If you're too strapped for time to drop a couple hours on a brewery trip, check out your local bars and liquor stores for when they might be sampling. I was at Freebridge Wine & Spirits in Phillipsburg, NJ a few weeks ago when Flying Fish was in town. I got to sample a few beers, talk to one of the brewers, and I even got a free pint glass with my first Flying Fish pint purchase! Of course, I didn't get to see where all the magic happened, but getting to sit down and share a brew with one of the guys that makes it every day is usually not something you get on a tour.
Few are the people who are lucky enough to have a brewery in their hometown (unless you live in Portland, OR where the breweries outnumber the citizens). I boast, and count myself amongst them, as the closest brewery is only a stone's throw away - an 8 minute drive across town. Weyerbacher Brewing Co is one of the many badges worn proudly on Easton, Pa's 260 year old chest. I admit, my loyalties lie with the town across the Delaware River, but I swell with pride when my glass swells with local beer.
Weyerbacher Brewery - Easton, PA
I tried to get the above shot without Kilroy peeking from behind the tap, but I didn't want to look like a creeper taking 12 shots (pictures - not liquor, you drunk!) just to get the one I wanted in a very, very crowded room of thirsty samplers. And such is the downside to a town that highly supports its small businesses. It's like PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWER, ity bity living space. I've been to this place several times, and it's always packed. I can never seem to try more than one or two samples when I visit, because it's not worth elbow wrestling the other patrons just to get to the bar. With only 3 hours for touring, sampling, and growler filling a week, (on a Saturday, no less) I don't even think there's a time to go when it would be relatively quiet. If you go and expect to get a taste from the taps, bring your elbow pads and stomping boots. It's going to be ugly!
If crowds aren't your thing, maybe you'd be glad to know that expansion is on the horizon! They're going to have 40% more physical space, an actual tasting room, and dearly needed extra hours for touring and the like. As it currently stands, the tasting room is a small section of the warehouse that has been cornered off by a few racks of beer bottles and swag. It's functional, but only barely with the big increase of visitors since they started brewing in South Side Easton in 1995.
The brewery is located on the far side of an industrial warehouse district, separated from the Lehigh River by a few blocks of houses. The feel of the place is a bit bland and seemingly non-permanent. The only decoration is the swag that's out for sale, and perhaps a banner or two. I don't think anyone really cares what the brewing area looks like, but the tasting room should look nice! And it should be a room. It looks like they quickly set up shop in a corner, and haven't made many efforts to enhance its appearance. But I guess there's no time for fashion when the business is busy tripling in size over a 7 year period. Now that their current space is maxed out, the much needed remodeling and expanding of the sampling area can take place (and perhaps more importantly, expansion means more beer!). Even though the tasting "room" isn't the best, I'm glad to know that the brewery's priority is beer and not appearance.
If you have ever sat down in the wrong classroom on the first day, and had no idea what the teacher was talking about once class started because the material was way over your head, then you would know how I felt on the Weyerbacher brewery tour. This is the AP Rocket Science class of all brewery tours. I've been on many tours, and I know a decent amount about the processes, ingredients, and such, but the things the tour guide spoke of made me wonder if I was in the wrong classroom. Beware: This is a tour for brewers, not drinkers! People on the tour with me were asking odd questions about equipment and techniques, and the tour guide gave them equally confusing, jargon-filled answers. I don't think every tour given here is like this, I think I just happened to jump in with a group where everyone happened to be a home brewer. It's a good thing I was touring a brewery, because I definitely needed a drink afterwards!
Back at the crowded, free-for-all tasting area, I sampled two brews before pushing my way out of there. Living in the same town as Weyerbacher has allowed me to try a few of their pints at local bars that I wasn't brave enough to get a sample of at their brewery. I can't quite pin point it, but they're all kind of... yeasty? No, that's not it... it's kind of a cloudy, muddy taste. Like, in the way that both make things indiscernible. I can clearly taste the beer and what it's supposed to be, but it's not crisp to me. I feel like I can almost chew it. Maybe it's Easton's water? Who knows... maybe it's just me! But it's definitely not a bad thing, just different. It's subtle at first, but the more varieties I try, the more I feel I could cut it with a knife. It's weird, and I think I like it. More tasting research is needed before I can come to a conclusion.
Another thing about their beer - it's just too flavorful! Isn't that crazy? It's like trying to finish a big piece of very rich chocolate cake. The first three bites are to die for, but the last three bites are what kills you. No, a pint of Weyerbacher isn't 2,000 calories a pop, but the taste becomes too much after a few mouthfuls. I thought it was just Merry Monks', their Belgian style golden ale, but it's almost everything I've tried so far. I admit, it's growing on me, but it's definitely no session beer.
I'm chalking all of this up to my taste buds changing. Weyerbacher beer is definitely high up there in quality, but it just isn't balancing on my teeter-totter of a tongue right now. I used to be all about the sweeter, citrusy ales and wheat beers. I still like them, but now I'm branching out to some of the less sweet pale ales and stouts. I honestly miss Sierra, a milk stout from their Brewers' Select series, which they don't make anymore. Other than Sierra, I haven't found a Weyerbacher beer that rests well on my palate. At the same time, I also haven't tried them all. I guess my best advice for myself is to keep trying, especially since the place is so close!
I know I've said some things that might make you question my loyalty, but I really do like Weyerbacher. I like what they stand for, where they're located, how they run their business, and how creative they are with their beer. Creativity can be expensive! It takes bravery to offer something different in a failing economy where people are holding onto the things they know for dear life. The brewery's impending expansion is living proof of their success, and as consumer, I'm proud to play a part in it. Definitely check them out now, or in Oct/Nov 2012 when they're fully expanded and equipped for the big crowd they always draw.
Keep Tasting!
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