Most craft beer fans know that the number of breweries has been growing consistently over the past decade, both in the Philadelphia area and around the country.  With this increase in breweries, there has also been an exponential increase in the number of new brews available to try!  Luckily, this year the Philadelphia suburbs will see more new places to drink this plethora of beer.  Here’s a summary of some new locations opening for your craft beer drinking pleasure:

Round Guys Brewing “Underground,” Lansdale

The Lansdale-based brewery sent out a newsletter on March 14, introducing us to the new “Round Guys Underground” which is located directly across the street from their brewpub.  The first floor space will be used for packaging, briting and canning, and will also be shared with Round Guys’s partner, Backyard Beans Coffee Roasters; the Backyard Bean Café will be accessible from the packaging facility.  The basement will be called the “underground” which will be used for “everything from shows to parties.  A short bar will feature eight drought lines and space for mixed drinks.”  Stay tuned for opening date information!

Forest & Main Brewing expansion, Ambler

Ambler’s world-renowned brewer is getting closer to opening their long awaited expansion next door.  The new space will be used to expand their barrel aging program and will include a bar for customers’ additional enjoyment.  According to Dan Endicott, co-owner and brewer, “We are closer than ever [to opening] now.”  The bar top was poured on March 30, the cold box is being installed the week of April 3, and, explained Endicott, “…then it’s just painting and finishing work.”  They are hoping to open in the beginning of May.

Ambler’s Forest & Main will soon have more space for customers to enjoy their explorations into IPAs this Spring. Photo by Matt Brasch.”

Neshaminy Creek Tasting Room, Jenkintown

Remember the short-lived Guild Hall Brewing Company that opened (and closed) at 208 York Road, Jenkintown in 2015?  Well, Bristol-based, award-winning Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company has plans to buy the space and install a tasting room there!  According to a blog post on Neshaminy Creek’s website on February 3, settlement for the purchase of the location was supposed to occur on February 17, barring any hurdles and obstacles.  http://neshaminycreekbrewing.com/2017/02/03/neshaminy-creek-expansion-to-jenkintown-more/   Hopefully it went through and we’ll get more information soon!

The Greene Turtle, North Wales 

The Greene Turtle, Maryland’s iconic sports bar, opened their first Pennsylvania location on Monday, April 3, in the building formerly occupied by Pizzeria Uno on Route 309 in North Wales.  Featuring a house beer called “Shell Raiser” brewed by Maryland-based DuClaw Brewing, the draft list contains both regional and national beer that perfectly matches the fun, sports-centric concept of the spot.

DuClaw brews the “Shell Raiser Ale” for The Greene Turtle in North Wales. Photo by Matt Brasch.”

Yard House, King of Prussia

The Yard House, the national craft beer tap house chain, has finally made it to the Philadelphia area, in the King of Prussia Mall.  http://www.yardhouse.com/locations/pa/king-of-prussia/king-of-prussia-king-of-prussia-mall/8371  A private media event was held on March 25 and the 130  taps opened to the public at 8pm. The beer list is impressive, and always include seasonal offerings from local brewers Victory, Evil Genius, Dogfish Head and Yuengling.  Make sure to take a look at the beer menu online – it is sure to you entice you to visit.

Aston Abbey Brewing Company, Aston

A new brewery is coming to Aston that focuses on Belgian Abbey style beers and other, European styles as well.  As noted on their website, “we are passionate about making high quality, hand-crafted beers in the style of the Belgian Abbeys. Our beers are unfiltered, unpasteurized and unrepentant.”  Keep tabs on their progress toward opening by following their blog on their website:  http://www.astonabbeybrewing.com/

Locust Lane Brewing Company, Malvern

Locust Lane Brewing Company opened on April 1, 2017 at 50 Three Tun Road, Suite 4

Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355.  They are “founded on the principles of providing fresh, simple and classic beer options to the craft brew community. ‘Simply Crafted’ is our motto.”  https://www.locustlanecraftbrewery.com/beer  Their tap list is available online and currently includes American IPA, ESB, Pale Ale, Brown Ale, Stout (on Nitro), and a cider from Kurant.

Crowded Castle Brewing, Phoenixville

Keep an eye out for Crowded Castle to open its tasting room and brewery on May 5, in conjunction with Phoenixville’s First Friday.  A group of 10 friends own the company and have been testing the market for the past few years, including contract brewing with Free Will Brewing Company in 2015.  http://www.crowdedcastle.com

Cheers!

The Brewholder

Copyright 2017 – all rights reserved

Rogue Honey Kolsch – photo courtesy of Rogue Ales & Spirits.

Rogue Ales & Spirits announced the release of their Honey Kolsch and Marionberry Braggot, both made with honey in a press release today.   Sounds great to me!:

INDEPENDENCE, Ore. (April 7, 2017) — Rogue Ales & Spirits salutes its pollinators with the early release of Honey Kolsch and Marionberry Braggot, both made with honey produced by its 7,140,289 honeybees on Rogue Farms.

“Pollinators are not only an essential part of our farm but also crucial to the whole copmany – they impact a quarter of our products,” said Rogue Ales President Brett Joyce. “Bees take care of us, so we take care of them.”

Rogue Farms honeybees feed on nectar from marionberry, cherry, pumpkin, jalapeño and wildflower blossoms, creating a honey that captures the terroir of the Rogue’s farm, located in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. It’s a symbiotic relationship between the bees and the farm; pollinating improves the quality and productivity of the crops, while Rogue Farms provides a healthy environment for the bees. Rogue Beer Farmer Cheryl Gillson explains what the bees mean to Rogue in this National Honey Board video.

Use the Rogue Finder tool to locate Rogue Honey Kolsch and Rogue Marionberry Braggot near you now. Honey Kolsch, awarded “best in show” at the 2015 and 2016 National Honey Board’s Honey Beer Competition, are available in 12-ounce bottles and on draft. Marionberry Braggot are available in 750-milliliter painted bottles and on draft.

Cheers!

The Brewholder

Cheers! Here’s an amazing NE IPA I had at Populuxe Brewing in Seattle last weekend!

Today commemorates the end of the Prohibition of Beer.   Nuff said!  Hope I see you with a beer in your hand today!

Cheers!

The Brewholder

Copyright 2017 – all rights reserved

Photo courtesy of Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant.

Iron Hill announced that they will release “Cannibal”   this Thursday, April 6!  Here’s the press release:

On Thursday, April 6, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant will release The Cannibal™ Belgian-style golden ale in cans, perfect for the first sunny days of spring. The complex, award-winningbeer will be available in four-packs of 16-oz. cans at all Iron Hill locations, and is a popular favorite that pairs perfectly with barbecue, grilled foods and other warm-weather staples.

· The Cannibal™ boasts a dry finish accented by a nose of tropical fruit and dry spice; it earned its first medal, a gold, at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in 2005, as well as a silver at the World Beer Cup the following year, and another GABF silver 10 years later, in 2015.
The Cannibal™ cans will be available while supplies last in four-packs of 16-oz. cans
Cans will be available for both dine-in and for take-out at all 12 Iron Hill locations

Cheers!

The Brewholder

Troegs announced today that their delicious pilsner, Sunshine Pils, will be brewed year-round!   Exciting news!   Here’s what they said in their announcement:

Sunshine Pils joins the ranks of Perpetual IPA and the rest of our lineup as a Year Round beer! Like the rising sun, Sunshine Pils delivers winter, spring, summer and fall. This deceptively complex pilsner is all about the tightrope walk of two-row barley, zesty Saaz hops and lager yeast. It’s a go-to when the sun is shining, and it makes us happy when skies are gray. Sunshine Pils is now available on draft as well as in 12oz. bottles and cans across our entire distribution footprint.

At this year’s Meeting of the Malts, three Pennsylvania legislators will be recognized for their commitment to Pennsylvania’s craft brewing industry!   Here’s the press release:
For Immediate Release
Contact Wayne Henninger – 570.573.6556 / [email protected]

Brewers of Pennsylvania Announce
Inaugural Legislative Awards
Three Supportive Pennsylvania Legislators
to Be Honored at Meeting of the Malts VI

HARRISBURG, PA (3.22.17) – The Brewers of Pennsylvania (BOP), the state’s official brewers guild, has announced the recipients of the inaugural Legislative Awards, an honor that recognizes a person or organization the BOP considers a partner in the industry, one who continually strives to promote and protect Pennsylvania’s craft beer industry. The three Pennsylvania legislators will be honored at The BOP’s popular annual event MEETING OF THE MALTS VI in Bethlehem on Thursday, March 30.

Receiving the 2017 Legislative Awards are Speaker Mike Turzai (Pa. District 28 serving Allegheny County), Rep. Mike Tobash (Pa. District 125 serving Dauphin and Schuylkill Counties), and Sen. Richard Alloway II (Pa. District 33 serving Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, York Counties).

“The three legislators the Brewers of Pennsylvania have chosen to receive this award are legislative champions with respect to the BOP’s initiatives of promoting and protecting the craft beer industry in the Commonwealth,” said Dan LaBert, Executive Director of the BOP. “With their dedicated work, particularly with the Malt Beverage Tax Credit, we know the Pennsylvania craft beer industry has a solid seat at the table in Harrisburg, and that’s important because BOP members employ an estimated 10,000 employees earning $296 million in wages and generating $1.1 billion in direct economic benefits to communities throughout the state.”

In July, 2016, Pennsylvania Governor, Tom Wolf, signed a $1.3 billion revenue package. Part of that package included a Malt Beverage Tax Credit not to exceed $5 million annually. The tax credit, matching equipment and facilities investments made by applicant breweries, has been one of the BOP’s top legislative goals since 2013. The BOP fully supports this tax credit measure, and considers it a major victory for all craft breweries in the Commonwealth, particularly smaller breweries as the benefits of the measure is capped at $200,000 per year, per brewery.

The three Pennsylvania legislators will be honored during the dinner portion of Meeting of the Malts VI, which will also include a panel discussion featuring a star-studded cast including Dick Yuengling (D. G. Yuengling & Son), Jim Koch (Samuel Adams), David Walker (Firestone Walker Brewing Company), and Eric Wallace (Left Hand Brewing Company). The panel discussion will take place from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on March 30, and will be emceed by industry icon, Bump Williams.

In 2016, to support the BOP’s legislative and advocacy initiatives, the association launched Brewer For A Day, a program designed to give state legislators a hands-on insider’s perspective on the brewing process, as well as further educate Pennsylvania Senators and Representatives on the direct economic impact craft brewers have on communities throughout the state. The following state legislators have participated in the Brewer For A Day program:

· Sen. Rafferty, Pa. District 44 – Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown 8/15/16
· Rep. Kurt Masser, Pa. District 107 – Old Forge Brewing Company in Danville 9/29/16
· Sen. Sean Wiley, Pa District 49 – Lavery Brewing Company in Erie on 10/5/16
· Rep. Harry Lewis, Pa. District 74 – Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown 10/14/16
· Chairmen of the Pa. House Liquor Control Committee (Rep. Adam Harris and Rep. Paul Costa) – Victory Brewing Company in Parkesburg 11/17/16

Meeting of the Malts VI, presented by Micro Matic USA, will take place Thursday, March 30 from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. EST at Artsquest Center at SteelStacks, 711 First St., Bethlehem, PA.

In 2016, Draft Magazine named Meeting of the Malts as the #12 (out of 101) rated beer experiences on the industry bucket list. Meeting of the Malts VI, #supportPAbeer, will include panel discussions, keynote addresses, valuable networking opportunities, a silent beer auction, and the Pennsylvania BrewPub Festival. Participating BOP members in the BrewPub Festival include: Barley Creek Brewing Co., North Country Brewing Co., Covered Bridge Brewhaus, Boneshire Brew Works, The Proper Brewing Co., The Brewery at Hershey, Round Guys Brewing Co., Free Will Brewing Co., Yards Brewing Co., Berwick Brewing Co., Butler Brew Works, Zeroday Brewing Co., HiJinx Brewing Co, Sly Fox Brewing Co., and Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

About the Brewers of Pennsylvania – The Brewers of Pennsylvania (BOP), the state’s official brewers guild, brings together leaders of Pa.-based breweries in order to promote and protect the brewing industry in the state. A 501c6 trade association, the BOP is a strong and influential organization, serving the consuming public of Pa. by encouraging brand diversity in the market. BOP members employ an estimated 10,000 employees earning $296 million in wages and generating $1.1 billion in direct economic benefits to communities throughout the state. #supportPAbeer

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On April 6, Sly Fox Brewing will release a collaboration beer with Barcade!  Here’s the press release:

SLY FOX AND BARCADE COLLABORATE ON CHESTNUT BEER:
‘CHEST BOCKWELL’ TO BE RELEASED ON Friday THURSDAY, APRIL 6
Dunkel Bock brewed with chestnut flour will be on draft at all six Barcade
locations, starting with an exclusive Sly Fox multi-tap event in Philadelphia

On Thursday, April 6, at 4 p.m. Sly Fox Brewing Company will debut Chest Bockwell, a German-style lager brewed with real chestnuts, at Barcade (1114 Frankford Avenue) in Philadelphia’s popular Fishtown neighborhood. Chest Bockwell, affectionately named after John C. Reilly’s fictional crime-fighting character in the movie Boogie Nights, is a traditional Dunkel Bock, with chestnut flour added to the mash, drawing on rich Vienna, Munich, caramel and roasted malts from Bavaria for a toasted flavor profile.

Barcade’s management staff visited Sly Fox in Pottstown, PA on February 8 to brew this special collaboration beer weighing in at 7.4% ABV; originally, they wanted to use whole chestnuts in the mash – until Sly Fox head brewer Brian O’Reilly warned of “evil forces” being locked inside the chestnuts. The two sides compromised and used chestnut flour, perfectly balancing the sweet and savory nuisances of the delicate fruit.

“Barcade has been a champion of craft beer for more than a decade, way before craft beer was cool, and brewing a beer for them is an honor,” says O’Reilly. “When we started discussing the brew with the group, the idea of a Chestnut Bock stuck out to me. It was a challenge bringing an unusual ingredient like chestnuts into such a traditional style, and I am proud to say we pulled it off. The chestnut flour really added an interesting depth to this malt-forward beer in a balanced and delicious way.”

In addition to Chest Bockwell, Barcade will be pouring a slew of Sly Fox drafts at the release party, including: 360 IPA, Helles Lager, Ichor, Odyssey, O’Reilly Stout, Phoenix Pale Ale, Pikeland Pils, Royal Weisse, Route 113 IPA and Saison VOS. Chest Bockwell will be available at all six Barcade locations throughout the region (Philadelphia, PA; Jersey City, NJ; Chelsea, NY; St. Mark’s, NY; Brooklyn, NY and New Haven, CT).

“We’re very happy to announce this collaborative beer, Chest Bockwell,” says Barcade President & CEO Paul Kermizian. “We have been great fans of Sly Fox for years, and have been talking about working on an exclusive with them for some time. We really enjoy traditional German-style lagers, but also beers with unusual ingredients. Here, we balanced those conflicting interests and developed a truly flavorful beer.”

Sly Fox is the latest craft brewery to collaborate with Barcade’s extremely limited one-off series, a project dating back to 2010. Over the years, Barcade has proudly served the following beers as part of their series (click here for complete list): Shmaltz Pastrami Pils, Captain Lawrence Simpsons Did It! IPA, Smuttynose Coily, Greenport Harbor Goth Logger, Climax Barcade Anniversary Abbey, Fisherman’s Pepper II, Captain Lawrence Black and White IPA, Victory Fall Bockwards, Harpoon Sriracha Blonde, Fisherman’s Clam Porter, Climax Bavarian Dark, as well as beers from the Sixpoint-Barcade Beer Project.

About Sly Fox Brewing Company…Since their inaugural brew in 1995, Sly Fox has crafted more than 100 different top-notch craft beers. Their critically acclaimed year-round line-up and highly anticipated seasonals are available in their brewpubs in Phoenixville and Pottstown, as well as top bars and restaurants in PA, CT, NJ, NY, MD, VA and Washington, DC. They were the first craft brewery in the mid-Atlantic to put in a canning line, adding it to their facility in 2006, and with it, earned the first-ever Great American Beer Festival (GABF) medal awarded to a canned craft beer, in 2007. They have earned GABF medals virtually every year since, and are widely recognized as among the region’s best and most enduring craft breweries.

Available for comment: Brewmaster Brian O’Reilly
Contact: Michael Greger / (215) 985-2106 / www.profilepr.com / Twitter%20Bird%20Grey @ProfileTip / instagram-xxl @profiletip

Check out this new growler from MiiR Lab – looks pretty solid, info below.   Then keep an eye on my feeds in April – I’ll be putting it through some rigorous testing!  Cheers!

“Just in time for the longer days, MiiR is introducing a brilliantly updated Growler making it easier to fill, pour, and carry your beer. New features include a lid that locks in place to stay open while filling and pouring, a secure buckle closure, and a built-in handle to support smooth pouring and transport.

Growlers can be pre-ordered at a discount for the rest of March via the newly launched MiiR Lab here.

The MiiR Lab will feature a new product nearly every month providing the opportunity for customers to pre-order and receive up to a 30% discount. The crowdfunded sales of each product will help determine if they eventually become part of the MiiR collection. MiiR will continue to give 5% of all revenue to trackable clean water and health projects, including those purchased through the Lab.

Growler – $59

Features

Thermo 3D™ Double Wall Vacuum Insulation Technology to keep contents cold for 24+ hours or hot for up to 12 hours and won’t sweat
18/8 Medical grade stainless steel that won’t transfer flavor or create a metallic aftertaste
Threadless lid to seal carbonation and prevent leaking, locks into place when open
Buckle closure
Built-in handle
BPA-free
64-ounces/4 pints
Available in stainless steel and three Hardshell™ Powder Coated colors (Black, Blue, White)

The Brewholder