Tröegs’ Splinter Cellar, a Wood-Aging ‘Dream Space,’ Becomes Reality

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Troegs Brewing
© TROEG’S INDEPENDENT BREWING

Tröegs has unveiled their “wood-aging dream space,” the Splinter Cellar. Since upgrading to their new brewery in Hershey, Penn., in 2011, Chris and John Trogner of Tröegs Independent Brewing have been hard at work making their vision of their dream brewery a reality.

In the process, they have strategically created a place that is both conducive to the brewing process and bringing in customers. So far the brewery includes a large tasting room, self-guided tours and a general store. Their latest addition continues the spirit of that initial vision.

The new Splinter Cellar is a collaboration with Dave Maule Architects and Pyramid Construction and is home to their 300 wine, bourbon and virgin oak barrels. In addition to their previous collection of barrels, the Splinter Cellar features three new large foeders, a Dutch word for oak casks, at the center.

The foeders were designed by 200-year-old Italian barrel manufacturer Giobatta & Piero Garbellotto and are made of “dozens of staves of Italian, Hungarian and French oak that have been air dried for three years to mellow any harsh flavors,” the brewery says. Each foeder is 21 feet tall with a 10 ft. diameter at the base holding up to 9,300 gallons of beer. The brewery explains once the foeders start producing they will “be able to get more American wild ales and Splinter Series beers like Barrel-Aged Troegenator, Nebulous and Impending Descent to bottle shops, bars and restaurants where Tröegs is sold.”

In addition to a wood-aging room, Tröegs used the newly available space to add an art gallery above the Splinter Cellar. The “Art of Tröegs Gallery” features rotating exhibits of pieces commissioned by East Coast artists and select submissions from their annual Art of Tröegs Contest.

“We thought it would be nice to have a place where we could show off the art that bubbles up around the brewery,” says Chris Trogner. “Especially all the great work we get for the Art of Tröegs Contest.”

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