SlumBrew: Ten years in the making, city’s got brand new brew

There’s a new brew in town and it’s putting a twist on some classic craft beer styles by manipulating peoples’ preconceptions and infusing flavors of cacao and blood oranges into certain batches.

The launch of the Somerville Brewing Company, which uses the name SlumBrew for its products, is the result of years of preparation by founders Caitlin Jewell and her husband Jeff Leiter.

While the couple has been making home brew from their place for more than 10 years as a hobby, they recently constructed a “nanobrewery” at their Somerville property.

The company also “gypsy” brews by renting space at a facility to make large batches.

After two years of fine-tuning they have unleashed their creations.

“So far the beer enthusiasts have been giving us really good feedback and reviews,” said Jewell, who handles the company’s marketing. “We started producing copious amounts of home brew and the right people in the beer world have come to us to get this on the market.”

Slumbrew will have a launch party Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Independent in Union Square in Somerville.

What’s on tap

Flagraiser IPA -A hoppy IPA

Happy Sol – A hefeweizen brewed with local honey, coriander,
orange peel and more than 1,000 blood oranges.

Porter Square Porter - A malty chocolate porter brewed with cocoa powder and conditioned with cacao nibs from Taza Chocolate in Somerville.

“[The bar] will be pairing foods with the three types of beers on tap,” said Jewell.