Meet Henry Jager, an Annapolis native, a girl dad of 3, and the proud founder of Pherm Brewing Company!
Henry and his wife, Maurirose, stay busy raising their three daughters, Alice, Marykate, and Josephine, along with their pup, Sonny, while running their brewery together. A longtime Anne Arundel County local, Henry attended Broadneck High School before heading to the University of Colorado to study Environmental Sciences. It was there that his love for science and the brewing scene collided, leading to roles with the American Homebrewers Association, Twisted Pine in Boulder (where he met Mauri!), and later Heavy Seas and Settle Down Easy Brewing. Eventually, that passion turned into opening Pherm Brewing Company back home, where family and community are always on tap!
Tell us a little bit about you and your family! Where did you grow up? How long have you lived in the Annapolis area? How many kids do you have?
Maurirose and I are blessed with three wonderful little ladies in our lives and our crazy puppy boi, Sonny! Alice, Marykate, and Josephine are 11, 7, and 3, respectfully. Mauri and I keep busy with running Pherm Brewing Company together while also balancing our family life. I grew up in a Coast Guard family, and while we lived in a few different locations growing up, this has always been home. I attended Arnold, Severn River, and Broadneck High School (with a few moves in between) and it’s a bit wild to see our girls start to go to some of the same schools.
You are the owner of the popular brewery, Pherm Brewing. How did you get to your career today?
It’s been a journey! I graduated from Broadneck High School in 2005 and went to school at the University of Colorado for Environmental Sciences with a focus in chemistry and lab applications. I suppose I always had a knack and interest for the scientific process and the brewing scene out there was so fun and unique it all kind of came together. Through the school, I was able to get a job at the American Homebrewers Association and also help with the national Brewers Association. I began working both there and at Twisted Pine in Boulder, Colorado (my favorite brewery, which was a bonus!) and that’s where I met Maurirose. We worked the same shift for a few years and one thing led to another, and we moved back to Maryland to start a family and I took a full time brewing job at Heavy Seas in Baltimore. I spent several years there learning from some incredible people on every level. I then took a job at a start up in Virginia, Settle Down Easy Brewing, and was able to install and help design the brewery from the ground up. As this process went on I began thinking, “what if?” and started learning more about opening a business/brewery in Maryland and Mauri and I haven’t looked back since!
If you had to name a beer after your kids, what would it be called?
They’re all so unique, I’m not sure I could do one - it would need to be a series I suppose. My quick answer would be, “Professor Chaos”.
What makes Pherm Brewing special to the local community?
Pherm Brewing is an extremely comfortable and inclusive location for all. We pride ourselves on trying to have something for everyone and supporting the community that supports us. Fundraisers, pup adoptions, backpack building parties, local artists able to display and sell artwork, supporting live local music, and in general just being a community hub where folks can come together has always been the goal and we’re happy to continue to embrace this.
What’s your go-to recommendation for someone visiting Pherm for the first time?
That’s a tricky one because I think we have so much to offer from a beer standpoint, but also offer wine, seltzer, NA beer, and cider options on draft and pour. I would recommend trying a few small pours to get a feel for some beers and seasonal styles or hybrid styles, and then going for the bigger pour if you’re so inclined. I love that we brew a wide range of styles and always have some seasonal, unique hybrid styles, classic styles, and always a good mix of easy drinking lager, IPA, or sour options to create a really balanced board and something for everyone.
As a small business owner, what are some ways you maintain a work-life balance to make family a priority?
With three girls and Maurirose and me running Pherm together, we have to constantly communicate and balance our schedules. At times we have very offset schedules which is a bummer, but we certainly make the most of our family time! I’ll typically be in as early as 6 am, or right after the older sisters are off to school, and I’m home for bus stop pick up as Mauri can head in after. Finding time to both be at Pherm together for planning is great and having my folks up the road is a huge help.
How has your job shifted your perspective on Fatherhood?
Nothing good comes easy and to enjoy every moment, everything happens fast!
What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m the self-proclaimed, “Crab Picking Champion Of The Universe”. Also, I constantly “narrate sing” everything I do or we’re doing as a family.
What’s something you love that’s just for you?
On the weekends, waking up super early and driving in while listening to music on my way to Pherm to check on previous batches or switching new beers to tap that day when we open. I’ll typically let the same live show/artist/genre run the entire time in the car and at Pherm.
Best dad hack that makes your life easier.
Make a game of everything and everyone will have fun helping with chores and whatnot.
Name something you hope your children look back and remember about their childhood and you as their father.
I was a loving Father who made them happy and always put our family first.
What’s your favorite family activity to do in the area?
I really can’t say one thing but we do enjoy all of the year-round unique events we can do and proximity to so much fun stuff if we look outside of Annapolis.
What have you learned from your children?
Every individual is unique and has their own personality from an extremely early age. Be patient and embrace it all. Also, Mauri has a potty mouth, definitely not me (Joking!).
What advice would you give to other dads juggling work, passion, and family?
Family first, the rest will fall into place.
Who has most influenced you to be the dad you are today?
Homer Simpson!
The real and obvious answer is my father Charlie! I could write on and on about this but I’ll just leave it short and sweet.
What do you love most about raising your family in this town?
It’s an incredible experience to have lifelong friends in the area and that we’ve all maintained such closeness over the years and through everything. It’s pretty wild to have our kids all grow up together, and even wilder to think our oldest, Alice, will be babysitting for some of them soon lol. It feels like, while many of us have stayed local, just as many have left and returned, or still return for extended visits. All that said, we live in an incredible area with an amazing community and access to nature, history, culture, and international hubs a stone’s throw away.
We love supporting local businesses! What are your favorite places in the Anne Arundel County area to:
Get coffee: Fresh at Chesapeake Roasters!
Go on a date night: Fox’s Den, gotta love the figgy piggy!
Go out to dinner as a family: Garten Eats, incredible atmosphere and incredible food with something for everyone.
Have fun as a family: Getting together with other families and friends year-round!
Give back to the community: All of the amazing friends we’ve made, and will make ahead, at fundraisers and community events at Pherm.
Meet up with other dads: Shameless self-promotion…Pherm lol.
Pherm Brewing Company is a community-focused craft brewery in Gambrills, Maryland, located in the heart of Anne Arundel County near Annapolis, Crofton, and Odenton. Founded on a love of craft beer, art, and live music.
The Gambrills brewery and taproom features a rotating selection of small-batch craft beers, including IPAs, lagers, stouts, sours, and seasonal releases. Pherm regularly host live music, local events, beer releases, and community gatherings, making Pherm Brewing a go-to destination for craft beer lovers in Central Maryland.
Pherm Brewing Company prides itself on being a family-friendly and dog-friendly brewery, offering a welcoming space for friends, families, and four-legged companions to enjoy great beer together. Whether you’re a local regular or visiting Anne Arundel County breweries for the first time, the Pherm team can’t wait to welcome you into their taproom!
Pherm has won The Best of Central Maryland in 2020, 2024, and 2025!
For more information on events, head to their events page or check out the rotating food truck line-up.
Pherm Brewing Company
1041 MD-3 | Gambrills, MD 21054
