Even better together
Artisanal collaborations to try now
“Share the spirits!” So goes the saying at Five Saints Distilling in Norristown, where fans also can share the caramels thanks to a collaboration with chocolatier Gail Warner.
“It’s almost like cross-marketing,” said the owner of Bridge Street Chocolates in Phoenixville. “It’s a way for us to keep the dollar local, which changes lives within our own communities.”
Her blood orange-sea salt caramels feature Five Saints’ blood orange liqueur.
“It showcases the quality of local artisans,” Warner described. “If we don’t support each other, how do we expect other people to support us?”
“It’s like ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ It takes a village to support the small businesses,” agreed Olga Sorzano of Baba’s Brew in Phoenixville.
Like her kombucha? Try Baba’s Got a Brand New Brew, a beer-kombucha blend with Royersford’s Stickman Brews.
Last year’s release “was extremely successful,” she said. This April, look for solera-style beer and strawberry shortcake kombucha, which “is going to be a little bit lighter, a little bit sweeter.”
Another sweet success story: Bathed in Victory cheeses from The Farm at Doe Run in Coatesville. That’s “Victory” as in Downingtown’s Victory Brewing Company.
“We’re using about one beer for every 12 pounds of cheese,” explained Matthew Hettlinger, a Doe Run cheesemaker. “We’re really happy with how the beer notes came out in the cheese.”
Also in the works: projects with Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey and Bluecoat American Dry Gin.
“It’s great meeting new people and doing unique things,” he added.
Other cheesemakers are teaming up too like Sue Miller of Birchrun Hills Farm in Chester Springs and Stefanie Angstadt of Valley Milkhouse in Oley. In 2016, they launched Collective Creamery, a cheese club/subscription service with pickup locations across the area.
“The cheese that you get from Collective Creamery has a story behind it,” expressed Alex Jones, operations manager. “I think a lot of chef culture, a lot of great ideas are born out of collaboration.”
“It’s a really interesting movement in the world: How can we work together?” Miller said. “The rising tide floats all ships. To me, that’s really positive.”