We have a little tradition here at the Iron Hill in West Chester.  Once a year we make a special, unique and tiny batch of beer just for our staff.  Usually we give it out around the holidays, but this year the beer was stubborn and it took a little longer to ferment.  Sometime’s you are on the beer’s schedule and not the other way around.  The beer is called Appreciation and that’s what it’s all about; showing the rest of our restaurant how much we appreciate all of the hard work they’ve given us over the past year.

I always say that the staff is what makes Iron Hill what it is.  We make great beer here, don’t get me wrong.  But we live and work in a part of the country that is just teeming with excellent local beer.  I have a lot of very talented contemporaries that keep me humble.  When it comes to what happens outside of the brewery though, I don’t feel the need to be humble.  I can’t think of another brewery restaurant operation that can boast a staff that knows as much about beer as ours.  They’re passionate and knowlegable and you don’t find that everywhere.  I’ve drank in a lot of brewpubs all over the country and I have to say that our crew is what really sets us apart.

The Appreciation is different every year.  It’s made in a 1/2 barrel batch on the same homebrew system that the owners used as homebrewers before Iron Hill existed.  It’s usually designed by the assistant brewer and it uses some crazy ingredients or processes that might be too daring or expensive to make a whole batch of.  Most importantly its only for the staff.  Appreciation can’t be bought anywhere.

There’s a picture of it here but you can’t really read the text on it.  Here’s what it says.

“What a great year!  The World Series, 6 medals at the GABF, a historic new president and we still love our job!!!  There aren’t many people that make a living doing what some choose to do as a hobby.  We know that we wouldn’t have this job if it weren’t for the person holding this bottle.  You sell the beer we make, craft the food it pairs with or otherwise make this place work.  The ber in this bottle is a small token of our APPRECIATION.  Appreciation was brewed and hand bottled by us for you, the staff of Iron Hill, West Chester.  This year’s appreciation was brewed with maple syrup, dried mission figs, Belgian yeast and of course lots of love.  We hope ou enjoy it because you deserve to.  We also hope you enjoy whatever holiday you celebrate this season.  Just make sure you celebrate something.  Thanks again and enjoy life. 

Chris and Jean

Jean and I will be handing these out starting on Wednesday.

Cheers,

Chris