WILK Friday BeerBuzz–11 May 2012 Susquehanna Brewing Co w/Jaime Jurado & Fred Maier

Today’s guests on the Friday BeerBuzz carry with them some of the most famous and historical brewing traditions in the Wyoming Valley and also some of the most state-of-the-art brewing techniques available today….and I am very excited to not only see the two come together, but to see them come together in our own back yard.  Today we were very excited to welcome Fred Maier & Jaime Jurado from the brand new Susquehanna Brewing Co (SBC) in Pittston.  We brought you news of SBC coming to Pittston, PA back in Feb 2011, and we’ve been following along ever since.  I watched the guys build out their new 50bbl BrauKon system and we on the Friday BeerBuzz were tremendously honored to be among the first to get to taste their beer.

Susquehanna Brewing Co is located at the former United Beverage building on S Main St in Pittston, but their brewing history is rich.  Fred Maier’s family were among the owners of our area’s most historic and prominent brewery, the Stegmaier Brewery.  Fred’s family also owned the original Susquehanna Brewing Co in Nanticoke, PA…so his brewing roots run deep.

Jaime Jurado joined SBC in January and the brewing background and history he brings will be a driving force for SBC in the future.  Jaime actually worked at the Lion Brewery among other breweries, but is most well know for his recent position at Gambrinus (Shiner, Trumer & Bridgeport Brewing).  Stay tuned for great things from Jaime.

I was VERY pleasantly surprised to sample SBC 6th Generation Stock Ale today.  Given everything I know about SBC and seeing the amount of hops loaded into SBC’s “Hopjack”, I was expecting it to be a great beer and I definitely wasn’t disappointed.  6th Generation Stock Ale not only celebrates the Maier family’s long-time tradition of brewing, but it also welcomes a new generation of beer lovers with a hoppy & drinkable stock ale.  We were also honored to sample SBC’s Goldencold Lager.  This is a lighter-bodied easy-drinking brew that I think will also do really well.  I particularly liked that two of the three initial offerings from SBC include both a traditional Ale and Lager.  I think this bodes well for local craft beer lovers and I’m really excited to see what will come next (i.e. Pils Noir coming soon!)

Stay tuned with me as Susquehanna Brewing Co beers find their way into your local pubs, and stay tuned for more from Fred, Jaime & everyone at SBC in the future.

This was a wonderful way to celebrate the first beers to be brewed at Susquehanna Brewing Co…and my Thank you to Fred Maier & Jaime Jurado from Susquehanna Brewing Co

, Nancy, John & Joe for yet another fun Friday.

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together. Al always, be sure to

check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE