The Visitor's Center will be
open
on
Friday, July 3rd from 4 - 7 p.m
.. The Center will be closed on Saturday the 4th of July.
Weyerbacher Fourteen is Released (6/28/09)
Our latest
Anniversary Ale is a Wheat Wine created by head brewer Chris Wilson. This 11.8% amber beer is silky smooth even when young. Of course you'll want to age some for a few years as well, but check one out now and you won't be disappointed.
This year its in 12 oz 4-packs in all markets. Shipments have begun to wholesalers, and most markets will have it by the end of July.
Recipes featuring Weyerbacher Beers from Chef Mark Myers
May 27, 2009
Weyerbacher Brewing Company, announces the release of Zotten, a Belgian-style Pale Ale and a brand new addition to our seasonal line-up, debuting in June.
Zotten (rhymes with verboten) is bottle conditioned, with a small amount of yeast sediment and carries the distinctive flavors of the house abbey yeast strain that Weyerbacher uses for its Merry Monks’ Ale. At 6% abv, this is one tasty session beer. With a dry hoppiness for balance and fruity notes on the palate the bottle conditioning finishes this beer with a very nice complexity.
Available on draft on June 3, 2009 simultaneously at over 40 different bars in various states. Bottles available in 12 oz. 4-packs will be shipped to wholesalers across Weyerbacher’s market area at the same time. Head brewer Chris Wilson says, “This is a very significant release for us as well as the beer community out there. Here we have a very “sessionable” beer that has significant flavor, complexity and hops to satisfy the most discriminating palate, and its perfect for this time of year as.”
In the Lehigh Valley, PA, Weyerbacher’s home, Zotten will debut on draft at Pearly Bakers’ Ale House, Porters’ Pub, Starters Riverport, Liberty Street Tavern, Tally Ho, Blue Monkey and Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Conference Center.
In the Philly region the following pubs will be pouring Zotten: Craft Ale House, Theresa’s, Capone’s, Spinnerstown Hotel, Ortino’s Northside, The Belgian Café, South Philly Tap Room, Johnny Brenda’s, Standard Tap, Grey Lodge, Brigid’s, Hulmeville Inn, Old Eagle Tavern, and Race Street Café.
In Bucks County: The Blue Dog in Chalfont, Stephanie's in Doylestown, and Spinnerstown Hotel.
In Baltimore the following pubs will be pouring Zotten: Max’s, Mahaffeys, Jack’s Bistro, Lures, Racers, Alonzo’s, Judge's Bench and Frisco’s
In Washington, DC: Brickskeller, RFD and Pizza Paradiso M Street
In Pittsburgh, all 4 Sharp Edge pubs with be pouring Zotten.
Weyerbacher, which bills itself as an “artisanal” brewery makes over 2 dozen different styles of beer throughout the year with such names as Blithering Idiot, Imperial Pumpkin Ale, and Slam Dunkel to name a few. Brewing 5500 barrels in 2008, Weyerbacher is expecting growth of 15-20% in 2009. President & Founder Dan Weirback stated, “ We prefer to grow organically, through word of mouth. We do extremely little advertising as we prefer to put our resources into developing and brewing great beers and providing a meaningful career choice for our fantastic staff.”
Zotten, which is Flemish for “fools”, fits right into the Weyerbacher stable with its jester’s cap icon. The name originates from a time several hundred years ago when an Austrian king, visiting Brugge, Belgium witnessed a parade through town to honor him. Many were dressed as court jesters and king was heard to say, “Brugge is a town full of zotten”.
Zotten release in draft and bottles is June 3 everywhere Weyerbacher is sold.
Special Event at the Brewery: (posted 5/6/09)
Friday night, May 15th, from 5pm to 7pm at the brewery, we’ll have a special tasting and sales event on a couple of new products. Our brewers will be on hand to answer all of your questions.
First up is our
Special Edition, Unfiltered, Fully Bottle-Conditioned Double Simcoe IPA in 750ml Cork n Cage bottles. Samples will be available for tasting and cases for purchase. Price will be $59 for case of 12, plus tax.
Also debuting at this event is
Foxtrot, the latest in our Brewers’ Select series of one-off beers. This dark-amber Biere de Garde is the creation of brewer Dan Hitchcock. Tasting samples and bottles for purchase will be on hand.
Additionally, we’ll have cases of our
Merry Monks Cork n Cage 750s at $59 per case
and samples of the same as well. If you haven’t experienced the Merry Monks in this package, you don’t know what your missing, so show up and savor some!
A few other surprise tastes will be on hand as well, and for those who can’t make it out Friday night, we will have some remaining inventory available the following day during regular tour hours. All of our other beers will be available for purchase on Friday as well. Cheers!
Weyerbacher Now on Twitter! (5/1/09)
Yes its true! You can get all the latest up to the minute updates by following us on Twitter. Our user Id is DWBeeR1. Go to www.twitter.com/DWBeer1, and click to follow us. If you aren't involved yet, go to twitter.com and sign up. Its free, the information is timely, and you can have the Weyerbacher updates texted to you cell phone AS THEY HAPPEN, by going to the device section of twitter . We have several big announcements over the next few weeks regarding new beer releases, and twitter is where we'll post them first. All updates are done by yours truly. Cheers!
Double Simcoe Special Edition (4/9/09)
Released in mid-May will be a very special edition of Double Simcoe IPA. In 750ml corked 'n' caged bottles this will be and unfiltered, fully bottle conditioned version of the super popular Double Simcoe. Expect Cask taste in a bottle, with more pronounced hoppy flavor and aroma due to being unfiltered. Also, carbonation will be a bit higher as is usual in our cork n cage series in keeping with tradition. It all comes together to form a uniquely great experience for hopheads. We'll have a Friday night release date at the brewery sometime in mid-May where you can sample this brew and pick up a case if you like. Cases will also be shipped to our most enlightened wholesalers in most markets, but supplies are limited. We will have a total yield of somewhere over 500 cases on this Special Edition brew. Watch right here for further details and dates.
Slam Dunkel Released (3/17/09)
Our Double Dunkel-Weizen is back! This time in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles in all markets. This unfiltered 7% abv ale has been recognized on internet beer boards as one of the best U.S. examples of a German-style wheat brew. Hearty and dark, with fruity notes from the Weihenstephaner yeast strain make this beer unforgettable, and perfect for this time of year. Supplies are limited.
Weyerbacher Open House (03/13/09)
After lengthy discussions and consideration, we've decided not to hold our annual Open House this year. We know this will come as a disappointment to many, HOWEVER, you're welcome to stop in any Saturday from Noon to 3 for samples and/or tours. You do NOT need to take the tour to sample, just amble right up to our sampling bar and you'll be able to taste 10 or more different styles any given Saturday. AND, you can mix n match your own variety case any Saturday, just like at Open Houses in the past. Many beer fans are still unaware that we're here every Saturday for just these reasons.
Why did we choose not to hold the Open House? Last year we experienced such large crowds that people were standing in lines 50 deep or more at some stations. Many people were unable to sample all of the beers due to the heavy crowds and long lines. With even more equipment and raw goods inventory filling the brewery this year things would have been even tighter. We simply felt it was no longer a great experience for beer fans, whereas any Saturday there may be only 30 to 40 people present and much more time to interact with staff and sample the beers at leisure.
We even considered renting a tent (very expensive & subject to cold weather) as well as a few other options. All options required more expense, more personnel to give a fulfilling experience and more logistical considerations than made it worth while. While we aren't ruling out the possibilities in future years, we are ruling it out for 2009. As a small brewery we hope we'll have your continued support for our mission here on Saturdays, as well as your favorite beer store.
Weyerbacher now in Nebraska! (03/03/09)
The first order shipped last week. You can already find Weyerbacher in beer stores in both the Lincoln and Omaha regions. Beer Topia in Omaha has a huge display with all of our beers currently available. If you can't find any near you, or your favorite beer store wants to know which wholesaler carries it, call K and Z Distributing. K and Z has branches in both Lincoln and Omaha. Phone #402-467-4302. I wonder if the Oracle needs a beer about now.
Echo is Released! (02/25/09)
The latest entry in our Brewer’s Select series of one-off brews, Echo will be released in bottles at our Visitor’s Center at the brewery this Saturday February 28. Only about 50 cs total are available. Echo in draft form is currently being shipped to wholesalers in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Massachusetts, New York, Maryland and Florida. We have timed the release of Echo draft to coincide with Philly Beer Week. We will be attending more than 15 events throughout the city and suburbs, and plan to feature Echo at most of them.
Echo is a “Rye-PA” at 6.8%, brewed with pale, crystal, carapils, and 30% rye malts, bittered to 60 IBUs, and late-hopped with Simcoe and Centennial Hops. This dark-copper ale combines the citrus kick of the hops with the spicy flavor that comes from using 30% rye. This winter IPA will help you bridge the gap between now and Spring.
Merry Monks’ Ale Rated as a Top Belgian Trippel! (2/6/09)
The Ale Street News Feb/Mar 2009 edition, just getting to beer stores across the country right now conducted a blind panel tasting of Belgian style Trippels and Merry Monks’ was awarded 4 stars!
To put this is context, Westmalle Trippel was given 3.5 stars as was Victory Golden Monkey, and New Belgium’s Trippel. Some other notables from Belgium received only 3 stars as did Stone’s version.
We launched Merry Monks’ 10 years ago under the name Belgian Style Trippel originally and changed the name to Merry Monks’ in 2002. This is my personal favorite of all the beer styles we make and we take extra special care to make sure its bottle conditioned at the brewery before shipping out to market. If you’re lucky enough to find the cork ‘n’ cage edition of this beauty (released only a few times a year), you’ll experience and even higher effervescence than the 12 oz. version as the big corked bottles are able to withstand higher internal pressures, hence we are able to fully bottle condition to a higher level of carbonation.
Merry Monks has become one of our flagship beers growing about 30% each year in sales. Arguably this may be our best beer and we’re very proud to received recognition of this level. Thanks Ale Street News!
Fireside Ale Released!: (posted 01/14/09)
Our newest seasonal has just begun shipping out this week. Fireside Ale was first released as Charlie, back in September, as one in our series of Brewer Select experimental beers. This beer is so good and so unique we just had to add it as a seasonal for January each year. Fireside is a Dark Ale at 7.5%abv, with just an intriguing hint of smokiness. Not a rauchbier by any means, head brewer Chris Wilson uses 10% smoked malt in this recipe to give it a little nuance and complexity. It’s the perfect brew for a cold winter’s night. Bottles and kegs available to all areas.
Announcing Our Seasonal Schedule for 2009:
January - Fireside Ale
February - Heresy & Insanity
March - Slam Dunkel
April - Blanche
May - Muse & Riserva (lots more Riserva this year!
June - Belgian Pale Ale (another new brew!)
July - Fourteen
August - AutumnFest & Imp. Pumpkin Ale
September - Harvest Ale (wet hopped) to all areas this year!
October - Winter Ale
November - QUAD
December - T.B.A.
No price increases for Weyerbacher in 2009! (1/2/09)
Happy New Year Beer Fans! Though our costs for Hops and Malt have not decreased we have experienced increasing costs in cardboard and glass, all packaging went up in '08 as a matter of fact. However, due to our increase in the volume of business we are able to hold the line on prices for 2009. No increases whatsoever for any of our beer prices. We hope this starts your new year off right. Cheers!
Our Hops Farming Adventure 2008 (11/12/08)
Here's a link to a video that covers our hops growing project at different stages as well as a few others, too. This video was filmed, directed and produced by Jeff Linkous, a former AP reporter who now resides in NJ and does freelance work. He maintains a blog named beerstainedletter.blog.com which her originally produced this video for. Jeff has done a magnificent job and has granted us permission to post this link here. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I002A_epsG8
Charlie to become a Seasonal in January '09 (11/07/08)
We've been ecstatic over our latest one-off beer named Charlie, an intriguing dark ale with 10% smoked malt. Feedback from industry insiders and the reviews on Beer Advocate have convinced us that we need to add this beer to our seasonal lineup. So, beginning in January Charlie will be renamed Fireside Ale, and will be available in 12 oz. bottles as well as draft in all areas that carry Weyerbacher! Charlie is on draft right now in select locations in Massachusetts, New York City, and the Philadelphia region. Be sure to give it a taste if you see it listed, and let us know what you think.
QUAD Schedule Change: Now released Nov/Dec in time for Holidays! (10/30/08)
That's right, our fantastic abbey style quadruppel will no longer come out in February, but will be available in all markets through November and December. QUAD is perfect for those holiday occaisions or gifts. Watch for it soon, we begin shipping the first week in November and continue throughout the month. This will be a permanent schedule change. We'll have a complete listing of 2009's new seasonal schedule posted here in a few more weeks. Next years schedule includes 3 new beers! Check back often for details.
Harvest Ale made with fresh hops available very soon! (8/29/08)
Brewed with Fresh "Wet" hops grown on our own Hops farm in Lehigh County, PA, this 6% IPA is so fragrant and flavorful with bright, fresh hops notes you've got to taste it to understand it. We planted 1500 hops plants on our farm this year and harvested just enough hops to brew 3 batches of Harvest Ale, which will be released the week of September 8th in PA only. Next year we expect a 5 to 10 fold increase in the harvest and will be able to make a lot more beer and thus ship it out to all markets, not just PA.
These Harvest Ales, as they come to be known, are a somewhat new style in recents years, mostly produced by west coast breweries, as they were the only ones that could get fresh hops direct from the farms quickly enough to avoid spoilage. Also called wet-hopped beers because the hops are not dried prior to using as they normally would be. To understand the significance of this, think of fresh basil leaves on a fantastic dish compared to dried basil on the same dish, and you'll have an idea how different and unique a beer brewed with fresh hops is. Limited quantities, about 500 cs and 40 1/2 kegs, all PA wholesalers will be offered some over the next week or two.
Weyerbacher coming to Wisconsin! (8/29/08)
I told you it was a busy summer! The first order will be shipped the week of September 1 to Beechwood Distributors with rights to distribute statewide. Click on our wholesalers button to the left to get the info and phone number, then march right into your favorite beer store and ask 'em to carry some....no....demand it! You deserve it!
We've decided to continue keeping the following story posted, due to its continuing relevance.
A Treatise and an Appeal or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Craft Brew, At Any Price (posted 11/12/07)
OK, here it is, your inside the industry explanation of the ridiculus price increases in Craft Brew that you are going to see very soon. I’ll explain what’s happened to the price of Malt and Hops and why, what can be done about it, and why you are going to see prices jump likely between 15 and 25% on the retail end for Craft brews in a matter of weeks. I’ll then finish with an appeal to all craft brew fans for continued support. We need it now more than ever to get through this rough period and not lose any more quality craft breweries, which could likely happen to some you might not expect.
I own and operate Weyerbacher Brewing Co. (with partners) in Easton, PA, so you’re getting info straight from the brewery. In late September I was told by another brewery that malt was going up about 40% and hops 30 to 40%. I started calling suppliers and they confirmed this was true, and also that they have no prices locked in yet. Additionally, I was informed that many farmers are not honoring their contracts to the fullest extent (don’t blame the farmers please) due to the crazy price situation that’s evolving in crop farming, with corn being twice the price it was last year.
What does corn have to do with it? Our supplier tells us that with Uncle Sam’s push for and financial support for ethanol the price for corn has doubled and many farmers grew corn instead of barley this year. In the UK, where the EU has also required ethanol production, rape seed is the crop of choice and again, a lot more profitable than growing barley and wheat. Couple this with bad weather and growing conditions this year and in Europe and you have a crisis in barley supply. We were told this was coming in early summer, but we assumed our malt company might have meant a 10 to 15% increase in price, not this. When we finally got nailed down pricing last week, one malt price was up 45% and the other up 56%. Plus, we were told to be happy that we’re able to get the supply (with growth) that we’ve asked for. Some brewers will not be so lucky
Now for Hops. A glut of hops on the market in the mid-90s, caused a 10 year decline in hops acreage and hops farmers throughout the world. Each year more acreage dwindled and it didn’t matter as there was still an oversupply of hops. Beginning perhaps 2 to 4 years ago, the astounding success and strength of the craft brew industry put a big dent in the overage, but prices stayed essentially the same and farmers didn’t have incentive to plant more. Throw in the runaway success of Double IPAs (and bigger) and we’ve jumped up the demand again for those fragrant cones. Sooner or later something had to give. And its happened last month. Rather than going up 30 or 40% as expected, US and European hops have gone up 400%!! That’s not a typo, 400%. There is not enough to go around. Weyerbacher has our supply lined up, but some recipes may require a few substitutions in hops due to lack of supply of some varieties. In a recent Wall Street Journal article on this problem, Larry Bell of Kalamazoo brewing and Jim Koch of Sam Adams were also quoted as saying they would probably have to alter a few recipes.
There simply is no choice for some breweries.
Some Craft breweries have locked in contracts for several years for supply, but they’re still going to see the price increase sooner or later. Many farmers are not honoring contracts.
So where does this bring us? These price increases for Malt and Hops alone amount to a minimum price increase from Weyerbacher to wholesaler of 12 to 14% and it gets worse on the beers that use a lot of hops. Many of our beers will increase about $2.50 per case. Our ingredient cost for Hops Infusion IPA has risen $3.94, so we will raise the price $4.00 per case. Its typical for a business to markup a certained fixed amount from cost, so typically this $4.00 would result in a higher markup to keep our margins this same, but you can see why we can’t do that. When you reach for that 4 pack of Double Simcoe IPA in the New Year, don’t be surprised if its $2.00 to $2.50 higher. Our ingredient cost on this hop bomb went up $8.14 per case. You can see where this is going. Many BIG beers not heavy on the hops will go up perhaps 3 or 4 dollars due to the malt increase.
It gets better. A price increase at the brewery of 10 to 15%, just to cover costs, no gouging whatsoever, will result in a price increase at retail of 20 to 25%.
So that’s it in a nutshell. The Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal have both written separate articles on this subject in the past 3 weeks.
While not officially speaking for the industry, I hope other breweries will join Weyerbacher in an appeal to beer geeks everywhere for their continued support of our industry. We need you now more than ever if we are to continue making great beer. When hops are short and the big 3 industrial brewers will pay anything (almost) to get their hands on them, we need you the consumer to come to a full understanding of what’s going on in our industry.
Many craft breweries just get by, with employees typically working 50 to 60 hour weeks, most of whom would not feel they are overpaid. Fuel goes up, glass goes up, cardboard goes up every year, and somehow we have to deal with it. We’ll be OK here, but some breweries may not. We simply ask for your understanding about why the prices have gone up. Thanks for your fantastic support in the past and your (hopefully) continued support in the future. Cheers!
Dan Weirback, President
Weyerbacher Brewing Co., Inc
