Bucks County Ale Trail Releases 2024 Collaboration Brew

BUCKS COUNTY, PA —A new craft brew created in collaboration with the Bucks County Ale Trail is available for a limited time only at breweries and taprooms throughout the county after it was officially released on Friday, August 30.

For the second year, Visit Bucks County partnered with host, Warwick Farm Brewing, and the brewers of Bucks County to create a county-wide Bucks County Ale Trail collaboration beer.

“We’re always trying to create new reasons for people to visit our breweries and experience the Bucks County Ale Trail. The collaboration beer is one way we’re doing that,” said Heather Walter, the marketing director at Visit Bucks County, the organization that created the Ale Trail to promote Bucks County’s hugely successful craft breweries and taprooms.

“Last year was our first collaboration and it flew off the shelves in a couple of weeks,” said Walter who encourages interested beer lovers to plan their visit to their favorite brewer or taproom before the latest collaboration is sold out.

Brewers from the Bucks County Ale Trail gathered at Warwick Farm Brewing in early August for the collaborative brew. (Visit Bucks County)

“Last year we did an American pale ale. This year we switched it up,” said Walter.

The 2024 edition, "Expedition Bucks County," a 5.5 percent Hazy IPA, is heavily dry-hopped with Simcoe and Cryo Citra. The blend of hops creates a rich, candied orange flavor with notes of citrus and tropical fruits. A significant amount of oats is added to the mash to enhance the mouthfeel, making for a smooth and satisfying drinking experience.

Expedition Bucks County is available to taste and to purchase on draft and in cans at all participating Bucks County Ale Trail brewery locations until it’s sold out.

Warwick Farm brewed this year’s collaboration, which included input from brewers and taprooms from throughout the county during the development of Expedition Bucks County and throughout the brewing process.

“The collaboration is exciting because it’s the one time of year we can get all the brewers together,” said Walter.

Participating in the collaboration brew held earlier this month at Warwick were Aristaeus Craft Brewing Company, Artifact Brewing, Bitchin’ Kitten Brewery, Broad Street Brewing, Broken Goblet Brewing, Bucks County Brewing, Crooked Eye Brewing, Free Will Brewing Company, Free Will Brewing Taproom, Geronimo Brewing at Lily’s Jury Room, Great Barn Taproom, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Langhorne Brewing Company, Mystic Ways Brewing, Naked Brewing Company, and Naked Brewing Company - Bristol Taproom.

Also participating were Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company, Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company - Dublin, Newtown Brewing Company, Odd Logic Brewing Company, Puck Live by Great Barn, Red Lion Brewery, Second Sin Brewing, Second Sin Brewing - Newtown Taproom, Tranquility Brewing Company, Triumph Brewing Company, Two Rivers Brewing Taproom, Van Lieus Brewing, Vault Brewing Company, and Vault Smokehouse.

Monitoring the brewing process of the collaboration beer in early August are Tim Lohse, right, co-founder of Broad Street Brewing in Bristol, and Tim Taber, the general manager at Warwick Farm Brewing.

“At Visit Bucks, we love to talk about the Ale Trail because these guys all work so well together,” said Walter. “I’m sure there’s competition among them but you don’t see it. They get it that a rising tide raises all ships. They work together. They share. Even with the collaboration, Warwick is brewing the beer but they’re all bringing their own kegs so they can serve it at each location. That’s what has made the Ale Trail so successful. They get that spirit of collaboration.”

Visit Bucks County launched the Ale Trail in May 2019 with 15 breweries. It has since grown to 32 breweries (including taprooms).

“For locals, the trail gives them a reason and an incentive to explore more than just their favorite local taprooms and breweries,” said Walter, explaining that those who hold the Ale Trail passport can earn prizes for visiting the taprooms and breweries.

“There are also audiences who come in from out of town to hit all the breweries. On the tourism angle, that’s why we created the ale trail because people are traveling for beer or they might be coming for Sesame Place or Peddler’s Village, but they’re seeking out the local breweries in the county.”

Breweries and taprooms have also been booming in Bucks County, reported Walter, who credits much of that to their unique locations.

"You can come here to Warwick and have a different experience than you’ll have at Broken Goblet or you can go to Neshaminy Creek and it’s a different experience there. Part of the reason we’ve been successful in Bucks is that every location is unique.”

Walter encourages everyone to sign up for a Bucks County Ale Trail passport, which is available through the Visit Bucks County website. When a passport holder visits a location on the trail they receive points which can then be redeemed for prizes.

Annually, Bucks County welcomes more than 8.2 million visitors generating nearly $1.2 billion dollars in economic impact, and supporting a hospitality workforce of more than 28,675 jobs.

Brewers from throughout the county gathered in early August for the collaborative brew. (Visit Bucks County)