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Q: How long has Pennsylvania been brewing beer?
A: Pennsylvania has a long history of brewing beer that dates back to the colonial days.
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Q: What city is considered the craft beer capital of Pennsylvania?
A: Philadelphia is known as the craft beer capital of Pennsylvania.
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Q: Does Pittsburgh have craft breweries?
A: Yes, Pittsburgh boasts a number of up-and-coming craft breweries.
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Q: Are rural areas of Pennsylvania involved in craft brewing?
A: The rural areas near Harrisburg are certainly not lagging behind in the craft beer scene.
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1. Philadelphia Brewing Co
Philadelphia Brewing Co was founded in 2007 in Philadelphia, PA, in the historic 1885 building that originally housed the Weisbrod & Hess Oriental Brewing Company, which operated on the premises until 1939. They brew five year-round beers, a few seasonals, and the occasional experimental recipe. All the ingredients for their beers are sourced locally. They do not use any preservatives and distribute their beers themselves. The Peacock Room is their 30-seat tavern located at one corner of the old building, serving the brewery’s own beers and Commonwealth ciders, on tap and in bottles, a list of cocktails, and a small selection of snacks such as bacon popcorn and spiced nuts. There is also a pleasant space outdoors for those warmer days. More substantial food is offered by rotating food trucks.
2440 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125, Phone: 215-427-2739
2. Straub Brewery Inc
Straub Brewery Inc is an award-winning brewery founded in 1872 by German immigrant Peter Straub in St. Marys, PA. It is one of the oldest breweries in the United States, and it is still owned and run by the sixth and seventh generations of its founding family. Straub Brewery produces Straub American Lager, Straub American Light Lager, Straub American Amber Lager, IPL (India Pale Lager), and 1872 Pre-Prohibition Lager. They also make the Peter Straub Signature Brews craft beer styles such as Kölsch Ale, Dunkel, Vienna Lager, Helles, Doppelbock, Altbier, Maibock, Oktoberfest, Pilsner, and Hefeweizen. There is a tap room near the brewing area, where visitors taking a tour of the facility can enjoy a free sample of Straub Beer from a number of taps on the wall. There is also a stand-alone tap system in the Eternal Tap area.
303 Sorg St, St Marys, PA 15857, Phone: 814-834-2875
3. Breaker Brewing Company
The Breaker Brewing Company is a micro-brewery that started brewing and selling commercially in 2009 on a 1.5-barrel brewing system. They opened their brewery and attached tap room to the public in 2003 in the former St. Josephs school in northeast Pennsylvania’s coal region. They produce small batches of hand-crafted beers that they deliver to local pubs and bars. Their tasting room is a popular local gathering place, with a great pub atmosphere, a long bar, and a lot of space for friends and families. They offer a solid menu of classic pub grub created in their own kitchen, paired with their own beer from up to 11 taps that rotate regularly.
787 E Northampton St, Wilkes-Barre Township, PA 18702, Phone: 570-392-9078
4. Dancing Gnome Beer
Established in 2009 and opened to the public in 2016, Dancing Gnome Beer is a small craft brewery in the Sharpsburg neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA, brewing hop-forward, farmhouse-style ales using a 10-barrel system. They offer their rotating selection of beers in a cozy tap room separated from the production facility by a large glass window. The tap room is a popular local gathering spot for craft beer aficionados. The inviting space has high ceilings, an industrial-chic vibe, subway tiles, exposed beams, and high-top tables. They release three beers every week, which are offered together with their regular line. Food is provided by the great range of food trucks parked in front of the brewery.
925 Main St, Pittsburgh, PA 15215, Phone: 412-408-2083
5. Four Seasons Brewing Company, Inc.
Four Seasons Brewing Company, Inc. is a microbrewery in Latrobe, PA, with a production facility and a charming, bright and spacious tap room in an old warehouse close to St. Vincent College. They produce a large range of lagers and ales on tap, served fresh in their tap room, with only a glass wall separating guests from the production area. Tours are available upon request. There is live music almost every Friday and Saturday. The tap room offers a small food menu with regular pub grub such as pretzels, chips and salsa, and hot dogs, but there are food trucks parked in front and guests are free to order food from one of the many nearby eateries.
745 Lloyd Ave Exd, Latrobe, PA 15650, Phone: 724-520-4111
6. Free Will Brewing Co.
Free Will Brewing Co. is a full-production craft brewery located in Perkasie, PA, producing lagers, ales, and a large range of sour/wild ales in their 38,000-square-foot facility with a 15-barrel capacity, using 11 fermenters, liquor barrels, wine barrels, puncheons, and foudres. They distribute their beers all over the Eastern Seaboard, and tours of the brewery are available every Saturday. The brewery has two tap rooms, one attached to the brewery in Perkasie and the other in Peddler’s Village, about half hour from Perkasie, in a renovated colonial building, where they offer a 12-tap draft list that includes their most popular Techno IPA, Kragle IPA, Crisper Kolsch, and others. The taproom also offers beer sales, specialty beer releases, snacks, and a range of brewery-related merchandise. Guests are encouraged to bring their own food.
410 E Walnut St #1,10, Perkasie, PA 18944, Phone: 267-354-0813
7. Helltown Brewing LLC
Helltown Brewing LLC is a small-scale 15-barrel brewhouse opened in 2011 in a renovated former auto-repair garage on a residential street in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County. They distribute their beers, ranging from light to dark, throughout western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Philadelphia. Some of their most popular beers are Wretched (a Belgian blonde) and Mischievous (a brown ale). They have a few tables among the tanks, where they offer free samples of their freshly brewed beer. Visitors can also fill pints and growlers. There are a few picnic benches outside and food trucks often park in front, so you can hang out with friends and family.
13 Henry C Frick St, Mt Pleasant, PA 15666, Phone: 724-542-4339
8. Lavery Brewing Co
Located in downtown Erie, PA, Lavery Brewing Co is an award-winning American craft brewery founded in 2009. They produce a range of beer styles that have their own distinctive original style and flavor, produced in their 10-barrel facility. They have won numerous awards for their brews, such as the gold medal for Belgian and French saison at the 2013 Great American Beer Fest for their Liopard Oir Farmhouse Alewon. They produce three malts and three hops of their flagship beers and 30 more beers exclusive to their brew pub. Some of the most popular are Mango Mosaic IPA, Berliner Weisses, and Amapricot Amarillo IPA. Their tap room also offers a range of pub grub, with Taco Tuesday and Pizza Thursday being most popular.
128 W 12th St, Erie, PA 16501, Phone: 814-454-0405
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