Barren Hill Brewery & Tavern Lands New Brewer

Lafayette Hill-based brewpub Barren Hill Tavern & Brewery recently welcomed David Wood to head its brewing program. Wood, formerly of Free Will Brewing Company, replaces Scott Morrison as the brewmaster. With a goal to expand production for the Montgomery County brewery and introduce even more seasonal releases to the mix, Wood will reign over the rotating beer program that supplies the bar with 16 house beers.

Wood is no stranger to working with beer-centric restaurateur Erin Wallace, who owns Barren Hill, Devil’s Den and Old Eagle Tavern. While Wood was acting as assistant brewer at Free Will, the duo collaborated on the successful charity beer project, Saison de Rose.

“Dave is a great brewer, and we’re really excited to have him on board,” shared Wallace. She also elaborated that she is eager to see more sour beers on tap—something that’s in the works for the future and a style she’s particularly fond of.

Wood, a pro-golfer-turned-brewer who started homebrewing in 2011, also plans to debut a series of culinary-focused beers that are intended for pairing with chef Paul Throwbridge’s menu. You can expect to see these releases paired at upcoming beer dinners.

Curious what beers he already has on tap? His recent releases include:

•Where Do I Go From Here, a pale ale brewed with barley, oats, spelt and hopped with Galaxy hops

•Chateau du Bois—what he’s calling the “Champagne of IPAs,” brewed with Nelson Sauvin hops and fermented Chardonnay grape juice

•Steingrabber Märzen, a light amber ale that tastes like fresh baked bread

•Mental Health Day, a Barren Hill and Free Will collab, styled as a Belgian dark strong ale with flavors of ripe banana, cognac and dried fruit

•Another Pale Ale, packing flavors of lemon, lemongrass and herbs

Wood has several not-to-miss releases on the horizon too, including a grisette-style saison that’ll be tapped Feb. 6 in honor of The Philadelphia Flower Show. A double-header release is on the calendar for Valentine’s Day, which will spotlight a Russian imperial stout, coined Love Gravy, and a special firkin, Let’s Get It On, which is Love Gravy infused with rose hips, strawberries and chocolate.

In addition to Barren Hill’s house taps, the brewers also designate 15 taps to guest breweries. To find Barren Hill Tavern & Brewery and get a sampling, visit 646 Germantown Pike in Lafayette Hill, (484) 344-5438, www.barrenhilltavern.com.