February Tröegs Tales
In This Issue: Feb. 2008
– Tröegs Brewery Releases Nugget Nectar in Bottles and Draft
– Harrisburg Brewers Fest News
– Scratch Beer Update
– Tröegs Brewery Prepares to Invade New York
Tröegs Brewery Releases Nugget Nectar in Bottles and Draft
Nugget Nectar is now available throughout our five-state distribution network. Nugget Nectar cases went on sale January 14, with draft being released over the next two week.Nugget Nectar is the second most-requested beer we make, explains Chris Trogner. Weve received inquiries from at least 20 states this year for people looking for Nugget Nectar; but unless you live in or are driving through Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware or New Jersey, you are out of luck pursuing this beer.
Finishing at 7.5% abv, Nugget Nectar is an Imperial Amber Ale that draws inspiration from Tröegs flagship brand, Hopback Amber Ale. We start with a base recipe similar to Hopback, but then we take it up a few notches by doubling the malts and tripling the hops, explains John Trogner. Anybody can hit you over the head with a ton of hops; but like all of our beers, we are searching for balance in the Nugget Nectar.
Nugget Nectar features Nugget, Warrior and Tomahawk hops, and uses a six-stage hopping process. We add hops at four different times during the boil, explains John. After the boil, the wort flows through 25 pounds of hops in our hopback; then it is dry-hopped in the fermentation tank with an additional 50 pounds of hops. While the hops are key to this recipe, the caramel malts give the beer a delicate sweetness that tempers the intense hop flavor. click here for beer description
Scratch Beer Update
For your pleasure we continue the Tröegs Scratch Beer series in 2008. Our initial release, a German style Weizenbock, is 40% red and white wheat combined with darker malts to add body to this very hazy, unfiltered ale.
Scratch #7-2008 uses the same yeast as Dreamweaver Wheat replicating the pepper, clove and all-spice flavors found in our year-round wheat beer.
Magnum and German Northern Brewers hops are used sparingly to create a nice balance of flavor and to slightly mask the high-alcohol flavors that come through in this delicious beer.
There are less than 10 cases of Scratch #6-2007, Export Lager, left in the Tasting Room.
Scratch #8-2008, Grand Cru, is bubbling away in the fermentation tank and should be available in approximately eight weeks. click here for beer description
Tröegs Brewery Prepares to Invade New York
Tröegs Brewery will begin selling beer in 14 counties in New York starting in February.
We have signed a deal with Union Distributors to start selling Tröegs beer in Long Island, New York City and the Mid-Hudson River Valley, said Chris Trogner. We have been researching new markets for several years, and the New York market fits into our plan of growing the business in states that are close enough to us that we can get to these markets in a day. Union is a perfect fit for Tröegs brand and were excited to open our first new market in four years.
For the past three years, we have struggled with space constraints at the brewery, said John Trogner. When we expanded the brewery in early 2007, it allowed us to expand our warehouse and add more space for additional fermentation tanks. Now, we will be able to open some new markets and still keep up with growth in our current markets.
Numerous Tröegs kick-off events are planned around New York City February 6-8. These events will be announced on the Tröegs website in the next two weeks. click here for a list of NY events
Harrisburg Brewers Fest News
The 5th Annual Harrisburg Brewers Fest is scheduled for Saturday, June 21, 2008 in downtown Harrisburg. There will be two sessions 12-3:30 p.m. and 5-8:30 p.m. with a VIP session from 4-5 p.m.
The event will take place at the same location as previous years with the entrance at the intersection of Second and Locust Streets.
The Harrisburg Brewers Fest website (www.harrisburgbrewersfest.com) will go live in mid-February with complete festival details.
