Crafting a New Future
Jeremy Duffy '89
Jeremy Duffy ’89 remembers discovering
innovative time in the industry,” he said.
craft beer in the 1990s, when microbreweries
Jeremy’s interest in this field was piqued.
exploded onto the scene. He was fascinated by
Before purchasing a brewery, however, he and
all the new choices, as well as the proliferation
business partner Devin Kelly did a deep dive
of local breweries, a development that
researching the industry. “We needed to look at
corresponded to larger culinary trends. “Craft
what we could do to be different,” Jeremy said.
beer follows foodie culture,” Jeremy said. “With
He describes a process of listening and learning
all the interest in farm-to-table, why not have
by talking to breweries about their successes
locally produced beer?” Following that instinct,
and challenges. “We discovered there was more
Jeremy is the co-founder and managing partner
demand for their product than many craft
of Isle Brewers Guild, a facility that is in the top 50 of over 8,700 brewing
brewers could supply, and they needed a secondary facility to build capacity.”
producers nationwide. Hence the founding in 2015 Jeremy has always felt that
of Isle Brewers Guild, a
he “grew up” at Cushing.
130,000-square-foot beer
“It was a place I could
campus in Pawtucket,
challenge myself in every
Rhode Island, that
way—academically,
operates as a large-scale
athletically and socially,”
craft brewery to expand
he said. Mentors like Wayne Sanborn, Paul Dowling and Rich Devin instilled an ethic of learning never to quit. “There was a culture
the capacity of companies from Maine to New York City. Because building community is an important part of American craft beer culture, the
of putting yourself out there so I could make
company also features a retail space—called
mistakes and learn from them.” Begining in
The Guild—that features a tap room, beer
2001, Jeremy worked with Cushing faculty
garden, and beer barn for events. The Guild
and administration as a trustee for 16 years,
offers patrons an exhaustive selection of craft
serving as vice chair of the board from 2010-
beers, including its own brand. (Jeremy said:
2017. “I learned and greatly appreciated how
“We get to play with styles that complement
the trustee volunteers give such significant
our partners’.”) The business also includes
time and resources to allow Cushing to
The Guild PVD Beer Garden in Providence and
survive and thrive,” he said. “My goal is to
is adding The Guild Warren, which is a more
give back to Cushing what it gave me during a
“food forward” establishment at a waterfront
transformative period in my life. I still feel I am
location in the nearby town of Warren.
not there yet.” It’s the experience of coming together as a After graduating from Providence College,
community that Jeremy believes has been
Jeremy began working in sports and event
most missed during the pandemic. He
marketing. He eventually became partner
describes The Guild as a platform to reconnect.
and vice president of Duffy & Shanley, a
“We will never again take being together
communications firm where he specialized
for granted,” Jeremy says. He finds joy in
in business and brand development. By then
being hands-on in this business, and his
the craft beer industry was experiencing
enthusiasm for beer and hospitality are clear.
another wave of growth—jumping from 1,521
“When I left my corporate job,” Jeremy says,
breweries nationwide in 2008 to 3,200 by
“I promised myself I would never get stuck
2014—and one of Jeremy’s clients just happened
behind a desk. Now, I’m out here almost
to be Narragansett Beer. “I was charged
every day…moving kegs, assisting our events
with relaunching an iconic brand during an
manager, and interacting with customers.”
“My goal is to give back to Cushing what it gave me during a transformative period in my life. I still feel I am not there yet.” SUMMER/FALL 2021
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