MAD Brewing Company, located within Foundry Social, is connecting people from across Northeast Ohio
By Patricia Nugent
Like many great stories, the idea to create MAD Brewing Company within Foundry Social began with a handful of good friends knocking back a few beers.
“During the middle of our construction process with The Foundry, we stopped for lunch and were enjoying craft beer at another brewery in the area,” says Brian Fontanella, who is one of the partners behind it. “It hit us that a craft brewery would be the perfect addition to our entertainment complex—a natural fit. We wanted it to be authentic, so we hired local experts and invested in the equipment from Oregon to create the best brews. It was sort of a ‘build it and they will come’ situation.”
The name of their venture was easy. Since the partners got behind Foundry Social to make a real difference in the community, elevating its options for social fun, they named the brewery MAD for “make a difference.” Its taglines, “Brew local. Drink Local.” and “Crafting Connections” say it all.
Suds Are Their Passion
“The local brewing community is robust,” says Head Brewer Marc Langworthy, who notes people enjoy watching the brewing process thanks to the fishbowl effect of glass walls encasing the tanks, like an open-concept kitchen at a restaurant. “Our passion is to brew our own beers, as well as allow other brewers to feature their beers on our taps, what’s known as a ‘tap takeover.’ Independent brewers are known for being generous and supportive of each other. We wanted to come up with unique beers people cannot find anywhere else.”
Many ingredients are sourced from the local community. Aging the different styles takes anywhere from two to four weeks for ales and up to 10 weeks for lagers. “Our four, three-barrel fermenters are the same you’d find at bigger breweries,” he says.
As testimony to the community, Marc mentions they are sponsors of the Medina County Brewing Passport program, which kicks off on Monday, April 1, and runs through Wednesday, July 31. The first 500 people who visit the eight participating breweries are invited to a party in August.
What Tickles Your Seasonal Fancy?
The 24 beers on tap at MAD range from IPAs to wheat beers, ales, stouts and lagers. They’re always changing and often include seasonal delights. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, Marc notes that McCarthy’s Red Scare is a “malt-forward red ale that’s toasty and balanced.” And just in time for the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, they are pleased to offer the Path O’ Totality dry Irish stout named for the shadow created by the eclipse.
“Silly Goose Juice, a hazy New England IPA, is probably our most popular brew,” says Marc. “Whispering Nut Peanut Butter Stout has a legion of fans, too. As we get into warmer weather, we tend to brew lighter, fruitier styles.”
These guys are passionate when it comes to their craft and suggest people who aren’t sure what they want order a beer flight, customized to each person. It includes four 5-ounce beer pulls and is ideal for sharing.
Complementing the masterfully brewed beverages is a menu of crowd-pleasers, including burgers, mouthwatering wings, sandwiches, pizza, salads and desserts. The brewery seats 32 between the bar and tables. Brian says they often rent out the space during the week for special events.
Joining MAD Brewing Company within the popular destination entertainment complex is a host of popular pursuits, from duckpin bowling to billiards, bocce, cornhole, ping-pong and a slew of classic video and arcade games, as well as the High Voltage Karting racetrack.
MAD Brewing Company is located within Foundry Social at 333 Foundry Street, steps from the Square in downtown Medina. Call 330-333-9000 or visit MADBrewingCompany.com for details.