PHILLIPSTON — Al Rose, owner of Red Apple Farm, and Rick Walton, owner of the Moon Hill Brewing Company, plan to co-brand an apple ale. The two attended this week’s selectmen’s meeting to discuss their plans.
“My dad always wanted to get into hard cider,” said Rose. “He wanted me to study in France.”
Al and Nancy Rose are fourth-generation owners, and built the rustic event barn in 2007. “We have a lot of weddings there.”
Al Rose and Walton, who say they “go way back,” plan to sell the apple ale, a short-term project, over the summer, and pursue a farm winery license. Their long-term plans include a collaboration that will involve making hard cider to sell at the Boston Public Market.
“On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we will do a ‘pop-up’ brewery,” Rose said. “It’s an opportunity to open up the barbecue.”
The pop-up brewery will be for the summer months only. “The summer time is phenomenal in craft beer. Pop-up breweries is becoming a thing. We’ll have hours to accommodate the crowd,” Walton said.
Walton opened the Gardner Ale House in 2009, decided to distribute beer outside the ale house, and started using Moon Hill Brewing Company for branding.
The Brew Barn is open in the post and beam country barn on site through Aug. 12 at Red Apple Farm, 455 Highland Ave., and features live music on Saturdays and Sundays.
The musical guest lineup includes: The Green Sisters, Andy Fichtel, Barrett Anderson Band, Hip Swayers Trio with Dan, Heidi Jo & Dave Berry, Melissa Gates, Stone Line, April Mae & the June Bugs, Brian Chaffee & Chris Boutell, the Definite Maybes, Stillwater String Band, North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce special guest and Josh Hill. The artists perform Saturdays 3 to 6 p.m. and Sundays 2 to 5 p.m.
Rick & Al’s Apple Ale, hard cider and eight Moon Brewing Co. beers (distributed from the Gardner Ale House) are featured at the Brew Barn. Moon Hill offers lagers, seasonal sours, Belgian ales, flavored light beer and cider. There are also gluten-free selections and a double India pale ale called Craft Punk.
The outdoor barbecue is open Fridays 3 to 8 p.m.; Saturdays noon to 8 p.m., and Sundays noon to 7 p.m. Items offered include burgers and hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, veggie burgers, turkey legs, apple cider doughnuts, kettle corn, roasted nuts and ice cream. There are kids games, farm animals, a country store and lawn games, like cornhole.
Rose said the apple ale can be infused with blueberries and raspberries.
“There are endless possibilities,” he said.
The Apple Farm is open daily 9 a.m to 6 p.m. More information is available at redapplefarm.com or by calling 978-249-6763.
This week, selectmen approved an additional handicapped parking space on the church side of the Town Common near the bulletin board. The approval brings the number available to four — two in front of the Town Hall and two in front of the Phillipston Congregational Church.
After reviewing options, the Selectboard voted to go with a heat pump system, rather than a propane system, for the town’s annex. Town offices housed there include the town accountant, town treasurer, Board of Health, Cemetery Commission and building inspectors. Five people regularly work there.
The annex is the large building between the church and the library, constructed around the turn of the 19th century. It previously was the highway department building, and the church’s stables were there. Community Preservation money was used to refurbish the front entryway.
The cost of the air conditioning/heat pump is $8,880, as opposed to a propane system with air conditioning at $9,980. A study was conducted on the efficiency of both units. Highway Superintendent Rick Tenney noted that a benefit to changing to a heat pump would be that the town would not have to house propane, it would gain storage space and there would be no oil tank or furnace. A bonus, he said, is the electric cost would be absorbed if the town decides to put in its own solar array.
Town Clerk Karin Foley said her one concern would be when the power goes out. It was noted that a power outage would affect any system. The funds would come from the town’s reserve account.