Our Journey and Our Story
Meet Kristen & Justin Matthews
It was never about building a business. It started as a 12 year hobby/passion for Justin. For Kristen is was a life long interest in holistic remedies. Together it turned into a creative idea of a way to share both passions with the world...well the Appalachian region to start. If you’ve made it this far into the website then you’ve probably already discovered our project has something to do with either tea or beer or possibly both.
Justin started as a home brewer who LOVES craft beer, Dodgers baseball and fly-fishing but not necessarily in that order. Every vacation, domestic or abroad we’ve found ourselves visiting as many breweries as possible, often referring to a list that was created several weeks before the trip. It was his way of doing “market research”. Opening a brewery has always been a dream for Justin as he has primarily focused on making beers for himself or sharing a bottle or two with friends. To Justin brewing is much more than a hobby. It is through the process of brewing that Justin finds himself calm, at peace and is able to center his thoughts and emotions. Kristen is happiest when she is creating. Whether it be friendships, yoga flows, or herbal teas; creating is a part of who Kristen is. No matter the activity or setting, you will find Kristen smiling, laughing and spreading positive energy along the way. She’s an avid reader who has been known to knock out a book or two in one day and a nature enthusiast. When not teaching yoga, making teas or reading, she can be found on a trail, in a kayak, meditating on the riverbank or scouring thrift stores for her next “treasure”.
Together we have created Eridanus Brewing. Pronounced “Err-rid-in-us”, Eridanus is a constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is represented by a river. It is the sixth largest of the modern constellations. The same name was later taken as a Latin name for the real Po River and also for the name of a minor river in Athens. Eridanus is associated with the myth of Phaëton and usually depicted as a river flowing from the waters poured by Aquarius.
In our opinion, the river is one of the most important aspects of our area. It’s built businesses, economies and communities. The river has made some pretty significant family dreams come true (please go like and follow @dragonflyoutdooradventures if you haven’t already) so it made sense to build our dreams around the same river.
We chose a name that made sense and is meaningful to us and that’s what matters. Perception and pronunciation both play a large role in understanding our name and why we chose it. Additionally, Eridanus Brewing is housed in a historic Kentucky train depot…complete with a mysterious bullet hole window story and loads of historic charm. We are all about honoring the history of our region, the city of Russell, and the Ohio River.
It is our desire to grow our beliefs, our passions and our brand as we build a craft beer and herbal tea and tap house in the eastern Kentucky area. While we focus on serving quality craft beers and teas, our brand will incorporate eco-friendly practices, promote inclusivity, and support the community. Within Eridanus Brewing you can find Appalachian Folkology, our herbal product line as well as the herbal education aspect of our business.
The beauty of our story is that it is going to continue to evolve, change and, grow. We’d like to invite each of you to join us on our journey as we continue to write our story.
Meet Chris Matney
Chris Matney has been a home brewer for 12 years. A hobby that he worked around his 30 year career in the refinery business. His passion and interest for brewing developed when he grew tired of domestic beer flavors. Always looking to broaden his beer pallet he and his wife, Wendy have traveled to breweries and beer festivals across both Kentucky and Ohio.
Chris loves the challenge of creating new beer recipes. In addition to brewing, he finds his spare time taken with furniture restoration, raising some unruly pups and supporting his wife Wendy in her recent endeavor of a downtown flower shop (Elizabeth and Company) she is building with a friend.
Upon learning that Eridanus Brewing was being built in downtown Russell, Chris offered his help in everything from beer brewing to building. Through these long hours, a fast lifelong friendship was built. We are so excited that Chris has joined us as our Assistant Brewer at Eridanus.