General Brewery Questions
How long has Tröegs Brewery been open?
Tröegs Brewery was founded in 1996 by brothers John and Chris Trogner. The first keg was sold to a local restaurant in Harrisburg on July 18, 1997.
What's in the name Tröegs?
Tröegs is a family nickname, from the founders' surname Trogner. When combined with a Flemish word “Kroeg,” meaning "pub," we get Tröegs.
Can you ship beer?
No. Pennsylvania state law does not permit us to ship beer to customers directly.
What activities are available to me at the brewery?
In addition to good old fashion beer drinking, our Tasting Room now offers a full Snack Bar menu featuring small and large plates, sandwiches, and sweets. We also feature daily rotating chef’s specials. Additionally, we have a large General Store filled with official Tröegs merchandise. Everything from beer to apparel to miscellaneous items like Frisbees, coasters, and glassware is available for purchase. If it is information you seek, we also offer Self-Guided Tours as well as Guided Tasting Tours. The Tasting Tour includes beer samples and a take home souvenir glass. Guided Tasting Tour reservations are highly recommended and are limited to 10 people per tour. Visit www.troegs.com to make a reservation. If the kiddies are in tow, we have puzzle and coloring sheets as well as crayons (available at our greeter kiosk in the lobby) to keep them busy while you eat, drink and be merry.
Self-Guided Brewery Tour Hours:
Sun-Wed: 11am to 9pm
Thu-Sat: 11am to 10pm
Cost: FREE
Guided Tasting Tour Hours:
Tue-Thu: 11:30am, 1pm and 2:30pm
Fri-Sat: 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm and 4pm
Cost: $5
Are children allowed to take the Guided Tasting Tour?
Unfortunately, visitors under the age of 21 are not permitted to take the Guided Tasting Tour due to safety reasons. However, feel free to bring the whole family and take a stroll down the Self-Guided Tour path at your leisure! You can also drink beer on the Self-Guided Tour... as long as you are 21 or older.
What’s your favorite beer?
The one with the Tröegs logo on the bottle. Seriously though, feel free to ask our employees what their favorite beers are when you visit the brewery. We love talking to our patrons!
Will you make a Hershey’s chocolate beer?
While we have no plans to brew a beer using Hershey’s chocolate, it does make sense now that we’re situated in Hershey, PA, doesn’t it?
What’s in the barrels?
The barrels in our Barrel Aging room contain potential future batches of our Splinter beer releases. Our Splinter beers are special limited batches that have been matured in various barrels, then bottle conditioned, and finally released to the public. Past Splinter beers include: Splinter Red (bourbon barrel-aged Mad Elf); Splinter Gold (Scratch #3 Belgian Tripel aged in oak barrels and doused with Brettanomyces); Splinter Blue (DreamWeaver Wheat matured in oak barrels with wild yeast and souring bacteria then aged on tart cherries); and Splinter Black (Imperial Stout brewed with cacao nibs and turbinado sugar, then barrel-aged on Ugandan Gold vanilla beans in virgin Pennsylvania oak barrels). Please be patient; just like children, it takes a long time for the beer to fully mature (although the male beers definitely take much longer than the female beers).
When does Mad Elf come out?
Mad Elf is our holiday seasonal beer release. It is typically released in bottles in mid-October and on draft in mid-November. While there is no release date set in stone, you can use these timeframes as general guidelines.
When does Nugget Nectar come out?
Nugget Nectar is our late winter seasonal beer release. It is typically released in bottles and on draft in late January or early February. While there is no release date set in stone, you can use this timeframe as a general guideline.
Why is Nugget Nectar not a year round beer?
Despite its cult status, we feel it is best to keep Nugget Nectar as a seasonal release so fans have something to look forward to each year.
In which states can I find Tröegs beers?
In addition to our native PA, we also distribute to the following states: DE, MA, MD, NJ, NY, OH, and VA. We also distribute to Washington, DC. Of course, you can also come to the brewery in Hershey, PA and buy all the Tröegs beer you’d like right from our General Store. We also fill growlers in our Tasting Room.
Where can I find Tröegs beer near me?
Go to www.troegs.com. Click on “Our Beers” and select the Beer Finder from the drop-down menu. Enter your zip code to find retailers in your area that sell Tröegs beer.
How does Tröegs control the temperature of the beer?
We utilize a glycol system to chill and maintain tank temperature during fermentation.
Do John and Chris still work here?
Yes, the brothers are still an integral part of the day-to-day business of the brewery. In a nutshell, John oversees the brewing side of the brewery, while Chris handles the business end. Both of them enjoy a shift beer in the Tasting Room more often than not.
How old are John and Chris?
John was born in 1972. Chris was born in 1973. They are 18 months apart. Feel free to do the math and be prepared to show your work.
Is the original brewery (Harrisburg) still open?
No. As of October 2011, we have moved our entire operation to 200 E. Hersheypark Drive, Hershey PA 17033. All current production takes place at our Hershey facility.
Does Tröegs plan to package in cans in the future?
We currently have no plans to add a canning line at this time.
Does Tröegs plan to expand distribution to my area?
We currently have no plans to expand our distribution area at this time.
How long can I store/keep Tröegs beer?
Each bottle of Tröegs beer is stamped with a “Bottled on” date. Although some of our beers can be aged for many years (Mad Elf, Flying Mouflan), the majority of our beers should be consumed within four months for optimum freshness. Our cases are stamped with a “Best by” date to help give an indication of how quickly you should consume the beer. For beers like Mad Elf, Flying Mouflan, and our Splinter Series, feel free to store in a cool area (50-55° F) away from direct light for several years.
Does Tröegs ship its beer cold?
While the majority of our beer ships out of the brewery from our cold storage warehouse, the beer is not delivered on refrigerated trucks. However, it is a common misconception that cold beer becomes “skunked” when it gets warm.
Do you make all of you beer here on this brew deck?
Yes. With the exception of our Scratch beers, which are brewed using our experimental Scratch Beer system, all of our year-round and seasonal beers begin life on the brew deck. The Brew deck houses our Lauter Tun, Mash Kettle, Brew Kettle, Hopback Vessel, and Hop Dosers.
Do any of the Scratch Beers ever become year-round or seasonal beers?
Yes. For example, Scratch #4 was so popular that we made it a seasonal beer named Flying Mouflan. Perpetual IPA also began life as a Scratch Beer, which soon became a seasonal release, and finally the year-round beer that everyone knows and loves.
Who decides what beers become Tröegs beers?
While virtually everyone at Tröegs has ideas about new beers, ultimately this decision falls to John and Chris Trogner.
How many brewers/employees do you have?
Tröegs currently employs approximately one hundred employees, seven of which are brewers.
So, do employees get free beer?
Let’s just say that the first benefit listed on a new hire’s letter is “a free case of beer every pay period.” Enough said.
Can I get a job here?
If you think you’ve got what it takes to fulfill your dream of working at a brewery, then feel free to check out our Job Openings on our website for details. Good luck!
How long does it take to make Mad Elf?
We reckon it takes longer to make Mad Elf than the folks at Keebler to make those cookies. But seriously, the entire process takes approximately six weeks from brewing through fermentation.
Who does your artwork?