Angry Irishman founder receiving support from Genoa church

Sheri Trusty
·3 min read
Shown here are just a few of the varieties in the Angry Irishman line of hot sauce, mustard and rubs.
Shown here are just a few of the varieties in the Angry Irishman line of hot sauce, mustard and rubs.

WOODVILLE - A Woodville resident is keeping things hot with a little help from his church. Kevin Mackey is the president and founder of Angry Irishman, a line of hot sauce made from Mackey’s unique non-salty, non-vinegary recipe.

Angry Irishman operates out of Bowling Green, but Mackey will soon move production onto the property of Apostolic Restoration Center (ARC) in Genoa.

The Angry Irishman hot sauce was birthed in Florida.

“Within two weeks of graduating high school, I moved to Florida. It was kind of like living in a greenhouse. With the proper nutrients, things grow really well, so I started growing hot chili peppers,” Mackey said.

A casual competition with a friend turned into a quest to make the perfect hot sauce. He spent hours researching hot sauce ingredients, recipes and techniques. In the end, he created the original Angry Irishman hot sauce and it became a licensed business in Florida in 1996.

Hot sauce took years to perfect

“It took me seven years to get it right. I had numerous five-subject notebooks with research,” he said. “I tried different formulations and came up with one that was not salty and not vinegary but had an above average heat level. I wanted it to be different.”

In 2010, Mackey returned to Ohio to marry his wife, Mary Ann, and she encouraged him to build the business here. Operations are based at the Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen (NOCK) in Bowling Green. NOCK is a nonprofit program of the Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT) which operates under the umbrella of the Ohio Department of Development.

Kevin Mackey spent seven years researching recipes and techniques before developing the original Angry Irishman hot sauce. He manufactures the extensive line of hot sauce, mustard and rubs in a cooperative kitchen in Bowling Green, but he will move operations onto the property of Apostolic Restoration Church in Genoa this spring.
Kevin Mackey spent seven years researching recipes and techniques before developing the original Angry Irishman hot sauce. He manufactures the extensive line of hot sauce, mustard and rubs in a cooperative kitchen in Bowling Green, but he will move operations onto the property of Apostolic Restoration Church in Genoa this spring.

“They supply the big equipment, and you supply the raw materials,” Mackey said. “We produced our first batch commercially in 2014. Someone told me I’m crazy, but someone else said, ‘No, you’re an entrepreneur.’”

At NOCK, Mackey produces a full line of hot sauces, mustards and rubs. Hot Sauce flavors include garlic/jalapeno, dill and olive.

“We’ve won awards for a great number of our hot sauces and have lots of positive reviews,” he said. “We are known in the hot sauce community for having an extremely unique flavor profile.”

Getting ready to move production to Genoa

Now, Mackey is ready to move production from NOCK to Genoa. In 2016, ARC Pastor Fred Garcia approached Mackey with the idea of utilizing space in the church’s bus garage for Angry Irishman operations. The offer was part of the church’s mission to help its members attain their dreams.

“A big part of what we do is get under people’s dreams,” Garcia said. “After all, dreams come from God in the first place.”

The church helps its members with preliminary planning and, when possible, practical support such as offering space to Angry Irishman.

Bottles of Angry Irishman hot sauce line a shelf at Bassett’s Market in Port Clinton. The hot sauce can be purchased in many local stores.
Bottles of Angry Irishman hot sauce line a shelf at Bassett’s Market in Port Clinton. The hot sauce can be purchased in many local stores.

“We find out what people’s dreams are, and we help them lay out a plan,” Garcia said. “Kevin’s dream is to replace Tabasco as a household name. I think he’s dreaming too small.”

The church not only steps into members’ dreams as collaborator, but it also stands on the sidelines as cheerleader. Garcia and ARC Founder Tim Davies have helped Mackey promote the business.

“Any time there’s a chamber meeting or a community event, they’re talking our product up,” Mackey said. “It’s pretty remarkable. I’ve never experienced a church like this, where they get underneath your dreams and push up.”

Groundbreaking for Angry Irishman in Genoa is scheduled this spring, and Mackey is planning his first ever hot sauce expo at the Glass City Center in Toledo on Nov. 18 and 19.

Angry Irishman products can be purchased in five states and at many local stores, including Root’s Poultry in Fremont, Tank’s Meats in Elmore, Bassett’s Market in Port Clinton, and Makers on Main in Genoa. Purchases can also be made online at angryirishman.net.

Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Angry Irishman founder receiving support from Genoa church