Our Story
Handcrafted ales made by flame, tradition, and patience in the heart of Mohnton, Pennsylvania.
About Detwiler Brewing
We take great pride in being the only wood-fired brewery in Pennsylvania, eschewing electricity and gas in favor of pure wood flame to power our brewhouse. Our ales are brewed upon traditional recipes that recall the days when the public house served honest, wholesome beer meant to be enjoyed in generous measure.
Here, you will find no fashionable IPA or tart sour. Each ale is crafted solely from Pennsylvania-grown grain, cask-conditioned with care, and hand-pumped directly to the glass.
“Beer that can be drunk in plenty, beer that is perfectly plain.”
The Brewing Process
Every pint of Detwiler beer is made with simple ingredients, timeless methods, and an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship.
Mashing
Detwiler Brewing employs only the finest malted barley, proudly grown and malted within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, many of organic origin. Our brewing water is drawn from a deep on-site well, rich with natural minerals, and heated to mash temperature in our wood-fired kettle.
The mash rests for ninety minutes, allowing the grains to steep fully and release their natural sweetness. When ready, the wort is gently filtered through the grain bed and, by gravity alone, returned to the kettle for the boil.
Boiling
The boil is a threefold affair.
First, it purifies the wort to ensure a wholesome environment for fermentation.
Second, it concentrates the liquid and balances the developing flavors.
Third, it coaxes from the hops their noble oils, imparting a refined bitterness that complements the malt’s natural sweetness.
Fermentation
Our fermentation method is nearly lost to time - drop fermentation.
Once the wort has cooled, it is transferred to open fermentation vessels where yeast is introduced and the magic begins. After about forty hours, the partially fermented wort is briskly dropped into seasoned oak vats. This traditional step imparts the signature butterscotch and toffee notes that define Detwiler ales.
After two more days in the oak, the beer is casked and left to condition — a patient refinement that bestows smoothness and natural effervescence, achieved without added gas or modern shortcuts.
Tradition Meets Craft
When you raise a pint at Detwiler Brewing, you are tasting Pennsylvania’s history in liquid form. A beer brewed by hand, by flame, and with a whole lot of heart.
