Spelt gets spent for Franconia's new spring seasonal

Honey Spelt is a collaborative effort between Franconia, Harvest Seasonal Kitchen
and The Seed Project Foundation (Franconia Brewing Co.)

A new year means new beer for many of today's breweries, and the story is no different for Franconia Brewing Co. of McKinney. Of course, the introduction of new products isn't the only thing that's new at Franconia these days, as the company enters 2018 with a new head brewer. Derrick Rima took over the reins of the brewhouse in June, after having spent time in similar roles at Four Corners Brewing Co., Texas Ale Project and Witherspoon Distillery.

One of Rima's projects for the coming year will be the introduction of a new spring seasonal beer called Honey Spelt (7.8% ABV), though it's a brew that's not completely unfamiliar. Honey Spelt first debuted late last summer on a limited basis, it being the result of a collaboration between Franconia and its McKinney neighbor, Harvest Seasonal Kitchen.

Like the original batch, the version of Honey Spelt to be brewed for wide release will be made with German spelt malt, along with a mix of locally-sourced ingredients. Some of the grain used will come from Fort Worth-based TexMalt, with the honey provided by Bare Naked Bee Co. of Allen.

Also continuing is the brewery's relationship with The Seed Project Foundation. This organization works to fund initiatives supporting sustainability, which is a mission that goes hand-in-hand with the ideals of Franconia founder Dennis Wehrmann.

"In the past, we've kept our charitable activities mostly quiet," says Wehrmann. "This time, though, we decided to give it more exposure because The Seed Project is focused on sustainability, and that's something that has been an important part of how we've done things at Franconia since we started."

To that end, a portion of the proceeds from sales of Honey Spelt will go to help the Foundation's efforts. Consumers can do their part by seeking out the beer, which will be available on tap and in 6-packs of 12-ounce bottles beginning in February.

In addition, be on the lookout for details related to Franconia's upcoming 10th Anniversary. Naturally, a line of anniversary beers is in the offing, but that's not all...as Wehrmann has promised there's an even bigger surprise to come.