As we have previously shared, earlier in the year Weyerbacher Brewing filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. When the news was first announced many readers were unsure of what this meant for the brewery’s future.
While the term “bankruptcy” may bring with it a negative connotation, the filing did not mean the brewery would be going anywhere. Without getting too technical filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy means there is a plan of reorganization to keep the business alive and pay creditors over time.
After less than a year from announcing the Chapter 11 filing, Weyerbacher has officially signed the papers and the brewery is no longer under bankruptcy.
We spoke directly with head brewer Matt Snyder to learn more about what this means for the brewery now and in the future.
The immediate changes will start at the top. Dan Weirback, the breweries original founder, will return to the company as president after a 3-year hiatus.
As his profile states on the breweries website “Dan launched Weyerbacher Brewing Company in 1995, with the help and encouragement of his wife Sue. Always interested in learning more about great beer, Dan has traveled to Europe numerous times to explore their local brews firsthand.”
“I am honored and excited to be back serving as President of Weyerbacher Brewing Company. Being involved in our daily operations, I see tremendous growth and lots of great Big Bold Beers in our future!” Dan said about the new changes.
As Snyder shared, the brewery has very specific areas they are focusing on as they look to the future, one of which is the identity the brand is known for. “What originally got us into this situation was neglecting our flagship brands to diversify in a competitive market. Getting back to what Weyerbacher is known for is going to be the top priority for us moving forward. We plan to get back to our roots.” Snyder claimed.
What does this mean? Consumers will be seeing much more of the breweries flagships on the shelves. The beers the brand has become known for such as Merry Monks, Blithering Idiot and Tiny. While also factoring in core seasonals such as Insanity, Dallas Sucks, Sunday Morning Stout, Down The Shore and Imperial Pumpkin Ale.
Seeing more of the core brands in your local bottle shop is just one part of the plan. “We will also be putting a large focus on both taprooms in Easton and New Hope. We plan to experiment with pilot beers/ small batches, keeping a strong focus on R&D and feeding the taprooms” Snyder explained.
“We will also be entertaining new opportunities in the Lehigh Valley” Snyder shared that the brewery is open to the idea of opening a third location; with their priority seeing it come to fruition in the Lehigh Valley area. If and when this location becomes a reality, we will profile first hand.
Snyder declared that the future looks bright for the brewing company. The core seasonal beers mentioned above are being tentatively released as the brewery progresses into 2020. The exact lineup has not been set however they will release a bit differently than previous years. Stay tuned to our site as we learn more about the specific release dates.
“2020 is a big year for us. Among many other things, it is our 25th anniversary. We have a lot of work to do to get healthy, but we are excited for what the future has to offer. 2020 will be a re-invention year for Weyerbacher”
