Cisco Brewers Introduces Stargazer Pilsner, Honoring Maria Mitchell
Stop by Cisco Brewers on Thursday, October 1 from 4 - 7pm for the launch of Stargazer Pilsner, brewed exclusively for the MMA by Cisco Brewers Nantucket.
$1 from every pint of Stargazer Pilsner sold benefits the MMA!
In celebration of her fearless spirit,
Cisco Brewers has crafted Stargazer Pilsner — a dry hopped pilsner that blends Nantucket’s heritage, local craftsmanship, and a sense of wonder that echoes Mitchell’s own curiosity about the universe. Every sip is a toast to her pioneering legacy and the island that shaped her.
Maria Mitchell was more than America’s first female astronomer — she was a librarian, educator, naturalist, and trailblazer who changed how the world looked at the stars and at women in science. She was also, quite fittingly, an unapologetic lover of beer.
Today, the Maria Mitchell Association continues Mitchell’s work by preserving her historic home and papers, conducting astronomical and natural science research, and inspiring learners of all ages through hands-on, interactive programs.
Raise a glass, honor a legacy, and support a mission that keeps Maria Mitchell’s vision alive.
Want a Limited Edition Stargazer Pilsner Tee?
Stop by Cisco Brewers Nantucket on Thursday, October 1 from 4 - 7pm or email info@mariamitchell.org to snag your merch!
According to family accounts and a story retold in the Inquirer & Mirror in 1906 (sourced from the New York Tribune), Mitchell would sneak away during visits to Boston to enjoy a frothy pint. On one occasion, she stopped in a Cambridge saloon for a bottle of beer while visiting her sister and brother-in-law, Joshua Kendall. She asked her brother-in-law to open the bottle. He asked, “Where did thee get it, Maria? Doesn’t thee know respectable women don’t go into such places?” Maria famously retorted that she not only drank it as a tonic, but also told the proprietor he “ought to be ashamed of his traffic” for entertaining an unsavory clientele.
From the I&M, June 9, 1906, copied from The New York Tribune.
Learn more about our very own Maria Mitchell here.