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].

Triumph Brewing Company first opened its New Hope location in April 2003 at 400 Union Square Drive. They are located at New Hope’s Union Square complex on Bridge Street, directly behind the New Hope/Ivyland Railroad Station. They feature 8 beers and a full contemporary American cuisine menu.

Jeff Eaton is the head brewer at Triumph Brewing Company’s New Hope Location. Read more to find out his introduction to craft beer, where he sees the craft beer industry heading, and more!

What was your introduction to craft beer?

My first real immersion in craft beer was right after college when I interned with the Bureau of Land Management in Oregon. The beers in the PNW were nothing like what I was used to back East and it was the beginning of the craft beer boom.

How did you get started as a brewer?

Honestly, I was working on a small farm in Fort Collins, Colorado and I had a lot of friends that worked in the brewing industry. It was approaching slow season on the farm and a friend of mine knew I was looking for extra work. He just got hired on as head brewer at a local brewpub and needed to hire an assistant. He knew I was a hard worker and passionate about craft beer so he brought me on. I got to train under some of the most talented brewers. That was 10 years ago and I’ve been brewing ever since.

What style allows you to be the most creative and why?

Lagers. They’re so clean and have such small nuances that you really need to dial them in. Some recipes may seem simple but they’re more technical than a lot of popular styles out there today.

What was the first beer you ever brewed and what did you learn from it?

The first beer I brewed in Colorado was probably Hefeweizen. We step-mashed that beer and it was a whole different process. You had to be precise in order to hit certain targets. At Triumph, my first batch was a Robust Porter. We were short on an ingredient so I had to improvise a bit. That’s one of the fun parts about brewing. There are a lot of moving parts and sometimes you’re challenged to make decisions on the fly.

Where do you see the craft beer industry heading in the next few years?

I think there will still be new breweries opening up but at a slower pace and with a different model where there’s less focus on distribution. Beer stores are jam-packed with craft beer it’s overwhelming sometimes. I think there will be more of a focus on people sticking with their local brewery just like their regular go-to bar or restaurant. Lots of breweries are making quality beer that you don’t have to go far to find.

Describe what it’s like to be a brewer in Pennsylvania.

California, Colorado, or the Pacific Northwest come to a lot of people’s minds when they think about craft beer. However, Pennsylvania is a hidden gem with over 400 breweries in the state producing high-quality beer. It’s a great state to be a part of the craft beer scene and culture. It’s no wonder Pittsburgh and Philadelphia always appear on lists for “best beer city.”

What was the inspiration behind your beer names?

Naming a beer can be fun, but it’s also pretty hard and you got to make sure no one else has already come up with the same idea. A clever name or label can sell the beer but it may be poor quality or nonrepresentational of the style. Triumph keeps things simple and we typically name our beers what the beer style is. You know what you’re ordering; Munich Dunkel, KellerPils, Hazy IPA, etc.

What is your favorite beer to drink right now?

Lately, at Triumph, I’ve been really into our Kolsch. Clean, crisp, flavors and you can really taste the malt in this beer. As far as non-Triumph beers I recently picked up Troegs’ Nugget Nectar. Always a great segue this time of year moving on from my other favorite, Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. Troegs is always a solid go-to PA brewery for me.

What is the most important lesson you learned in the beer industry so far?

I think the most important thing for the industry is collaboration and comradery among brewers and breweries. We’re all supporting this industry together. If you’re short an ingredient you can always hit up another local brewery and they’ll help you out in a pinch. We always try and show support for all the PA brewers by stopping in to try what’s on tap and chatting with other brewers at beer fests when we can.