Posts tagged weyerbacher
HiJinx Brewing Company: Allentown’s New Nano Brewery Startup
We’re always happy to hear about new places opening in the Lehigh Valley that will help to develop our growing craft beer scene. So you can imagine our excitement to learn about HiJinx Brewing Company, a new nano brewery which is set to open in Allentown later this year.
Curt Keck, founder of HiJinx Brewing Company, is no stranger to the world of brewing. He began brewing back in 1995 to satisfy his passion for great beer. After a stint as Assistant to the Brewmaster with the now defunct Allentown-based Old Lehigh Brewing Company (remember Bust A Nut Brown Ale? We do!), Curt served as Senior Brewer at Weyerbacher Brewing Company in Easton until his departure from professional brewing in 1999. In fact, he tells us that Weyerbacher’s Blithering Idiot is a scaled-up version of one of his homebrew recipes.
Curt’s Porter recipe earned him first place at the Drunk Monk Challenge in Chicago in 2009, making it eligible for the Masters Championship of Amateur Brewing where it received a gold medal. More recently, it won first place and was runner-up for Best in Show at the 2011 War of the Worts competition in Montgomeryville, PA. But Curt is no one trick pony, and his Porter is surely not his only award-winning beer. He has also won gold medals at various competitions for his Imperial Stout, ESB, Wit, Brown Ale, Belgian Dark Strong Ale and American Lager. These craft beers will soon be available to the masses through the HiJinx Brewing Company.
HiJinx has obtained local approval and is now pending federal approval with the hopes of opening in November 2011. The HiJinx Brewery will be based in Allentown, near the intersection of Route 22 and Cedar Crest Boulevard. Though now brewing on a 1/2 barrel system (not unlike the system that Sam Calagione used to start Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales), HiJinx will be brewing on a custom 1.5 BBL system once it is operational, with an expected capacity of 100 BBL. (As a side note - a BBL is a barrel of beer equaling 31 gallons, so we’re talking about a lot of beer!) Curt is trying to complete funding of his new system through a kickstarter.com campaign that will begin sometime in mid June.
HiJinx with be self-distributing at first, with 22oz bottles and sixtels, and will focus on getting accounts at craft beer-friendly establishments like The Liberty Street Tavern. Look for his award-winning Porter, ESB, Wit, Stout, Belgian Strong Ale, American Session Ale and IPA to be his first offerings, but keep in mind that Curt is a ‘no limits’ brewer who doesn’t mind taking chances. Recent experiments with new ingredients, new twists on classic styles, and brewing with herbs and spices means there will be a constant rotation of unique beers from HiJinx. Curt’s brewing philosophy is to think of beer like food: “The best food is prepared by a chef in a restaurant and not in a factory,” he says. He is a hands-on brewer and intends to remain that way with HiJinx. Taking pride in every batch and care in every step of the brewing experience in order to produce a quality product is Curt’s goal in brewing.
Curt also acknowledges the growing appreciation for craft beer in the Lehigh Valley and feels the establishments that serve quality beer here will continue to enjoy a steady growth. “There are a few groups in the area that are helping to expand the beer consumers palate through education and exposure,” explains Kurt. “The Lehigh Valley Homebrewers, who have given a number of seminars at various events around the Valley, take various examples of classic styles brewed by their membership, and explain what makes them what they are.” He also mentions other local beer groups such as the Lehigh Valley Beer Society. “These groups will only help to increase the demand for craft beers in this area,” says Curt.
Curt will be representing HiJinx at the PBS39 Microbrew Festival this Saturday. Expected to be available for sampling are Prankster’s Porter, HiJinx ESB, AsA (an American Session Ale), Hop Havoc IPA, Earth, Wit, & Fire, Java Porter, and he may slip Steal Your Face Stout into the mix for a limited tasting. Be sure to stop by the HiJinx booth, say hello to Curt, and tell him you where you heard about HiJinx!
Learn more about HiJinx:
HiJinxbrewing website
Weyerbacher Beerscool Dinner Tonight at Starters Riverport in Bethlehem
It’s the third Wednesday of the month and that means it’s time for Beerscool at Starters Riverport! Tonight they’ll be featuring a Weyerbacher Beer Dinner and a rep from the brewery will be on hand to tell you all about their delicious locally brewed beer while you enjoy it! Beer selections include Double Simcoe IPA, Verboten, Blanche, Merry Monks and Blithering Idiot. The menu, prepared by Starters chef Dan Adams, includes some amazing creations: Cheddar-Stilton with peaches and crustini, shrimp and grits, southern fried chicken, yukon gold mashed potatoes, cheddar-stilton mac ‘n cheese, smokey collard greens, and black raspberry ice cream and watermelon ice with whipped cream and mint. YUM!
The dinner starts at 7pm tonight and will run you $30 per person, but it’s well worth it for all of that awesome beer, food, and knowledge! Call 610-625-2300 to reserve your seats.
Craft Beer Conversion
Despite the exploding craft beer scene throughout the country and the never ending variety of beer styles that now exist, there are still those people out there who claim they “don’t like the taste of beer” or swear by only the standard macros. We know you’ve got at least one of these in your entourage, be it your Appletini-swilling girlfriend or your buddy who doesn’t leave the house without a case of Miller Lite by his side. Chances are, most of these people are simply uneducated about the vast variety of styles and flavors that exist in the beer spectrum. So we’ve compiled a list of a few brews that are most likely to convert even the biggest non-believers to fellow appreciators of the most versatile beverage in the world - BEER.
1. Lindeman’s Framboise (raspberry), Cassis (black currant), Pecheresse (peach), Pomme (apple), Kriek (cherry), or Faro: The fruit varieties are very mild and sweet, and are a great way to introduce non-beery beers to someone who tends to prefer fruity martinis or wine. Each of the varieties listed above are lambic beers with fruit or other infusions added. The Faro is a wild-fermented wheat beer using new and old lambics and candied sugar with a taste similar to a sweet sparkling wine. To learn more about the brewing process for this special variety of beer, click here.
2. Blanche De Bruxelles: Though there are many different witbiers out there, we suggest avoiding the most commercially available - Blue Moon. Blanche De Bruxelles is our favorite witbier, and is unintimidating enough to serve to your friend who typically sticks with Miller Light or Michelob Ultra. This light, refreshing, 4.5% ABV witbier is made with coriander and orange peel which gives it a unique taste without an overpowering fruit flavor. Plus the peeing cherub on the label is a great conversation-starter.
3. Southern Tier Creme Brulee Imperial Milk Stout: This beer’s ABV is up there at 9.6%, but it tastes like a decadent milkshake laced with caramel, vanilla, and coffee flavors. Quite tasty but certainly not a session beer, so if you’re serving this to someone who’s not into beer, don’t expect them to want a whole pint of this stuff. Still, a great way to give a non-beer drinker a taste of the variety of craft beers that are out there.
4. Duchesse De Bourgogne: This Flemish Red Ale has a fruity taste and moderate ABV (6%), but also a bit of complexity and a sour end. Some folks with less tolerant tastebuds may be turned off by the sour finish, but we’ve served this beer to friends and moms who don’t like beer at all, and received a great response. If this beer proves to be a hit for you, we also recommend Monk’s Cafe Flemish Red or Jolly Pumpkin La Roja.
5. Brew Works Valley Golden Ale: This American Blonde Ale has been called a “gateway beer” by some. It cannot be purchased in bottles but you can find it on tap at any of the 3 Brew Works locations. Those with a taste for complex beers full of character may find this beer a little boring, but for those who are used to swilling macros this is a great stepping stone. It’s very mild and drinkable, has a low ABV of 4.7%, and is often recommended to new Brew Works customers who come into the brewpub asking the bartender for a light beer.
One great way to introduce different styles of beer to friends who are not really into the craft beer culture (yet) is to take them to a beer and food pairing or a sampling event. Wegmans Bethlehem and Allentown locations are both hosting a FREE beer and food pairing on Saturday, May 21 from 11am-3pm. Take your friends and show them how great beer can complement any meal. Or - stop by the Weyerbacher Brewery in Easton any Saturday between 12noon and 3pm for a FREE tour and tastings of all their beers. The Brew Works Allentown also holds FREE tours and tastings every Saturday from 12noon - 1:30pm, but you’ll have to contact them in advance to schedule your tour.
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin releasing tomorrow
Stop by the Weyerbacher brewery this Saturday between noon and 3pm for this year’s first taste of Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Click here for the full list of beers on tap at Weyerbacher’s July 3rd Saturday tasting.
Fifteen Kilos at Weyerbacher
Weyerbacher Brewery is like a friendly neighbor to us. They are close by, it’s cool to hang at their place, and they give us free beer and pretzels. Of course, when I say free beer I’m only talking sample cups, but if you visit and sample them all you leave with a nice little buzz and some great knowledge. Every Saturday from 12-3pm this Easton, PA craft brewery holds an open house. You can take a tour and check out their equipment, sample and learn about each of their beers from knowledgeable brewery staff, and leave with a custom mix and match case (which you will TOTALLY want to buy after all those samples).
Last Saturday we paid them a visit to try the latest in their brewer’s series, Kilo, which had just been tapped that day. Kilo is a great summer beer - a spicy Saison with notes of bubblegum, pear, and honey, which I found to also have a slightly sour wheaty flavor. Our Weyerbacher beer expert (usually one person will guide you through the whole flight), advised us to include a wedge of blood orange when serving the beer at home.
Also newly released was Fifteen (though most sources say it will not be released until June 12), a 10.8% smoked Imperial Stout made in celebration of Weyerbacher’s 15 years making craft beers. This full-bodied, dark, thick beer with a bacon-like smokiness can be pretty menacing. Though quite tasty, I don’t think I’d want to drink more than one of these in a sitting. We tried to cook with this beer a few days later (Fifteen Bacon and Beans), thinking it might lend well to meaty bean recipe, but instead it completely overtook the flavors of everything in its path.
If you’re ever near Easton on a Saturday afternoon looking for something free and fun to do, be sure to swing by the brewery and get a little taste of everything. For a great place to grab a quality bite and enjoy a full pint (or 4) afterward, check out Porter’s Pub, which is less than a 5 minute drive.
