Port Farms' new brewery, Poverty Knob Farmhouse Ales, takes business into 5th generation
WATERFORD ― It's a working farm, so it's all about growing, but Port Farms has made an artform of growing its main crop: agritourism.
Besides being a pumpkin, squash and potato farm at 2055 Stone Quarry Road, in Waterford, Port Farms has become a must-see destination for festivals in fall, winter and summer. Now they're ready to pull the veil off a brand new, $1 million venture: a year-round brewery and restaurant named Poverty Knob Farmhouse Ales.
"It was my dad's idea about 10 years ago," said Casey Port, 29, who came home two years ago to help make it happen, and now serves as chief operations officer. She's part of the fifth generation to own and run the farm, and her siblings, who are scattered, all still have roles in the business.
Casey Port's dad, Jerry Port, had a potato storage building that he'd been wanting to make over for several years. On the night before Thanksgiving, that dream will come true with the grand opening of Poverty Knob Farmhouse Ales. The new brewery will throw open the doors on the 6,000-foot building from noon to 9 p.m. this Wednesday.
"We're so excited to share another space and more of the farm's history," Casey Port said of the farm, which was established in 1897.
Where did the name come from?
The brewery is named for a stretch of poor soil on the 200-acre farm, dubbed Poverty Knob by Casey Port's great-grandmother, Beatrice Port. It is also home to the not-really imagined "Tater and Spud," groundhogs who live in the woods on the property and, well, eat their fill of the profits. Observant visitors on opening day will see groundhog paw prints in the newly poured concrete outside the brewery building.
While it's a brewery, Casey Port said, they've built it with families in mind, with games and a kids play area.
"We want it to be a casual setting, family-friendly and dog-friendly," she said.
Food, brews and agri-tainment
New chef Bill Ross has developed a simple menu of sandwiches and flatbreads for now, and plans to work out more dishes as they learn what people want.
"We worked with a lot of local food vendors and we're hoping to use as many locally produced ingredients as possible," Casey Port said.
Sean Lally, the head brewer, proudly shows off his new 10-barrel brewhouse with five 10-barrel fermenters and three 20-barrel fermenters. The Ports have done a few events this fall to get feedback on the beers and one fermented seltzer, and they'll unveil three more beverages during the grand opening Wednesday.
"The one I'm most proud of is the pumpkin stout," Lally said. "It was the most popular during the tastings, and I like whatever it is the customers like."
Lally, originally from Ohio, came to Waterford from South Carolina, where he had been brewing beer for years.
"I wanted to come back," he said. "I'm originally from Youngstown. This was a great opportunity."
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Casey Port said they've gotten really good feedback from on-site tasters and on a beer-rating website called www.untappd.com.
"So far, so good," Casey Port said, admitting she's excited but a little nervous, too, being in charge of such a sizable investment and more agri-tainment (combining the fruits of farming with family-friendly activities.)
"But we've been doing agri-tainment for 20 years, and we just want to add to our experience," she said.
She said they plan live music and a concert series and outdoor seating in summer, with an expanded menu, more beers and more of everything.
"We hope we've thought of everything and everyone," Casey Port said. "I hope this turns into a place to have a good time and to hang out and visit. "
The Christmas season
Port Farm's holiday season runs from Nov. 24 through Dec. 17. Their gift shop is lined with Port Farms Christmas items as well as gifts including clothing and seasonal decor. They'll have Christmas trees to sell starting on Black Friday, and they'll be offering sleigh rides and carriage rides and visits from Santa on weekends during the Christmas season. Visit bit.ly/portfarmsChristmas for reservations. To see a full list of prices, activities and a live music schedule, visit http://www.portfarms.com.
About the beers
As far as the beer goes, the brewery offers a wide variety:
Patch to Pint: Style: Pumpkin Stout – ABV: 6.8%
Obstructed View: Style: Hazy IPA – ABV: 6%
Octoberfest: Style: Marzen – ABV: 5.4%
Maize Runner: Style: American Pilsner – ABV: 5.3%
Saison DuPort: Style: Farmhouse Ale – ABV: 6.4%
Farmer’s Daughter: Style: Seltzer – ABV: 6.7%
Blossom Sour: Style: Sour – ABV: 5.65% – IBU: 3 (bitterness scale)
Citra Sunrise: Style: IPA – ABV: 6.2% – IBU: 36
Mesa Cerveza: Style: Mexican Lager – ABV: 4.9% – IBU: 20
Midnight Lager: Style: Schwarzbier (Black Lager) – ABV: 5.2 % – IBU: 19
If you go ...
What: Poverty Knob Farmhouse Ales
Where: Located about 20 minutes south of Erie at 2055 Stone Quarry Road, Waterford.
Hours: Regular hours will begin following the grand opening: Mondays and Tuesdays closed; Wednesdays and Thursdays noon to 9 p.m.; Fridays noon to 10 p.m.; Saturdays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sundays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The brewery will be closed on Thanksgiving but open again on Black Friday.
Online: For more information, visit www.povertyknobfarmhouseales.com.
Contact Jennie Geisler at jgeisler@timesnews.com or at 814-870-1885.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Port Farms' brewery, Poverty Knob Farmhouse Ales, opens Wednesday
