Welcome to our “Meet The Brewer” series! Where we interview brewers in Pennsylvania, from breweries small to large. Let us know if you know anyone who should be featured, email us at [email protected].
Moss Mill Brewing Company opened in February of 2018, in Huntington Valley, PA. They opened with a 1BBL system, so they can rotate through beers quickly, and have 12 taps always available. Cortney Costa is the head brewer at Moss Mill Brewing, read more to find out how she got started as a brewer, where she sees the craft beer industry heading, and more!
What was your introduction to craft beer?
My first official introduction to craft beer was after trying Allagash White. I was going to Portland Maine and decided to go on a tour of Allagash’s brewery while I was there (and several other breweries). I left that day of brewery tours wanting to learn more.
How did you get started as a brewer?
I got my start writing about beer. I created a beer blog which was a way to hold myself accountable for trying new things and brewing more beer at home. From there I interned at Manayunk Brewing Company, continued writing about beer, home brewing, and eventually made my way into my current role with Moss Mill as Head Brewer.
What style allows you to be the most creative, and why?
I like getting creative with Belgian style ales. There’s so much you can do with them and they’re the style that got me hooked to begin with.
What was the first beer you ever brewed, and what did you learn from it?
The first beer I ever brewed was a Belgian Blonde ale. It was a great introduction to the process overall.
Where do you see the craft beer industry heading in the next few years?
The craft beer industry has been growing like crazy in quantity but I really think we’re going to see the focus coming back to quality over the next few years. It’s most important to have good quality beer and I think the focus of breweries will shift back to prioritizing quality of the product rather than rushing to put out a new beer constantly just to keep up.
Describe what it’s like to be a brewer in Pennsylvania.
I brew in a pretty brewery-saturated area of Pennsylvania and it’s great. The desire for good craft beer is here and it’s how we choose to provide that to our customers that matters. Each brewery is different and has their own thing and it’s nice to see a tight knit community developing.
What is the inspiration behind your beer names?
I’m really into puns but also like naming beers after my pets. Sir Jax’s Ale, now one of our core beers, is a Belgian ale I developed and named in honor of my cat who passed away last year. He deserved a brew, he was the best cat and a noble one at that. (Yes, I do have many pictures of him that I can share).
What is your favorite beer to drink right now?
Right now we’re coming into stout season and I’m finding myself drinking Haunted House by Allagash (when I can get it).
What is the most important lesson you learned in the beer industry so far?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and try new things. When I first started in this industry I found myself more hesitant, afraid to try and mess something up. What really matters is trying new things, and even if it doesn’t work out you learn and grow from that. I try to encourage that in our brew house.
Thank you to Cortney for talking with us! Make sure you visit Moss Mill Brewing Company for all the latest beers, news, information and special events. And also follow Moss Mill on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
