Altered State Distillery — Resume for Whiskey Enthusiasts and Investors

• Company: Altered State Distillery (Erie, PA)

• Focus: Craft, quality, and innovation through tailored spirits and a strong local community

History

• Altered State Distillery is a small, family-owned and -operated business that began as Gavin's long-held dream as owner/distiller and engaged family and partners in the process.

• Gavin Maus, a native of Erie, previously worked as a business engineer and began dreaming of a distillery after becoming a homebrewer; together with his wife Heather and two business partners, the distillery was founded and thrives today thanks to passion, staff, and support from the local community.

• The company emphasizes a commitment to only selling products they themselves truly enjoy, and to constant improvement through craft and community.

Production

• Production facilities and capacity:

• 600-gallon mash tun

• 500-gallon copper hybrid still with a six-plate column

• 500-gallon pot still

• Two 600-gallon fermenters

• 25-gallon copper hybrid still with six-plate column

• Two 75-gallon holding tanks

• Production is run by Gavin, who works full-time on mashing, distilling, infusion, barreling and bottling.

• The philosophy brings “infused with music” into play—the distillery's spirit and branding connect spirits to the influence of music.

• In addition to alcohol, there is a side kitchen that prioritizes Honest, scratch-made cooking and cocktail production with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and house-made syrups/infusions.

• Important distilling processes include Single Malt, which undergoes a double aging process (American new oak barrels followed by Pedro Ximénez Sherry cask aging, described as "Double Oaked"), and other products where intermediate aging and blends use different barrels and malted malts.

Whiskey Products (Selected)

• Single Malt Whiskey – Finished in Spanish Sherry Cask (Pedro Ximénez)

• Age: 4 years in American new oak barrels, secondary aging in PX Sherry casks

• Price: $59.99

• Tasting notes: Toffee, vanilla, raisins, and oak

• American Blended Whiskey

• Description: 4-year-old bourbon blended with younger single-malt whiskey

• Price: $42.99

• Tasting notes: Smoky chocolates, biscotti/biscuit, caramel, vanilla and toffee

• Red Tail Rye Blended Whiskey

• Description: Two-part blended whiskey consisting of straight rye and malted rye

• Price: Not listed (sold out)

• Tasting notes: Pepper spice, caramel, vanilla, honey and sweet bread notes

• Peated Blended Whiskey

• Description: Two-part blends of bourbon and single malt with peat-smoked malt from Islay

• Price: Not listed

• Tasting notes: Peat/smoke, biscuits, caramel, vanilla and toffee

• Barleywine Cask Rye Whiskey

• Description: Rye aged 4+ years in #3-char fade, secondary aging in barley wine beer casks (double-oaked-like)

• Price: $59.99

• Tasting notes: Pepper spice, dried fruit, vanilla, caramel and bread

• Stout Barrel Bourbon

• Description: Bourbon aged 4+ years in Kelvin Cooperage #3 char fade, secondary aging in stout beer fade

• Price: Out of stock

• Tasting notes: Rich coffee character, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, toffee and oak

• B-Side Rye Whiskey

• Description: Rye-based mash bill (50-75% rye), aged 4+ years in #3 char fade

• Price and details: Not listed

• Tasting notes: Bold pepper spice, dried fruits, vanilla, caramel and honey

• B-Side Bourbon

• Description: Bourbon aged in Kelvin Cooperage #3 char fade

• Price: $39.99

• Tasting notes: Caramel, vanilla, butterscotch and oak

Note: In addition to the above, other spirits on the site (e.g., rum, gin and vodka) are not traditional whiskies and are therefore not listed here as whiskey products.

Tasting Notes (Selected Whiskeys)

• Single Malt Whiskey

• Toffee, vanilla, raisins, oak

• American Blended Whiskey

• Smoky chocolates, biscotti/biscuits, caramel, vanilla, toffee

• Barleywine Cask Rye Whiskey

• Peppery spice, dried fruits, vanilla, caramel, bread

• Stout Barrel Bourbon

• Rich coffee flavors, coffee/chocolate coffee, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, oak

• B-Side Bourbon

• Caramel, vanilla, caramelization, oak

• Red Tail Rye Blended Whiskey

• Pepper/spice, caramel, vanilla, honey, bread

• Peated Blended Whiskey

• Peat smoke, biscuits/bread, caramel, vanilla, toffee

• American Blended Whiskey (note: as blended whiskey)

• Smoky chocolates, biscotti, caramel, vanilla, toffee

Events and News

• General:

• Altered State Distillery supports local and regional musicians as well as brewers and farmers; hosts regular live music events several times a week in Erie.

• Happy Hour: Tuesday to Thursday from 5–7 PM; specials and signature drinks.

• Ghost/Velvet Hour: Friday and Saturday evenings 10 PM–midnight with small plates and desserts.

• Sunday brunch with live outdoor music (weather permitting).

• Open Kitchen:

• The kitchen is open, and menus and brunch are crafted to pair with the distillery's spirits and cocktails.

• Planned and Upcoming Events (examples, free-form text from the site):

• Friendsgiving showcase Live with Eric Brewer & Friends (November)

• Black Friday with Funktional Flow

• Led Zeppelin tribute (Colin John Electric Trio) in late November

• Acoustic Brunch with Lopaka Rootz (November)

• Open Jam every Thursday evening (key players included)

• Private tours and tastings:

• Tours and tastings for private events; contact the distillery to plan and arrange a tour of production and tastings of the spirits.

Company Philosophy and Values

• Quality and Craft:

• “Honest, scratch-made food” and cocktails based on fresh ingredients, homemade syrups and infusions.

• No use of mass-produced ingredients; focus on small-batch, seasonal dishes and handmade products.

• “We will never sell you a product that we do not thoroughly enjoy ourselves” and a disciplined commitment to delivering the best in their craft.

• Local Roots and Innovation:

• Supports PA craft beverage-makers and sells PA beer and wine in the tasting room.

• The philosophy is to “infuse spirits with music” and that all products reflect a love of lifestyle, music and the local community.

• Long-Term Vision:

• Build a community around spirits, food and music – a space where people with shared interests can meet and form friendships.

• Openness about the Experience:

• Guests have the opportunity to taste spirits before purchase; food and drinks are produced with a focus on natural ingredients and product quality.

This résumé collects the essential information about Altered State Distillery from the presented pages and highlights the company’s whiskey range, production focus, flavor profiles, as well as cultural and value-based aspects available in the sources.