FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23

Beer Release: 5pm

Event Start Time: Doors at 6pm, Show at 7pm

Background

Even though Germany is often most closely associated with their clean, crisp, bottom-fermenting lagers, the traditional Kölsch represents a slight departure from this tradition. While breweries in Cologne have been making—and lagering—this still of beer since the Middle Ages, bottom fermentation was prohibited in the city. During the Industrial Revolution, which led to the mass production and globalization of beer, the Kölsch was positioned in the market place as an alternative to pale lagers.

We call this beer a Kölsch because it is made true-to-style using a top-fermenting yeast strain derived from what was used in Cologne, but like Champagne, Kölsch is technically a beer that can only be brewed in Cologne (known as Köln in Germany).

In addition to brewing this beer in the United States, we’ve put another hyper-local twist on this style by using locally sourced honey from our friends who are Pittsfield-based beekeepers.

What’s in a Name?

We looked to the world of beekeeping for the inspiration for this beer’s name. In bee colonies, the afterswarm are a group of bees who leave the colony and start a new one as a smaller group.

In addition to the literal connection to bees and the production of honey, the metaphor of the afterswarm resonates with us for a few different reasons. As elder millennials who first got into beer when imported beers were still considered “good beers” and the American craft beer scene was just getting started, we still get excited about crisp, clean, clear, and lower-ABV beers, even if we are in a minority these days.

Likewise, we are also nostalgic for the underground and indie music scene (when it was still about being independent and not as much of a genre). This is why we’ve been so excited to form a strong relationship with the DIY music scene in Pittsfield, and we feel like the dovetailing interests have helped us solidify our colony here. 

Launch Party Details:

We’re teaming up with our friends at Silver Lake Booking for a great lineup of bands from Western Mass and Upstate NY featuring Arms Like Roses (who are returning to our taproom once again), Imposters, Quartertone, and Bunny Riot. This will be an all-ages show and will have a $10 cover charge. Doors will open at 6pm and the show will start at 7pm.