This is what Brewer Tim Yarrington of
Elk Creek Cafe and Ale works is trying to produce every day in his hand built (built by Tim) brewhouse. Located in Millheim, PA on scenic route 45 Elk Creek is the brainchild of Tim Bowser. He wanted to have a craft beer and food destination in a rural setting. With a group of investors he acquired an historic hotel in Millheim center. The site began as a coffee shop but finally achieved it's intended purpose as a brewpub in late 2007.
Tim got his start in brewing by earning an education at UC Davis after a stint in the construction industry. This construction experience served him well at his first brewing job in Long Valley NJ where he was the brewer for 11 years after helping build the brewery. After that Tim found an opportunity, and a thrill, in designing and brewing at the short lived (not due to product quality!) Times Square Brewpub and Restaurant. After 5 years of working as a brewpub design consultant Tim saw another exciting and challenging opportunity. This time, rather than the thrill of the city, it was the challenge of bringing craft beer to a rural area. Tim, a diehard craft beer champion, believed that this succeeding at this task would mean craft beer had "made it." After the brewery build was complete Tim was so in love with his ultra small footprint system that, rather than help hire a suitable brewer to run the brewery (as he had in his past builds), he moved his family to the area and took the reigns himself.
The residents of Millheim and the surrounding area were ready to support the shared vision of Tim and the owners of Elk Creek. In the first year of business the customers consumed 400Bbl of beer. Probably due in large part to Tim's love of daily interaction with his customers. This year Elk Creek will brew nearly 800Bbl with their 8Bbl brewery. This is made possible because of excellent beer and 2 new 500 gallon fermenters in the brewery which allow for limited off premise sales.
Tim has a very solid brewing background and a solid brewing philosophy to match. His goal in making beer is not to push the boundaries of beer, or be a style extremist, rather, he wants to try to embody all the reasons beer appeals to the palette and achieve perfect balance in all of his beers. This love of balance shouldn't dissuade hopheads from stopping in for a pint, when Elk Creek makes an aggressive beer they ensure it is aggressively balanced with each ingredient working in harmony with its counterparts. This philosophy was most clearly realized in the Little Village MFA. The MFA slapped me in the tongue with a hop flavor reminiscent of juniper and was immediately answered with the perfect malt backbone. The finish was dry and clean leaving my palette cleansed and not worn out in the least. Very impressive! These excellent beers are paired with an adventurous, rotating American Bistro menu where fresh, local food is served. There is also a regular 6 item menu available year round.
Elk Creek is dedicated to having live music in house as often as possible (currently 3 nights a week). The music varies from Jazz to Americana to Hard Rock with original acts taking the stage over cover bands in nearly every case.
Tim turned each challenge he faced in this brewing adventure into a positive. When asked about the small space he works in he mentions that there is no running from one end of a large brewery to another to open and close valves. He also mentions how happy he was to be presented with used equipment because it gave him a chance to exercise his brain and his fabrication skills. He turned the even turned the lack of cooling on the bottom of a fermenter into an opportunity to gain a steam jacketed hot water tank for his brewery. Need to sell kegs off site? Tim saw a chance to have some fun fabricating a keg cleaning rig. Tim will adapt to anything and he thrives on a challenge. With his can do attitude he will be an inspiration and a valuable resource to many future brewers.
Above is the spray ball on the home made keg cleaning system (right). Below is the calandria, a recirculation device used to make wort boiling more efficient, in Tim's kettle.
For more pictures of Elk Creek please visit
Stop 2 Elk Creek
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