Victory Collaborates w/German Hop Growers For 5-Beers @ Craft Brewers Conference

DOWNINGTOWN, PA – In partnership with the German Hop Growers’ Association, Victory Brewing Company has brewed five specialty beers to debut at the Craft Brewers Conference in San Diego California.

Ron Barchet, Co-Founder and Brewmaster of Victory Brewing Company, and Eric Toft, the head brewer at Schönram brewery in German, developed these special recipes specifically for the conference as a way to demonstrate the diversity of beer flavors that can be created with unique hops.

“Each year I look forward to working with Eric on these special brews. His brewing creativity inspires and challenges us to skillfully fulfill his vision,” said Barchet. “This year, for the first time ever, the collaboration led us to brew with experimental, still not-on-the-market hop varieties.”

For the 2012 conference, the beers include two recipes brewed with two different experimental hops, Bavarian “013” Pale Ale and Bavarian “728” IPA. Two others are pilsners brewed with Tettnang hops from different farms in Tettnang Germany, Tettnanger “Strass” Pils and Tettnanger “Dietmannsweiler” Pils. The final beer was brewed using spalt select hops, and is called Bavarian “Spalt Select” IPA.

It is the sixth year that the German Hop Growers Association has teamed with Victory Brewing Company to bring exclusive recipes to the conference. Attendees can enjoy the brews for free at the Trade Expo and Hospitality.

“We have been brewing collaboration beers since 2007, long before the concept of collaboration was being mentioned in the beer press,” said Toft. “With few words and 7,000 kilometers between us, the beer always turns out to be phenomenal.”

All five of the beers will have their national debut simultaneously in San Diego and at Victory Brewing Company’s Downingtown, Pa. restaurant at the beginning of May.