phillybeerguy.com

Posted by Mike

“The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, Gang aft agley”
-Robert Burns

SO, I know we had planned on typing up these reports point-to-point as we traveled from one location to the next, but unfortunately our wireless hotspot, which is 3G/4G only, didn’t get along so well with the beautiful Pennsylvania country we were driving through yesterday, and as such we were limited in posting what we could from our phones (well, Steve and I were…Jim’s circa 1997 cell phone isn’t so “smart”).

Our first day began with a leisurely 153 mile drive up the Northeast Extension and west on Interstate 80 to the town of Williamsport, PA, home of the Little League World Series and destination location for baseball fans and beer geeks alike. We arrived at the door of Bavarian Barbarian at around 10:45 AM, where we were welcomed by owner/head brewer/all-around-nice-guy Mike Hiller. He showed us into the combination Brewery/Tasting Room (complete with doggie treats made from spent grains) where we were able to conduct a little interview with him on how he got into the business, what his goals are, and where he sees the brewery going in the next few years.

We were served samples of his Hammerin’ Ale (a 4.5% session beer), Headbangerz Brown Ale (5%), and the 2x4 IPA (7%). Tasting his IPA at Opening Tap of Philly Beer Week was what put him on the map for us. It’s a beautifully crafted beer hopped with Columbus, Nugget and Amarillo that’s at once spicy (from the addition of a small amount of rye flakes), citrus-y, and pleasantly sweet with a bitter finish. We left with growlers of both the IPA and the Brown Ale (as well as some treats for our pooches back home), but not before he took us into his cold storage room to show us a collaboration beer he had brewed with Terry from Bullfrog. Aging in 5 bourbon barrels from Kentucky was an Imperial Smoked Dark Lager that he and Terry plan on releasing around Halloween. He popped the bung on one to let us take a whiff of the contents, but all I could smell was booze (this is a good thing). Mike has some pretty cool plans for the naming and labeling, but I’ll let him release that information when it’s appropriate. Supplies are going to be scarce, as those 5 barrels was all there is. Keep an eye out and let us know if you get to sample any!

All-in-all we couldn’t have started this trip any better. Mike was a great host who’s brewing some great beers that are both tasty and accessible. If this is any indication of how we’re going to be treated the remainder of the trip, we’re in for a great weekend!