Entrepreneur Fred Forsley: From Real Estate to Restaurants, Craft Beers & Good Deeds
Season 2, Episode 239, Nov 15, 08:36 PM
RadioStPete.com host Nanette Wiser thinks good ideas are Fred Forsley's superpower. Fred Forsley didn’t set out to become the Beer King of Maine. It just sort of happened that way. Forsley is the co-founder and president of Shipyard Brewing, the largest craft brewery in the state – and one of the most successful in New England. If you’ve enjoyed Pumpkinhead Ale, Monkey Fist or Island Time IPA, SunFish or Sea Dog Blueberry – all available here in the Sunshine State – you have Fred Forsley to thank.
Shipyard is also the parent company of Sea Dog Brewing, and the Treasure Island Sea Dog Brew Pub celebrated it's 8th anniversary on Halloween. Follow them here: https://www.facebook.com/seadogtreasureisland
Forsley is, by his own admission, a beer fan, a beer drinker and a sociable guy (he’s also a pretty shrewd businessman). Twenty-seven years ago, however, he was a real estate developer looking at a vacant property in Kennebunk Harbor (yes, it’s just down the rustic road from the Bush compound). The tenant had pulled out, and Forsley was stuck with the place. While he pondered this, he traveled to Florida to visit his brother. They stopped into a Pensacola craft brew pub called McGuire’s – and Forsley found he just couldn’t get enough of that small-brew stuff. “I said ‘Jeez, this would work in Kennebunk,’” he recalls. “If the product is this good, other people are going to love it.’” Soon his own brew pub, Federal Jack’s, was doing turn-away business.
With business partner Alan Pugsley, a biochemist and dedicated master brewer, Forsley opened Shipyard Brewing, in the city of Portland, in 1992. The rest is restaurant and craft brew history. In 2002, Forsley and Pugsley rescued Sea Dog Brewing Company – a smaller Maine brewery – from bankruptcy. His portfolio of companies grew to include Ice Pik Vodka, Capt. Eli's Sodas and more to come. Today, Sea Dog family-friendly pub-restaurants are award-winning for their craft brews and outstanding food...and in both Maine and here in Treasure Island, Forsley is a leader in giving back to the community, sponsoring events (Skyway Bridge sprint runfest) and helping non-profit organizations from his alma mater UNH to Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber's recovery resources for members and hospitality workers.
#fredforsley #seadogbrewing #shipyardbrewing #icepikvodka #restaurants #craftbeer #captelisodas #gooddeeds #entrepreneurs #brewpubs #treasureisland
#nanettewiser #stpete #stpetefl #tampabay #radio #radiostpete
Shipyard is also the parent company of Sea Dog Brewing, and the Treasure Island Sea Dog Brew Pub celebrated it's 8th anniversary on Halloween. Follow them here: https://www.facebook.com/seadogtreasureisland
Forsley is, by his own admission, a beer fan, a beer drinker and a sociable guy (he’s also a pretty shrewd businessman). Twenty-seven years ago, however, he was a real estate developer looking at a vacant property in Kennebunk Harbor (yes, it’s just down the rustic road from the Bush compound). The tenant had pulled out, and Forsley was stuck with the place. While he pondered this, he traveled to Florida to visit his brother. They stopped into a Pensacola craft brew pub called McGuire’s – and Forsley found he just couldn’t get enough of that small-brew stuff. “I said ‘Jeez, this would work in Kennebunk,’” he recalls. “If the product is this good, other people are going to love it.’” Soon his own brew pub, Federal Jack’s, was doing turn-away business.
With business partner Alan Pugsley, a biochemist and dedicated master brewer, Forsley opened Shipyard Brewing, in the city of Portland, in 1992. The rest is restaurant and craft brew history. In 2002, Forsley and Pugsley rescued Sea Dog Brewing Company – a smaller Maine brewery – from bankruptcy. His portfolio of companies grew to include Ice Pik Vodka, Capt. Eli's Sodas and more to come. Today, Sea Dog family-friendly pub-restaurants are award-winning for their craft brews and outstanding food...and in both Maine and here in Treasure Island, Forsley is a leader in giving back to the community, sponsoring events (Skyway Bridge sprint runfest) and helping non-profit organizations from his alma mater UNH to Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber's recovery resources for members and hospitality workers.
#fredforsley #seadogbrewing #shipyardbrewing #icepikvodka #restaurants #craftbeer #captelisodas #gooddeeds #entrepreneurs #brewpubs #treasureisland
#nanettewiser #stpete #stpetefl #tampabay #radio #radiostpete