ST. MICHAELS — Lori and Ace Moritz, owners of Eastern Shore Brewing, began their love story over free beers, which soon kicked off a life of shared commitment, family, dreams and yes, more beer.
After a while of being friends, Ace couldn’t contain his crush on Lori and began visiting her every week during her shift as a bartender. She said he was not good at being subtle, and she knew he liked her immediately.
One day, her boss and longtime friend began to ask her why the numbers were off for Sierra Nevada pale ale. Lori had been giving Ace free beer every time he visited her, which was her way of encouraging him to keep coming back.
“There was just a really good chemistry, and I knew he was in love with me because he couldn’t stop staring at me,” Lori said. “And I really loved him. He’s a good person. I had a good feeling.”
Soon, they started dating, got married and began daydreaming about owning a brewery.
During Lori’s first pregnancy, she took a leave of absence from work, and Ace got laid off. The safety net that they had relied on was gone.
Though worried about the future, they took it as an opportunity to chase after their brewery dream.
They decided to move out of their home in Rochester, New York, and after a time of searching, they found the town of St. Michaels during a family visit.
“The owner of the building (that would become Eastern Shore Brewing), Tad duPont, was racing on a log canoe, and we were introduced to him, and somehow the brewery came up, and he said, ‘I have this perfect spot for you,’” Ace said.
DuPont showed them what would soon become the Eastern Shore Brewing. Toward the end of the tour, duPont told them that there wouldn’t be a need for a lease and instead made a deal with the couple.
He wouldn’t charge them for rent until they sold their first beer.
Now, 17 years later, Lori and Ace’s award-winning beers and electric presence in the community have helped grow St. Michaels. The Moritzes’ beers are sold throughout Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C.
Lori and Ace are part of the board for the annual St. Michaels BrewFest, a festival to help support local businesses in town.
The couple said they pride themselves on building connections and community with the town.
Jay Hudson, a former employee and longtime friend of the couple, said Lori and Ace motivated him to move to the area and find his home in St. Michaels.
“What they do there is more than just great local brew, but Eastern Shore Brewing is a testament to hard work and perseverance,” Hudson said. “They convey how a local brewing can be so important to a community.”
Lori and Ace said that their partnership has grown over the years, and more than anything, they are happy to be together.
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