Who we are
Steve Nametz
Prior to founding Fat Hen Brewing Company, Steve spent 4 years as the head brewer for the highly successful brewery “Oak & Iron”. During that time, he apprenticed under the master brewer and accumulated invaluable domain knowledge, as well as insight into the inner-workings of a brewery. Additionally, Steve has participated in several brewing courses through Siebel University where he learned the intricacies and peculiarities of professional brewing operations, as well as the science behind the production of beer. Aside from his experience with brewing, he also graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Contemporary Writing & Production, which indirectly lends to his tastefulness in all endeavors.
Doug Helferich
Graduating from Duke University after studying biomedical engineering and economics, Doug worked in a variety of roles including finance, marketing, and product management. His career has exposed him to a variety of industries, but his favorite is beverages.
Doug’s business and engineering experience have provided the foundation to move from founding Oak & Iron, his father’s brewery, to creating a new project in Fat Hen Brewing Company. His decade-plus of drinking experience with modern, traditional and off-the-wall styles from around the world inform his pursuit of truly excellent beer.
Steven Helferich
I think almost everyone at some point in their lives has a fantasy of starting either a bar or a brewery, or both. I first thought about starting a brewery in college when I was studying chemical engineering. We always joked that brewing is the dream job for a chemical engineer; you’ve got mass and energy transport, biodynamics, thermodynamics, and you get to drink it when you’re done. My life since college involved moving there and back again, from New York to Los Angeles to San Francisco and finally back to New England. I came back to the industry when I helped my father, John Helferich, start ‘Oak & Iron’ brewery in Andover, MA. The pandemic forced me to take a hard look at where I was in life and what I needed to be happy in this world of persistent uncertainty. Coming together with Doug and Steven, we shared our experiences and decided to cast off together one for all and all for one as Fat Hen Brewing Co.