Upland Brewing Company has announced that its Secret Barrel Society membership program will be free to join in 2019.
The membership program was created by the brewing company in 2014 and allows fans of sour beer to get early access to bottles of sour beers and tickets to Upland events. Members will now buy beers and tickets on an a la carte basis, but won’t have any membership fees.
Sour beer is a beer intentionally brewed to have an acidic or tart taste. To brew sour beers, wild yeast strains or bacteria are allowed into the mix to create the tart flavor.
“We’re excited to expand the program and educate more customers on this unique beer category,” David Bower, head of Sales and Marketing, said in a press release. “Free memberships will create an inclusive program for both aficionados and newcomers curious about the style.”
Members will also receive information about upcoming Upland events, new beers and updates on the company through email, in addition to initial access to buy new sour beers released throughout the year.
Upland has been producing sour beers for over 10 years. The company began sour beer production when they traded a few cases of beer to Oliver Winery for a few wine barrels in 2006.
It was then, the company said in a press release, that its employees began exploring how to brew sour beer.
“The beers we release each year for our SBS members are what drive innovation through our sours program,” head Sour Brewer Eli Trinkle said in a press release.
