The roots of Wandering Soul began in 2009, when Matt Smith took a homebrewing class with his best friend. Originally from New Jersey, Matt moved to Massachusetts in 2006 to pursue a lifelong dream of playing in a band (and coincidentally, met his future-wife Abby through this band). He initially took a marketing job in corporate America to pay the bills, and eventually transitioned into working for Clown Shoes Beer, where he managed multiple aspects of the business for several years. His casual homebrewing hobby transformed into a passion, which led to countless batches on his modest 5-gallon setup. He prided himself on never brewing the same recipe twice, until he started perfecting a recipe for a New England style IPA that was lower in alcohol content (below 5%) in 2015, when he and Abby first moved to Beverly.
In May 2017, Abby was 8 ½ months pregnant with their first child, Melody, whose name symbolized the musical connection between her parents. On a seemingly normal Tuesday, they found out Melody's heart had stopped beating. The sudden and tragic news turned their worlds upside down; they were blindsided by their daughter’s death, and ill-prepared for the days that led up to, and preceded, Melody’s silent birth. Shortly after she was born, Matt and Abby entered the darkest period of their lives. Flipping back and forth through the "stages" of grief, Matt reached a point where he knew that he needed to do something to honor Melody's memory.
Purpose
The name “Wandering Soul” comes from a place of deep spirituality, and the idea of not being bound to any particular place. As a home brewer for many years, Matt dreamed of releasing his own craft beer in Beverly and further out into the world. After he and Abby lost Melody, he began brewing more frequently, replicating and refining certain recipes, investing in equipment, and then finally obtaining federal and state permits to sell his beer. His first beer, "Melody Maker", came to life once Matt finally perfected the New England Pale Ale he’d been diligently working on. The logo for Melody Maker is based on a tattoo on his left forearm, which he got shortly after Melody died. The treble clef with an infinity symbol as the time signature reminds Matt that Melody will always be with him.
Beyond Beer
Part of this project’s purpose is to provide a platform for those who feel isolated, while bringing people together through the common bond of enjoying a beer. Matt and Abby were fortunate enough to have a lot of support throughout their experience, but many others do not. A portion of the profits from sales of Melody Maker are donated to Resolve New England, a group that helps families struggling with pregnancy loss and infertility.
Each Wandering Soul beer is dedicated to either a person or a concept. For example, the Double IPA “Things We Don’t Say...” shines light on the thoughts and experiences people endure that they may be too afraid to talk about, for fear of upsetting someone. Another Wandering Soul brew, “Young Mouse'', is a Belgian wheat ale with mango dedicated to Matt’s nephew Oscar. Oscar has a rare genetic mutation that causes epilepsy, vision impairment and other challenges (and a portion of profits are donated to FamilieSCN2A, a group that supports the families of those suffering from this genetic mutation). And “From The Wreckage” is an Imperial Stout dedicated to the concept of rebuilding a life out of destruction and chaos, with artwork depicting a small plant growing out of the debris of a shattered building.
Wandering Soul has always been a symbol of hope. Although things may get so dark that any sort of light seems to fade away, it is always there.