We were lucky to catch up with Pola Galie recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Pola thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the toughest things about entrepreneurship is that there is almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

As it relates to breweries and alcohol, New Jersey has some interesting restrictions on business activities, food and entertainment. This was not something that I had anticipated during the original planning with my family,. Add to that the fact that I entered this male dominated industry (at the time) as a short middle-aged woman.

Also, the time that we were opening in 2016 our township had some strong feelings about how a brewery could negatively impact their historic Main Street but they changed their minds after they saw the vitality that our business brought to the Main Street and in 2026 there are 4 breweries within less than a half mile of each other.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For folks who may not have heard our story before, our brewery really started as a family project that grew into something much bigger than we imagined.

My son and his wife were planning to open a brewery on Main Street, and as they worked through the details I famously said, “How can I help? I can cook.” From there, things evolved pretty quickly. My son Sean and I now work together crafting recipes and brewing our beers, hard seltzers, and non-alcoholic options, while his wife Abbie brings the brand to life through all of our artwork and marketing. It truly is a family operation where each of us contributes our strengths.

Before opening the brewery in 2016, Sean was a firefighter who brewed beer at home as a way to unwind from the stress of the job. What started as a hobby and a creative outlet gradually turned into a passion. With the support of family and a lot of encouragement from friends who enjoyed his beer, he decided to take the leap and turn that passion into a business.

From the beginning, we envisioned the brewery as more than just a place to grab a drink. We modeled it after the idea of a Revolutionary War–era tavern — a community hub where people gather, exchange ideas, share stories, and build connections. Today, we also see it as a bit of an art incubator and a safe, welcoming space for everyone in our community. All three of us are active locally through committees, tourism initiatives, and business associations. We like to say we vote with our feet — not just with words — by showing up and participating in the things that matter to our town.

Our brewing philosophy also reflects that same mindset. We try to do things a little differently. All of our beers are lactose-free, and we make a strong effort to source local ingredients whenever possible. Sustainability is important to us as well, so our spent grain doesn’t go to the landfill — it goes to local farms where it’s used as animal feed.

We also work hard to make sure there’s something for everyone who walks through our doors. In addition to traditional beers, we produce gluten-free hard seltzers as well as non-alcoholic seltzers so that people who don’t drink alcohol can still feel included. You’ll also notice that we don’t focus heavily on high-alcohol beers. Most of our offerings stay at 8% ABV or below because we want our space to be one where people can relax, socialize, and enjoy themselves responsibly.

What we’re most proud of isn’t just the drinks we make — although we certainly love crafting them — it’s the community that has grown around the brewery. Seeing neighbors meet each other, artists share their work, musicians perform, and families gather in our space reminds us why we started this in the first place. At the end of the day, our brewery isn’t just about beer; it’s about creating a place where people feel welcome, connected, and part of something local and meaningful.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Since we are an active part of our local community we often are the venue for their events and fundraisers. This will often be groups of people who are not familiar with us as a family or brand and may not really be people who like beer and may not realize that there are other options within the craft beer world. We have hosted Paint Your Pet workshops to support the local dog park, open mics for music and comedy as well as calligraphy and training meetings for companies. Hosting fundraiser parties for local non-profits or introducing new and budding artists comprise some of our favorite ways to introduce new people to our brewery and space.

Another way to introduce new people to our brewery is by public speaking on both how brewing is rooted in history and sustainability. It gives people other ways to view the business and how we conduct it. After all, beer has been produced for thousands of years.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Lower Forge Brewery has a strong online presence but we do try to meet people where they are — not where we think they are. That means using all the tools at our disposal including paper advertising from time to time as well as emails and videos. We truly try to make our regular customers feel part of what we are doing as a business and a partner. They know that they do have an impact on what we are doing and what we are planning to do. We respect and value their opinions and suggestions. These are all ways to create and foster the human connection which we feel is extremely important.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.lowerforge.com
• Instagram: /lowerforgebrewery
• Facebook: /lowerforge

Image Credits

Pola Galie, Abbie Galie