celebrated Portsmouth-based Smuttynose Brewing Company during a tour of local businesses.
Smuttynose was founded in 1994 by Peter Egelston.
He told Ayotte that the business climate in Portsmouth back then was much worse than it is now.
"There was a ton of doom and gloom," Egelston said.
The company survived, however, and is now building a new headquarters in Hampton. Egelston said sales of his beer in New Hampshire are currently up 18 percent.
Ayotte sampled Smuttynose's Star Island Single Thursday.
"It's excellent," she said.
She said she's keeping an eye on regulations for small breweries like Smuttynose.
Ayotte on Thursday was also scheduled to visit Lonza in Portsmouth.
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