Attention Conshohocken craft beer enthusiasts! Conshohocken Brewing Company is slated to open its doors to the public this spring. A quick glance at their Facebook page tells us that they are currently brewing and “on track to get the beer flowing in early March.”
Co-founders John Remington and Ken Buonocore have kept quiet about exactly what styles of beer will be pouring, preferring instead to keep Head Brewer Andrew Horne’s concoctions a pleasant surprise for those of us planning to venture out to the brewery’s tap room when it opens. No spoilers here! Although we exercise just a bit more patience and dream of tasty new beers and a shiny new brewhouse, let’s take a moment to get to know the men behind the operation.
The ownership group, made up of an eclectic group of craft-beer enthusiasts, is headed by the aforementioned co-founders John Remington and Ken Buonocore, both of whom lived in Conshohocken for many years. Their chosen Head Brewer, Andrew Horne, is also familiar with the local scene having graduated from Villanova University and started his brewing career at Philadelphia’s own Yards Brewing Company. Andrew recently returned home to his roots and joined the Conshohocken team after brewing at a number of breweries across the country, including the highly regarded Avery Brewing Company and Oskar Blues Brewing Company. I recently had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of John Remington, a Saint Joseph’s University grad and Conshohocken resident of over ten years. Although many of the brewery details are still in the works, I was able to get to know even more about the co-founders and head brewer in a brief Q&A with John.
5 Questions with Conshohocken Brewing Co.’s Co-Founder John Remington:
Kerry Watson: How did you and co-founder Ken Buonocore meet and eventually decide to open a brewery together?
John Remington: We met at our first job out of school. We both had the entrepreneurial bug and a love for craft beer. Ken started home brewing about four years ago and I started to join him for weekend brew sessions. He started to pull down a few awards here and there and our entrepreneurial instincts kicked in. With the right team, including an established Head Brewer and a strategic team of owners, we could build a business here.
What made you choose Conshohocken for your brewery? Was it just home or were there other reasons?
JR: Ken and I both lived in Conshohocken for a number of years. People who reside in or [who] are from Conshohocken take pride in the fact that they hail from Conshy. With that sense of local pride that we still have, the accessibility of Conshohocken and the demographic, it was an easy decision for us to choose Conshohocken for our operation. Conshohocken also has a rich industrial history. In the late 1800s to early 1900s, Conshohocken was an industrial force, namely with Alan Wood Iron & Steel Company and Lee Tire & Rubber Company. In fact, a brewery operated just a few blocks from our current location as Conshohocken Brewing Company for a few years in the 1890s. That same historical American industrial spirit, when things were truly hand crafted and there was a personal commitment to quality and service, is what we are carrying forward in our brand.
You spent 10 years living in Conshohocken after graduating from Saint Joseph’s University. What were your favorite watering holes during that time?
JR: Conshohocken has an incredible bar scene and each spot has its own unique character to offer. Guppy’s was one block from where I lived, so you can imagine I spent a lot of time there. Up on Fayette, we split time between The Boat House, Great American Pub, Stone Rose and Spamps. In West Conshy, Baggataway and Gypsy Saloon are always a sure bet and up around Ridge Ave., and FWOT [Fingers, Wings & Other Things] certainly hits the mark. It’s hard to single out one or two with such a great scene.
Your Head Brewer, Andrew, has quite the resume including experience at Avery and Oskar Blues. How valuable is it that he also has local experience from his days at Yards?
JR: It’s huge for two reasons: Andrew already has a knowledge of the local beer market and he has an incredible local network from his time here, and that has already been instrumental in us getting to where we are.
The brewery is featuring a bicycler/hiker friendly rear deck just off of the Schuylkill River Bike Trail. Are you guys into biking or the outdoors or is this just a product of your brewery`s close proximity to the trail?
JR: We have a sizeable ownership team and there are a number of individuals in the group that spend a lot of their time on the bike path. For some, the river trail and the cycling/outdoors aspect is the reason they were drawn to our project.
I did make efforts to press John for some hints as to what patrons can expect in regards to beer, food and entertainment but these details were described as “still in the works” or “more to come soon.” It is clear that the ownership team has quite a few surprises in store for us all so it seems we must adhere to the old adage, “good things to those who wait.” One thing is for sure though – The proprietors of Conshohocken Brewing Company plan to deliver a product that really shows their passion and pride for Conshy.
The Conshohocken Brewing Company is located at 739 East Elm Street, Suite B in Conshohocken ( just off of the Schuylkill River Bike Trail).
Logos and photo credited to Conshohocken Brewing Company.
