(Crozet, VA) – Starr Hill Brewery will release a new beer in a few weeks.
Here is the scoop on Boxcar Pumpkin Porter straight from Lead Brewer, Levi Duncan…
So we had to change up our Fall seasonal offering this year as the popularity of Festie demanded that we make it a year-round brew. I couldn’t be more pleased because I really enjoy Festie, and I’m always sad to see it go away until next Fall. As usual, Mark was full of ideas back in February, and one kept creeping into our conversations concerning the new seasonal: a pumpkin porter. I, for one, never really considered doing a pumpkin beer, due to the fact that so many others do one, and I am never a fan of doing things others do. However, I had not tasted or even seen a pumpkin porter from others (though I know others are out there), and that made it different enough to get me excited to get started on a recipe!
I went through my pilot process beginning with testing spice mixes and trying pumpkin samples. My personal goal with this beer was to capture the flavor of pumpkin, the actual gourd, and not a heavy dose of spice. So we needed a smooth brown porter, with distinct pumpkin flavor, and enough spice to make it interesting—in that “Thanksgiving morning in the kitchen” kind of way. After clearing my vision with Mark, I began the process of writing recipes and brewing pilot batches with some success, but the first few were not quite right. We had a tasting panel here at the brewery, and I received enough feedback to know I was close. With the deadline closing in, I got some advice from our Master Brewer that helped me dial it in. This project was a true team effort and included nearly everyone in the brewery. I feel very lucky to have a team here that operates so well together! I decided to put the test batches in the Tasting Room here for folks to try, and the results were great! It seems everyone is in love with the new product. Look for Boxcar Pumpkin Porter to hit the shelves starting August 1, 2011!
On Monday, I made the first 25-barrel batch, and in two weeks I will make the first 100-barrel batch—wish me luck!
There’s a Cask-Conditioned Firkin of Starhill Boxcar Pumpkin Porter currently on the Beer Engine at Beer Run in Charlottesville VA.
Boxcar Pumpkin Porter Rocked! I had it this past wknd and man my tastebuds came alive and what a beer to drink esp when it is cool, crisp and fall time:)
I am new to VA and stopped in over the past weekend to a nice corner pub/bar and tried the “Boxcar Pumpin Porter” and was VERY pleased and surprised at the same time. It is refreshing and quite delicious. Thank you VA!