To the joy of your favorite Beer of the Month Club, Lancaster county’s first commercially brewed beer in nearly 40 years, reawakened a rich and colorful brewing history. Brewing in Lancaster County grew from the back rooms of inns in the early 1700’s into a thriving industry. By 1810, the county accounted for 7% of all U.S. beer brewed, producing some 200,000 barrels of beer annually – quality beers that won praises near and far. In 1868, H. L. Menckon declared in the Daily Intelligencer newspaper, “Lancaster in America occupies the same position that Munich does in Germany regarding the brewing industry.”
But two issues interrupted the flow: World War I dictated that coal be used not for brewing, but for the war effort. In November, 1918 legal production of beer was halted. In January of 1920, Prohibition further smothered the struggling brewing industry, but what was left of Lancaster kept brewing undercover, piping brew through a hose from one of their plants through the sewers to a warehouse where it was kegged. With the repeal of Prohibition, brewing was once again legalized, but one by one the plants failed. Lancaster was on hiatus from 1956 until its reopening in 1995, flourishing since 2001, with brews of the old traditions under the guidance of Head Brewer Bill Moore.
Milk Stout is one of the few surviving examples of the traditional English Sweet Stout. It’s a dark ale bursting with roasted barley dryness, mellowed by non-fermentable lactose sugar.
Lancaster’s Amish Four Grain Pale Ale is their multi-grain PA that summons the sweetness of oats, the complexity of rye, and the smoothness of malted wheat . . . all balanced by a generous dry hopping of imported Nobel Saaz hops.
Featured Beer from Lancaster Brewery:
Milk Stout & Amish Four Grain Pale Ale
www.lancasterbrewing.com
MILK STOUT – Lancaster Brewery’s Milk Stout: Stouts are usually rich, very dark, full-bodied ales, top fermented, highly hopped and dry. Often times rich and creamy, this version, subtly sweet, is a perfect fit for dinners ending with any chocolate dessert. Try it at room temperature.
PALE ALE – Lancaster Brewery’s Amish Four Grain Pale Ale: In spite of the name, these fruity, nutty, toasty flavored brews are golden to amber in color. This Amish one from Lancaster outpaces the rest of the pack, rich with sweet oats, smooth malted wheat and the complexity of rye, bundled with finesse with imported hops. Top fermented, serve with veggie salads and hearty burgers, or pretzels with mustard.
