HiJinx Brewing Company started as shared homebrews among friends in Curt Keck’s garage. Now, Curt and company’s taproom reflects the same sense of fun as those late nights between friends.
Housed in a warehouse in Allentown, the space is reminiscent of its beginning days in Curt’s garage. With plenty of room to stand and chat or play a board game at a table, it feels like an adult treehouse. Curt said, “Our taproom mimics my garage very well. We have brewing equipment, live music, great conversation, lots of friends and of course, beer! The taproom is pretty much my garage times 10.”
Six years after officially opening the taproom’s doors, HiJinx brews a lot of beer that it distributes throughout Eastern Pennsylvania. Curt said, “We brew on a 10-barrel system, and we are producing up to 750 barrels annually. Our highest-volume beers are CitraSqueeze IPA, Wicked White Belgian Style Wit and Barista’s Choice Coffee Porter. HiJinx provides a style for every palate, but I personally like to drink IPAs, stouts and English-style bitters the most.”
As HiJinx has expanded, it also has begun to source a number of barrels from local distilleries to use for specialty brews. The barrel program typically consists of between 30 to 50 barrels at any given time, with plenty of dark beer among the lot. Curt is particularly fond of Steal Your Face Stout, a rich and complex brew clocking in at 10% ABV.
To celebrate the six-year mark, HiJinx Brewing Company celebrated with a full day of live music and unique beers on tap. It also released another offering from its barrel program: Learning Curve. Curt explains, “Learning Curve was the first beer we brewed on our 10-barrel system. Our efficiency was through the roof, and we produced a beer that was much higher in alcohol than it should have been.” This tasty beverage ended up in bourbon barrels for a year, then keg conditioned for 2 years before being released at the event on draft and in 120 375ml bottles, coming it at 9% ABV.
Looking to the next six years — and beyond — Curt says the crew is just getting started. “We purchased a small bottling machine, and will be releasing more limited bottle offerings. We’re also actively seeking spots for additional taprooms and a building for the future home of HiJinx.”
Curt said we can also expect to see more from HiJinx’s Hop Foolery Series. The first was an aptly titled Double IPA —‘Merica —that made use of all American hop varieties.
HiJinx is making a name for itself in Pennsylvania. Look for its brews on shelves throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, and make a trip out to visit HiJinx and other great neighboring breweries in the Lehigh Valley.
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The Brewers of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit trade association that brings together leaders of Pennsylvania-based breweries in order to promote and protect the brewing industry in the state. Established in 2011, the Brewers of Pennsylvania serves the consuming public of Pennsylvania by encouraging brand diversity in the market. We believe in the nobility of brewing and hold dear the great traditions and history of Pennsylvania brewing.
Featured photo: Andrew Tomasino; all other photos: HiJinx Brewing Company
