RJ Rockers Brewing Company
Encyclopedia
RJ Rockers Brewing Company is a beer
brewing company based in Spartanburg
, South Carolina
, founded in 1997 by current owner/brewer, Mark R. Johnsen
. The company is considered a microbrewery
meaning it has an annual production of less than 15,000 barrels .
, but in 2002 Johnsen decided to leave the restaurant business and concentrate solely on producing craft beer. Johnsen soon relocated his 10 barrel brewing system to a Spartanburg
industrial park off of the Interstate 85 Business Loop
. This location reached full capacity after the company experienced 92% growth in 2008 , and in February 2009 RJ Rockers Brewing Company leased a building in downtown Spartanburg
's west end that was formerly occupied by The Salvation Army
. The 46000 square feet (4,273.5 m²) facility features a 39 barrel brewing system with an annual capacity of 7,500 barrels .
s, eleven of which remain in their current lineup.
Given Johnsen's service in the US Army as a Ranger, several of the beers by RJ Rockers carry patriotic names, i.e. Bald Eagle Brown Ale, Patriot Pale Ale and Star Spangled Stout.
, North Carolina
, Georgia
, Tennessee
, Virginia
, Maryland
and Washington DC.
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
brewing company based in Spartanburg
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, founded in 1997 by current owner/brewer, Mark R. Johnsen
Mark R. Johnsen
Mark R. Johnsen is a US Army veteran and American brewer from Spartanburg, South Carolina. Johnsen is the founder of Spartanburg's first microbrewery, RJ Rockers Brewing Company.-References:...
. The company is considered a microbrewery
Microbrewery
A microbrewery or craft brewer is a brewery which produces a limited amount of beer, and is associated by consumers with innovation and uniqueness....
meaning it has an annual production of less than 15,000 barrels .
History
The company began as a brewpub on Morgan Square in downtown SpartanburgSpartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
, but in 2002 Johnsen decided to leave the restaurant business and concentrate solely on producing craft beer. Johnsen soon relocated his 10 barrel brewing system to a Spartanburg
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
industrial park off of the Interstate 85 Business Loop
Interstate 85 Business (Spartanburg, South Carolina)
Interstate 85 Business is a Business Loop of the Interstate Highway System and a freeway, running along the old route of Interstate 85 through Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States...
. This location reached full capacity after the company experienced 92% growth in 2008 , and in February 2009 RJ Rockers Brewing Company leased a building in downtown Spartanburg
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
's west end that was formerly occupied by The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. The 46000 square feet (4,273.5 m²) facility features a 39 barrel brewing system with an annual capacity of 7,500 barrels .
Beers Produced
RJ Rockers Brewing Company has produced thirteen different style aleAle
Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...
s, eleven of which remain in their current lineup.
| Beer Name | Year Created | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bald Eagle Brown Ale | 1997 | An English-style brown ale Brown ale Brown ale is a style of beer with a dark amber or brown colour. The term was first used by London brewers in the late 17th century to describe their products, such as mild ale, though the term had a rather different meaning than it does today... . Its main characteristic is a deep brown color that comes from a combination of Chocolate and Black malt Malt Malt is germinated cereal grains that have been dried in a process known as "malting". The grains are made to germinate by soaking in water, and are then halted from germinating further by drying with hot air... . It is 5.4% Abv ABV ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code... |
| Bell Ringer Ale | 2007 | A nontraditional style ale, sometimes referred to as an "imperial ESB", created by Johnsen in 2007 to celebrate a bill that legalized high gravity beer High gravity beer High gravity beer refers to specialty beer either craft beers or malt liquors with an increased specific gravity. A beer with an original gravity 1.070 is generally considered to be high. High gravity beers are a traditional expression of beer making in Europe, but only a small percentage of... s in South Carolina South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence... . It contains a high content of malt Malt Malt is germinated cereal grains that have been dried in a process known as "malting". The grains are made to germinate by soaking in water, and are then halted from germinating further by drying with hot air... and hops Hops Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine... and is one of RJ Rockers' highest gravity beers at 8.5% Abv ABV ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code... . |
| Black Perle | 2009 | A ninety minute "octo-hopped" dark India Pale Ale India Pale Ale India Pale Ale or IPA is a style of beer within the broader category of pale ale. It was first brewed in England in the 19th century.The first known use of the expression "India pale ale" comes from an advertisement in the Liverpool Mercury newspaper published January 30, 1835... and is the first release of the company's "Ales from the Dark Side" series. It is 9.5% Abv ABV ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code... |
| Buckwheat After Dark Ale - aka BAD Ale | 1997 | An American-style dunkelweizen which has become the company's fall seasonal. It is unfiltered and 5.6% Abv ABV ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code... . |
| Buckwheat Ale (retired) | 1997 | An American-style hefeweizen or wheat ale. It is unfiltered and 5.5% Abv ABV ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code... . |
| Fish Paralyzer Ale | 2010 | A Belgian-Style Pale Ale. It is 7.5% Abv ABV ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code... . |
| Honey Amber Ale (retired) | 1997 | An American-style Amber ale that contains Clover Honey. It is 5.8% Abv ABV ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code... . |
| Light Rock Ale | 1997 | A light-bodied ale Ale Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste... brewed in the tradition of a German Kölsch and gold medal winner in the English-style Summer Ale category of the 2009 Great American Beer Festival Great American Beer Festival The Great American Beer Festival is a three-day annual event hosted by the Brewers Association, held in Denver, Colorado, in mid to late September or early October. This year, 2011, the festival runs from 29 September through 1 October. The GABF brings visitors from around the world to sample more... . It is advertised at 119 calories and 4.5% Abv ABV ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code... . |
| Patriot Pale Ale | 1997 | An American pale ale hopped with Cascade hops Cascade hops Cascade is one of the many varieties of hops. Cascade hops are the most widely used hops by craft breweries in the USA.-History:Cascade is a variety of hop developed in the U.S.D.A. breeding program in Oregon at Oregon State University and released as a U.S. aroma variety in 1972... and Challenger Challenger -Land vehicles:* Challenger trucks, a Canadian maker of heavy trucks* One of several British Army tanks:** Cruiser Mk VIII Challenger, in service during World War II** Challenger 1 tank, in service from the late 1980s to early 21st century... hops Hops Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine... . It is considered the company's flagship beer and is 5.9% Abv ABV ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code... . |
| Rockhopper India Pale Ale | 2010 | A Ninety Minute India Pale Ale named by fans in the "Name our IPA competition". It is 7.5% Abv ABV ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code... . |
| Son of a Peach Wheat Ale | 2009 | A spring and summer seasonal created in 2009 and gold medal winner of the Fruit and Vegetable Beer category of the 2009 Los Angeles International Commercial Beer Competition. It is an unfiltered American wheat ale that uses both real South Carolina peach Peach The peach tree is a deciduous tree growing to tall and 6 in. in diameter, belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It bears an edible juicy fruit called a peach... es and a natural peach extract Extract An extract is a substance made by extracting a part of a raw material, often by using a solvent such as ethanol or water. Extracts may be sold as tinctures or in powder form.... . Its Abv ABV ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code... is 5.8%. |
| Star Spangled Stout | 1997 | An American stout Stout Stout is a dark beer made using roasted malt or barley, hops, water and yeast. Stouts were traditionally the generic term for the strongest or stoutest porters, typically 7% or 8%, produced by a brewery.... that is brewed on a limited basis. It is 6.0% Abv ABV ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code... . |
| The First Snow Ale | 1997 | A spiced pale ale Pale ale Pale ale is a beer which uses a warm fermentation and predominantly pale malt. It is one of the world's major beer styles.The higher proportion of pale malts results in a lighter colour. The term "pale ale" was being applied around 1703 for beers made from malts dried with coke, which resulted in a... brewed during the winter season. It contains a blend of five spices and honey and is 6.0% Abv ABV ABV is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Alcohol by volume, a measure of the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks* Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, from its IATA airport code... . |
Given Johnsen's service in the US Army as a Ranger, several of the beers by RJ Rockers carry patriotic names, i.e. Bald Eagle Brown Ale, Patriot Pale Ale and Star Spangled Stout.
Locations Sold
RJ Rockers currently has distribution in South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and Washington DC.