# Tröegs

Tröegs is an American brewery located on Hersheypark Drive in Hershey, Pennsylvania. John and Chris Trogner founded the company in 1996. Tröegs is a craft-brewery, or microbrewery focusing their production on specialty and seasonal beers. Tröegs also is a limited distribution brewery, only distributing beer to states within proximity to maintain beer freshness.

## History

Tröegs was founded in 1996 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, by brothers John and Chris Trogner. The name Tröegs is a combination of a nickname derived from the surname Trogner and the Dutch word kroeg ("pub"). The 'o' carries a gratuitous umlaut as an exercise in foreign branding. The brewery was originally located at 800 Paxton Street in Harrisburg. Their first keg was sold to a Harrisburg restaurant in July, 1997.
Tröegs began construction of their new brewery in 2010 and moved from Harrisburg to Hershey in Fall 2011. Grand opening celebrations were held during November of that year. At approximately 90,000 square feet (8,400 m$^2$) the new brewery is about three times the size of the original facility and includes a tap house (tasting room) with a full view of the brewhouse. The tap house bar serves most beer by the glass, although a select few, including "corked-and-caged" beers, are sold by the bottle. Most of Tröegs' beers are available "to go"—as 4-packs, 6-packs, cases, growlers, and, most recently, as "crowlers" (32-US-fluid-ounce (950 ml) aluminum cans filled from a tap and then sealed; a portmanteau of "can" and "growler"). However, a few bottled beers have been available for consumption only in the tap room. The tap room also features an upscale "snack bar."
Every year, Tröegs is one of the sponsors of Harrisburg Beer Week with proceeds benefiting the Harrisburg River Rescue & Emergency Services. Held every year, it's a 10-day, multi-venue series showcasing breweries, restaurants, pubs and more through craft beer-centric events, demonstrations, and education throughout the greater Harrisburg area.
Self-guided tours are available daily during regular business hours. Guided tasting tours are also available by appointment.
In 2012, Tröegs produced 44,000 US beer barrels (52,000 hl); by 2016, the volume had more than doubled to 89,000 US beer barrels (104,000 hl).

## Beers

Tröegs currently has sixteen beers in regular production. These are split between year-round and seasonal offerings. Seasonal beers are further split between "once a year" and "hop cycle," the latter being an annual rotation of hoppy beers.
| Name | Style | Production | ABV | IBUs | Color | Malts | Hops | Yeast | Notes |
| Blizzard Of Hops | Winter IPA | Hop Cycle: November–January | 6.4% | 80 | 6 | Pilsner, Unmalted Wheat, White Wheat | Centennial, Chinook, El Dorado | Ale | |
| Blood Orange Cranberry | Tart | Once a Year: October | 4.5% | | 3 | Honey Malt, Malted Wheat, Pilsner, Vienna Malt | | Hornindal Kveik | |
| DreamWeaver | Wheat Ale | Year Round | 4.8% | 15 | 4 | Pilsner, Vienna | German Northern Brewer | German Wheat | 55% Wheat |
| Double Blizzard | Double IPA | Once a Year: December | 8.3% | | 4 | Pilsner, Unmalted Wheat, White Wheat | Centennial, Chinook, El Dorado, Galaxy | House Ale | |
| Double Nugget | Double Imperial Amber Ale | Once a Year: January–February | 9.5% | | | Azacca, Columbus, Nugget, Simcoe | Ale | |
| Field Study | IPA | Hop Cycle: April–July | 6.2% | | 4 | Oats, Pilsner, Rustic Pale, Wheat | Citra, Mosaic, El Dorado | House Ale | |
| Grand Cacao | Chocolate Stout | Year Round | 6.5% | | 30 | Pilsner, Munich, Caramel, Chocolate, Special B, Roasted Barley, Oats | Galena | House Ale | |
| Haze Charmer | Hazy Pale Ale | Year Round | 5.5% | | 4 | Honey Malt, Malted Wheat, Oats, Pale Malt, Unmalted Wheat | Citra, El Dorado, Lotus, Mosaic | London 3 | |
| Hop Cyclone | Double IPA | Once a Year: August | 9.2% | | 9 | Pilsner, Wheat, Vienna, Unmalted Wheat | Citra, Sabro, Sultana, Simcoe | London 3 | |
| Hop Horizon | IPA | Hop Cycle: February–April | 6.5% | | 6 | Pilsner, Munich, Pale, Oats, Wheat | Citra, Mosaic, Sabro | London 3 | |
| LaGrave | Triple golden ale | Year Round | 8.0% | 31 | 6 | Pilsner | German Northern Brewer | Abbey ale | contains cane sugar. Tröegs' first corked-and-caged release |
| Lollihop | Double IPA | Once a Year: March | 8.2% | | 4 | Oats, Rustic Pale, Wheat | Azacca, Citra, Mosaic | House Ale | |
| Lucky Holler | Winter IPA | Hop Cycle: July–November | 6.8% | | 3 | Malted Oats, Pale, Unmalted Wheat, White Wheat | Citra, Galaxy, Simcoe | London 3 | |
| Jovial | Belgian Dubbel Ale | Year Round | 7.0% | 13 | 24.5 | Abbey, Chocolate, Munich, Pilsner | Crystal, Magnum | Abbey Ale | |
| The Mad Elf | Ale | October release | 11.0% | 15 | 14 | Pilsner, Munich, Chocolate | Saaz, Hallertau | Spicy Belgian | contains honey, sweet and sour cherries |
| Mad Elf Grand Cru | | Once a Year: November–December | 11.0% | | 14 | Chocolate, Munich, Pilsner | | Spicy Belgian | |
| Master of Pumpkins | Pumpkin Ale | September release | 7.5% | 30 | 24.5 | Pilsner, Munich, Special B | German northern brewer | Belgian saison | brewed with locally grown neck pumpkins |
| Nimble Giant | Double IPA | June release | 9% | 69 | 15 | | Azacca, mosaic, simcoe | | |
| Nugget Nectar | Ale | January release | 7.5% | 93 | 9 | Pilsner, Vienna, Munich | Nugget, Warrior, Tomahawk, Simcoe, Palisade | Ale | |
| Oktoberfest | Lager | Once a Year: July–August | | | | malts | hops | yeast | |
| Perpetual | IPA | Year Round | 7.5% | 85 | 6 | Pilsner, Crystal, Munich | Bravo, Chinook, Mt. Hood, Nugget, Citra, Cascade | Ale | |
| Perpetual Haze | Hazy IPA | Once a Year: May | | | | malts | hops | yeast | |
| Raspberry Lime | Tart | Once a Year: April | 4.5% | | | Pilsner, Vienna, Wheat | Tradition | Hornindal Kveik | |
| Sunshine Pils | Pils | Year Round | 4.5% | 45 | 2 | Pilsner, Crystal | Saaz, Hallertau Mitt. | Lager | |
| Trail Day | Dry-hopped pilsner | Once a Year: May | 5.2% | | Pale Gold | German Pilsner | German Northern Brewer, Tradition | House Lager | |
| Troegenator | Double Bock | Year Round | 8.2% | 25 | 18 | Pilsner, Munich, Chocolate | Magnum, German Northern Brewer | Lager | spelled without the decorative umlaut over the 'o'. Named after Trogdor, the burninator. |

### "Scratch" beers

Tröegs also produces "Scratch" beers, an experimental series focusing on new techniques and non-traditional ingredients. These are available on a limited basis (often for only a few days or weeks) and have included weizenbocks, lagers, and barleywines, as well as barrel-aged beers. As of November 2020, over 425 beers have been offered as part of the Scratch Beer series. Several later entered regular production.

### Canned beers

In late 2013 Tröegs began limited production of canned beers. Previously, Tröegs had only distributed its beer in kegs and glass bottles. As of December 2013, Perpetual IPA and Troegenator Double Bock have been made available in cans (12-ounce and 16-ounce cans, respectively).

### Cork and caged beers

In fall 2013 Tröegs introduced its first cork and caged beers. As of August 2016 at least four cork and caged beers have been produced: LaGrave, a Triple Golden Ale; Master of Pumpkins, made with saison yeast and roasted pumpkin; Jovial, a Belgian Dubbel Ale; and Wild Elf, a barrel-aged version of the seasonal Mad Elf. LaGrave and Jovial are part of a year-round production, while Master of Pumpkins is seasonal. Wild Elf, introduced in the summer of 2016, is also the first offering from the Splinter Cellar project

### "Splinter" beers

The "Splinter" series of beers are barrel-aged and (prior to completion of the Splinter Cellar) were produced on a very limited basis.
In mid-2016 Tröegs completed its Splinter Cellar expansion, an addition on the northeast side of the facility. This contains three 20-foot tall wooden fermenters ("foeders") imported from Italy. The addition features a glass exterior, allowing a full view of the foeders from the outside. These have dramatically increased the brewery's capacity to produce wood aged beers. The addition also includes an art gallery and a new entrance for guided tours. As of August 2016, expansion of the outdoor "beer garden" is underway, and parking lot improvements are under consideration. Working on this project are Dave Maule Architects and Pyramid Construction, who were both involved in the Hershey build four years ago.

### New artwork

In late 2015, Tröegs revealed new artwork which would be featured on their beers and packaging. Chris and John Trogner collaborated with Philadelphia-based designer Lindsey Tweed to come up with the fresh new look. Along with the new artwork came a redesigned website and brand new merchandise.

## Awards

| Year | Award | Presented by | Category | Winning beer |
| 2006 | Silver medal | Great American Beer Festival | --- | Troegenator |
| 2006 | Bronze medal | World Beer Cup | --- | Troegenator |
| 2006 | Best local beer | Philadelphia Magazine's Best of Philly | --- | HopBack |
| 2007 | Gold medal | Great American Beer Festival | Bock | Troegenator |
| 2008 | Bronze medal | World Beer Cup | German Style Pils | Sunshine Pils |
| 2008 | Bronze medal | Great American Beer Festival | Barleywine | Flying Mouflan |
| 2008 | Bronze medal | Great American Beer Festival | American Stout | Dead Reckoning |
| 2008 | Rated #1 | Joe Sixpack's Christmas Beer: The Cheeriest, Tastiest, and Most Unusual Holiday Brews | Christmas beer | Mad Elf |
| 2009 | Gold medal | Great American Beer Festival | Bock Category | Troegenator |
| 2009 | Silver medal | Great American Beer Festival | American Stout | Dead Reckoning |
| 2009 | Bronze medal | Great American Beer Festival | German style Pilsner | Sunshine Pils |
| 2009 | 1st Place | The Washington Post's Beer Madness | --- | HopBack |
| 2010 | Gold medal | World Beer Cup | German style Bock | Troegenator |
| 2010 | Gold medal | Great American Beer Festival | Barleywine | Flying Mouflan |
| 2010 | Silver medal | Great American Beer Festival | American Red Ale | HopBack |
| 2010 | Silver medal | Great American Beer Festival | Bock Category | Troegenator |
| 2010 | Round one winner | The Washington Post's Beer Madness | --- | HopBack |
| 2011 | Gold medal | Great American Beer Festival | Bock Category | Troegenator |
| 2011 | Silver medal | Great American Beer Festival | German-Style Pilsener | Sunshine Pils |
| 2011 | Silver medal | Great American Beer Festival | --- | Sunshine Pils |
| 2011 | The Fifty Best Beers | The Fifty Best | --- | Nugget Nectar |
| 2012 | Gold medal | Great American Beer Festival | German-Style Pilsener | Sunshine Pils |
| 2012 | Gold medal | Great American Beer Festival | American-style Amber/Red Ale - | HopBack |
| 2012 | Gold medal | Great American Beer Festival | South German-Style Hefeweizen | DreamWeaver |
| 2012 | Bronze medal | World Beer Cup | German style Bock | Troegenator |
| 2012 | Mid-Size Brewing Company and Brewer of the Year | Great American Beer Festival | --- | |
| 2012 | 1st Place | 18th Annual United States Beer Tasting Championship (Mid-Atlantic/Southern Region) | Amber/Red Ale | HopBack |
| 2013 | Best Lager | Best of the Philly Beer Scene | Lager | Sunshine Pils |
| 2013 | Best Wheat Beer | Best of the Philly Beer Scene | Wheat Beer | DreamWeaver |
| 2013 | Best IPA/Pale Ale | Best of the Philly Beer Scene | IPA/Pale Ale | Perpetual IPA |
| 2013 | Best Seasonal Beer | Best of the Philly Beer Scene | Seasonal Beer | Nugget Nectar |
| 2013 | Philly Tap Finder Award | Best of the Philly Beer Scene | Most Searches, Local Beer | Nugget Nectar |
| 2013 | Sales Rep of the Year | Best of the Philly Beer Scene | --- | Nick Johnson |
| 2013 | 1st Place | Philadelphia Inquirer "Brew-Vitational" | Pilsner | Sunshine Pils |
| 2013 | Gold medal | Great American Beer Festival | Bock | Troegenator |
| 2013 | Bronze medal | Great American Beer Festival | German-Style Pilsener | Sunshine pils |
| 2014 | Gold medal | Great American Beer Festival | Bock | Troegenator |

## Tröegs distribution states

* Pennsylvania
* Ohio
* Maryland
* Delaware
* New Jersey
* Virginia
* New York
* Massachusetts
* District of Columbia
* Connecticut
* West Virginia