Raise a Glass to Family

Brewing is a Father-Son Business for Collusion Tap Works

When we heard Collusion Tap Works was coming to town a few years ago, we were definitely waiting on the edge of our seats. Jared Barnes, Collusion’s Head Brewer, has the kind of resume that makes even non-beer drinkers want to give his brews a try.

Jared earned his Master Brewer’s Certificate from the World Brewer’s Academy, a program that took him to Munich, Germany where he studied the art of brewing beer for 7 months. Back stateside, he worked in breweries in Florida, Delaware and Pennsylvania before teaming up with his father, Chuck Barnes, to open the first Collusion Tap Works, just across the river in York. There, Jared and Chuck have established themselves as part of a thriving city resurgence in York and they’re quickly becoming ingrained in downtown Lititz life as well.

So how did Collusion Tap Works come to Lititz? When Jim Hoffer purchased the old Lititz Shirt Factory and began its renovation, he sought out the right match for a brewery to anchor the building, which also serves as a venue for live music. In April of 2021, Collusion Tap Works opened it doors on 5 Juniper Lane in Lititz, just off of Broad Street, south of the square. We talked to Chuck Barnes about the business.

Venture Lititz: What’s your best selling product? 

Chuck: Our locally brewed craft beers obviously, but more specifically our most asked for beer in Lititz is probably our German style pilsner, First Rite.

Venture Lititz: What product is your personal favorite? 

Chuck: It depends on the season for me, and I rotate between several as personal ‘go-to’ beers.  Beside First Rite, I really like Fuzzy Scrumpit, Xerion Matrix, Homunculus, and whatever stout is current.

Venture Lititz: What made you open this particular business?  

Chuck: My son Jared, who is our Head Brewer and manages the day to day operations at our York location, presented me with a business plan in 2015 and convinced me that this was a winning idea.

Venture Lititz: What’s your favorite spot in Lititz?

Chuck: One of the corner bar stools in our taproom.

Venture Lititz: When you’re not at your shop/restaurant, where can we find you?  

Chuck: Fly fishing on a trout stream.

We have to imagine that there’s a cooler holding a cold stout nearby. Head to Collusion Tap Works Lititz to experience Jared’s ever-evolving brews. And, don’t be afraid to bring along your littles. Our daughter wants you to know Collusion also has the “world’s best ever grilled cheese sandwiches.” Of course, the town has also spoken loudly in favor of their Brussels sprouts!