We’re pleased to announce the tapping on Friday, January 13th, of an exclusive from our local brothers in brewing, Victory Brewing Company.

Braumeister Pils Spalt Select is a rare, one time brew for Victory, and Bethlehem Brew Works is the only place in the Lehigh Valley you can get it. So, get it while you can.

Braumeister Pils Spalt Select

At around 5% abv. Varying only the variety of hops employed each time we brew a Braumeister Pils, we got to enjoy this pleasure of possibilities.

Expect dry, quenching character as the often subtle, sometimes assertive signatures of great varieties lead this brewer’s quartet.

Cold conditioned for maximum refinement it as always offered unfiltered. With Spalt Select expect a floral, earthy and an overall complex beer.

Caleigh Emma teamed up with Lehigh Valley Mirror on her new project. This lifestyle webisode is part of her print/web series called Young and Wasteless.  This first episode gives some insight on getting through the winter in the Queen City.

Congratulations to Beau Baden, Christopher Bowen, and the brewing team at Fegley’s Brew Works. 2011 GABF Medal Winners have been announced and they’re coming home with one!

Arctic Alchemy is the Bronze Medal Winner in Category: 82 Old Ale or Strong Ale

On the Main Floor of the Allentown Brew Works

Artist Lisa Kappes

All you need to do is wear our sticker at Musikfest and you’re automatically entered and have a chance to win craft brewed beer!

We want to reward you for helping to support your local brewery! If you are spotted by one of our spotters at the festival wearing our sticker, you will be given a coupon. This coupon will be good for a free Musikfest mug refill or free pint of beer at Bethlehem Brew Work’s “Fest Booth”.

Stickers are available at Bethlehem Brew Works.

Thank you to all of our staff, Tom Kerr (City of Allentown) and Erin Frederick (Lehigh County Conservation)!

The giant black garbage bin behind the Allentown Brew Works used to hold all sorts of trash from diners’ unfinished plates: wet coasters, soggy french fries, old lemons, sandwich crusts.

Now that mess of leftovers — about 900 tons a year between the Allentown and Bethlehem Brew Works restaurants — isn’t destined for a sodden burial in a landfill but a long happy life on a farm in Berks County.

Brew Works is the first Allentown restaurant in a Lehigh County-run pilot project aimed to get Allentown eateries, then all Lehigh Valley restaurants, to send their food scraps to small farms to be composted into soil nutrients.

July 20, 2011 | By Devon Lash, Of The Morning Call

Read the whole story here

John is heavily involved in charity work as well. He donates his services to Life Rolls On in Wildwood Crest, NJ, Marines Helping Marines in North East, MD, and Santa Paws in Ardmore, PA. In addition, John traveled to Joplin, MO to photograph survivors of the most recent devastating tornado.

John’s current exhibit at Allentown Brew Works, The Faces of Brew Works, is a tribute to the people who work at Brew Works… the people who make Brew Works work. The exhibit will be on display until September 30th.

Although he is based in Allentown, PA, John is available for travel worldwide. You can see a sampling of his work at www.JohnWirickPhotography.com.

THE MORNING CALL
June 30, 2011

The city of Allentown is now turning a corner and beginning to forge a new identity after years of struggling with the loss of its iconic retailers and manufacturers. Like many of our nation’s small cities, the downtown became a shell of its yesteryear as retailers had moved to contrived imitation downtowns called malls, or “lifestyle centers,” built with the wave of sprawl beyond the city limits. Manufacturing also left our urban cores for the artificial industrial “parks” that ate into our rural farmland, leaving empty factories and offices looming in a once proud cityscape…

Read the Entire Op-Ed HERE

Allentown

Brew Works Family
Has the best micro-brew beers
In Eastern PA

Sustainable and
local menu options, their
beer gets you drunk, too!

Old Allentown Ale
Tastes much better than how the
Old Allentown looks

Cold Beer does not care
To each mouth and tongue it’s fair
any thirst it’s there!

Barley, hops and rye
Brewed to golden water crisp
Nectar of the gods

Allentown Brew Works
Nestled in the Queen City
Best beer in this town

Big Bad Barley Wine,
Brewmistress is their to dine,
Number 9 is doing fine

Craving a good beer.
Local, strong, it hits the spot.
Brew Works, five o’clock.

So what’s better than
Fegley’s Allentown Brew Works?
Burrito Works, bitch

beer haiku contest quenching gulps
smack of delightful praise
share with friends in peace

Full pints satisfy,
Smooth creamy and delicious,
Good head will be mine

Brew Works in Summer
cools me down all season long
with amazing brew

The Cold Beer
Frosty filled cold glass.
Fresh hops drizzle against lips.
Life is good today.

Thirsty Donnie D
Want monkey monkey monkey
Ra-chill bring to me

Feg’s Amber Lager
Insidious Space Monkey
Devious comes soon.

Grain, Hops, Water, Malt
Beau at Brew Works combines them
The beers make me smile!

I can never frown
When brew works is down the street
Everything is good

Bethlehem

Slowly sipping suds
Blueberry Belch on my tongue
A smile on my face

A cold ESB
Paired with ten blast furnace wings
Perfect: fire and ice.

Worldly possessions
Insidious and nachos
I am in Heaven

Where can we find beer?
at Brew works is the answer.
all days of the year.

Arctic Alchemy
Wow. There is nothing better
Next Batch Soon?

Bethlehem Brew Works
Where I meet all of my friends
to forget my worries

Frosty frothy pint
A unique tasty delight
Perfect any night

Hopsolutely mine
Nor will I ever share you
I want a T-shirt.

A hot summer day
Blueberry Belch in my hand
Hey, there’s the mayor!

On the Green

The best beer all year
Space Monkey, Blueberry Belch
BrewWorks I heart you!

Barley, hops and rye
Brewed to golden water crisp
Nectar of the gods

Let’s play golf and drink
the best beer that we all know
Hit the green in two

BrewWorks on the Green
Joy by bottle, tap, and food
Now I’m in the mood

The foam slowly rises
Mouth wet with expectation
Time can be so cruel

Alex is the Grand Champion of LEHIGH VALLEY ART WARS

Alex is a 26 year old artist who studied Illustration at Columbus College of Art & Design and can occasionally be seen hauling kegs and helping behind the bar at the Bethlehem Brew Works. Alex is an important member of the design team at Fegley’s Brew Works, as he did the artwork for several of our brands including Space Monkey, Monkey Wrench, Insidious, Devious, and the new Blueberry Belch!

Together with designer Traci Langer they’ve created wonderfully intriguing identities for our beers. Look for more stuff coming soon…

Thanks to the staff at Whiskey Goldmine!

The Fegley’s Brewery is getting a lot of buzz in the Philadelphia area and proving to be one of the best brewers in the city area. Considering this is one of the best craft beer cities in the U.S., Fegley’s is of course creating some great crafts. The Hop’solutely Triple IPA is made with Cascade, CTZ, Summit, Amarillo and Chinook hops, then dry hopped with Chinook and Amarillo. At 100 IBU’s, this triple IPA is still balanced enough to challenge the best IPA’s in the country. We challenge you to try it out. Allentown and Bethlehem are making a real name for themselves and deservedly so. Whiskey Goldmine

In a city where residents sport sweatpants in public with pride, the crowd at Brew Works Pajama Jammy Jam Brunch Party on Saturday appeared remarkably well-groomed.

That’s Philly Beer Week for you.

More than 35,000 folks – some well-dressed, some not – are expected to flood the region for the fourth annual frothfest, which wraps up Sunday. Organizers say it is the largest celebration of its kind in the country.

So it was a must for Beau Baden.

The head brewer at Brew Works in Allentown, Baden, 40, arrived at the Pajama Jam – held at City Tap House in West Philadelphia – with some of his more popular brews: Hop’solutely, Space Monkey saison, and Blueberry Belch. He’ll headline a dozen such events before Beer Week ends.

“It’s important to build our name, show who we are, and what we are making,” he said. “This brings a ton of attention.”

During Beer Week, everybody wins. June 09, 2011 | By Ashley Primis, Inquirer Staff Writer

Read the full article here

It’s official! Fegley’s Brew Works now ranks in the top 125 in beer sales…twice! According to the 2010 Brewpub report complied by the Brewers Association, Allentown Brew Works peaks at number 55 with 1,831 total barrels of beer produced in the year 2010. Bethlehem Brew Works notches in at number 110 with 1,330 barrels produced this past year. If the sister breweries were combined (as several other breweries had their figures listed), this would place Fegley’s Brew Works in the top 40 brewpub companies in the nation.

Production up 66%

Allentown Brew Works saw a significant increase in annual production from 2009, up 66%. This was due to the expanding reach of its sales and marketing teams behind the award-winning beers, which boosted the brewery to its peak production capacity. With the addition of two new 30bbl fermenters (which were recently installed) production can increase by another 50%. Brewmaster Beau Baden expects to ramp up to peak capacity again very soon. “We should fall somewhere around the 2,600 mark for the next year” he stated, “and may even hit 3,000.” If Allentown were to reach another significant increase (of 40+%), they would move into the top five Brewpubs for production in the Northeast region of the country.

Bethlehem continues at peak capacity

Bethlehem Brew Works has also seen slight increases in production recently, but it has remained steady (at capacity) for the past few years and Beau only expects a few percent increase in production at this location for the coming year. “Bethlehem’s running like a racehorse now, so if we can get a touch more that would be a bonus.”

Family run, urban made, and fiercely independent since 1998.

Lehigh Valley’s Brew Works and Weyerbacher expanding craft beer operations.

By Tyrone Richardson, of  THE MORNING CALL

10:59 PM EDT, May 11, 2011

From THE MORNING CALL:

Lehigh Valley microbrewers Weyerbacher Brewing Co. and Fegley’s Brew Works are installing more equipment and adding workers to keep pace with a growing demand for their ales, lagers and seasonal blends, owners said.

The two family-owned breweries are part of a national trend of microbrewers who are expanding operations to keep up with burgeoning consumer demand for craft beers. An industry expert said the growth is largely due to younger drinkers seeking alternatives to mass-produced beer such as Budweiser and Coors.   [Full story]

At Fegley’s Brew Works, we are reducing our ecological foot print and saving money at the same time by diverting food scraps and compostable material from our waste stream and keeping it out of landfills. Annually, we’ll be keeping almost a HALF MILLION pounds out of the landfills.

Over 1,120 gallons

Each week, over 1,120 gallons of food scraps are sent to the Rodale Institute,

just outside of Kutztown. The Rodale Institute have been organic pioneers since 1947, and we are proud to partner with them.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average person generates 1.35 pounds of food waste per day; across the entire U.S. population, this amounts to 12.5% of the total material entering landfills. Diverting food scraps from the waste stream will not only prolong the life of landfills, but will create a valuable resource – COMPOST – that provides environmental, agricultural and economical benefits to the community.

Compost is a valuable soil additive, that enriches the soil by adding essential nutrients and organic matter, which is vital to farmers, gardeners, and landscapers to conduct sustainable operations. Essentially, food waste is not a necessary waste product; like cans and bottles, the material is of significant value if it can be transported to an appropriate location to be composted, and then can be used as a soil additive.

In The Press

Brew Works’ leftovers nourish Berks County soil

July 20, 2011|By Devon Lash, Of The Morning Call

The giant black garbage bin behind the Allentown Brew Works used to hold all sorts of trash from diners’ unfinished plates: wet coasters, soggy french fries, old lemons, sandwich crusts.  (Read the entire article here)

Tap lines are in – Knuckleball, Fegley’s Lager, and Hop Explosion are on draft now!

Plus we’ve got bottled beers to go from around the world.

Grab just one, two, or a coupla’ sixes!

VIEW THE BEER LIST

We make it easy to enjoy the finest beverages with the freshest burritos!

And Burritos are only $5 After 5pm!

In 2002, as Brewmaster at Ellicott Mills Brewing, his work earned a Gold and a Bronze at the Real Ale Festival in Chicago.

Returning to Pyramid Breweries as Headbrewer-brewpubs, he continued to win worldwide recognition with a 2004 Silver at the World Beer Cup, and a Bronze at the GABF the same year.

In 2005, he began his tenure at Fegley’s Brew Works as Brewmaster overseeing the build and design of the brewery at the second location for the company.  He has continued to accumulate medals and awards year after year including:

Great American Beer Festival (GABF)

• Gold 2007
• Bronze 2008
• Silver and Bronze 2009

World Beer Cup

• Bronze 2008

World Beer Championships

• Gold 2005
• Silver 2006
• Silver and Bronze 2010
• Silver and Bronze 2011

Due to the overwhelming number of requests for comments about our Trademark of Rude Elf’s Reserve, The Brew Works is offering the following Statement:

Five years after the registration for Fegley’s Brew Works RUDE ELF’S RESERVE issued, Troegs is trying to take the registration away, asking the US Trademark Office to invalidate it.

In so doing, Troegs seeks to monopolize the word elf in advertising its beer. We do not think the law recognizes such exclusivity and believe other brewers who have used elves longer than Troegs and have not complained about each others’ or Fegley’s use will also take part in preserving their rights.

Troegs must prove a likelihood of consumer confusion, that is, that consumers believe Fegley’s products are associated with, endorsed by or originate with Troegs. Under the trademark law, likelihood of confusion depends on many factors including the similarity of the marks in appearance and overall commercial impression and the strength of the complainant’s mark.  A mark’s strength in turn depends on the number of third parties in the marketplace using the same or similar designations as those in dispute.  Here the parties’ brands have only a single term in common, “elf” . There is a long tradition in this country of using the terms “elf” or “elves” in connection with holiday beers, ales and lagers.  In addition to the parties in this litigation there are at least one dozen beers produced by other parties including Shelton Brothers and La Chouffe that use the term elf and/or elf imagery. Of the (at least) one dozen parties offering beers, a single producer, Shelton, sells six of them under the mark BAD ELF and variations thereof. Under the circumstances, we believe consumers are readily able to differentiate among different “elf” beers and do not associate the term “elf” with any single beer producer.  Therefore we think consumers are not likely to believe any party’s beer including the term elf,  is related to any other beer that includes this term.  Moreover on the labels and cases for their respective products, both parties use their house names (Fegley’s Brew Works and Troegs), Troegs uses additional words to describe the flavor of its beer, and Fegley also uses the word “Reserve”; also the parties’ illustrations of elves simply look different.  These factors further support that there is not likely to be consumer confusion.

Moreover the marks on the labels and cases for their respective products are very different. Fegley’s filed an application for the Trade Mark of “Rude Elf’s Reserve” on June 21st 2004 with the following elf image (shown below), on all of their beer labels for sale.

At same time of Fegley’s original filing in 2004, the only Troeg’s mark of Record was the following image (shown below) and the name…

“THE MAD ELF TROEGS HOLIDAY ALE BREWED WITH HONEY, CHERRIES & CHOCOLATE MALTS“.

As these images make clear, both parties use their house names (Fegley’s Brew Works and Troegs), Troegs uses additional words to describe the flavor of its beer, and Fegley also uses the word “Reserve”; and the parties’ illustrations of elves simply look different.  These factors further support that there is not likely to be consumer confusion.

For additional information please visit these links of public record with the US Patent and Trade office

1. Rude Elf’s Reserve Mark filed June 21st 2004:  http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=registration&entry=3047757

2. Other Elf mark: http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=registration&entry=2887242

3. Official Petition information: http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?qt=adv&procstatus=All&pno=&propno=&qs=&propnameop=&propname=Rude+Elf&pop=&pn=&pop2=&pn2=&cop=&cn=

Two examples (of more than a dozen) other Elf beers

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/7944/14422

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/rinkuskiai-missing-elf/114945/

We’d like to invite those folks to try our new wine flights to sample so of the great selections that our beverage team has put together.

The wine flights are available at the Allentown Brew Works and the Bethlehem Brew Works locations.

The Red Wine Flight

Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir

California. Floral notes on the nose along with bright cherry, smoky vanilla, and nutmeg. Silky and berry jam flavors that go well with lighter pork dishes, as well as our chicken and salmon choices.

Blackstone Merlot

California. Aromas of violets and plums go along nicely with flavors of cherry, plum, and bold blackberry. Try with spicier dishes, ribs, and steaks.

Ravenswood Vintners Blend Cabernet Sauvignon

California. Flavorful fruit and balanced tannins, hints of oak and baking spices to go along with blackberry and cassis fruit flavors. Try with our burgers, buffalo wings, and other spicy treats.

The White Wine Flight

Ruffino ‘Lumina’ Pinot Grigio

Italy. Intense floral notes followed by aromas of citrus and pear. Notes of minerality balanced with hints of pineapple and sage. Goes nicely with chicken, seafood, and cream sauce pastas.

Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc

New Zealand. Crisp and refreshing with lively flavors of ripe grapefruit and sweet delicious pineapple. Enjoyed best with a variety of seafood and chicken.

Clos du Bois North Coast Chardonnay

Italy. Intense aromas of apple blossom, pear, and sweet lemon drop. Creamy finish of light oak, spice, and butter. Great with buttery sauces or a meal tinged with sweet spices.

Fegley’s Brew Works is proud to announce that we have has been nominated in several categories.

• Best Area Brewmaster – Beau Baden
• Best Label Art – Brew Works Space Monkey
• Best Imperial IPA – Brew Works Hop’solutely
• Best Fall Seasonal – Brew Works Devious Pumpkin
• Best Winter Seasonal – Brew Works Rude Elf’s Reserve
  

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And might we suggest…

• Best Beer Distributor Burbs – Shangy’s (write in)
• Best Homebrew Shop – Keystone Homebrew
• Best Homebrew Club – Lehigh Valley Homebrewers (write in)
• Best Homebrew Event – Malt Madness (write in)

And of course you can always put your favorite Brew Works beer wherever it fits!

To celebrate the warmer weather this April, we’re solving all your dinner needs.

Stop on over before heading home, and grab burritos for you and the family. You’ll feel good knowing your family is enjoying the freshest ingredients – including all-natural, sustainable meats and organic produce that Fegley’s Burrito Works uses.

Make the choice that’s better than fresh, and better than fast – it’s Fegley’s Burrito Works!

Over 25% off!

Regularly priced items (at $6.95) are offered at only $5 after 5pm

• $5 Burritos
• $5 Burrito Bowls
• $5 for 3 Tacos
• $5 Salads
• $5 Quesadillas

Offer available through April 30th, 2011

Up to 6,000 pounds of malt are used during the brewing process at our breweries. That’s about 312,00 pounds used per year. By upcycling the used malt into local farming, we eliminate what would otherwise be wasted. In turn, we get a locally sourced food product which is better for us, and the environment.

Fegley’s Brew Works is proud to support local business. By partnering with Koehler Farms, we can upcycle the malt used in our breweries to their farms as feed for livestock. The result is healthier, more natural food, and zero waste.

Better Beer and Good Grub.

Allentown Brew Works presents a collection of works by Cara Crumbliss Photography.

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About the Photographer

Cara Crumbliss has been studying photojournalism and shooting since 2002.

She studied for two years as part of the staff of Penn State’s Daily Collegian, and continued to develop her craft as a part time business in the years to follow. She launched her independent studio in St Louis in 2009, transitioning her love of photojournalism into a unique contemporary to children’s and family photography. In January, 2010, she added wedding photography to her portfolio, as well as a non-traditional medium with UnBridaled images.  Visit the Cara Crumbliss Photography website.

About the Collection

On display on the Main Level of the Allentown Brew Works is an assortment of Cara’s favorite images, representative of her unique style in both Portraiture and Wedding Photography. For these, Cara uses a fine art print on brushed aluminum tiles.

By Kelly Huth

Published: Friday, March 18, 2011, 12:19 AM

When you think of Brew Works, chances are you don’t think burritos and espresso. But that’s about to change. The Fegley family opened their newest restaurants last Tuesday in Allentown: Burrito Works and Coffee Works. The restaurants have infused life back into two Hamilton Street storefronts, taking the place of Quizno’s and City Line Coffee House, both of which shuttered in 2009.

On the day of my visit, a line of curious foodies wound their way from the burrito counter to the front door, waiting for a chance to sample the Fegleys’ latest brainchild. Mike Fegley, director of marketing and public relations, says the quick-serve restaurant option had been staring them in the face.

“We chose this way because we see a trend toward accessible and wholesome food,” Fegley says, noting success of chains like Chipotle and Qdoba.

Flavor: Burrito Works serves up all-natural, local, sustainable, organic meats and produce. When you step in line, be prepared to make a decision. Choose your vessel (burrito, burrito bowl, tacos, quesadilla or salad), select your beer-marinated protein (chicken, beef, pork or vegetarian), add a salsa (pico de gallo corn, salsa verde, pineapple habanero pico el diablo or a rotating flavor from Easton Salsa Co.), then leave the rest to the burrito masters. Burrito Works also offers pizzapatas, or grilled flatbread pizzas, soups and chips and salsa, for the nonburrito crowd.

Healthy bite:

Mike Fegley says the dining triumvirate got trans fats and MSG off their menu long before it became popular. They’re reducing their reliance on high-fructose corn syrup and are sourcing healthier, leveraging their buying power to make healthier food choices.

“Our chicken costs twice as much as other restaurants pay,” adds brother Rich Fegley. “But it tastes better.”

History:

The Fegley family opened Bethlehem Brew Works in 1998 and expanded into the Allentown market with Allentown Brew Works and Brew Works on the Green (at the Allentown Municipal Golf Course). When they’re not cooking or opening new restaurants, they’re brewing beer.

So where’s the beer list at Burrito Works? Soon to come, Fegley says. The family is in the process of extending their liquor license from adjoining Allentown Brew Works so that customers can enjoy a beer and a burrito. Future plans include a take-out beer section, where fans can buy Brew Works brews. Burrito Works is far from being the end of the line of Fegley concept restaurants.

“We work with integrity and full commitment,” Fegley adds. “We believe in our concept and what we’re doing.”

With their two new ventures living in the shadow of neighboring Allentown Brew Works, it makes me wonder — have the Fegleys gone into competition with themselves? Not quite.

“It’s quick service, as opposed to sit-down dining,” Fegley says. “Six thousand people work downtown, but most take 30 minutes for lunch. This gives them the opportunity to get in and get out at a comfortable price point.”

Insiders eat:

“The Works” Burrito (pulled beef, cilantro lime rice, black lager beans, corn salsa, sauteed onions and peppers, cheese, sour cream, guacamole) — $8.50; Bethlehem Burrito (pulled pork, cilantro lime rice, pinto ale beans, pico de gallo, cheese, sour cream) —$6.95; Carnitas Pizzapata (blonde ale-marinated pulled pork, salsa verde, black lager beans, cheddar jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, cilantro, avocado, red onion) —$6.95; soup (choose from chicken tortilla or beer and cheese) — $4.50.

Hours:

7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for Coffee Works; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for Burrito Works (closing time subject to change).

Check, please:

Pizzapatas start at $5.95; protein can up the price by $2.50. Burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, quesadillas and salads all cost $6.95.

Coffee Works gets a shot of Easton

When visions of espresso and frothed milk poured into their heads, the Fegleys turned to coffee master Troy Reynard to lead the way. Reynard is the owner of Cosmic Cup Coffee Co. in Easton, a shop that prides itself on ultra fair trade, hand-picked beans. Reynard trained each barista in the Fegleys’ shop and provided the same roaster.

“The only thing that separates this (Coffee Works) coffee from that at Cosmic Cup is 17 miles,” Reynard says. “They’re trying to bring Easton to Allentown.”

The partnership is the result of a shared interest: green growth. Both Reynard and Fegley are members of the Greater Lehigh Valley Sustainable Business Network.

“When the opportunity came up, there was no question of who,” Fegley says. “We knew Troy; we knew his shops.”

“In my mind, this is the best possible scenario. A local business came in where a franchise failed,” Reynard adds.

Reynard says that local businesses pay their way in the community, citing a study that found 40 percent of the revenue a locally owned business generates winds up staying in that community.

“One of the things I really admire about the Fegleys is Allentown Brew Works (going) in downtown — they really injected growth,” Reynard says. “They don’t sit around waiting for anything to happen. They take the bull by the horns.”

In addition to espresso drinks, customers at Coffee Works can get their hands on all sorts of baked goods. Reynard says Lehigh Valley stalwarts Egypt Star Bakery provides the baked goods, and Tommy’s Bagels provides the bagels.

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NEW RESTAURANT AND NEW RESTAURANT WEEK IN ALLENTOWN

Big things are going down in Allentown.

First up, the Fegleys, the family that owns the Allentown and Bethlehem Brew Works, has opened up Burrito Works and Coffee Works right next door to the downtown Allentown restaurant at 812-816 W. Hamilton St.

The menu at Burrito Works features pizzapatas — grilled flatbread with Mexican-Italian toppings — as well as burritos, tacos, quesadillas and salads. You can get carnitas pizzapatas and nacho pizzapatas or customize your own with sauces like garlic olive oil or pesto cream and toppings like broccoli, black olives and black beans.

You can build your own burrito as well or choose from options like “The Works” — pulled beef, cilantro lime rice, guacamole and other goodies — or the “On the Green,” a veg-friendly option with two types of beans and more in a wheat tortilla. Prices are $5-$9.

Coffee Works is a collaboration with Easton’s Cosmic Cup. Coffee Works will serve fair-trade coffee in the form of straight-up coffee, espresso and cappucino as well as baked goods.

Burrito Works is in the former Quiznos and Coffee Works is in the former City Line coffee shop.

Downtown Allentown’s debut Restaurant Week will take place March 28 to April 3. Lunch prix fixe menus are $10 and $15 and dinner menus are $20 and $30. Participants are Sangria, Cosmopolitan, the Allentown Brew Works, Bada Bingg, Made in Brazil and Bay Leaf.

A sampling from the Allentown Brew Works $20 three-course menu: Bavarian pretzel appetizer, Asian shrimp in orange sauce main and a cranberry bread pudding for dessert. All the menus can be found here.

kelly.federico@mcall.com | 610-778-2241

Visit Best of the Valley at Lehigh Valley Magazine’s website

Vote for Brew Works

Consider Allentown Brew Works and Bethlehem Brew Works when voting for…

• Best Overall Restaurant in the Lehigh Valley
• Best Overall Restaurant in Allentown
• Best Overall Restaurant in Bethlehem
• Best NEW Mexican (Burrito Works)
• Best NEW Coffee Shop (Coffee Works)
• Best Bar
• Best Bartenders
• Best Beer Selection
• Best Happy Hour
• Best Martini
• Best Caterer
  • Allentown Brew Works – Check us out!
• Best Reception Facility
  • Allentown Brew Works – Weddings are cool again at ABW!
• Best Lunch Spot
• Best Wait Service
• Best Appetizer
• Best Sunday Brunch

Lehigh Valley Farmers are teaming up with one center city restaurant, the Allentown Brew Works.

Mar 4, 2011

A rare cattle raiser located in Bethlehem Township; Koehler Farms is their proud, new, beef supplier.

All natural burgers deliver a mouthwatering, tasty bite for Brew Work’s diners.

Delicious!

Published: Tuesday, March 08, 2011, 5:45 PM

By Kelly Huth | The Express-Times

Allentown has two new Brew Works locations to feast on — Burrito Works and Coffee Works opened today in the city.

The Brew Works has, of late, been flexing their restaurant muscles with expansions into Allentown and the Allentown Municipal Golf Course.

Their family-run business is into its newest venture: A Mexican restaurant and separate coffee shop adjoining the Allentown Brew Works location on Hamilton Street.

Burrito Works and Coffee Works opened today.

The coffee portion of the business is a collaboration with Troy Reynard, owner of The Cosmic Cup Coffee Co. of Easton.

“I’m not a partner in the business, but it’s a partnership of sorts,” Reynard says. “You’ll get the same quality coffee and drinks that you’d find at Cosmic Cup.”

Coffee Works will buy their fair trade, individually-sourced coffee from Reynard’s suppliers [New Harvest Coffee Roasters]. Reynard also trained the coffee baristas in Coffee Works.

“I was trying to open a shop in Allentown last summer, but I couldn’t find the right combination of location and rent,” Reynard adds.

Burrito Works and Coffee Works held a soft opening Monday for family and friends, and officially opened their doors for business today.

Local comics Tonge, Bost set to take over popular stand-up comedy showcase

Allentown, PA—Ryan Hill, the Bethlehem man who started the Lehigh Valley’s only stand-up comedy showcase – Tickle Me Tuesdays at the Allentown Brew Works – will be stepping aside as its producer after the March 15th show. Randy Tonge, of Breinigsville, and Steve Bost, of Bethlehem, will co-produce the show once Hill has left the post.

Hill, who is leaving to focus on his new position as the Programming Manager in charge of Comedy & Cinema at the soon-to-open ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, has put nearly two hundred comics on stage during his three years as producer of TMT, many of which come from the Lehigh Valley. “There wasn’t a stage like this for Lehigh Valley comedians before Tickle Me Tuesdays,” says Tonge. “I know that I am a much stronger comic because this show exists, and Steve and I both will make sure young Valley comics can continue to use it as a stepping stone to bigger shows.”

Tonge will handle booking for Tickle Me Tuesdays, which includes the professional headliner that has always capped off each edition, while Bost – the co-host of SteelTrap Trivia at the Bethlehem Brew Works – will work with the Allentown Brew Works to run each show. “I made my comedy debut at Tickle Me Tuesdays, unless you count the two small music open mics Ryan made me do the night before where nobody really listened to me,” says Bost. “This show has built a community of stand-up comics in the region; I’m honored to be working with Randy to run it.”

Tonge and Bost were picked by Hill to take over control of Tickle Me Tuesdays. “Randy and Steve have performed on more Tickle Me Tuesdays than anyone else,” says Hill. “They’ll do an excellent job in not only continuing in the tradition of getting the Valley’s young comics experience alongside professionals, but they’ll also infuse a new life to the show and take it to places I otherwise could not have. It was a hard realization to come to that I’d have to step down. It was made much easier when Randy and Steve said they’d take over.”

The three anniversary shows of Tickle Me Tuesdays, all of which Hill held as benefits for the American Diabetes Association in honor of his late grandmother, combined to earn nearly $2,500 for the charity. “I am incredibly proud of what this show has accomplished,” says Hill. “Not just in raising money for the ADA, but also in the fact that some of the young performers from when we started are now working in New York regularly. Hell, even I’m working regularly on the weekends, and that says a lot for what this show has been able to do.” Hill will still perform on the show “so long as Randy and Steve invite me to.” Says Bost: “eh… about that…”

To arrange interviews with Hill, Tonge and Bost, contact them at ticklemetues@gmail.com.

Beermaker’s used grains feed cattle on Northampton County farm

FRONT PAGE STORY Sunday, January 23, 2011
By LYNN OLANOFF
The Express-Times

Fegley’s Brew Works adds beer to its chili, sauerkraut and barbecue sauce. Its new beef burgers, however, need no beer infusion.

The restaurant’s new ground beef comes pre-filled with beer — well, in a way. Earlier this month, the restaurant started buying its ground beef from Koehler Farms in Bethlehem Township, Pa., where since late November, steer have been fed on Brew Works’ used beer grains.

It’s like a full circle: Brew Works makes its beer with malted barley and sells the used grains to Koehler Farms for cattle feed. The steer eat the beer grains and then end up served on a bun beside a glass of beer back at Brew Works.

“Our burgers are going to be tasting more and more like beer,” joked Mike Fegley, Brew Works’ director of marketing and public relations.

Breweries regularly sell used grains to farms. Weyerbacher Brewing Co. in Easton has a deal with a farm in Kutztown, Pa., and Brew Works had been distributing its used beer grains to several Lehigh Valley farms.

But breweries produce a lot of grain. Brew Works sends 750 pounds of spent grain a day to Koehler Farms, and Weyerbacher produces more than 2,000 pounds a day, head brewer Chris Wilson said.

As Brew Works ramped up production, the company needed to find a large farm to take its output, Fegley said.

The connection with Koehler Farms was made in a round-about way: the stepfather of Brew Works’ head brewer in Bethlehem is neighbors with the Koehlers’ cousins. The cousins called the family, who agreed to take Brew Works’ whole lot.

Nutritional benefits

The nutritional benefits of used beer grains for cattle are well-known, Dennis Koehler said. Brewing beer strips only about 10 percent of the protein out of the grains, and the beer leaves the grains well-saturated.

“The moisture makes the cows eat a little more,” Koehler said. “They seem to be really healthy on it.”

The Koehlers combine the beer grains with their regular corn and soybean mix, with the beer grains making up about one-third of the mixture. The cattle’s diet is split 50-50 between the grain mixture and hay, Koehler said.

The beer grains don’t get the cattle drunk. All the alcohol is extracted for the beer, but the question has led to some good jokes about why cows regularly lie down.

Koehler Farms has long sold beef from its Freemansburg Avenue farm, but two years ago it started adding more cattle to its herd with the hope of developing a partnership with a local restaurant, Dennis Koehler said.

In the two years, the farm’s herd has grown from about 50 to about 170 steer. Last year, Koehler Farms started selling its beef to Vassi’s Drive-In in Hellertown, but Brew Works, with its two restaurants in Allentown and one restaurant in Bethlehem, is a far bigger customer, Dennis Koehler said.

Even with the new sales to Brew Works, beef remains a minor part of the farm’s business, which is primarily corn and soybean sales, Koehler said.

Growing partnership

Brew Works is interested in growing the partnership, and also buying steaks from Koehler Farms when the family can add to the steer herd.

“I think it’s going to be a great partnership,” Koehler said. “They’re a family business, we’re a family business.”

Last week, the two companies made preliminary plans for Koehler Farms to sell 10 pounds of steak a week to the Brew Works.

The steaks will be a special menu item at the restaurant, Brew Works Executive Chef Jill Oman said.

The Koehler beef burgers started off as a special menu item but will be used for all Brew Works burgers starting Feb. 1.

Brew Works has had a long interest in serving locally grown food at its restaurants. The company gets its chicken, turkey and some pork from a Lancaster County farm and gets its produce from Pocono Produce and Little Peace Farm in Schuylkill County, Oman said.

The Koehler Farms beef is not only local but tastes better, Oman said.

“We’re so proud that it’s Bethlehem beef and that it’s brewer’s beef,” Mike Fegley said.

With beef a much higher-priced commodity than used beer grains, it works out that only Brew Works pays Koehler Farms in their exchange. The farm’s beef also costs more than Brew Works’ previous beef, but it’s an added cost the company is willing to pay, company President Jeff Fegley said.

“It’s a feel-good right now,” he said. “We know what they’re doing with their beef and where it’s coming from.”