In July 2013, Derek and Elaine Wolf won their first homebrew competition. At that moment, the dynamic duo came up with a lofty goal. As Elaine put it, “Our goal was to receive an AHA/BJCP (American Home Brewers/Beer Judge Certification Program) -sanctioned homebrew award from every state in the country. The main reason for this goal was to receive unbiased feedback from credentialed judges to improve our beer recipes.”
This venture would eventually give rise to Wolf Brewing Co.
Just like a litmus test, the competitions allowed Derek and Elaine to gain an objective (albeit subjective) view of what works best in their brewing adventures. Time and time again, they were able to surprise and delight palates across the country. It wasn’t easy though. Elaine added, “To complete this goal, we constantly researched upcoming AHA and BJCP homebrew competitions and shipped our entries to each state. Some states only have one AHA/BJCP sanctioned homebrew competition per year, so if we did not place (receive an award), then that meant we had to wait an entire year for our next opportunity to get an award from that state.”
By May 2016 their goal was completed: They had successfully won an AHA/BJCP homebrew competition in all 50 states! To be precise, they’ve now earned 120 awards with 55 different beers. Numbers aside, their origins are akin to many homebrewers’ journeys to the world of professional brewing. “We began homebrewing in 2011,” said Elaine. “After receiving positive comments from family and friends, we eventually started kicking around the idea of opening a brewery. To receive unbiased feedback about our beer, we started entering local homebrew competitions and AHA/BJCP sanctioned homebrew competitions, to see what complete strangers and BJCP judges thought about our beers.”
Once their prizes were in hand they began to get serious about looking for a commercial brewery location. “We knew we wanted to be in Mechanicsburg, so our search area was limited,” she said. “When we saw the commercial land available within the Landmark Legacy Park neighborhood, we knew it was the perfect fit for our business.”
Like many brewers, the vision of a certain lifestyle and vocation was pivotal in their choice to become professional brewers. “As corny as it may sound, one of our personal favorite elements about realizing this dream is working together as a husband and wife team,” Elaine added. “We play to each other’s strengths to complete tasks and overcome obstacles.”
As they say, it takes a village, and that’s as true for Brewers of PA as it is for each breweries’ team of employees, friends and family members. “We are also incredibly lucky to have the support from our families,” Elaine confided. “They’re always willing to lend a helping hand — from reviewing our business plan, to analyzing our pro forma, to looking over our building design and helping us set up or tear down at various pouring events. There is no way we could do this without each other and the support of our families.”
Their choice of location for the brewery is an auspicious one. Mechanicsburg is their hometown and it holds a special place in their hearts: “We met on the middle school bus that passed the location of our future brewpub everyday on our way to school,” Elaine said.
So, what will the brewery hold in store? “We’re constructing an 8,000-square-foot building that will house the brewery, taproom, kitchen and lounge — with indoor seating for about 120 guests. We will also have a covered outdoor patio and lawn for yard games,” Elaine explained.
The Wolfs’ mission for year one is a noble one. “Aside from meeting our year-one performance metrics, our main goal is to abide by our mission and core values,” she added. We’ll focus on producing high-quality beer and food that makes Central Pennsylvania proud. We also hope to find great employees who are passionate about craft beer, loyal to our brand and who care about the local community. Lastly, we want to significantly give back to local non-profit and charitable organizations.”
Each brewer’s journey is a tale that is constantly unfolding, and it’s a boon to the industry that so many people, just like Derek and Elaine, are interested in bearing the torch of brewing for the next generation.
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.
Feature photo: Charlene Wolf
