Untappd

We Are Halfway Through the Year

It is July 2nd, and technically that means we are halfway through the year of 2024!

So let’s take a look at what breweries are doing great, and are the Top 10 Breweries in the United States via Untappd. Most of these won’t be surprises. The juggernauts of the craft beer scene, the established home run (or grand slam) hitters are still the perennial favorites. But all the same, let’s take a look at the list.

For all of the statistical information below (global average rating, number of beers, ratings, etc.) is as accurate as July 2nd, 2024.

Top 10 Breweries in The United States Halfway Through 2024

1. Tree House Brewing Company

Tree House Brewing Company

Global Average Rating: 4.327
Unique Beers: 1,429
Total Ratings: 4,850,072
Location: Charlton, MA
Brewery Style: Regional Brewery

Tree House Brewing Company, founded in 2011 in Brimfield, Massachusetts, has grown into one of the most revered craft breweries in the United States. Known for its innovative and high-quality beers, particularly its New England IPAs, Tree House has cultivated a dedicated following. The brewery initially operated out of a modest barn, but its rapid growth and increasing demand for its products necessitated expansions. In 2017, Tree House opened a larger facility in Charlton, Massachusetts, featuring a state-of-the-art brewing system, ample taproom space, and picturesque surroundings, enhancing the overall visitor experience.

Tree House’s success can be attributed to its commitment to brewing excellence and its unique business model, which emphasizes direct sales to customers at the brewery. This approach fosters a strong connection between the brewery and its patrons, creating a sense of community and exclusivity. Tree House beers, often characterized by their hazy appearance, juicy flavor profiles, and fresh ingredients, consistently receive high ratings and accolades within the craft beer community. The brewery’s dedication to quality, innovation, and customer engagement has solidified its reputation as a standout in the competitive craft beer industry.

See our links:

• Tree House Opening a Saratoga Springs Location
• Tree House Announces the Hottest Beer of 2023 – the Jalagreeno
• Beer Review: Intemperance
• Beer Review: Sap
• Beer Review: Doppelganger
• Beer Review: Julius
• Beer Review: Haze
• Beer Review: Autumn

2. The Alchemist

The Alchemist

Global Average Rating: 4.327
Unique Beers: 73
Total Ratings: 769,269
Location: Stowe, VT
Brewery Style: Regional Brewery

The Alchemist, a family-run brewery founded by John and Jen Kimmich in 2003, is based in Stowe, Vermont. Initially starting as a modest brewpub in Waterbury, the brewery gained immense popularity with its flagship beer, Heady Topper, a double IPA that has achieved cult status among craft beer enthusiasts. The demand for Heady Topper was so high that the Kimmichs decided to focus exclusively on brewing and canning their beers, leading to the opening of a production facility in Waterbury in 2011. In 2016, they expanded further by opening a visitor-friendly brewery and retail shop in Stowe, providing fans with a destination to experience their renowned brews firsthand.

The Alchemist’s success is driven by its dedication to quality and innovation, consistently producing highly sought-after beers that have garnered numerous awards and accolades. The brewery’s emphasis on freshness and local ingredients, coupled with its sustainable practices, reflects a commitment to both the craft and the environment. Heady Topper, known for its hazy appearance and intensely hoppy flavor, is often credited with helping to popularize the New England IPA style. The Alchemist’s reputation for exceptional brewing and its influential role in the craft beer movement have solidified its status as a cornerstone of the industry.

See our links:

• Beer Review: The Heady Topper

3. Trillium Brewing Company

Trillium Brewing Company

Global Average Rating: 4.252
Unique Beers: 684
Total Ratings: 2,998,857
Location: Canton, MA United States
Brewery Style: Regional Brewery

Trillium Brewing Company, founded in 2013 by JC and Esther Tetreault in Boston, Massachusetts, has quickly risen to prominence within the craft beer community. Renowned for its diverse and innovative lineup of beers, Trillium specializes in New England IPAs, sours, and stouts that consistently receive high praise for their quality and flavor. The brewery started in the Fort Point neighborhood but has since expanded to include multiple locations, including a flagship brewery in Canton and a seasonal beer garden on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Trillium’s commitment to excellence and experimentation has made it a favorite among beer enthusiasts.

Trillium’s success can be attributed to its focus on both innovation and community engagement. The brewery frequently collaborates with other craft brewers and local businesses, creating unique beers and fostering a sense of camaraderie within the industry. Trillium’s use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients and its dedication to sustainable practices further enhance its reputation. In addition to its beer offerings, Trillium’s spaces are designed to provide welcoming and enjoyable experiences for visitors, from taprooms to outdoor beer gardens. This blend of high-quality products and community-centric approach has cemented Trillium’s status as a leading force in the craft beer scene.

4. Other Half Brewing Company

Other Half Brewing Company

Global Average Rating: 4.223
Unique Beers: 1,725
Total Ratings: 4,563,740
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Brewery Style:Regional Brewery

Other Half Brewing Company, established in 2014 by Sam Richardson, Matt Monahan, and Andrew Burman in Brooklyn, New York, has become a prominent player in the craft beer industry, particularly known for its hop-forward beers. Specializing in New England IPAs, Other Half has built a strong reputation for creating intensely flavorful and aromatic brews. The brewery’s commitment to quality and innovation has earned it a dedicated following and numerous accolades. With its flagship location in Brooklyn, Other Half has expanded to include additional taprooms and breweries in Rochester, New York, and Washington, D.C., broadening its reach and influence within the craft beer community.

Other Half Brewing Company distinguishes itself through a collaborative spirit and a relentless pursuit of brewing excellence. The brewery frequently partners with other craft brewers from around the world, producing a wide range of unique and experimental beers. This collaborative approach not only fosters innovation but also strengthens the sense of community within the craft beer industry. Other Half’s dynamic and inclusive culture, combined with its focus on delivering high-quality, fresh beer, has solidified its status as a leading and influential brewery in the highly competitive craft beer market.

See our links:

• Keystone State of Mind – New Trail and Other Half Collaboration
• Beer Review: Cream on the Inside, Green on the Outside
• Beer Review: Space Broccoli
• Beer Review: All Together

5. Equilibrium Brewing Company

Equilibrium Brewing Company

Global Average Rating: 4.182
Unique Beers: 776
Total Ratings: 1,746,824
Location: Middletown, NY
Brewery Style:Regional Brewery

Equilibrium Brewing Company, founded in 2016 by Ricardo Petroni and Peter Oates in Middletown, New York, has swiftly garnered acclaim for its scientifically inspired approach to brewing. Drawing on their backgrounds in science and engineering, Petroni and Oates apply rigorous research and precise methodologies to create their distinctive beers. Equilibrium is particularly renowned for its hazy IPAs and robust stouts, which consistently receive high ratings for their complexity and balance. The brewery’s emphasis on quality and innovation has quickly established it as a standout in the craft beer community.

Equilibrium Brewing Company is distinguished by its unique blend of scientific precision and creative brewing techniques. The founders’ dedication to understanding and optimizing every aspect of the brewing process results in beers that are both innovative and consistently high in quality. Equilibrium’s commitment to freshness and flavor is evident in its wide array of offerings, from juicy IPAs to rich stouts and tart sours. The brewery’s success is also driven by its active engagement with the craft beer community, hosting events, collaborations, and educational initiatives that foster a deeper appreciation for the art and science of brewing. This combination of expertise, passion, and community involvement has cemented Equilibrium’s reputation as a leader in the craft beer industry.

See our links:

• Beer Review: Moon of Vega

6. Russian River Brewing Company

Russian River Brewing Company

Global Average Rating: 4.171
Unique Beers: 225
Total Ratings: 1,405,844
Location: Windsor, CA
Brewery Style: Regional Brewery

Russian River Brewing Company, founded in 1997 by Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville, California, and later acquired by brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo and his wife Natalie in 2003, is a celebrated name in the craft beer world. Renowned for its pioneering role in the American craft beer scene, Russian River is best known for its iconic beers like Pliny the Elder, a double IPA that has set the standard for the style, and Pliny the Younger, a limited-release triple IPA that draws beer enthusiasts from around the globe. In 2008, the brewery expanded to a new, larger facility in Santa Rosa, California, enabling increased production and the introduction of a wider variety of beers.

Russian River Brewing Company is distinguished by its commitment to quality, innovation, and the craft beer community. The brewery excels in a diverse range of styles, including barrel-aged sour ales like Supplication and Consecration, which have earned critical acclaim. Vinnie Cilurzo’s inventive brewing techniques and dedication to excellence have not only garnered numerous awards but have also influenced countless other brewers. The brewery’s welcoming taproom and pub provide a destination for beer lovers to enjoy its offerings in a convivial setting. Russian River’s impact on the craft beer industry is profound, cementing its legacy as a pioneer and leader in the field.

7. Great Notion Brewing Company

Great Notion Brewing Company

Global Average Rating: 4.142
Unique Beers: 806
Total Ratings: 1,018,916
Location: Portland, OR
Brewery Style: Regional Brewery

Great Notion Brewing Company, founded in 2016 by James Dugan, Andy Miller, and Paul Reiter in Portland, Oregon, has quickly become a beloved name in the craft beer industry. The brewery is celebrated for its adventurous and innovative approach to brewing, specializing in hazy, fruit-forward New England-style IPAs, rich pastry stouts, and unique sours. Great Notion’s beers are known for their vibrant flavors, bold creativity, and high quality, which have earned them a dedicated following and numerous accolades. The brewery operates multiple locations in Portland, each providing a welcoming atmosphere for beer enthusiasts to enjoy their distinctive creations.

Great Notion Brewing Company stands out for its commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional brewing. The founders’ passion for experimentation and quality has led to a diverse portfolio of beers that often incorporate unconventional ingredients and techniques. This willingness to innovate has not only set Great Notion apart from other breweries but has also contributed to its rapid growth and success. In addition to their inventive beer offerings, the brewery places a strong emphasis on community engagement, regularly hosting events and collaborating with local businesses. This combination of creativity, quality, and community focus has solidified Great Notion’s reputation as a leading force in the craft beer scene.

See our links:

• Beer Review: Fruit Monster

8. Toppling Goliath

Toppling Goliath Brewing Company

Global Average Rating: 4.142
Total Unique Beers: 172
Total Ratings: 2,018,862
Location: Decorah, IA
Brewery Style: Regional Brewery

Toppling Goliath Brewing Company, founded in 2009 by Clark and Barbara Lewey in Decorah, Iowa, has quickly ascended to prominence in the craft beer world. Renowned for its exceptional IPAs and barrel-aged stouts, Toppling Goliath has garnered a reputation for quality and innovation. The brewery’s flagship beer, Pseudo Sue, a single-hopped pale ale featuring Citra hops, has become a standout favorite among beer enthusiasts for its vibrant flavor and aromatic profile. Another highlight is the Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout, which has achieved near-legendary status for its rich, complex taste and limited availability, often considered one of the best beers in the world.

Toppling Goliath’s success can be attributed to its unwavering commitment to brewing excellence and its innovative approach to beer production. The brewery employs meticulous brewing techniques and high-quality ingredients, resulting in beers that consistently receive high ratings and awards. The expansion to a larger facility in 2018 allowed for increased production and a more immersive visitor experience, including a spacious taproom and brewery tours. Toppling Goliath’s dedication to creating exceptional beer, coupled with its active engagement with the craft beer community through events and collaborations, has solidified its status as a leader in the industry.

See our links:

• Toppling Goliath to Release Riwaka Dry Hopped Pseudo Sue
• Toppling Goliath Teams up with Field Museum to Release Nectaron Dry Hopped Pseudo Sue
• Beer Review: Intergalactic Warrior
• Beer Review: King Sue

9. Drekker Brewing Company

Drekker Brewing Company

Global Average Rating: 4.121
Total Unique Beers: 686
Total Ratings: 957,101
Location: Fargo, ND
Brewery Style: Regional Brewery

Drekker Brewing Company, founded in 2014 by Mark Bjornstad, Mason Montague, Darren Montague, and Breanna Carnes in Fargo, North Dakota, has rapidly gained recognition for its innovative and bold approach to brewing. The brewery is known for its eclectic and experimental beers, including New England IPAs, heavily fruited sours, and pastry stouts. Drekker’s commitment to creativity and quality has earned it a devoted following and numerous accolades. The brewery operates out of a historic building in downtown Fargo, known as Brewhalla, which offers a unique and inviting space for visitors to enjoy their diverse range of beers.

Drekker Brewing Company stands out in the craft beer scene due to its adventurous spirit and dedication to pushing the boundaries of traditional brewing. The founders’ passion for creating unique and flavorful beers is evident in every batch, with each release often featuring vibrant artwork and imaginative names that reflect the brewery’s playful and innovative ethos. Drekker’s emphasis on community engagement, including hosting events, collaborations, and supporting local causes, has helped to foster a strong sense of community around the brewery. This blend of inventive brewing, high-quality products, and community focus has solidified Drekker’s reputation as a dynamic and influential force in the craft beer industry.

See our links:

• Beer Review: Ectogasm

10.

Green Cheek Beer Co.

Global Average Rating: 4.12
Total Unique Beers: 611
Total Ratings: 248,310
Location: Orange, CA
Brewery Style: Regional Brewery

Green Cheek Beer Co., established in 2017 by Evan Price and Brian Rauso in Orange, California, has quickly established itself as a standout in the Southern California craft beer scene. Known for its commitment to brewing a diverse range of high-quality beers, Green Cheek has gained acclaim for its IPAs, stouts, and lagers. The brewery’s approach combines traditional brewing techniques with modern creativity, resulting in beers that are both balanced and innovative. Green Cheek’s taproom, located in a vibrant neighborhood of Orange, provides a welcoming space for beer enthusiasts to enjoy their rotating selection of beers directly from the source.

Green Cheek Beer Co. distinguishes itself through its focus on quality ingredients, attention to detail in brewing, and a genuine passion for beer. Evan Price, a seasoned brewer with a background at award-winning breweries like Noble Ale Works, brings his expertise and inventive spirit to Green Cheek, resulting in consistently well-crafted beers that appeal to a wide range of palates. The brewery’s commitment to community engagement is also evident through various events and collaborations with local businesses and artists, fostering a sense of camaraderie among patrons and fellow brewers alike. Green Cheek’s combination of creativity, quality, and community involvement has positioned it as a respected and influential player in the competitive craft beer market of Southern California.

Other Lists

See some of our other lists based off Untappd data:

• The Top 10 Craft Breweries with the Most 5 Star Check-Ins on Untappd (2023)
• The Top 10 Countries with the Most Check-Ins Outside of the United Stated on Untappd (2023)
• Top 10 Breweries in Pennsylvania (as per Untappd) (2023)

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(Just a quick note, late addition on this, this is going to be a two-part article. First part a look-back at The Beer Thrillers articles of 2019, and the second part about our top beers, top breweries, and other happenings of 2019 for myself personally and the blog, and some of our friends in general. So make sure to check out both parts.)

So its the end of the year… end of decade even…. and thus its time to reflect back on where we came from, how we got to where we are, and where we are going. Humanity, since the inception of time, and creating of calendars and years and New Years Eves and New Years Days have always taken the last few days of each year to look back on their year, their life, and reflected, and thought about how they could better themselves, come up with “resolutions” for the upcoming year, and join in with friends and families as they ring in the new year. “New Year New You.”

We here at The Beer Thrillers are going to do something …. similar. Not fully introspective though, because we don’t take ourselves that seriously. But just a fun look back at the year that was 2019. I can’t speak for my co-writers, but I can say for me, personally, 2019 had its fair share of ups, downs, in-betweens, lefts, rights, diagonals, crosses, bounces, turns, jukes, and jives. But I’m still here and better for it all. But I’m not going to go on and on too much about myself personally.

Rather, I’m going to write about how the blog has done, where we started from, where we’re headed, etc. And yea, I’ll probably get a little personal. But nothing deep or philosophical or introspective. More along the lines of what were some of the best beers, breweries, or events I’ve done of the year. So don’t worry, the blog will uphold the Seinfeld idea of “Nobody learns, nobody grows, nobody hugs”.

I started this blog back on May 17th, 2019. (This year!) It was a Thursday, my girls (my daughters) were at school, I was bored, and trying to figure out what I’m doing / was doing. I needed something for my days off while the kids were at school, something that was fun, something I was passionate about, something that let me feel like I was being creative, using my talents, and something I knew about. I’ve been reading blogs, and news sites, and all kinds of things about beer for so long, and I have a lot of experience drinking… …and writing… that I figured why not combine the two? I was feeling like I was in a rut, my job is the same its been for the past seven years, I wasn’t doing anything outright ‘creative’ and needed an outlet for it, and we are in a review culture. I do all kinds of reviews all the time, in small nondescript and unimportant ways. Like reading books when I’m finished, I write up a review of them when I check them off on GoodReads. Same with Untappd, when I drink a beer, I write up a small (Tweet size) review of it. I also felt, I was in a unique spot to start this up. I was getting to a spot where I knew enough people “on the inside” or “in the business”, and I was also doing stuff beyond just being a consumer; like home brewing, growing hops, helping can at Tattered Flag, being engaged in conversations with home brewers and professional brewers a lot, that I felt like I could provide some interesting conversations and articles to the world.

Mainly…. I was looking to not be bored, and to do something I love doing – writing and drinking beer.

So I started the blog up on May 17th, 2019. Basically having no clue what I was doing. I started up using WordPress and here we are. Its still WordPress, albeit the ‘weaker’ version (fingers crossed come sometime the new year, I switch over to the more advanced version, where I have more control over the site and the appearance). I did a little bit of research, chose a name – which to be frankly speaking – the name “The Beer Thrillers” just popped up to me. Nothing too deep or crazy or interesting behind it. I was honestly conjuring up the idea that it would be me, and a few of my friends writing, thus the “Thrillers” and not “Thriller”. I thought me, Drew, Dan maybe, and a few others would all writing all kinds of blog posts and contributing. Maybe some of the insiders in the business I know too… …while this hasn’t happened exactly; I have enlisted friends and other writers over the year to help out. (More on that as I get to their participation.)

Outside of creating the home page and starting up the site, my very first article on the blog was a beer review of Troegs’ Scratch 375 – The CocoNator. As far as first time articles go, I have no problems with it. Counting the writing of my colleagues and fellow contributors and cowriters to the blog, we’re now up to 130 blog posts (this being #131). I definitely think I’ve come a long way from that first blog. But I also like to think I laid the foundation there. I set up a system for how the beer reviews (I do) are written, presented, and I hope they are written in a fun, interesting, educational, and most importantly entertaining way.

When I started this in May, I had just gotten a couple of cans from my shift manager at work – Jordan and used them a the base for my first few beer reviews. The CocoNator was quickly followed by two South County beer reviews – Painting with Light (May 19th) and Sundrifter (May 30th). Also during this time, from my recent volunteer work helping can at Tattered Flag I worked with and gotten quite a few of their cans (hard work and sweat at their brewery resulted in many cans of whatever beer was being canned that day, as well as lots of other cans they still had from past canning runs). Two of these resulted in the beer reviews of Boulangerie Stout – Imperial Churro (May 22nd) which was a collaboration between Derek Wolf of Wolf Brewing Co. and Tattered Flag and You Hoppin’ On Me? (May 24th).

I was trying to write fast, furiously, and get some articles out there as a starting blog, I knew content was going to be the main driving force (and still is). Quality content even better. Hopefully I provided the quality content. I guess thats all up to you guys to decide, but I like to think I did (or at least, like I said, hope I did). As you can see from my picture of the Imperial Churro; often times in the background or foreground or beside the beers you’ll see some of the recent books I’m reading, as well as my dog Leela – especially if I’m drinking at home where she typically has to get her nose into the business of all involved. On May 27th, I conducted a bit of a science experiment when I found an old (over a year old) Black and Blue Tastee from The Veil. I had gotten a four pack from one of my favorite bartenders – Chris – who had traveled down and muled some back up. I wrapped up May, my first month of writing for the blog, with my first beer review from a bar – Warwick Hotel – on May 31st with a beer review of Cinnamon Toast Crunch by Collusion Tap Works.

May finished, and my first month done; even if I had only started late in the month on the 17th, I felt accomplished with the blog. I published 9 total blog pages; which included the home-page, the author-bio page, the contact page, and other necessary background pages. Word was slowly trickling out about the blog, I was up to 59 visitors and 121 views. Not a bad first month – especially considering it was basically just two weeks (the 17th through the 31st). Lets say I was “pleased as punch” with the start of the blog. June was looking bright!

June started with a beer review from the Bissell Brothers Brewing Company – Baby Genius on June 3rd. Followed up by a bottle of LazerSnake by Three Floyds on June 9th.

On June 13th, I did my first multiple beer review, and my first beer flight review – from Troegs Independent Craft Brewing – of course. What other place would I do my first beer flight review? Troegs was basically my initiation into the craft beer scene when I was ….cough turning 21…. and was the start of my craft beer love. Troegs is still a wonderful brewery, a fantastic venue there in Hershey, and overall holds a definite soft spot in my craft beer loving heart.

June 14th ended up being my first “double blog post” day. Earlier in the day I had stopped in at Tattered Flag to pick up a four-pack, had a beer, and when home, wrote a review, and later that night, with my daughters, I stopped in at Boneshire Brew Works, had a beer, and did a review before bed. At Tattered Flag I had the Abra Collabra beer, and at Boneshire I had the Sunburst beer. A week later I did my first brewery review, when I took my oldest daughter to Gettysburg for the day to visit the battlefields and monuments. Before visiting the sites, we stopped for lunch at the Battlefield Brew Works. A day later I was back at Warwick for another beer and review – Manayunk’s King Crunch.

Around this time, looking to expand, I enlisted the help of a buddy and fellow craft beer aficionado and enthusiast, and Boneshire lover – Josh Doncevic. We had a few talks at Boneshire Brew Works, and we chatted on the Central PA Whalerz group, and discussed this and that and everything beer related, and I thought he’d be a perfect fit for the blog – and he is and still has been. And on June 27th, he took his plunge into the world of blogging with his first beer review Northmont by Yellow Bridge.

A flurry of beer reviews followed – Should Have Put Him in Custardy, a beer flight from Hershey Biergarten, helped close out June and start July with Josh’s review of Ectogasm. June saw the blog grow by massive leaps and bounds, we went from 59 visitors in May to 848 visitors in June with 1100 some views. July was looking to be a great month for The Beer Thrillers, and it certainly delivered some amazing beer reviews! Pink Guava, Inexplicably Juicy, Miami Vice, Old 51, Dillston, Saison and Hurry up and Wait, a beer flight from Tony’s travels up north at the Black Gryphon, Wolf Prints, and Mango Guyabano sWheat Tart.

On July 19th we launched our Twitter page. Which just a few days ago, we hit our 100th follower! (Time for me to plug in here and suggest everyone head over there briefly to follow us, then come back here.) On July 23rd we also started our Instagram page. I will be the first to admit that we don’t do as much with Instagram, primarily because I don’t know enough about it yet. Looking to learn more about it in 2020 and get that page going a lot more.

July continued with some more beer reviews like Enigma, Green Zebra and Next Coast, Good Walk Spoiled, another beer flight from Troegs, and Road Less Traveled. I ended the month by discussing my upcoming road trip with my daughters.

July also saw some fun and interesting events I got to do for the first time. I lost my Ffej of July cherry, getting to make it out to possibly the biggest, baddest, most sickest birthday bash / lawn party ever. Me and Drew also attended the Moo-Funk Home Brew event as well. July was certainly a fun month, but August was looking to be even better.

August started off with a bang, I took my daughters up north PA to visit Elk Country, then we visited Straub Brewery, then we went to Kinzua Bridge and after that stopped at Logyard Brewery and next door to it was Twisted Vine Brewery. That was Day One. Day two saw us hitting the Pittsburgh area. First at dawn we hiked McConnell’s Creek, then went to ShuBrew before going into Pittsburgh proper and visit the city where we did a whole slew of things like see Fort Pitt, take the Duquesne Lift, check out medieval Catholic relics, stop by a Jewish synagogue, see the outfield wall still standing, and we also checked out a few breweries like Cinderlands Warehouse, The Church Brew Works, and we finished the day staying at a motel right next door to Yellow Bridge Brewing. Day Two was a lot busier than day one, but just a much fun.

We didn’t slow down for Day Three. We had a whole host of driving to do on day three. We started at Bushy Run to watch the reenactment and check out the events, then went to the Alleghany Portage and Railroad Museum, and then went into Johnstown to see the Johnstown Flood Memorial and there we checked out the brewery Stone Bridge Brewing. From there we Staple Bend Tunnel Trail and then we stopped and paid our respects at the Flight 93 Memorial. On the way back home to the Hershey area we stopped at Olde Bedford Brewing.

Was a fun three days where we got to see lots of cool places, museums, memorials, monuments, and nine breweries to boot. Can’t beat that!

The beer reviews weren’t going to slow down in August either. Ghost in the Machine by Josh, a beer flight at Twisted Bine, Juicy Fruit sWheat Tart, and Caucus Race 6.0. Then shortly before my oldest daughter’s birthday I took her and my second oldest down to Antietam to see the battlefield there and on the way back home we stopped at Cushwa Brewing. Which I did a brewery review of.

They have since moved out of that building but they are still close by to the location. August still had plenty more beer reviews for you guys starting with Harrishire, Kettle Sour Series – Raspberry, Ghost in the Machine by B. Kline, Good Vibrations, and then I did a dual beer review from two beers I had at a Harrisburg Senators game – a Pineapple Kolsch and a Dry Irish Stout, Reve Coffee Stout, Rye for an Eye (my birthday blog post and beer), and that closed out the month of August. As for events in August, me and my friend Ming went to the Lancaster Brewfest and afterwards went to Mad Chef Brewing (my first time there) which was an overall fun event.

Moving onto September started with my cashing in my birthday taco coupon at Newfangled Brew Works and had a really tasty Kettle Sour from them. In September I wrote a piece for Breweries in PA and also posted it on my blog – the version on the blog is found here: Breweries Around the Outskirts of Harrisburg (9.6.19). It has become one of the most popular pieces on our blog, and I believe it has done very well for the Breweries in PA crew as well. Beer reviews certainly didn’t slow down: a flight of Levante and Tattered Flag beers, a flight of Troegs beers, Fresh Fest and Trail Day Pale Ale, a flight of beers from Mount Gretna Brewery, and Spundae.

September also saw me do our first listicle articles. With two – one celebrating our oldest posts – and one celebrating our most viewed posts. Followed by, as always, more beer reviews – Key Lime Pie, They Burn Them All Away, AuZealand, a flight of Ever Grain beer, Vanilla Ice Cream Stout, and a Sour Blueberry wrapped up September.

October started off with a couple of Boneshire Brew Works beers – Tried and True (Mango) and Iscariot. I then got to attend Dr. Alison Feeney’s seminar and event at Mid-Town Scholar “For the Love of Beer“. Afterwards I went to The Millworks and had a flight. I did a book review of Dr. Alison Feeney’s book – For the Love of Beer. We finally joined Facebook on October 17th, you can find our Facebook page here. We are now up to 154 followers on Facebook, hoping to grow more! Did a beer review of Salted Caramel Moo-Hoo next.

I was contacted back in September by Midwest Coast Brewing Company to do an advertisement article and announcement article about their brewery opening. And I think it turned out very well. This was the first time a brewery reached out to us and asked us to do a piece for them and I think it turned out very well. I did a bit of an interview with the owners / brewers, and talked about their brewery’s opening. This has led to Mellow Mink reaching out to us and inviting us to their place to check them out and do an article (January 2nd we’ll be doing that).

J. Doncevic did a review of Ekaunot by Barebottle. We then covered Rotunda Brewing Company’s rebranding of Irv’s Pub into Rotunda Brew Pub. Also did a news article on Pennsylvania breweries that won at the 2019 GABF. That was my first straight up news article for the blog.

More beer reviews: Athena, Sour Me Peach, Irish Table, Envie and Envie 4X, Yuengling’s Hershey’s Chocolate Porter, and to wrap up the beer reviews of October I did Fatum Series: Member Berries. We also covered Boneshire Brew Works’ 3rd Anniversary Celebration.

November was a crazy month for me. I challenged myself to doing 30 blog posts, one per day – MINIMUM, and I am proud to say I achieved that and met my goal. It was certainly daunting a task, but I did achieve it.

Here’s the list of my articles in November: Pumpkin Stout, St. Thomas, Walker Station Stout, a flight by ZeroDay, King Sue, Intergalactic Warrior, s’Mores LazaRIS, There’s Nuttin Butter Than a Nice Pair of Camo Pants, Secret Machine, Broken Heels, Animal Adjective, 556 Stout, Boat Drinks, a flight of Tattered Flag – Newfangled Brew Works – and Cox Brewing beers, Alpha Abstraction, Double IPA, Lager, Birra Di Levante, Tickle Parts – Passionfruit, a flight of beers from Appalachian Brewing Company, Default Brewing, Darwin’s Salted Forehead, Newfangled Pils, Gotta Get up to Get Down, Paradise Lost, Moon of Vega, Citraquench’l, Azathoth, a flight of Troegs including Mad Elf, and finally a review of Official BBQ and Burgers – Pizza Boy’s second location. WHEW! That was a lot to get out, you can read about it in the November Recap.

November also saw Default Brewing join us here at The Beer Thrillers. Headed by AJ Brechbiel, they are a group of home brewers who will be providing home brewing articles for the blog from time to time. They gave us a welcoming post in November: Cheers from Default Brewing.

I also started up a collaboration with Let Us Drink Beer blog. Where we would be guest writing and contributing to each other’s blogs occasionally. They are down south, and with us being here in PA, it seemed like it’d be a nice fit. Provide some information and beers and breweries that readers might not normally get to see. They posted their first article “Five Must See Breweries in Atlanta” in November.

Josh also wrote two beer reviews in November: Ghost 782 and Ghost 779.

December started off a little slower here for us, probably because I was a bit tired from November, or perhaps just because its the holiday season, I don’t know. But my first beer review was Ice Dreamz. I did a few more beer reviews in December – My Watch Has Ended, The Hog, Scrooge IPA, Sap, and Autumn.

Default Brewing gave us an introduction to their crew: “Meet The Crew at Default Brewing“.

I covered the guest blogging that was going on and Let Us Drink Beer gave us a review of Koki Bunni.

Finally, the last article posted in all of 2019 (outside of this one now) was a travelogue of me and Drew brewery hopping around Harrisburg. Starting at Boneshire Brew Works, and going to The Vegetable Hunter, The Millworks, The Sturges Speakeasy, and ZeroDay Brewing. Was a fun day jumping around from place to place.

Hopefully you enjoyed this look back on 2019 with The Beer Thrillers. The second part of this article will most likely be posted January 1st, possibly before work, possibly after work. I have to leave for work now, and work until (at least) 8PM, and will most likely be going right out to enjoying New Years Eve festivities with my daughters. Tomorrow I work 10-6, and afterwards will be doing a podcast with Esteban about LOST.

The second part of this series will cover top beers, top breweries, and other things about the year for The Beer Thrillers and myself. For example – podcasting.

So make sure you check out part two then as well!

As always, I hope you have a Happy New Year, enjoyed the blog, and continue to do so! Without you, we don’t need to write, so we hope you are having as much fun and entertainment with this as we are!

-B. Kline on behalf of The Beer Thrillers staff.