It’s All About Love
Exploring One Love Brewery in Lincoln
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High School sweethearts Michael and Jennifer Snyder met nearly 30 years ago at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro.
Now married, the couple runs a brewery together in Lincoln, which is named fittingly for a business started by two people in love – One Love Brewery.
Since opening in May 2015, the mission has been to give locals an outlet to explore a new, interesting selection of food and drink they might not find elsewhere.
“I like the fact that people think it’s kid of strange, quirky and a little weird and nontraditional, and that’s well received,” Michael says. “Lincoln needs more variety – We have restaurants in this town that are very successful but they haven’t really evolved and nothing has changed. And that’s become kind of boring to some people. So we offer a fresh alternative.”
One Love’s chicken & waffles is a perfect example of its “nontraditional” approach. The dish puts an elegant twist on a classic Southern combination that stands out as unique and different. One Love fixes the plate with two boneless, buttermilk fried chicken breasts with a Belgian Haegaarden Wit ale waffle and delicious Grand Marnier maple syrup.
You’ll also find duck tacos and duck panini, which might not be something you’d expect to find on a brewpub menu.
The tacos are made with duck confit and served on grilled flour tortillas with mango pineapple salsa, curry lime aioli and fresh cilantro. Meanwhile, the panini is again duck confit with an onion-fig jam topped with melted Brie and maple-smoked bacon on artisan bread.
It’s not all new at One Love – they have everyone’s favorite – mac and cheese, of course – completely covered. The Lobster Mac Attack is made with cheesy cavatappi pasta and topped with chunks of lobster.
And the surprises continue once on the sweeter side, too.
Michael and Jennifer’s have creative desserts like the Waffle Sundae – the Belgian Haegaarden wit ale waffle topped with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and toasted almonds.
One Love’s own beer will follow soon. The brew room is still in the works, but in the meantime, Michael and Jennifer sell over 20 different brews including many choices that Michael says local places very rarely offer.
With 10 beers on draft, One Love’s rare selection includes Saison Dupont and Stone Brewing Company’s Smoked Porter along with distinct Belgian beers like La Fin Du Monde and Chimay Triple. The brewpub also pours Green Flash Brewing Company’s West Coast IPA – a hoppy choice you cannot find in many other places. One Love adds a pair of gluten-free ales and ciders to its selection as well.
“We are a beer drinker’s beer bar,” Michael says. “We carry a couple of brands that may not be breaking any sales records, but the fact is that we have them and they are represented.”
Aside from its phenomenal food and beer, One Love’s beautiful atmosphere provides another excuse to explore Michael and Jennifer’s brewpub.
Located in a Henry Paper Mill building, which was built back in 1902, the One Love team undertook a full-blown renovation of the space before moving the business in. The overhaul did not, however, ruin the space’s rustic charm.
Michael and Jennifer took the original floor out in order to make more room to put their massive beer tanks. But after doing so, they saved the dazzling Yellow Birch and Birds Eye Maple wood to make One Love’s bar and dining tables.
“It’s the original wood from the building and it just has such a beautiful luster to it, so it’s quite special,” Michael says. “All the old, old wood went back into the building.”
And it is only fitting that these high school sweethearts use their business space to serve other people who are in love. Michael and Jennifer host weddings and other special events in their two reception halls. The Pemi Function Hall can accommodate up to 120 guests while the intimate Brewster Room seats up to 60 people.
With great food, friendly atmosphere and a lovely event space, One Love is already a welcome addition – looking forward to the day local beer is added to the mix!
