E-Malt.com News article: USA, WV: Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company preparing to launch in Charleston

There could soon be a new craft beer on tap in Charleston, courtesy of West Virginia’s newest producer, Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company, Charleston Daily Mail reported on June 3.

Co-owners Dave Kurcea and Wil Laska met two years ago through a mutual friend. Both men were long-time home brewing enthusiasts and both planned to start a commercial brewery, so they decided to join forces.

They now have a warehouse space near the Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg filled with stainless steel brewing equipment. The brewery plans to fill its first kegs in July, with bottles and cans coming by the end of the year.

Laska said there are about a dozen breweries in West Virginia, but only two currently package their products for outside sale. Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company will be the third.

The company eventually plans to open a small taproom at the brewery where customers can sample beers and buy some to take home. Until then, Greenbrier Valley beers will be available at bars and restaurants around the state. Kurcea is not ready to announce any official locations yet, but he had meetings last week with several Charleston establishments.

Their first beer will be the “Wild Trail Pale Ale,” a recipe developed by brew master Brian Reymiller.

Kurcea and Laska hired Reymiller last year to develop recipes and oversee the brewing process.

Reymiller, who is originally from Ohio, has spent the last 17 years working at breweries around the country. That experience has taught him which kinds of yeast, barley and hops work well together, helping him come up with recipes for the Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company.

It’s a time consuming process. Reymiller has worked for six months and is still putting the finishing touches on their second offering, “The Mothman Black IPA,” a much darker beer with a slightly higher alcohol content.

And he still has his work cut out for him, as Laska and Kurcea have plenty more ideas for beers.

They want to make a “Steel Drivin’ Stout” in honor of West Virginia folk hero John Henry, a “Devil Anse Ale” to commemorate the patriarch of the Hatfield clan and a bourbon-infused sour beer that will be aged in barrels from Smooth Ambler Spirits, located just across the road from the brewing company.

Laska said he also would like to make a series of high-alcohol beers with a 10 or 11-percent alcohol content.

Since the brewery is located so close to The Greenbrier and its famous fallout shelter, Laska is tentatively calling those brews “The Bunker Series.”

“These are beers that can withstand the Apocalypse,” he said.

The brewery currently has the capacity to store about 2,200 gallons of fermenting beer, but Kurcea said they plan to add two more 1,800-gallon tanks as demand picks up.

“We’ll be able to grow as fast as people want us to. If people want the beer, we’ll be able to make it,” he said.


04 June, 2014