Wawa, in partnership with 2SP Brewing Company, announced the return of 2018’s collaboration, Winter Reserve Coffee Stout, and the launch of its 2019-202 Brew Tour.
Also, planned for 2019 is an expansion including a bourbon barrel finished version of the beer, as well as two new partnerships with Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in Richmond, Va., and Coppertail Brewing Company in Tampa, Fla.
In 2018, Delco partners Bob Barrar, Head Brewer, 2SP Brewing Company and Michael McLaughlin, Wawa’s Concept Development Manager and World Traveling Coffee Guru teamed up last year to bring their hometown a beer that locals would be proud.
Due to an overwhelming response, the duo has done it again, but this time, they’ve invited fellow brewers in other markets to join in.
Winter Reserve Coffee Stout, as well as 2019’s new additions, Reserve Reserve, Coffee Cake Reserve Stout and Snowbird Reserve Vanilla Porter, all feature Wawa Winter Reserve Coffee as the primary ingredient.
Wawa Reserve is a line of small-batch, limited-time-only, specialty-grade coffees. The beans used to make these special varieties follow a strict industry classification and are chosen according to overall cup quality, consistency and the unique characteristics of their country of origin.
Each brewery created its own special recipe and attended a collaborative brew day with McLaughlin at 2SP Brewing Company, the official brewery partner. The beer will launch with a multi-state Brew Tour that will kick off Dec. 6 in Chadds Ford, Pa., and end on Feb. 20, 2020 in Tampa, Fla.
Beer and Wawa lovers alike are encouraged to attend one or all of the events below to experience a live firkin-tapping, complimentary samples of the specialty brews, while supplies last, and more. The First 100 customers through the door at each event will also receive the first-ever, official Brew Tour t-shirt.
“At Wawa, supporting our local neighbors is at the heart of everything we do, which makes our special partnership with 2SP Brewing Company so important to us, as well as their shared values and desire to invite other breweries to collaborate in other areas that our stores serve,” said Mike Sherlock, Chief Product Marketing Officer for Wawa. “We couldn’t have asked for better partners in working with 2SP, Hardywood and Coppertail, as they have all brought their unique talents to the table and we all can’t wait for our communities to experience these recipes that are sure to please your palate and complement any family party, special event and casual gathering with friends.”
Tour Dates:
- Friday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m. – Wawa PA Store Launch, Chadds Ford, Pa., Store 170, 721 Naamans Creek Road, Chadds Ford, Pa., 19317
- Saturday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. – 2SP Brewing Company, Aston, Pa., 120 Concord Road, Unit 101-103, Aston, Pa., 19014
- Thursday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m. – Wawa Grand Opening, Middletown Twp., Pa., Store 8148, 1073 Baltimore Pike, Middletown Twp., Pa., 19063
- Friday, Dec. 13, 4 p.m. – Wawa VA Store Launch, Richmond, Va., Store 8648, 3100 N. Boulevard, Richmond, Va., 23230
- Thursday, Feb. 20, 4 p.m. – Wawa FL Store Launch, Tampa, Fla., Store 5301, 3660 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa, Fla., 33611
The specialty beers and tasting notes are as follows:
WINTER RESERVE COFFEE STOUT | Wawa + 2SP Brewing Company
2SP Brewing Company brewed an oatmeal stout because of its balanced sweetness that will showcase the full range of flavors from Wawa’s reserve Winter Blend Coffee, an exclusive four-origin bean blend sourced from Guatemala, Brazil, Sumatra and Ethiopia. The seasonal brew boasts flavors of sweet clove, dark chocolate and graham crackers.
RESERVE RESERVE | WAWA + 2SP Brewing Company
An English Style Imperial Oatmeal Stout aged in Weller Bourbon Barrels for nine months. This big stout is silky smooth with a lot of influence from the bourbon barrel and the addition of Wawa Winter Reserve Coffee. Expect robust flavors of vanilla, chocolate and bourbon, all balanced outby Wawa’s exclusive blend of reserve coffee.
COFFEE CAKE RESERVE STOUT | WAWA + 2SP Brewing Company + Hardywood
Best known for spiced stouts including the ever-popular Gingerbread Stout, Hardywood’s breakfast beer combines Wawa’s Winter Reserve Coffee with an oatmeal stout and vanilla bean, cinnamon spice and brown sugar to create a flavor of freshly dipped coffee cake.
SNOWBIRD RESERVE VANILLA PORTER | WAWA + 2SP Brewing Company + Coppertail Brewing Co.
Brewed for Wawa’s Florida friends who enjoy a sweet cup of Cuban Coffee, Snowbird Reserve is a robust porter with sweetness derived from malted barley, intensified by Wawa Winter Reserve Coffee and balanced by a hint of vanilla.
“The only thing better than brewing another batch of Winter Reserve Coffee Stout with our neighbors, Wawa, was working with our friends at Hardywood and Coppertail to bring more beers to more markets” said Bob Barrar, Head Brewer. “Fans can expect the Winter Reserve oatmeal stout to have the same balanced sweetness that showcases the full range of flavors from the Wawa Reserve Blend with an added velvety mouthfeel. This will be enhanced with vanilla and caramel notes after aging it in bourbon barrels for 9 months with this year’s addition of the ReserveReserve, a Winter Reserve Bourbon Barrel aged coffee stout.”
The Winter Reserve and Reserve Reserve will be made available for purchase at two Wawa locations, Chadds Ford and the soon to be opened Middletown Twp., with a restricted quantity count per customer, based on first-come, first- serve basis. The two beers will also be available at select beer retailers in Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey,and Delaware.
The Coffee Cake Reserve will be released at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and will be sold at Wawa stores across the Richmond metro area while supplies last. And finally, Snowbird Reserve will be made available in February and is for Wawa stores in Florida.
“Collaborating with our neighbors at Wawa in 2018 was a truly special experience and we are beyond thrilled to be bringing the collaboration back for its second year — but in a bigger, better, and more bad a** way” said Michael Contreras, Director of Sales & Marketing for 2SP Brewing Company. “Our friends at Hardywood and Coppertail are almost bigger fans of Wawa than we are and have been long time friends of ours. It didn’t take a rocket scientist tosee something special was brewing the second we got those beer nerds in a room with Wawa’s Coffee Guru, Michael Mclaughlin.”
Since January of 2018, Wawa has offered limited time offers including: Kenya AA, Tanzania, Peru Amazonas, Winter Reserve, Sumatra Gayo Mountain, Guatemala Huehuetenango and Ethiopia Sidamo.
Wawa, Inc., a privately held company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey.
Today, Wawa is a chain of more than 860 convenience retail stores (over 600 offering fuel), located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. The stores offer a large fresh foodservice selection, including Wawa brands such as custom prepared hoagies, freshly-brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, specialty beverages and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks.