WEST SPRINGFIELD – After a long journey and building upon a big dream, Two Weeks Notice Brewing Company, West Springfield’s first craft brewery, has opened its doors to the public.

The grand opening was a huge success. The brewery opened at 12 p.m. on Dec. 1 with 80 cases available and was sold out by 2:15 p.m.

Crowds of residents stopped by Two Weeks Notice Brewing Company to celebrate the grand opening. Among visitors was Mayor William Reichelt.

The brewery will now offer can sales of three beer varieties starting this week. Can sales will continue weekly on Saturdays until the completion of the taproom.

Two Weeks Notice Brewing Company, founded by Mark Avery and his wife Meghan “Murph” Avery, has been a work in progress leading up to the official opening. The couple and business partner/co-owner Derek Upson have worked to get everything up and running.

Mark is excited to finally see the dreams and ideas of the business come to fruition. “Two Weeks Notice has been a very long journey that started with me home brewing on my back deck and having a dream. It took a long time to get here.”

The three varieties being offered include Resignation, Bumby Love and West Side Big Slide.

Resignation, as described by Two Weeks Notice in a recent press release, is a “6.8% IPA with flavors of mango, orange peel and piney resinous aroma.”

Bumby Love, created in memory of a close friend named Bumby who passed away unexpectedly and enjoyed stout beer, is an 8% Imperial Stout described as having “notes of chocolate and roasted coffee with a smooth creamy finish.” Mark remembers Bumby, who was an early supporter of Two Weeks Notice, fondly. “He loved big stouts and this was for him.”

Finally, West Side Big Slide, is described as “a 7.3% IPA brewed with Vic Secret, Citra an Motueka hops giving it flavor of passion fruit, pine and melon.” West Side Big Slide is named after the city of West Springfield, which Mark explained has been welcoming of the new brewery.

While the brewery is currently only brewing IPA beer, Mark is open to other options in the future. “I would say a majority will be IPA driven with a few other styles thrown in. It’s mostly driven by the market, people really want flavorful IPAs right now. It’s still my favorite style to drink but I love brewing other styles.”

Mark explained that Two Weeks Notice Brewing Company had a rocky start. “We’ve made some mistakes along the way. We almost opened in Westfield, but I had to split with my former partner because we couldn’t find a common ground. Then finding a new partner who believed in the idea of Two Weeks, finding a building, spending my summer sweating through every shirt I had while doing demo, moving equipment in and getting it all up and running,”

But all of the hard work has finally paid off. “Watching the first commercial beer I’ve brewed come off the canning line was a surreal and emotional moment. It’ll be emotional to see people purchasing something that at some times I didn’t think was possible.”

Through support and passion, Mark is proud of what has become of the brewery. “It was a challenge to myself personally, but also to my family and friends to stick by and support. And now it’s all coming to fruition. Every minute was worth it.”

Two Weeks Notice Brewing Company is located 110 Bosworth St. in West Springfield. For more information on the brewery, please visit www.twoweeksnoticebrewing.com or on social media through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.