The bounty of the season: Articles on farmers and food artisans

Brewing up a Nantucket tradition: Cisco Brewers – Nantucket

Distillery, winery and brewery—Cisco Brewers could be considered a true Nantucket triple threat. Open year round, the business has long been attracting throngs of native islanders and visitors with their passion for creating quality spirits in an inviting, family-friendly environment.

Founded by Randy and Wendy Hudson in 1995, Cisco Brewers was originally deemed America’s first outdoor brewery, and it remains Nantucket’s only brewery. The Hudsons, who met in 1992, were passionate about beer and skilled in the realm of yeast and grain. Randy, having worked at a bakery, and Wendy, having brewed on her own in the past, made the perfect pair. As their operations grew, so did their scope of beverages. Eventually teaming up with Dean and Melissa Long, the group began their winery, Nantucket Vineyard, and later their distillery, Triple Eight. Today, they continue to apply the same quality techniques and passion to their business as it expands rapidly, and it shows.

For the better part of the last two decades, Cisco Brewers has received national attention for their craft beers. From their Island Reserve to their classic Pale Ale Whale’s Tail, the brewery offers their unique concoctions with expert food pairings. Local food trucks and vendors join in on what operations manager Tracy Wilde Long calls “a really chill setting,” a place where people can both revel in the exquisite beauty of the island and find a feeling of familiarity and comfort. “We want everyone to feel welcome and at home here,” she says. “We’re all family and friends.” –Rachel Ayotte

Cisco Brewers is located at 5 Bartlett Farm Road on Nantucket. For more information, call 508-325-5929, or visit ciscobrewers.com.

Nifty reasons to head to Nantucket:

Nantucket Island Fair • September 16-17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. • nantucketislandfair.com

Nantucket Fall Restaurant Week • September 25 to October 1 • nantucketrestaurantweek.com

Maritime Festival • Saturday, September 30 • nantucketshipwreck.org