Love Celtic-themed bars with delicious local craft beer? Are you looking for something new to add to your brewery adventures? If you are a beer lover, then I know you enjoy visiting new breweries as much as I do. Tá an t-ádh linn! There’s a new brewery in Bristol called Trágmar Ale Works, where Six Pack Brewing used to be. I had the opportunity to visit, and wish the best to the owner and brewer, Michael Godet. I met Godet a little over two years ago and had the opportunity to be under his guidance in the brew room at Vigilant Brewing, where he was previously working. He was patient about my overly curious beer geek questions about our brew day, an expert at the craft, and a pleasure to be around. I am not alone in this praise. John Otero, head brewer of Vigilant had this to say.
“Mike was absolutely instrumental in bringing the Vigilant brewhouse to life. He wasn’t just a helper; he was a core part of the team, consistently demonstrating ingenuity, incredible patience, and a deep-seated love of the craft. Our brew days, while occasionally challenging, were always enriched by his presence. They were filled with lively and productive conversations, constantly pushing us to refine our techniques and produce our best batches yet. Mike’s ability to think creatively and troubleshoot on the fly was invaluable, transforming obstacles into opportunities for improvement. I’m truly excited to watch Mike’s continued growth and success with Trágmar. His dedication and passion are sure to lead to great things.”
The decor of this new brewhouse is a Celtic green and the space is deceivingly larger than it first appears. There’s a large bar and plenty of tables; the atmosphere is inviting and friendly. I saw many friends and acquaintances, supporting people of the craft industry, including John Otero and Heather Bryant, (writer from Yankee Brew News). As I sipped on my flight, I tried to write down some tasting notes but got caught up in conversation and decided it was best to grab a four to go. I picked up Godet’s favorite, per his suggestion, but I enjoyed them all — especially the Hefeweizen! The beers are ever-changing and I know you won’t be disappointed, as there is something for everyone. I was able to catch up with Godet a few weeks later and have a chat about his new endeavors. Godet has been brewing beer for over a decade. ”My passion began years ago while enjoying craft beer as the industry grew. Seeing and tasting craft beer inspired me to learn how it is made. My father gave me an old homebrew kit and it only took one attempt to fall in love with the process. I took a deep dive down the rabbit hole, especially about the NEIPA process as well as classic styles that I loved. I am also interested in the history of beer, which makes me want to be part of keeping the legacy of brewing alive. There is so much involved in the process, and I am always learning something new each day — whether it is process-related or ingredient-related, there are always new products coming out.”
Godet completed the brewing continuing education program at Johnson and Wales University. Soon after, he started brewing at Vigilant Brewing. He recalls that time as educational on the business level and commercial level of making a craft beer. “After falling in love with the process of science and art in brewing I decided to pursue the dream of opening up my own brewery.” Godet, along with friends Jason Buck and Chris Kerr, made this dream become a reality. Although Godet is the sole brewer, Buck and Kerr are key team members as well as owners and co-founders. This trio was able to flip this brewery around in less than three months. I reached out to Mark Papi, previous owner and brewer of Six Pack Brewing. Papi stated “When we talked about Trágmar purchasing all of the equipment and furnishings it was still just an idea. Then it became a reality. With a little bit of my guidance and their hard work, they were able to open in just two and half months. In brewery time this is unheard of.” Papi went on further to say, “Many don’t know this but Mike and Chris were part of the Six Pack Brewing homebrew club.” Papi explained that he has worked with them brewing collaboration beers. There has even been talk about doing a future collaboration with Six Pack Brewing’s Penny.
If you don’t already know, Penny is an awardwinning peanut butter Nitro Milk Stout that has placed number one by your vote at Motif’s annual Food Truck and Drink Awards. Papi has a favorite or two from Trágmar, and feels that Godet has “done an outstanding job.” Papi is very supportive and he tries to get to “three great breweries,” Trágmar, Pivotal Brewing, and Vigilant, once a week. Some of the plans for this new microbrewery include consistency of customer-favorite beers kept on tap and community involvement. Godet shared some of his ideas with me. “We are currently focusing on a few flagship beers that we would like to keep on tap consistently so the community can expect to always get their favorite beers: Irish Red, Dry Irish Stout, NEIPA, and Pilsner. The remaining taps will rotate through different styles. We have eleven taps. We also have a seltzer line that we keep available with multiple flavor options for the folks who are sensitive to gluten or want an alternative to beer. We have a lot of ideas to get involved with the community. That is a major part of why we opened an Irish-themed brewery. We want to bring the community together to have a place where people can feel like home.” Godet also wanted Motif readers to know: “We love good beer and people. We want to create a place where people can come together to enjoy their favorite beers and spend quality time sharing stories!” •
May your troubles be less and your blessings be more. Here’s hoping nothing but happiness comes through your door and fills your pint glass. Cheers to great beers and to supporting our local breweries!
