Pennsylvania Breweries Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary

Lehigh Valley: Beer, Industry, and History

The National Museum of Industrial History 250 Celebration (photo courtesy of The National Museum of Industrial History)

The National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem is currently hosting Cheers to 250: Brewing in America, a special exhibition running through July that explores how beer production helped shape American industry, transportation, and culture from the colonial era through the modern craft renaissance. To deepen the experience, the museum is partnering with regional staples—including Lehigh Valley Brewers Guild, Lehigh Valley Homebrewers, Hijinx Brewing, and Lost Tavern Brewing—to present community history programs that connect local beer culture to the wider national story.

Celebrate shared history and community spirit at the 250th All-American Picnic in Downtown East Stroudsburg, along Crystal Street and Miller Park, on July 4th from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. This family-friendly festival offers live music from classic rock and country acts, plus performances by Lilly Moss, Sick Whiskey, and Clodagh Conboy, along with local vendors and refreshing drinks from ShawneeCraft Brewing Company and Bovino’s Brewery.

Western PA: Concerts, Drones, and Local Pours

On Sunday, July 5, 2026, Allegheny County is hosting an official America’s 250th Anniversary Concert and Drone Show at Hartwood Acres Amphitheater. Gates open at 3:00 PM, and local favorite Hop Farm Brewing Company will anchor the on-site beverage offerings alongside Black Dog Winery, setting the stage for an evening that ends with a Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performance synchronized to a 200+ drone light show.

In Downtown Grove City on July 3rd, the town is throwing an open-to-the-public celebration for America’s 250th birthday, with local bands, kids’ activities, food trucks, and shopping. Local breweries such as Allusion Brewery will be pouring, giving attendees a chance to toast the holiday with hometown craft beer while exploring the downtown businesses.

Northeastern PA: Rails, Lagers, and Railroad Heritage

Photo courtesy of Runaway Train Brewery

Honesdale, known as the birthplace of the American railroad thanks to the historic Stourbridge Lion’s first commercial run on August 8, 1829, will host a historic beer tasting train ride aboard the Stourbridge Line. The train will feature Declaration Lager, Pennsylvania’s official beer for America250PA, with representatives from Runaway Train Brewery on board to walk riders through tasting notes and flavor profiles as they enjoy the scenic ride and the state’s railroading legacy.

Southeast and Philly Region: Orchards, Gardens, and Biergartens

Photo courtesy of Aristaeus Craft Brewing

Aristaeus Craft Brewing will be the official featured brewery at the America 250 Celebration at Styer Orchard on Friday, July 3, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This ticketed, family-friendly orchard bash pairs Aristaeus’s locally poured craft beers with food trucks, classic lawn games, and live music, all building toward a fireworks display to cap off the evening.

Photo courtesy of Love City Brewing

Love City Brewing is marking Independence Day in its garden and taproom with an event that blends holiday fun and civic values. Highlights include an annual water balloon toss benefiting immigrant and refugee rights organizations, plus cornhole and ladder ball throughout the day, alongside $2 hot dogs and free water ice while supplies last. The celebration emphasizes democratic values, diversity, and inclusion as part of Philadelphia’s 250th anniversary, while offering space for critical engagement with current political issues.

Photo and logo courtesy of Brothers Kershner

Brothers Kershner Brewing in Skippack is again the hub for the town’s 4th of July festivities, hosting the annual Skippack 4th of July Parade after-party on Saturday, July 4th. They’ll open early for front-row parade views from the porch and parking lot, with live music starting as soon as the parade ends. To mark America 250, Brothers Kershner is releasing a special American Light Lager in 12oz six-packs and on draft. Then on Sunday, July 5th, the celebration moves to the Brothers on the Brandywine Biergarten Independence Day event, with the park opening at 1:00 PM and featuring a beer and wine bar, live music, food trucks, vendors, a bounce house, and laid-back creekside vibes.

Happy 4th of July America

Happy 4th of July America, and everybody. Its time to blow some stuff up! ‘Merica! *Insert Screaming Eagle Sound* Its fourth of July 2021 and its time to celebrate better, its been an interesting year, and an even more interesting two years, here at The Beer Thrillers, in America, and across the globe. So if there’s a time to celebrate with dads in New Balances and jean shorts, with tall white socks, and grass stained shoes, barbecuing, with some nice ‘dad beers’, this is it.

So looking around the Hummelstown, Hershey, Harrisburg, and Middletown area, let’s see what are some of the best “dad beers” around. For that, I’m talking lagers, pilsners, kolsches. Think Bud Lite, Coors Lite, Miller Lite…. but a thousand times better. A helluva better. Craft beers, good craft beers, well, created craft beers, rather than that ‘water’ (to use the most generous term that I could).

So, let’s break it down by category, and see what all we got in the area!

Lagers

These are your ‘lite beers’, nice easy drinking beers, light, crisp, and tasty.

But interestingly enough, starting off our list we start at Rubber Soul Brewery in Hummelstown, with a Dark Lager.

Distorted Soul

Beer: Distorted Soul
Brewery: Rubber Soul Brewing Company
Style: Lager – Dark
ABV: 5.4%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: Brewed with roasted barley and chocolate malt. Roasty, crisp and refreshing.
Untappd Rating: 3.94 (as of 7.4.21)

Next up we travel into Harrisburg for the Hellsbender Defender by ZeroDay Brewing Company. They’ve recently reopened their new taproom, and they have a larger expanded taproom listing now.

Hellsbender Defender

Beer: Hellsbender Defender
Brewery: ZeroDay Brewing Company
Style: Lager – Helles
ABV: 4.7%
IBU: 15
Untappd Description: This golden lager is brewed to the traditional German style. It is pale in color while being a little fuller in body than other light lagers. The use of German noble hops gives a slight bitter flavor, which is rounded out by a touch of malty sweetness. This balanced lager is a favorite beer among our brewers who get really excited to share it with you each Spring.
Untappd Rating: 3.73

Moving on to Hershey, right next to the famous Hershey Park Amusement Park; which sadly is not doing their annual fireworks show this year (second year in a row) (either due to COVID-19 still, or due to cost cutting measures, or who knows what); is Troegs Independent Brewing Company. One of the largest breweries in the state, and one of their flagship beers happens to be one of the best lagers you can find.

When in Doubt Helles Lager

Beer: When in Doubt
Brewery: Troegs Independent Craft Brewery
Style: Lager – Helles
ABV: 4.3%
IBU: 21
Untappd Description: When in Doubt is all harmony. It begins with a single note, a clean and delicate pilsner malt reminiscent of freshly baked bread. Tradition hops add hints of wildflower and subtle bitterness, and our crisp lager yeast pulls it all together. In the end, this refreshing Munich-style Helles is greater than the sum of its parts and – when in doubt – always a good call.
Untappd Rating: 3.57

Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be as many lagers in the area, but there is definitely a lot of pilsners. So lets jump right into another dad favorite!

Pilsners

First up on our tour of pilsners, is starting again right in Hummelstown at Rubber Soul Brewery.

Soul Patch

Beer: Soul Patch
Brewery: Rubber Soul Brewing Company
Style: Pilsner – Czech
ABV: 4.6%
IBU: 31
Untappd Description: Czech style Pilsner that is clean, crisp and refreshing. Earthy with a little spice with the Saaz hops. Imagine that perfect day and the bead of sweat across your brow. You need something to cool off with…something light but has that body! Get your razors out boys. It’s time for a Soul Patch.
Untappd Rating: 3.69

Staying in Hummelstown, we are moving over to Howling Henry’s on 2nd Street. Despite the name being LOLAGER, its a pilsner (German).

Lolager

Beer: Lolager
Brewery: Howling Henry’s Brewing
Style: Pilsner – German
ABV: 4.5%
IBU: 15
Untappd Description: This session pilsner is light in body, flavorful, very refreshing, and clean finishing. If you need an easy drinking beer H2B has it with this offering. Easy, and fun session beer that will not weigh you down.
Untappd Rating: 3.37

Swinging into nearby Middletown, we have Basic Dad Pilsner by Tattered Flag.

Basic Dad Pilsner

Beer: Basic Dad Pilsner
Brewery: Tattered Flag
Style: Pilsner – Other
ABV: 4.8%
IBU: No IBU
Untappd Description: PA Preferred, gluten reduced Pilsner made with local Double Eagle pennyback pils, hoppped with ahtahnum. Light and biscuity with a crisp finish.
Untappd Rating: 3.47%

Heading to the outskirts of Harrisburg – Rutherford to be exact – we come across Boneshire Brew Works which has Stickhead Pills.

Stick Head Pils

Beer: Stick Head Pils
Brewery: Boneshire Brew Works
Style: Pilsner – German
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: A Crushable Pilsner. Drink it up!
Untappd Rating: 3.83