Nestled in the historic town of New Hope, Pennsylvania you will find the Great Barn Brewery Taproom. Officially listed as a microbrewery, they are anything but! With many different beers on tap, all of varying styles and flavor, you can get lost for hours in the delicious beer in their taproom.
We recently took a trip to Great Barn, and we are thankful we did!
Known as the first farm brewery in Bucks County, Great Barn is the brainchild of married couple Maryana and Steve Ferguson. Originally both got into home brewing and knew they needed to take their love of beer to greater heights. Which we can all thank them for because we now have what is known as Great Barn Brewery. (Enjoy the beer artwork? You can thank Maryana as she draws most of them by hand!)
Where to start with Great Barn? Is it the various delicious styles of beer they are producing? The fact that their head brewer is one of only a handful of beer historians in the world? Or that a majority of their ingredients are locally sourced? While all of that is exciting, let’s start with their unique brewery.
When you walk into the taproom you may wonder where all their delicious beer is being brewed. Well, this is the first brewery in Bucks County that is farm brewing. Yes, you read that correctly, their brewery is located offsite at the Great Barn owners farm. This is truly farm to glass beer (that’s a thing right?)
If you care about the ingredients that go into beer then you are in luck. Since the brewery is located on their own farm, most of the grains and water that go into their beer are grown right at the brewery! And since they value owning a farm, a majority of all their other ingredients are locally sourced from other farms in the area.
What would a brewery review be without the beer? As we mentioned, there are many beers on tap with the styles being changed out constantly. So while Great Barn may be described as a microbrewery, there is nothing micro about their flavor. On tap during our visit was their New England Style 2X IPA, Midnight Fox Oatmeal Stout, Beerbarian Finnish Sahti (one of the oldest beer styles in the world), Where The Delaware Am I IPA and many more! The flavors and tastes at Great Barn feel endless. But act quick, because the taps get rotated quickly to keep up with all the new and exciting flavors they are producing.
These beers come from the creative mind of Christopher Bowen, an award winning brewer and officially recognized beer historian in his own rights. As one of the owners told us, he isn’t just a brewer he’s a scientist with beer. With a record and reputation like that, you are in good hands and cannot miss these flavors. (Read more about his impressive accomplishments)
Finally, while the beer and farm to glass flavors will bring you in the door, it is the sites and sounds that will keep you at Great Barn for hours. Located right on the Delaware River this location is ideal for a break from the afternoon shopping New Hope has to offer or a night with friends. Grab a beer fresh from the taps and head on outside to enjoy the water and fresh air.
It is important to note, the taproom does not serve food, however, as one of the owners told us they are “BYOF”. Yup, you guessed it, you are more than welcome to Bring Your Own Food.
Great Barn may have just opened, but you heard it here first; they are destined for much bigger things in the very near future. Get into their taproom as soon as you can to enjoy a beer experience like no other the area has to offer.
