Heritage Brewing’s Brew System Arrives
Friday morning the guys at Manassass, VA’s Heritage Brewing had just received their brewing system.Saturday evening, I had the opportunity to stop by on the way to dinner with the wife and check to see how Sean and Julian were progressing.
Much has changed since the last time I visited. To put it simply the duo have been working their asses. There’s a new bar that the crew built themselves, along with a custom lit sign (which looks way cooler in person than my shaky photo above shows) and hand-built, screen-printed tasting flight boards.
The brewing equipment is loosely in place, but there’s still much to be done in terms of setting in final positions and getting everything all wired and connected. A boiler, that’s currently on the way from California, is the last piece to this puzzle and if it arrives on time, Heritage will be cranking up the new system shortly after Thanksgiving.
While chatting with the guys, the wife and I were treated to a Saison that had matured in the chardonnay barrel that Sean was re-hydrating the last time I visited. The beer, served on cask, was excellent with great flavor, the slightest hint of wood, clear Chardonnay influence and a refreshing character. There were also two (currently unoccupied) barrels from Catoctin Creek Distilling Company — the first of many barrels to be coming the brewery’s way. Needless to say there was a palpable air of excitement at seeing everything Heritage has accomplished thus far.
Here are a few more photos of fermenters, mash tuns and more brewing equipment nerdery.
