Barley Creek gets first-place win at PA Farm Show spirits contest

A local distillery is raising a glass after earning statewide recognition for a homegrown spirit made in Monroe County.

Barley Creek Brewing Company earned first place for brandy at the inaugural Pennsylvania Farm Show Spirits Competition, winning for its Applejack brandy during an awards ceremony held Jan. 10.

The competition, hosted by the Pennsylvania Distillers Guild, marked the first time the Farm Show included a spirits contest. Previous years focused on beer and wine.

“This is the first year they invited people who make spirits,” said Barley Creek co-founder Trip Ruvane. “So we joined in, and luckily enough, the Applejack won a blue ribbon.”

Barley Creek’s Applejack competed in the brandy category, one of nine total divisions which include rum, bourbon and ready-to-drink spirits.

Applejack is a fruit-based spirit that Barley Creek makes from apples grown in Pennsylvania, Ruvane said. He said Barley Creek produces it in limited amounts.

“We have a limited amount, but we have enough for our guests at Barley Creek,” he said. “It’s not at the state store, and it’s not sold throughout the commonwealth. It’s pretty much for sale right here in Monroe County.”

The spirit that earned first place was about 18 months old when it was judged. Ruvane said they already started preparing for next year’s competition.

“So the one that we’re going to enter next year is already in our building,” he said.

To qualify for the competition, all entries had to be fermented and distilled in Pennsylvania. Judging took place ahead of the Farm Show, with each distillery submitting a 750-milliliter bottle.

Ruvane said he learned about the win just days before the event, after receiving a letter informing him that Barley Creek had placed.

“The letter said, ‘Congratulations, you’re a winner,’ but it didn’t tell you what you were a winner of,” he said.

It wasn’t until he attended the ceremony that he found out Barley Creek had taken first place. He added that Barley Creek was the only first-place winner from northeastern Pennsylvania across all categories.

Ruvane expects more distilleries to take part in the competition next year as it continues to grow.

“There weren’t that many people part of it this year,” he said. “But next year, I suspect there will be a lot more distilleries from Pennsylvania entering.”

As for Barley Creek, Ruvane said the decision to return was easy. “Oh yeah, we’re doing this again. Definitely,” he said.

For now, the team is already moving ahead, working on the next batch of Applejack.