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 info@breweriesinpa.com.
Hopping Eagle Brewing Company opened in August 2019 in Hawley, PA. The brewery produces beer on a 1 bbl brewhouse and is located in the historic Hawley Silk Mill, which has been a part of the local community since 1880. Ronnie Passaro is the owner and head brewer at Hopping Eagle Brewing Company. Read more to find out his introduction to beer, where he sees the craft beer industry heading, and more!
What was your introduction to craft beer?
I grew up in Atlantic Highlands, NJ. So Carton Brewing was very close to where I lived. I guess that was the transition from drinking cheap beer in college to enjoying local craft beer.
How did you get started as a brewer?
My wife saw how much I loved craft beer and decided to buy me a 1 gallon home brewing kit for Christmas. What started as a hobby turned into more of an obsession, & now we have a 1bbl nano-brewery.
What style allows you to be the most creative, and why?
The beer style that allows me to be the most creative would be IPAs. I love trying new hop combinations. IPAs are trendy right now, so people enjoy trying a new brew each time they come in.
What was the first beer you ever brewed, and what did you learn from it?
The first beer I ever brewed was a brown ale which was the homebrew kit Christmas gift. I learned how much cleaning and sanitizing are involved with brewing. That brown ale homebrew recipe inspired our Tawny Owl Brown Ale.
Where do you see the craft beer industry heading in the next few years?
It’s hard to say right now due to COVID, but can sales have been booming. I think more people are looking to keep the brewery experience but at the comfort of their own homes. We’ve been trying to keep up with the demand so that our patrons can still enjoy our craft beer, but at home, if they aren’t comfortable with going out just yet.
Describe what it’s like to be a brewer in Pennsylvania.
The brewing community in PA is very friendly and supportive. We don’t see each other as competitors. It makes more sense to work together to attract people to the NEPA and work together. I also enjoy having local ingredients so close to home. We use honey from Lukan’s Farm, hops from Avery Mountain Bines & Twines, and coffee from Damiani Roasters.
What is the inspiration behind your beer names?
Coming up with the beer names might be one of the hardest parts of the brewing process. We started off using a lot of bird names but eventually, we veered off and tried to be more creative. My favorite even inspired name is when I was walking to the dumpster after brewing a NEIPA to dump the grains. As I’m walking up to it, a bear pops its head out. We called that beer “Don’t poke the bear”.
What is your favorite beer to drink right now?
My favorite is always changing. We released two barrel-aged beer for our one-year anniversary so I’ve been into barrel-aged beer lately.
What is the most important lesson you learned in the beer industry so far?
The industry is always changing and people enjoying trying something new every time they come to the brewery.
Thank you to Ronnie for talking with us! Make sure you visit Hopping Eagle Brewing Company for all the latest beers, news, information, and special events. And also follow Hopping Eagle on Facebook and Instagram.
