After a journey he describes as a “long line of lucky coincidences and hard work,” brewmaster and owner of Flying Dreams Brewery, Dave Richardson, is happy to be living out one of his dreams right here in Worcester.

On Park Avenue, attached to Peppercorn’s Grille and Tavern, Flying Dreams is an up-and-coming business not to miss. While only open in Worcester for about a year, Richardson has been proving his brewing expertise for more than a decade. Home brewing since he graduated college, he “realized that this is the thing [he] could do for the rest of [his] life and be happy.” Dave decided to go back to school to earn his master’s in brewing science and engineering and, after a few years, moved onto a new venture as head brewer at the Gardner Ale House. In 2014, another lucky coincidence presented itself. Ben Roesch, of Wormtown Brewery, contacted Richardson with the opportunity to open a small brewery in the space where Wormtown began just a few years before. Richardson jumped at the chance to further his dreams, and Flying Dreams Brewery was born.

Richardson describes the name Flying Dreams as “a combination of a few parts of my life, one is the most cliché of I’ve had a dream of having a brewery, and this is my dreams taking off – flying dreams, right there.”

Richardson; his team, made up of Stephanie Brownell and Matt Ducharme; and the business he describes as “the epitome of the American Dream” are thriving. Flying Dreams is constantly cranking out new, fresh brews, and Richardson has many ideas for the fall, including an Oktoberfest lager, a couple styles of kettle sours and a stout or porter, all in addition to the new pilsner that will debut this month.

“The thing I love about beer is that there are so many different beers,” Richardson said, and at Flying Dreams, you will definitely find a variety of beers. Right now, the brewery’s most popular brews are Dreaming of Summer, an American saison, and Green Dreams, an extra-hoppy pale ale. Customers also love the Double IPA Series, a brew that changes with every batch and features renditions such as Tokatu 7 and K. Sutra. These creative names combine the names of hops used in the brews.

Still searching for its signature brew, Flying Dreams continues to feel its way as a young brewery, and the team is enjoying every step of the way.

“We don’t even know what kind of brewery we’ll eventually turn into,” Richardson said. “We’re just trying a lot of stuff out.”

When asked what makes Flying Dreams special, Richardson said, “We’re just a really small, family- run operation, and we make everything by hand. … Everyone involved is just working their asses off to be successful. It’s that, and it’s beer, and people love beer.”

Flying Dreams is open 4-9 p.m. Thursday, 3-10 p.m. Friday, and noon-10 p.m. Saturday. Customers can sample and buy their favorite fresh brews to take home right from the brewery. For more information, visit flyingdreamsbrewing.com.

By Carly O’Brien