Imagine all 26 of Bucks County’s brewmasters coming together to create a single beer to be featured on the annual Bucks County Ale Trail.
The gathering went more smoothly than you might think, says Ryan Seiz, who hosted the event at Warwick Farm Brewery in Jamison, where he is brewmaster.
“A lot of brewers like to drink clean, crisp, refreshing beer,” said Seiz, “so coming up with a recipe was easy.
“The brewing industry is really friendly,” he added. “We’re all in it together.”
They had that meeting weeks ago, then met again Aug. 1 at Warwick Farm to brew the ale, which is called Expedition Bucks County. A pale ale, it will be available for sale at breweries around the county beginning Aug. 25 on draft and in cans.
The 26 brewers were represented at the gathering where they could taste the 24 drafts that Warwick has on tap. What they couldn’t taste was the new ale, which needs 12 to 14 days to ferment according to Tim Taber, Warwick general manager. It is made using a Pilsen malt base, will be copper in color, Seiz said, and will have peach and grapefruit notes.
After the new ale debuts on Aug. 25, all of the county’s breweries will have the option to brew and sell it.
The ale trail operates year-round. It was launched in 2019 by Visit Bucks County as a way to encourage residents and visitors to visit more breweries.
“This is the first time all 26 of our breweries are participating,” said Paul Bencivengo, president and COO of Visit Bucks County.
Using a digital pass to check in, visitors to five breweries get a T-shirt, said Bencivengo, and 7,000 have been given out so far. Overall check-ins on the pass total more than 41,000. The pass is downloaded from the Visit Bucks County site, visitbuckscounty.com.
Tourism is an important industry in Bucks County, Bencivengo said, and is estimated at $1.2 billion annually. The hospitality industry alone represents 27,800 jobs.
“People will travel for food and alcohol,” Bencivengo said, and Bucks is known for its restaurants and breweries.
Bucks County has a total of 32 brewery locations, including breweries and taprooms. In addition to Warwick, participating breweries were Aristaeus Craft Brewing Company, Bitchin’ Kitten Brewery, Broad Street Brewing, Broken Goblet, Bucks County Brewing, Free Will Brewing, Geronimo Brewing @ Lily’s Jury Room, Great Barn Taproom, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Langhorne Brewing Company, Mad Princess Brewing, Moss Mill Brewing Company and Mystic Ways Brewing, Also Naked Brewing Company-Bristol Taproom, Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company, Newtown Brewing Company, Odd Logic Brewing Company, Red Lion Brewery, The Proper Brewing Company, Tranquility Brewing Company, Triumph Brewing Company, Two Rivers Brewing Taproom, Van Lieus Brewing Company, Vault Brewing Company, and Vault Smokehouse.
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