Bucks has collaborated with Moss Mill Brewing Company to craft its very own beer, Centurion Ale: Exploratore MMXXIII.

Ray Melendez, a 48-year-old Warminster resident and Bucks student had the opportunity to taste the Centurion Ale for himself. He described the flavor as having a “terrific taste that is smooth, mild and light.” Centurion Ale is an “amber ale” with a 5.5% alcohol content and is priced at $2.50 for 4 ounces and $7 for 16 ounces. Melendez highly recommends getting it alongside Moss Mill’s “Spicy BBQ Burger.”

Dr. John G. Darab, Ph.D. part-time professor of Bucks’ brewing programs, provided some insight as to the inspiration behind the project. During a meeting with the President of Bucks County Community College, Dr. Felicia Ganther, she recommended including “Centurion” in the name of the product to represent the influence of Bucks.

Darab took this idea and ran with it, working hard to formulate a beer loosely inspired around Casta Regina, a Roman city located in modern-day Regensburg, Germany, which was discovered to have the ruins of a malt house during an archeological excavation.

Darab states he “started to consider what the characteristics would be of the malt produced at the Casta Regina area” and the “beer produced from that malt.” Darab’s goal instead was to “pay homage to the beer made for the Roman Third Italian Legion” by recreating it with other materials to make it more widely acceptable so more people could enjoy it. However, he also says he didn’t make an exact recreation of Casta Regina beer since it “would likely not be palatable to today’s consumer.”

Although the inspiration is loose, the steps taken to re-create the drink of days gone by were meticulously done. Aspects ranging from the type of ale yeast used, the body and flavor of the beverage, to the varied color of the malt during the kiln process, all of these aspects were taken into account during the production process.

The quality control was greatly helped by the folks at Moss Mill Brewing Company, owned by Nick and Evann Rodgers. Moss Mill Brewing was started in February 2018, and their expertise in the field of brewing helped with the formulation and process of producing Centurion Ale.

As a result of all the experimentation, this particular batch was entitled the “Exploratore” edition, marking the initial experimental release of Centurion Ale, and MMXXIII for the year of release, 2023. It stands testament to the hard work that went into it when it stands up to, as Darab describes, “the harshest critic – himself.”

Centurion Ale is a seasonal ale, and Moss Mill plans on continuing to partner with the Bucks brewing curriculum and expects to produce new flavors in the future.

The sleek graphic on the can featuring a Roman centurion helmet was the winning design of an art contest held in March earlier this year. It was produced by Susan Alexander of Quakertown and is proudly emblazoned upon the Centurion Ale: Exploratore MMXXIII label.

Bucks’ Brewing and Fermentation Science program (BRFS) offers a branch of courses oriented around the art of brewing, allowing new and experienced brewers alike the opportunity to learn more and even work hands-on at Moss Mill Brewing. Even for those who only want to learn more about the fermentation process and the science behind it, these courses are worth considering.

Feel free to try out Centurion Ale for yourself at Moss Mill Brewing in Huntingdon and try out the brewing program offered at Bucks if you’re interested.