HARRISBURG, Pa. – With more microbreweries opening across Central Pennsylvania, beer enthusiasts are finding more choices for their taste buds. Now, 10 Brewing Science Program students from HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, added one more beer to the list for the public to enjoy: Hoppily YOURS.

On March 3, 2018, from noon-4 p.m., at the Zeroday outpost at the Broad Street Market, the students released the latest HACCBrew to the public – Hoppily YOURS, an India Pale Ale brewed with black locust honey. The PA Preferred beer was created by the students during HACC’s 10-month program. From developing the recipe and name to creating the packaging, the students experienced the entire brewing process.

The students brewed the beer at the Zeroday Brewing Company and packed the brew into cans. The beer is the first canned PA Preferred beer and is available for purchase in four-packs at Zeroday.

Cheryl Cook, Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture deputy secretary for market and economic development, attended the event and poured the first Hoppily YOURS beer.

“Between finalizing the recipe and sourcing ingredients, the students also had to focus on a huge part of the industry, which is selling the beer. They were tasked with an individual marketing project to brand and set their brew apart. As part of completion of the course, they pitched their individual plans to a “Shark Tank”-style panel of industry professionals. In the end, one student was selected and ‘Hoppily YOURS’ was named,” said Abigail Peslis, director of corporate and business services, Workforce Development and Continuing Education at HACC, and Brandalynn Armstrong, HACC adjunct faculty and co-owner of Zeroday Brewing Company.

Making the beer PA Preferred was a “no-brainer,” said Peslis and Armstrong. “The students decided that supporting local agricultural producers was something that was important to them when they make purchases, so supporting local vendors within the PA Preferred guidelines was a no-brainer when it came to choosing the ingredients for their brew.” 

Photo Caption: Giving a #HACCyeah to the release of Hoppily YOURS are, from left, John J. “Ski” Sygielski, HACC president; Victor Rodgers, associate provost of HACC’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education; Brandalynn Armstrong, co-owner of Zeroday Brewing Company and HACC instructor; Cheryl Cook, deputy secretary for market and economic development, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; and Theo Armstrong, co-owner of Zeroday Brewing Company and HACC instructor. For more photos of the beer release, please visit HACC’s Flickr page.

About HACC
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is the first and largest of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges. HACC offers over 100 career and transfer associate degree, certificate and diploma programs to approximately 19,000 students. Also, the College serves students at its Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York campuses; through virtual learning; and via workforce development and continuing education training. For more information on how HACC is uniquely YOURS, visit hacc.edu. Also, follow us on Twitter (@HACC_info), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.