(Credit: Visit Bucks County)
Brewers from across Bucks County convened last week at Warwick Farm Brewing to unveil their latest collaboration, “Expedition Bucks County,” a hazy IPA.
This year’s collaboration beer features a 5.5 percent ABV brew, which is dry-hopped with Simcoe and Cryo Citra hops. Those who brewed it said the beer offers a rich, candied orange flavor coupled with notes of citrus and tropical fruits. The addition of oats enhances the beer’s mouthfeel, ensuring a smooth and satisfying experience.
Tourism agency Visit Bucks County gathered the brewers at Warwick Farm Brewing for the second county-wide Bucks County Ale Trail collaboration beer last Tuesday.
The event coincided with the brewing process, giving those who attended a glimpse into the creation of “Expedition Bucks County.”
The new collaboration will be available for purchase on draft and in cans at all participating breweries on the Ale Trail starting August 30.
Representatives from the county’s 32 breweries attended the event, which also featured tastings of brews from each, food from Fry’s Catering Scratch Kitchen, and camaraderie, organizers said.
Breweries at the event included Aristaeus Craft Brewing Company, Artifact Brewing, Bitchin’ Kitten Brewery, Broad Street Brewing, Broken Goblet Brewing, Bucks County Brewing, Crooked Eye Brewing, Free Will Brewing Company, Free Will Brewing Taproom, Geronimo Brewing @ Lily’s Jury Room, Great Barn Taproom, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Langhorne Brewing Company, Mystic Ways Brewing, Naked Brewing Company, Naked Brewing Company – Bristol Taproom, Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company, Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company- Dublin, Newtown Brewing Company, Odd Logic Brewing Company, Puck Live by Great Barn, Red Lion Brewery, Second Sin Brewing, Second Sin Brewing – Newtown Taproom, Tranquility Brewing Company, Triumph Brewing Company, Two Rivers Brewing Taproom, Van Lieus Brewing, Vault Brewing Company, and Vault Smokehouse.
The Bucks County Ale Trail has seen significant expansion from 15 breweries at its launch to 32 today.
Visit Bucks County officials have said the area’s beer scene has been a draw for tourists.
Bucks County welcomes over 8.2 million visitors annually and that generates nearly $1.2 billion in economic impact, supporting more than 28,675 jobs in hospitality, according to Bucks Bucks County.
While some craft brewers across the country have faced challenges and even closed, the national Brewers Association released a 2023 study that showed a national all-time high of 9,761 breweries, including 2,092 microbreweries, 3,502 brewpubs, 3,910 taproom breweries, and 257 regional craft breweries.
According to Brewers Association numbers, Pennsylvania had 530 craft breweries in 2023, which was the third most in the nation. Those breweries produced a total of 3.1 million barrels of beer.
Pennsylvania-based D. G. Yuengling and Son is the countries largest craft brewery, according to data.
Bart Watson, vice president of strategy and chief economist of the Brewers Association, noted that 2023 was a competitive year for brewers.
“Nevertheless, even as growth has downshifted, small brewers have proved quite resilient, as seen in the increase in number of breweries, relatively low closing rates, and gains in onsite sales and jobs,” he said.
