Troy City Brewing: from Grain to Glass
Located in the heart of Fall River Massachusetts, Troy City Brewing is the perfect place to unwind after a long day. With its inviting atmosphere, friendly staff, and a wide selection of craft beers, it's no wonder that this local brewery has quickly become a favorite hangout spot for beer enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike. Whether you're a fan of hoppy New England IPAs or flavorful porters, Troy City Brewing has something for everyone to check out.
What is it that makes Troy City Brewing stand out from the crowd? It's the dedication to quality, the passion for crafting unique and delicious brews, and the commitment to supporting the local community. It is an inviting experience and a melding of local vendors that make it something special.
The History of Troy City Brewing
From Troy City Brewing website
“In 2006, Keith Carvalho started a homebrew club in Fall River, MA called Troy City Homebrew. Since then, Keith's passion for brewing has led him to the commercial stage. In 2017 Keith teamed up with lifelong friend and local business owner, Michael Ferreira, to bring brewing back to Fall River.”
The team at Troy City is tight-knit and works hard to create an inviting atmosphere for people to enjoy. Kristen from Troy City says
“We like to think as cliche as it sounds Troy City is like Cheers, where everybody knows your name, and what you’re drinking. The Troy City TEAM has created so many memories with our local community, and it’s because of Keith’s commitment to providing a quality product that we are able to do this. Troy City has partnered with many local organizations including Fall River Food Trucks, Narrows Center for The Arts, Taste of Southcoast, and Vivia Fall River to bring fresh local craft beer to our community.”
This growth and success are a testament to the founders' passion for brewing and their desire to create the best craft beers possible. They've stayed true to their roots, maintaining a strong connection to the local community and preserving the historic Fall River and the neighborhood atmosphere.
What Makes the Best Craft Beer?
Great question! The answer is a combination of quality ingredients, skillful brewing, and a dash of creativity. At Troy City Brewing, they believe that the best craft beer starts with the finest grains, hops, and yeast, sourced from local and trusted suppliers. These ingredients are the foundation of any great brew, and Troy City Brewing takes pride in using only the best.
Next comes the brewing process - a delicate balance of science and art. Each type of craft beer requires a unique method, from the temperature and timing of the mash to the addition of hops and other flavorings. The talented brewers at Troy City Brewing have honed their skills over the years, mastering the techniques needed to create a diverse selection of incredible brews.
But what truly sets the best craft beers apart is the creativity and passion of the individual brewers themselves. At Troy City Brewing, the team is always experimenting with new flavors, styles, and techniques, pushing the boundaries of what craft beer can be. The result? A lineup of constantly evolving beers offers something new and exciting for beer lovers to enjoy.
Craft insider top picks
With so many amazing craft beers on offer, I enjoyed all of them but here is a list of my favorites in order. The description is from the brewer’s notes on the Troy City Website
Broken Hatchet:
Saison Aged in red zinfandel barrels
Earthy, Grape Must, Clove
6.8% ABV
The Troy:
German Pilsner
Troy City Flagship beer. A crisp refreshing German pilsner, brewed exclusively with Saaz hops to give the perfect balance of flavor and bitterness.
5.2% ABV
508:
Pomegranate blonde ale
Brewed to create a nice clean biscuit taste with the aroma and backbone flavor of the pomegranate.
9% ABV
7 Hills:
New England IPA
A True New England Style IPA with an aromatic blend of Mosaic hops and citrus flavors. Double dry hopped and whirl pooled to create a juicy, hazy, and medium-bodied IPA
I loved the Broken Hatchet, it is such a unique combination beautifully done for such a complex flavor profile. The flagship beer was fantastic and a perfect pilsner, it is a bit too sour for my pallet, that’s not to say it was bad by any means and does not compare to an actual sour beer but there is a sour finish to this that stands out. I loved everything they had to offer and I think that one thing they do well is the flavor balance of the fruity beers, this is the only fruity beer I have had that I enjoy.
Troy city team top picks
The Troy City team spends all day around some of Fall Rivers’s best of the best beers and here is a list of some of their favorites and their top pick for the local favorite.
Top staff picks
7 Hills:
the 7 Hills New England IPA is one of the staff favorites it is a bold citrusy IPA but still a very easy drinker.
508:
Easy to drink like a regular blonde ale but still has a hint of pomegranate for a great burst of flavor.
Local Favorite
McCloskey’s Irish Red Ale:
A classic red ale with notes of caramel and toffee, it is no wonder this is a local favorite of Fall River. Red ale has always been a great in-between for blonde and dark ale with a wide variety of flavors.
The Brewing Process
Curious about how the magic happens? Let's take a peek behind the scenes of the general brewing process. It all starts with selecting the best ingredients, as I mentioned earlier. Once the grains, hops, and yeast are sourced, the brewing process begins:
Mashing: The grains are mixed with hot water to create a mash. This process allows the enzymes in the grains to break down the starches into sugars, which will later be fermented by the yeast.
Lautering: The sweet liquid, known as wort, is separated from the spent grains. The wort is then transferred to the boiling kettle.
Boiling: During the boil, hops are added to the wort at various stages to provide bitterness, flavor, and aroma. The boil also sterilizes the wort and concentrates the sugars.
Cooling and Fermentation: Once the boil is complete, the wort is cooled quickly and transferred to a fermentation vessel. Yeast is added, and the magic begins. Over several days or weeks, the yeast consumes the sugars in the wort, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Conditioning and Packaging: After fermentation is complete, the beer is conditioned, allowing the flavors to meld and mature. The beer is then packaged, either in kegs or cans, and is ready to be enjoyed!
It's this careful and skillful process that results in unique beers every time no two beers will be exactly the same and sometimes an entire batch can be completely different from previous brews.
The Role of Local Breweries in the Community
Local breweries like Troy City Brewing are more than just a place to grab a pint. They play a crucial role in building and supporting the community. By sourcing ingredients from local suppliers and supporting local businesses, Troy City Brewing helps to bolster the local economy.
Additionally, Troy City Brewing serves as a gathering place, fostering connections between people in the community. The taproom is a welcoming space where friends can catch up, families can bond, and strangers can become friends. It's a place where people can come together to celebrate the craft of brewing and the joy of sharing a pint.
Finally, local breweries like Troy City Brewing often give back to the community in various ways, from supporting charitable causes to hosting community events. By doing so, they help to create a sense of camaraderie and pride in the community, making it a better place for everyone.
Events at Troy City Brewing
If you thought that all this local brewery had to offer was delicious craft beer, think again! Troy City Brewing loves to bring people together and have a good time, so they host a variety of unique events every week, including local vendors like Pop’s Brick Oven Pizza, What’s Up Cupcake, cigar night, live music, and bingo!
What’s Up Cupcake!
This local mobile baker is a husband and wife team, they incorporate some of Troy City brews into their cupcakes and buttercreams. What is better than cupcakes and beer? I’ll tell you, jumbo cupcakes! Their cupcakes are the size of 3 normal cupcakes. You can find What’s Up Cupcake on a fairly regular basis at Troy City or track them on their Facebook page.
These events not only offer a chance to enjoy the best craft beers in a fun and lively atmosphere, but they also provide an opportunity to connect with fellow beer lovers, make new friends, and support the local community. It's this spirit of fun and camaraderie that makes Troy City Brewing a truly special place to be.
Rock Fest
I am so excited for this upcoming event! its a great way to bring new groups of people together. This is what Kristen From Troy City Brewing had to say about this upcoming event.
“We have a great lineup of events this summer that includes Rockfest. Troy City will be shutting down Anawan Street to showcase local musicians such as BJ Knights, LSP-90, and Real Weird, and will also feature some special young artists from our local music school Key of G. This is a free event, and hope that everyone will come down and #ENJOYATROY with us. Check out our Facebook page for more details on our upcoming events this summer.”
Exploring Beyond Troy City Brewing
While Troy City Brewing is undoubtedly a gem in the world of craft beer, it's important to remember that there's a whole world of amazing local breweries out there to explore. By venturing out and trying new craft beers from different breweries, you're not only supporting small businesses and the local economy, but you're also expanding your palate and discovering new flavors and styles.
It's worth highlighting the importance of supporting local breweries and the impact they have on the economy. By buying local craft beer, you're supporting small businesses, that brings more than just beer but also creates opportunity for innovation. Plus, local breweries often source their ingredients from other local businesses, creating a ripple effect of economic growth.
Conclusion: Raise a Pint to Troy City Brewing's Success and Future
You have covered a lot of ground in this article, from the best craft beers to the brewing process, the role of local breweries in the community, and unique events at Troy City Brewing. Through it all, one thing has become clear - Troy City Brewing is a special place, dedicated to crafting the best craft beers and fostering community connections.
So, let's raise a pint to Troy City Brewing's success and future. As the Fall River craft beer scene grows and evolves, I can't wait to see what new and exciting changes Troy City Brewing has in store. Here's to the brewers, the staff, and the community that make this local brewery such a fantastic place to be. Cheers!
