(Hershey, PA) – Aleheads posted an audio interview with Tröegs Brewing General Manager, Ed Yashinsky, tonight. Here are my notes…
- Just finished moving all the tanks over from old Harrisburg location
- In Hershey location, they are now operating on a 100bbl BrauKon system for large production batches and a 15bbl BrauKon system for small batches
- Built a water treatment facility at the brewery to get water characteristics the same as it was in Harrisburg
- Still adjusting to dial in the aroma on some of the beers
- Increased Nugget Nectar production 20-25% this year and is likely to make even more than next year (started about a month late due to the move)
- Been lucky with hops, paying more than open market prices but secured for hops that are in high demand like Simcoe
- Despite bigger system and increased production, not opening any new markets in 2012. Plan to add sales reps in eight-state footprint and better meet demand in existing markets.
- Perpetual IPA will be back but they don’t know when yet
- Closing in on timeframe in which they produce Sunshine Pils. First batch is in the fermenters though the beer may be released under a different name until it is dialed in.
- Dead Reckoning Porter is considered a short seasonal with more demand in the on-premise channel than off-premise
- Because of lack of demand for DRP, they have flexibility to extend Mad Elf season
- Suspended cask/firkin program for now (likely to resume in summer or fall) which means none for Nugget Nectar this year
- Barrel-aging program releases are branded as “Splinter series” beers. Currently have 40 barrels but want to have 400 barrels. Recognizes importance of blending new batches in with old batches.
- Spinter Gold is “getting close.” Has been aging since April 2010 and will be a brewery-only release again (750ml bottles)
- (for good measure) Just released Scratch #58, Triple Mango IPA
“…not opening any new markets in 2012″ NOOOOOO! I weep for the south.
Why do people like this beer so much? All I can taste is Simcoe which makes the beer taste like Pine-Sol.
Funny, since it’s mostly Nugget, Warrior, and Tomahawk hops.
Something has gone wrong with this beer in come cases out there. Overly malty, stale hops….could not finish a single bottle. It’s not the case of, “NN is just not a hoppy this year…” It is not consistent with other bottles I have had from this years production. Emailed Troegs for an explanation and nada so far.