Craft beer and community bonds thrive at Mighty Squirrel

Few people can say they’ve moved across the country to brew beer. But Naveen Pawar and Henry Manice, co-founders of Mighty Squirrel, packed their bags to make the move from San Diego to Waltham in pursuit of their passion for craft brewing. 

Located on Waverly Oaks Road in Waltham, Mighty Squirrel opened in December 2018 and is Waltham’s only production brewery and taproom. It has since expanded to two additional locations — one in Fenway, which opened in March 2024, and another in Watertown that opened last June.

But Mighty Squirrel finds its roots in a much more humble setting: It began simply as a passion project between Pawar and Manice, who met while working in the medical device industry in San Diego.

Pawar grew up in India and came to the United States to obtain his master’s degree in industrial engineering at the University of Arkansas. Manice grew up in the greater Boston area and attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. 

The two men crossed paths while working at California-based Alphatec Spine and quickly became close friends. As their friendship deepened, Pawar and Manice realized they wanted to pursue a project together. 

“We both knew that we had the entrepreneurial spirit. And that spirit got accelerated when we met each other,” Pawar recalled. “We were like, ‘What can we explore? What could be exciting and interesting and challenging together?’” 

How to brew a business

After floating other business ideas like starting a clothing company, the pair began experimenting in their kitchens with a simple home brewing kit. They were inspired by the craft brew scene in San Diego; Pawar described playing tennis every Tuesday with Manice and a couple of other friends, then visiting a brewery afterward. 

Eventually, their home brews were successful enough that they moved forward with establishing their craft brew business. 

They brewed on a contract basis with von Trapp Brewing in Stow, Vermont, Peabody Heights Brewery in Baltimore, Maryland, and Ipswich Ale Brewery in Ipswich, Massachusetts, selling beers to local restaurants and other retailers.

The time eventually came, however, for Mighty Squirrel to open its own physical space. The biggest question was where. After considering various locations across the country, the pair moved to Massachusetts — where Manice’s family lives.

Pawar and Manice toured more than 36 different locations before, as Pawar put it, it was “love at first sight” with the current Waltham location at Waverly Oaks Park.

Pawar said the fact there were homes across the street was a major draw. 

“[A] brewery is a spot for the community to get together,” he said. “So yes, [what] was the most attractive of all [was] the fact that people are living right there and there is a community here.”  

Importance of community

This theme of community drives how the pair operate Mighty Squirrel, from the layout of the space, to the community groups that it hosts, to the names of the beers themselves.

“We love to get involved with the community in as many ways as possible,” said Manice. “It’s a privilege to have a business that gives us a platform to do so.” 

The Waltham location features long wooden tables, small high tops and bar seats where groups can gather to chat, work or play one of the many board games on the brewery’s shelves. One wall is made of glass, allowing patrons to watch rock climbers inside the neighboring Central Rock Gym.

“That’s my TV,” Pawar said of the view.

Mighty Squirrel has become a favorite for local runners, climbers and other athletes. Numerous running groups host events or weekly runs at the three locations, and Mighty Squirrel is hoping to establish its own running club in the future. Pawar himself is a serious runner, having run the Boston Marathon multiple times.

Other groups also use the brewery’s expansive space for events and gatherings. 

Nichole Chapais, a long-time Waltham resident and owner of marketing agency Stargazer Creative, hosts co-working events and meetings for her Greater Boston Women’s Business League at Mighty Squirrel. She said that the biggest draw of hosting events at Mighty Squirrel is its flexibility, as it offers diverse food and drink options, extended hours and plentiful parking. 

Many beers are named to honor the community and people that made it possible. 

“Dear George” was named for George Warren, Mighty Squirrel’s current vice president of operations and the first to join Manice and Pawar in their venture.

“He has been a big part of Mighty Squirrel’s success, and being able to share so many challenges and exciting times with George is one of the most meaningful parts of working on this business,” Manice said. 

Pawar said the beer Mango Lassi is a nod to the “drink of India” and way to “stay in touch with his roots” — roots connected to a community that, when he made the pivot away from his medical tech job, didn’t always approve of what he was doing.

“When I was quitting my job in orthopedics, my family was like, ‘You’re gonna do what? You’re going to be opening your own alcohol factory?’” Pawar said.

On a bright and chilly Friday morning, the brewery was already bustling with assembly lines churning out cans of Cloud Candy and employees packing beer.

Pawar and Navice see continued growth in Mighty Squirrel’s future. The Waltham location, which was previously serviced by a weekly rotation of food trucks, opened a full-service food operation on Feb. 17, offering a variety of options that mirror offerings at the Arsenal Yards and Fenway locations. 

“We are focused on delivering best-in-class hospitality in our taprooms and making delicious beer and food for the communities we serve,” Manice said.