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Weyerbacher Brewing Company

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Coordinates: 40°40′25″N 75°13′33″W / 40.6735°N 75.2257°W / 40.6735; -75.2257
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Weyerbacher Brewing Company
LocationEaston, PA
Opened1995
Key peopleDan Weirbach, Sue Weirbach
Annual production volume30,000 US beer barrels (35,000 hL)
Owned byEdwin Lozano
Websiteweyerbacher.com

Weyerbacher Brewing Company is a brewery in Easton, Pennsylvania, United States, founded in 1995 by Dan and Sue Weirback.[1]

History

Weirbach family

Weyerbacher Brewing was founded in 1995 by Dan and Sue Weirbach originally operating out of a repurposed livery stable in downtown Easton.[2] Their beer quickly grew in popularity, and in the mid-2010's they underwent a costly expansion, moving out of their original location to a new 30,000 sqft brewery.[3] In 2018 Weyerbacher's original brewmaster, Chris Wilson, left for another position at Free Will Brewing.[4] Additionally, in 2018 Weyerbacher partnered with White Castle to become their exclusive beer partner, putting their beer on draft in over 400 locations, until bankruptcy in 2019.[5] During their expansion, the craft beer market became saturated and their sales dropped off quickly resulting in Weyerbach having $2.1 million in debt and filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2019.[6][7][8]

Going into the first bankruptcy a Philadelphia based investment firm, 1518 Holdings, was set to purchase a 55% majority stake in the brewery.[9][10][11] However, they abandoned these plans and the interim leadership group led by Josh Lampe had to work through the bankruptcy on their own, and ultimately emerged and resumed production, albeit with a much smaller slate of products.[12] Weyerbach opened a second tap house in New Hope in an effort to increase their on-site sales.[13] However, the debts and restructuring from the transfer hampered production, and quickly another $1.5 million of debt was amassed. Chapter 11 bankruptcy was again declared in July 2022 as production was unable to return to pre-2019 levels.[14]

Savant Beverages

Following their second bankruptcy, Weyerbacher was purchased by Savant Beverages LLC, owned by Edwin Lozano, a former executive at the Miller Brewing Company and a resident of Palmer Township.[6] Lozano purchased the company in part due to their brand-recognition as one of the pioneering craft beer producers in Pennsylvania, and the first in the Lehigh Valley.[7][8]

The new ownership group entered a partnership with the Colony Meadery to share their large brewery to also produce their mead. Lozano is a friend of one of Colony Meadery's co-founders, Greg Heller-LaBelle, who used to run a craft-beer blog and was one of the more respected figures in the Lehigh Valley beer scene before transitioning to mead in 2012.[15][8] Additionally, the new ownership group has broken with the old tradition of the brewery and began serving food in-house, although produced and catered by the nearby Marquee Kitchen.[16]

After opening their tap-room with limited hours in December 2022, Weyerbacher had a grand reopening in late January 2023.[17][18] The company hosts a 5K run, the Weyerbacher Hill Challenge, where participants are gifted two free beers for signing up.[19] The comapany has also increased their participation in local brewing events in the Lehigh Valley with other brewers.[20][21]

Products

  • Merry Monks: he company's flagship beer, a Belgian tripel ale with an ABV of 9.3%.[12] Merry Monks won a bronze medal at the 2010 World Beer Cup in the Belgian-style tripel category and was named best Belgian beer by Philly Beer Scene in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015.[22]
  • Tiny: A Belgian tripel ale with an 11.8%.[12][22]
  • Imperial Pumpkin Ale: A seasonal fall beer with an ABV of 8% and flavored to taste like caramel, toasted bread, cinnamon, and nutmeg.[23]
  • Rico Guave: A 9% ABV sour ale brewed with pineapple and guava. The beer was designed to taste tropical and tart.[24]
  • Jester’s Tale: A divergence from what Weyerbacher usually produces, Jester’s Tale is a vodka produced in collaboration with Triple Sun Spirits. A corn vodka, it’s six times distilled, charcoal filtered and gluten free.[27]
  • Insanity: Blithering Idiot that is then aged in oak barrels. It has an intense malt profile with hints of vanilla and oak.[28]
  • Sunday Morning: An American imperial stout aged in Bourbon barrels. It has an ABV of 12.7% and features a darker head with hints of chocolate, roasted malt, vanilla and caramel.[32][22]
  • Blithering Idiot: The company's original Barleywine with 11.1 percent ABV.[22]
  • Tarte Nouveau: A “session sour.”[22]
  • Blasphemy: A 11.8% ABV Belgian quadrupel ale aged in bourbon barrels.[22]
  • Quad: A 11.8% ABV Belgian-style quadrupel ale.[22]
  • 21st anniversary beer: A limited run for the brewery's 21st anniversary, it is an 11.9% ABV chocolate cake flavored stout with bourbon-bacon frosting.[22]
  • Heathen Imperial Stout[33]
  • AutumnFest: The brewery's original seasonal summer beer, it would be retired in 2017.[34]
  • Mellow Monks: A 4.5% ABV Belgian-style ale with a golden color and notes of apple, pear and banana.[34]
  • Sunday Molé Stout: A Mole themed Stout with flavors of coffee, chocolate, heat and smokiness.[34]
  • Berry Monks: A variation of Merry Monks spiced with cranberries, orange peel and ginger.[34]
  • Cinnsanity: A variation of Insanity heavily spiced with cinnamon. It pours medium amber-orange and is very murky. Alongside the cinnamon, it is flavored with ginger, bourbon, jammy raisins, graham crackers and apple.[35]
  • Crancuddle: A winter seasonal beer spiced with cranberry.[36]
  • Decadence: A limited run brew for the tenth anniversary of the brewery with a 13% ABV.[citation needed]
  • Harvest Ale: A limited run IPA in 2008 with an ABV of 6.2% with Cascade and Nugget hops grown by the Weirbacks on their family farm.

References

  1. ^ "History". Weyerbacher Brewing Company. Archived from the original on 2020-06-02. Retrieved 2008-05-10.
  2. ^ "about". weyerbacher.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  3. ^ Cheney, Jim. "Touring Weyerbacher Brewing Company in Easton and Tasting Their Delicious Beers". uncoveringpa.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Weyerbacher Brewing Brewmaster to Join Free Will Brewing". brewbound.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  5. ^ Infante, Jessica. "Weyerbacher to Release White Castle Collaboration Beer as Part of Post-Bankruptcy Reorganization Plan". brewbound.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  6. ^ a b Sheehan, Jennifer. "Weyerbacher Brewing Company's new owner ready to tap back into action after double bankruptcy". The Morning Call. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  7. ^ a b Drabenstott, Michael. "From 'Tiny' to Quads: Weyerbacher Brewing's Return with Ed Lozano and Dani Brunner". WDIY. NPR. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Sheehan, Jennifer. "For Easton's Weyerbacher Brewing, a new direction … and a new partner". The Morning Call. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  9. ^ Harris, Jon. "Easton's Weyerbacher Brewing files for bankruptcy, announces new majority owner". The Morning Call. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  10. ^ Harris, Jon. "How did Weyerbacher Brewing get to this point?". The Morning Call. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  11. ^ Lagore, Connor. "Weyerbacher's taproom indefinitely closed amid 2nd bankruptcy filing in 3 years". The Express-Times. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d Harris, Jon. "Out of bankruptcy, Easton's Weyerbacher Brewing trying to regain position in crowded craft beer market. It won't be easy". The Morning Call. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Weyerbacher Announces Tap Room In New Hope, Pennsylvania". brewbound.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  14. ^ Kendall, Justin. "Weyerbacher Files for Bankruptcy Again, Taproom Closed 'Until Further Notice'". brewbound.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  15. ^ Kneller, Ryan. "Weyerbacher Brewing, under new ownership, to share space with The Colony Meadery in Easton". WFMZ-TV. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  16. ^ Kneller, Ryan. "Retail Watch: Beers and bites. Up-and-coming caterer sets up shop at popular Easton brewery". The Morning Call. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  17. ^ Bresswein, Kurt. "Weyerbacher is ready for grand reopening, and bringing back this beer early in 2023". The Express-Times. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  18. ^ Bresswein, Kurt. "Easton's Weyerbacher has a new owner and is close to reopening (UPDATE)". The Express-Times. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  19. ^ Myszkowski, Brian. "Get ready for the most grueling beer run of your life: Easton 5K to test runners' abilities". Lehigh Valley News. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  20. ^ Sheehan, Jennifer. "Raise a glass to a new Lehigh Valley beer festival". The Morning Call. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  21. ^ Lagore, Connor. "Brewers' Guild preps for annual Lehigh Valley Beer Week with 'Guildy Pleasure' brewing (PHOTOS)". The Express-Times. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rhen, Brad. "Dangerously delicious: Weyerbacher Brewing Co. delivers big, full-flavored beers". Reading Eagle. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  23. ^ Savage, Henry. "Here are 10 Philly beers you must try this fall". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Weyerbacher Brewing to Debut Rico Guave Sour Ale". brewbound.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Weyerbacher Brewing to Release Warborn Pale Ale". brewbound.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  26. ^ "Cape May Brewing Company Announces a Collaboration Beer with Weyerbacher Brewing Co". brewbound.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  27. ^ "Weyerbacher Partners with Triple Sun Spirits on Jester's Tale Vodka". brewbound.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  28. ^ "Weyerbacher to Release Insanity Barleywine". brewbound.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  29. ^ "Pennsylvania brewery creates 'Dallas Sucks' beer". KDFW. FOX. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  30. ^ "Weyerbacher to Release Dallas Sucks". brewbound.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  31. ^ Doerfler, Andrew. "Dallas just fired back at Weyerbacher's anti-Cowboys beer". The Express-Times. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  32. ^ Machcinski, Anthony J. "Weyerbacher brews available at local tap takeover". York Daily Record. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  33. ^ a b Haefer, Todd. "Beer Man: Weyerbacher earns its high acclaim". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  34. ^ a b c d "Weyerbacher Announces Changes To 2017 Beer Lineup". brewbound.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  35. ^ DeGRACE, AMBER. "Cinnsanity by Weyerbacher Brewing Co., and a bit about cinnamon". LNP. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  36. ^ Hood, Micaela. "Cheers! 10 Pennsylvania holiday craft beers to try on New Year's Eve". Pocono Record. Retrieved 10 September 2023.

40°40′25″N 75°13′33″W / 40.6735°N 75.2257°W / 40.6735; -75.2257

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