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].
Hidden River Brewing Company (Douglassville, PA) opened in 2015 with a 3BBL brewhouse. Brinton Lodge, where the brewery is located, is over 300 years old, and dates back to a land grant from William Penn in 1711. It is even said to be haunted, with ghost tours being held every month, and also around Halloween.
We recently announced that Hidden River expanded to a larger 10BBL brewhouse, located in a barn on the property that is almost as old as the lodge! We also did a beer collab with them last year called Halfway Holograms.
Josh Gwinn is one of the brewers at Hidden River. Read more below to see the first beer he brewed, the inspiration behind his beer names, his favorite beer to drink right now, and more!
What was your introduction to craft beer?
New Castle Brown and Sammy Smith’s. Then Brooklyn and Ayinger.
What style allows you to be the most creative, and why?
Stout. For every reason. Malt bills, ABV, body, boil time. There is a huge range in the style.
What was the first beer you ever brewed, and what did you learn from it?
Professionally designed? IPA. It was too malty. It had New Zealand hops, but it just wasn’t what we were going for.
Where do you see the craft beer industry heading in the next few years?
More niche. Lagers, Saison, Stouts. More BJCP and away from the crazy stuff. Brewers will move away from all the crazy stuff that has been going on. Beer will just get better.
Describe what it’s like to be a brewer in Pennsylvania.
I don’t have a comparison to anywhere else. There are a lot of knowledgeable customers in this area. And the area is surrounded by a lot of hype.
What is the inspiration behind your beer names?
The ones that I name personally? My life, what I’m reading, the sports I play or directly from the flavor or the process we went through while brewing.
What is your favorite beer to drink right now?
Pilsner.
What is the most important lesson you learned in the beer industry so far?
Safety. Staying alert, precision, and detail.
Thank you to Josh Gwinn for talking with us! Make sure you visit Hidden River Brewing Company for all the latest beers, news, information and special events. And also follow Bonn on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
