In 1997, Rob Horn brewed a banana ale called Monkey Whizz, but it was terrible. He kept his day job as a firefighter in New Jersey while he perfected his homebrewing. His wife, Kelly, a teacher, kept encouraging him. After a visit to his cousin in Washington state, and specifically an influential trip to North Fork Brewing on scenic Mt. Baker Highway 542, the Horns knew they wanted to plant roots in the Pacific Northwest. With a baby on the way, Rob began to look seriously for work out west and when a firefighting position with the Department of Defense came open at Joint Base Lewis-McChord the couple took the leap and moved across the country. In 2014, they opened Triceratops Brewing named after their three kids (three Horns). At first, they brewed out of their home garage. After thriving there for three years they opened a tasting room next to Matchless Brewing in Tumwater. Today, Rob Horn will be the guest on the Grit & Grain Podcast recording at 4:30 p.m. in the Peaks & Pints Events Room. In conjunction, we present an all-day Triceratops Brewing flight that we’re calling Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Triceratops Brewing.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Triceratops Brewing
Triceratops 175 Lager
4.7% ABV
Triceratops joined forces with the Special Forces 1st Group 175 local combat dive team to brew an easy-drinking American lager. Coming in at 4.7% ABV and hopped with Hallertau Blanc, this crisp, crushable beer offers appealing notes of grapefruit and white wine. Drink it at the end of a day of training, relaxing by the poor or grilling with family.
Triceratops Pennsyltucky Lager
4.7% ABV
When non-Pennsylvanians think of the Keystone State, they generally think of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Amish people. Central Pennsylvania — that gaping chasm between the big cities in the east and west — is often called Pennsyltucky, and that’s where Triceratops Brewing founder Rob Horn called home. He now brews in Tumwater, Washington, but still has one foot in Pennsyltucky, or rather one brewing boot. His Pennsyltucky Lager is a smooth Vienna lager inspired by the brewing styles of Central Pennsylvania. Its Caramunich malt gives the lager a roasty taste and just a touch of bitterness. It’s a crushable beer that you can drink all day.
Triceratops Strawberry Golden Ale
6.7% ABV
It’s a classic golden ale with 27 pounds of strawberry per barrel. Triceratops head brewer Rob Horn added strawberries three days before the end of fermentation to leave a slightly dry strawberry finish, but without losing that delicious strawberry flavor. This beer finishes out at 6.7% ABV so don’t sleep on it and let the smoothness fool you. Strawberry Golden Ale packs a punch with the drinkability of a crushable summer time beer.
Triceratops Hans Gruber Wheat
5% ABV
In Die Hard, Hans Gruber was Bruce Willis’ John McClane match. Gruber was smart, cultured, funny and a ruthless international terrorist. Every time McClane tries to take the upper hand, Gruber out-maneuvers him. This beer flight isn’t over until Hans Gruber falls off the Nakatomi Plaza! Triceratops’ Hans Gruber Wheat sports a three-way balance of malt, bitter and wheat, with a touch of orange. Yippee ki yay!
Triceratops Spackler’s Summer IPA
4.3% ABV
Carl Spackler is the groundskeeper from Caddyshack (played by Bill Murray) who repeatedly tries to kill the gopher but end’s up blowing up the entire golf club. Triceratops’ Spackler’s Summer IPA tees off with big notes of apricot, grapefruit, mango, and pineapple before fading into a dry, piney finish.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
