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Beer Review: Chewbacca (Rotunda Brewing Company)

B. Kline — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 02:45:07 +0000

Beer Review: Chewbacca by Rotunda Brewing Company

I first had this beer back in October of 2019. (Which feels like ancient history.) And I remember wanting to write a review of it even back then for the site…. and for some reason I never did. Not sure why exactly. Maybe I just didn’t get around to it or something, but I even kept my photo of the beer on my desktop screen this whole time. Ironically, I recently had it again, so what better opportunity to revisit the beer for my second beer review release for Andor: Season 2. Last week I reviewed – Admiral (J Henry Barrel Aged Grand Stout) by Delta Beer Lab – and so this week, we’ll taking a look at a much closer brewery – Rotunda Brewing Company with their Imperial Black IPA (or Imperial Cascadian IPA). This is one of my favorite styles of beer, I love Black IPAs, and Double Black IPAs are event better.

But before we dive in, I want everyone to please take a look at our stream / podcast / video we made on YouTube. It stars myself, Drew of Knights of Nostalgia, and Tim (Aglets). You can view it here:

In the video we cover the first three episodes of Andor. So please be sure to check it out!

And now, onto the review!

Chewbacca by Rotunda Brewing Company (at the Rising Sun in 2019)

The Beer Review: Chewbacca by Rotunda Brewing Company

Beer: Chewbacca
Brewery: Rotunda Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Black IPA / Double Black IPA
ABV: 8%
IBU: N / A
Untappd Description: (Blank)

Let’s check out this Wookie beast (not to be confused with the Wookie Monster by Fourscore). Will someone get this Walking Carpet out of my way so I can type!

Appearance

Chewbacca pours a deep, opaque brown-almost bordering on black-with a creamy, tan head that lingers like a loyal Wookiee companion. The lacing is impressive, clinging to the glass with each sip, leaving behind a trail reminiscent of hyperspace streaks.

Aroma

Right out of the gate, there’s a punch of roasted malt-think dark chocolate and fresh-brewed coffee-balanced by a piney, resinous hop profile. There’s a subtle undercurrent of caramel and a hint of citrus, like orange peel, that peeks through as it warms. The aroma is bold and inviting, promising complexity.

Chewbacca by Rotunda Brewing Company

Taste

The first sip delivers a satisfying interplay between roasted malt bitterness and assertive hop character. Notes of espresso and bittersweet cocoa dominate up front, quickly joined by pine, grapefruit, and a touch of earthy spice. The Black IPA style shines here: the hops never overwhelm the malt backbone, instead weaving together in a harmonious, chewy mouthfeel. The 9.2% ABV is well-hidden, but there’s a gentle warmth in the finish that lets you know this is a beer worthy of a Wookiee.

Mouthfeel

Medium to full-bodied, with a creamy carbonation that lifts the flavors without feeling heavy. The finish is dry, with lingering roast and a pleasant, resinous bitterness that invites another sip.

Overall Impressions

Chewbacca is a robust, well-executed Black IPA that balances dark roast and hop bite with finesse. It’s a bold tribute to its namesake-complex, powerful, and just a little wild. Whether you’re a Star Wars fan or simply a lover of big, hoppy dark ales, this is a beer that deserves a spot in your cantina. Untappd’s 3.8/5 rating feels right, but I’d nudge it a bit higher for the sheer fun and craftsmanship.

Wrap Up

My Untappd Rating: ****.25
Global Untappd Rating: 3.8 (out of nearly 1000 ratings) (as of 4.25.25)

May the hops be with you-always.

Chewbacca by Rotunda Brewing Company (RBC) (photo courtesy of Rotunda Brewing Company)

I’m gonna have to check the archives of the site here, or on my computer, to see if I have any notes or anything from the initial first time I drank the beer, if maybe I started a review and then sadly – for whatever reason – never got around to finishing it. Maybe I was waiting for the right chance to post it, and never found it. Who knows, there’s over 70+ articles in my “draft” folder here on the site, some day I’ll get around to posting them…. unfortunately that day is not today though. But be sure to come back to the site, who knows, maybe it’ll be tomorrow…..

And check back next Tuesday for another (hopefully) Star Wars themed beer release. Over the weekened is May the Fourth Be With You, so once again, hopefully I’ll be able to grab some of the RAR Star Wars themed beers and will be able to review them weekly!

Cheers all and thank you for reading!

Chewbacca at Rotunda Brewery

All of Our Nerd Content

Here’s all of our nerd content, served up best in one single place. Enjoy!

I know ya’ll here for the nerd reviews. So check out our other nerd reviews below:

Star Wars:

Futurama

Lord of the Rings:

Magic the Gathering:

New Belgium Teams Up with Magic the Gathering for Vastwood Seer IPA

Heroes of Barcadia:

Rollacrit Partners with Voodoo Ranger IPA for New Kickstarter, Heroes of Barcadia: Heroes for Hire Tabletop Game

Zelda:

Rick and Morty:

Beer Review: Peace Among Worlds (Cushwa Brewing Company)

Space Balls:

Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewery)

Game of Thrones:

The Simpsons:

Back to the Future:

Beer Review: Back to Reality (Three 3s Brewing Co)

Scrooged:

Beer Review: Scrooge IPA (Iron Hill Brewing)

Groundhog Day:

A Christmas Story:

The Peanuts:

Pro Wrestling:

Soccer:

World Cup:

Phillies:

Philadelphia Eagles:

The Philadelphia Eagles Running Back – D’Andre Swift – Visits Bald Bird Brewing Company

Matrix:

Matrix Monday

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

Beer Review: Terpenes in Time (BAREBottle Brewing Co)

Mario:

Beer Review: Level Up (Idiom Brewing)

HP Lovecraft / Cthulhu:

Beer Review: Azathoth (Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company)

Seinfeld:

The Muppets:

Other:

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The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of April 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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Howling Henry’s Not Looking to Finish Out the Year

B. Kline — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 20:55:00 +0000

2023 Might Be the End for Howling Henry’s Brewery

It is looking like 2023 might be claiming another brewery. Sadly, in a recent post in a Facebook beer group asking about Howling Henry’s Brewery – the owner responded saying that they will not be getting a new taproom and that they will likely be done by the end of 2023.

The question posed in the group was: “Does anyone know if Howling Henry’s is open in any capacity?“

The owner of Howling Henry’s Brewing LLC – Greg Schertzer responded: “Unfortunately, I don’t have plans to be open past this year. I do not have a tap room at the Klick Lewis Arena anymore. I have cases available for delivery, but I have no plans to open a new taproom.“

Howling Henry’s Brewing LLC

Howling Henry’s Brewing LLC originally started in Hummelstown, brewing from the old Theo’s warehouse at the corner of 2nd Street and Duke Street. They sold kegs and bottles to various local bars and restaurants and distributors.

One of his earliest beers was – BOPA – Basil Onion Pale Ale.

They then opened a tap room location on 2nd Street in Hummelstown – 35 East Second Street, Hummelstown PA, 17036.

Brewery Opening – Howling Henry’s Brewery in Hummelstown. The Hummelstown taproom was opened in October of 2020 – amidst the pandemic – and about the same week as the Rubber Soul Brewpub opening (also in Hummelstown).

Around early June 2022, Howling Henry’s moved to the Klick Lewis Arena in Annville. Its a part of the sports complex in the Annville – Palmyra area called “In the Net”. At one time there was a building in the complex that housed Snitz Creek Brewery’s (original) second location. The tap room location for Howling Henry’s was in the hockey arena, and overlook area.

Closing Down

Greg Schertzer announcing Howling Henry’s taproom will not be returning.

It would seem in the last few months Howling Henry’s Brewing LLC has lost their location at the Klick Lewis Arena and are no longer there.

This was their second tap room – after the one in Hummelstown closed.

As he said in the Facebook beer group’s post – he doesn’t have any plans to stay open past this year (2023). He also states that he has no plans on re – opening any tap rooms or having a new tap room going forward. He does state that he has cases available for delivery.

Which sounds like he is completely shutting down Howling Henry’s Brewing LLC and closing shop, and will no longer be brewing.

Howling Henry’s has been a staple at Hummelstown events like the Winter Fling for several years now (probably dating back to 2017 or 2018), as well as some local brew fests like the Mount Hope Renaissance Faire brew fest held yearly in Manheim. They also went to a few other brew fests in the area (I believe the Lititz Brew Fest, the Auto Ales at the AACA Museum, the Fort Hunter Dauphin County / Harrisburg brew fest, and the PA Flavor event at the Harrisburg Farm Show complex). It is a shame to see a community friendly brewery – business – close its doors, and its a shame to see any person’s dream project come to an end.

We would like to wish the best for Greg, and everyone else involved with Howling Henry’s Brewing LLC. We hope its not the end of the road, but understand that sometimes it is. We wish the best to all involved going forward.

For More Information on Howling Henry’s Brewing LLC

For more information on Howling Henry’s Brewing LLC, you can check out our past articles:

Fro more information on Howling Henry’s Brewing LLC – the following comes from Untappd.

Howling Henry’s Brewing LLC is a nano brewery from Hummelstown, PA. It has 18 unique beers and just over 5,500 ratings, with a global average rating of 3.27 (as of 9.11.23). The Untappd description reads: Howling Henry’s Brewery is crafting beer without rules, which causes our beers to be an nontraditional representations of their contemporaneity styles. Are you ready for a different take on traditional beer styles, then you should give Howling Henry’s a try? Our beers are not filtered, so we can offer as much flavor as possible. The taproom is now open in Hummelstown; check my website out for details.

You can find them on the following social media pages:

Brewery News

Interested in finding out about many other brewery openings, new locations, closings, movings, and in general brewery news? You can check out our links below:

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If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

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The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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