| Crystal Ball Brewing Company 1612 West King Street | York, PA 17404 (Enter and park in the rear) www.crystalballbrewing.com |
Look into the crystal ball and you will see cans… craft cans… soon… very soon.
Crystal Ball Brewing Company is a microbrewery located in a functional, bare bones production brewing space on West King Street in York, Pennsylvania.
Founded by Ryan Johnstonbaugh, Ashley Garvick and Jesse James De Salvo, the story behind CBBC is different depending on who you ask. A combination of names? Big into mysticism? Despite the story, the beers are tasty and the crew is welcoming.
The most welcoming member of the CBBC staff is Bella, who greeted us as soon as we entered the door. The adorable canine loves people, loves attention, loves fetching her ball, and dislikes cats!
Ashley (and Bella) gave us a tour of the 5-barrel system, which pumps out both traditional offerings and experimental brews. A 12 to 15 hour brew day (which typically begins around 4 AM) produces a double batch, filling the 10-barrel fermenters.
Crystal Ball brews can be found on tap at various places across Pennsylvania or in kegs at local distributors. Beer drinkers can also visit the brewery, which is open on Saturdays from noon to 5 PM (as well as some Wednesday and Friday evenings) for growler-fills, samples, and tours. Check their Facebook page for current hours and beers on tap.
In the very near future, can sales will be added to that list. Crystal Ball will be selling their two most popular brews, Coconut Porter and All-Seeing IPA, in 16-ounces cans. Cans will be available at the brewery beginning Thursday, February 5, 2015 in 4-packs, 8-packs and cases. CBBC plans to push cans out through distribution as well.
Why cans? Cans are convenient, recyclable, and easy to stack in the fridge. Cans are portable, light-weight, and protect beer from light. Coconut Porter and All-Seeing IPA will be canned by River City Cannery, a mobile canning unit from Laurel, Maryland. The cans were designed by BrewBrandCREATIVE from Denver, Colorado, featuring the inventive Crystal Ball logo.
- Coconut Porter is a 5.2% ABV, 24 IBU traditional brown porter brewed with English dark malts offering a balance of roasty and chocolate flavors. Real toasted coconut is added during the brewing process, giving a subtle tropical flavor.
- All-Seeing IPA is a 6.8% ABV, 56 IBU bold yet smooth India Pale Ale brewed with giant additions of a special proprietary Northwest hop offering big hop flavor and aroma with a subtle malt profile.
Other beers by CBBC include Breakfast Stout, an oatmeal stout with real local smoked bacon added post-fermentation; Clairvoyance, a Munich-style Helles lager; Belgian Tripel, a complex golden-colored Belgian Strong Ale; and Pale Ale, an easy-drinking ale brewed with Cascade and Amarillo hops.
So what does the future look like for Crystal Ball Brewing Company? Who knows! The guys have no current plans to open a brewpub, but it is not out of the question. They have talked about opening an off-site brewpub in York, Harrisburg, Lancaster… Who knows!
One thing that is known is that you can find Crystal Ball Brewing Company at these upcoming events:
Hibrewnation on Saturday, February 7 from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Memorial Hall – York Expo Center
Tastefest on Friday, March 6 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Rotary Club in Hanover
The Taming of the Brew on Saturday, April 11 from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM at Caldwell Consistory in Bloomsburg
Pints for Pets on Saturday, May 9 at Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona
Schuylkill County Brew Fest on Saturday, May 16 from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM at Elks Lodge in Frackville
