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].
Penn Brewery started brewing back in 1986, making them one of the early pioneers in the craft beer movement. They started out brewing classic lagers and German beer styles, adhering to the strict quality standards of the 16th-century Bavarian Reinheitsgebot purity laws. The brewery has won a total of twenty Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup medals. Lauren Hughes is the brewer of Penn Brewery. Read more to find out how she was introduced to craft beer, her favorite beer to drink, and more!
What was your introduction to craft beer?
My introduction to craft beer was through one of my best friends when I lived in Bloomington, Indiana. We would get together and have beers and he really started pushing some new craft brews that were coming out especially those from Three Floyds. I had a Gumballhead for the first time and my mind was blown. Bloomington also has a killer brewery there, Upland Brewing Co, and I spent a lot of time there as well.
How did you get started as a brewer?
I started homebrewing in college shortly after my intro to craft beer and through the same buddy of mine. We were hanging out and he suggested I start homebrewing so I got a kit and went to town. I then worked at Sun King Brewery in Indianapolis while finishing up some coursework. I worked in their taproom for a bit and did some cellar work for them. I moved to Pittsburgh to pursue a job with the Pittsburgh Symphony and after a bit realized I really wanted to get back into trying to become a brewer and working in the field. I worked my way up at a few breweries working in taprooms and cellaring. My first brewing job came in 2018 at Rock Bottom Brewery. I was Assistant Brewer there until 2019 when I got hired at Penn Brewery where I am now the Assistant Head Brewer. It’s been a wild ride and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.
What style allows you to be the most creative, and why?
I feel like there are many styles that you can be creative with. There is a lot of creativity that can go into stouts and some other darker styles by adding fruit/chocolate/spices/lactose/coffee and the like. I think the same can be said about sours and ipas. Those styles allow you to get creative with different ingredients and see what comes out of it. Being a brewer at a mostly lager brewery I also enjoy trying to get creative with lager styles and finding ways to make them better or add to the style.
What was the first beer you ever brewed, and what did you learn from it?
The first beer I brewed professionally was a porter. It was super fun and I learned a lot on how to make recipes on a larger scale, building on the knowledge I had gained from being a homebrewer and my start at brewing professionally.
Where do you see the craft beer industry heading in the next few years?
I think craft beer is going to keep growing. It’s been great to see brewers push the boundaries with styles and the newer beers that come out. I am seeing a trend to bring back lagers and sessionable beers which I am really excited about and I hope it continues.
Describe what it’s like to be a brewer in Pennsylvania.
The brewing community in PA is great and I’ve had a lot of support from my brewing colleagues. Anytime I have a get together with other brewers, whether it be a beer fest, a Master Brewers meeting, or a collab it’s always great to hang out with like-minded individuals that all bounce ideas off of each other. I feel like it’s a really supportive atmosphere and the beer in PA just keeps getting better.
What is the inspiration behind your beer names?
Being a music nerd all of my beer names so far have been named after some of my favorite songs.
What is your favorite beer to drink right now?
Right now I’m digging sessionable beers. Lagers, lower abv IPA’s (Dancing Gnome’s Half Lustra is great this year) and some sours. I also always love mixed fermentation beers.
What is the most important lesson you learned in the beer industry so far?
I think the most important lesson I’ve learned is just to keep pushing ahead. I really push myself to learn as much as I can by going to classes, reading articles, and being an active member with the MBAA, and staying on top of new styles and techniques that are coming out of the industry as well as continually trying to make the beer we produce at Penn better.
Thank you to Lauren for talking with us! Make sure you visit Penn Brewery for all the latest beers, news, information, and special events. And also follow Penn Brewery on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
