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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Pennsylvania's newest brewpub onboard with SBP

Just got a copy of the e-letter from Old Forge Brewing, the new brewpub in Danville, PA (thanks to Sam Komlenic for forwarding it to me). Sounds like things are going well: sales are strong enough that they're having to brew often to keep the taps full, they've started live music, and the chef is now doing weekly specials. But the lead item, the one that caught my eye, was this:
For the past few weeks we had a "name that beer" competition. The ale is an easy drinking british mild, light bodied but dark and malty, a low alcohol session ale. The name that was chosen is Sensessionale! We did have some suggestions that we would like to share with you, hoping that it brings a smile to your face as they did for us: "Thomas had a big brown beaver ale", "I'm not larry ale", "what the ale", and "braveheart ale – long live William Wallace" and some others that aren't fit to print! A big 'Thank you' goes out to everyone who tried to "name that beer".

That's what I like to hear! Old Forge is on the breaking front of the newest wave in American brewing: session beer. Okay, maybe I'm overstating it to make my point, but maybe not. I'm seeing a lot more interest in session beers, and I'm going to predict right here that the Session Beer category at the 2009 GABF will see a large increase over the number of entries in 2008 (33), and there may be more in the two Mild Ale categories as well.

Cheers to Sensessionale and the folks at Old Forge! Can't wait to get up there and try some.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

We stay in area when we visit Knoebels every year. I am really fired up to visit the Forge in June. Keep us posted if you get to visit, Lew.

Steven said...

Sensessionale, I like it, I like it a lot!

Anonymous said...

Hit Big Bens in catawissa for some great old fashioned soda in many, many different flavors. take you right back to your youth (or turn your kids on to what it used to be like)...

Lew Bryson said...

Cheers to that! I don't let many commercial messages by in the comments, but Big Ben's deserves every word it gets. Love the birch beer.

Anonymous said...

agreed, the white birch is like no other. also great is the lime, cream and sarsparilla. kids seem to really like the lemon bubbles and the grapefruit is good and makes a very good mixer.

The place is like stepping into a time warp. The lady behind the counter has been there since the 50's or so. nice people.

Enjoy the 7oz or 12oz returnable glass bottles, just be sure they get them back as the supply is irreplacable.

Unknown said...

We're headed to the OFBC tonight with our 4 yr. old granddaughter (yes, they do have a kid's menu)before a Watoto Children's Choir concert in Bloom. We were there the night they were taking suggestions for the new ale - mine was "Ironman Ale" in honor of the Danville Iromem but I do like Sensessional Ale - and it is what it says it is - it has great drinkability (sorry, I couldn't resist).

Anonymous said...

The difference is drinkability

Anonymous said...

We have stopped at Old Forge several times weekly since the soft opening in December. To eat, drink or both. Unfortunatly, neither the food (flavor or portion size) or the beer is consistant. The owners seem to be running in circles while customers wait at the door only to be told by the bar patrons they can sit anywhere. Among other things they need a hostess. Maybe comment cards and listening to the customers would help.
Not sure about this one yet, Keywest Kelly