After eight years, more than two million visitors, hundreds of experimental beers and countless pints, the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe is coming to an end.

Guinness has announced that its Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe, Maryland, will close to the public on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

For Maryland beer drinkers, Baltimore-area beer fans and anyone who made the trip to 5001 Washington Boulevard over the past eight years, the news marks the closing of one of the most ambitious brewery projects to arrive in the region in decades.

Diageo, the parent company of Guinness, announced the closure October 1, saying the decision followed a review of its operations and long-term business priorities. The company cited increasing operating costs, changing consumer demand and broader economic pressures as factors that made the Baltimore operation increasingly difficult to sustain.

The brewery’s operations are expected to completely wind down by the end of 2026.

And just like that, the Guinness gate in Baltimore is about to close.

Guinness Halethorpe Location

Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe

The Guinness Open Gate Brewery is located at 5001 Washington Blvd, Halethorpe, MD 21227, just about 10 miles southwest of downtown Baltimore and a quick drive from BWI Airport

Guinness Social Media Posts

The following is their post to Instagram announcing their upcoming closure:

Guinness Open Gate’s post on Instagram

That was posted on their Instagram at Guinness Open Gate.

An Eight-Year Experiment

When Guinness Open Gate opened in 2018, it was a pretty big deal.

The facility represented Guinness’ return to brewing on American soil for the first time since 1954. The roughly $80-$90 million project transformed the former Maryland brewery site into something considerably more ambitious than simply another taproom.

There was a brewery.

There was a restaurant.

There was a large beer garden.

There were tours, tastings, events and experimental beers.

And, of course, there was Guinness.

The idea behind Open Gate was particularly interesting because Guinness wasn’t simply trying to recreate St. James’s Gate in Maryland. The concept gave Guinness brewers an opportunity to experiment, producing beers that could be served fresh to visitors and giving the massive international brand something resembling a local brewery personality.

It worked.

At least for a while.

The brewery welcomed approximately 400,000 visitors during its first year, exceeding its original projection of 300,000.

Over its eight years, Guinness says more than two million people visited the Baltimore brewery.

The brewery also says its brewers produced more than 700 different beers during its time in Maryland.

That’s a lot of beer.

And a lot of people walking through those gates.

More Than Just Guinness Draught

One of the most interesting things about Open Gate was that you could walk into a Guinness brewery and discover that Guinness was capable of being considerably more than Guinness.

The Maryland brewery became a laboratory of sorts.

There were experimental ales, lagers, IPAs, stouts, fruited beers and limited releases. Some were tied to Maryland events and traditions, including beers associated with the Preakness Stakes.

The brewery also became known for Baltimore Blonde, a beer that became one of the more recognizable products associated with Guinness’ Maryland experiment.

That production, however, eventually moved elsewhere.

The Baltimore operation had already undergone a major transformation before this week’s closure announcement.

The Writing Was Already on the Wall

The November closure didn’t come completely out of nowhere.

In 2023, Diageo announced that it was ending the larger-scale manufacturing operation at the Halethorpe facility and laid off more than 100 employees.

The Baltimore Blonde was no longer being produced there, either.

What remained was essentially the destination brewery: the taproom, restaurant, beer garden and smaller innovation brewery.

In other words, the Guinness brewery had already gone through one significant contraction.

The brewing operation that once represented Guinness’ return to American manufacturing had become primarily an experience.

And now even that experience is going away.

Why Is Guinness Closing?

This is where the story gets considerably more interesting than simply “Guinness brewery closes.”

Diageo’s explanation is familiar to anyone paying attention to the beer business in 2026.

Operating costs are up. Consumer preferences have changed. Economic pressures are making it harder to operate large physical destinations.

That’s essentially the same cocktail of problems that has been hammering breweries across the country.

The Guinness operation had another challenge that many independent breweries don’t necessarily face: scale.

Open Gate was built as a destination.

That meant a large property, extensive facilities, hospitality operations, food service, events, employees and all the costs that come with maintaining a major brewery attraction.

A small neighborhood brewery can sometimes survive by keeping things relatively simple.

A major corporate brewery destination has a considerably larger financial machine to feed.

And apparently the numbers no longer worked.

Diageo said the decision was made after a “careful review” of operations and long-term priorities. The company also emphasized that the closure was not a reflection of the employees or the support Guinness received from Baltimore.

That’s corporate language, certainly.

But there’s an important reality underneath it.

A brewery can be incredibly popular and still not be profitable enough to justify continuing to operate.

Other Guinness Related Articles

• Beer Review: Guinness Draught (Guinness)
• Beer Review: Baltimore Blonde (Guinness Open Gate Brewery)
• Guinness Baltimore Blonde Beer Production Moving to New York
• Guinness Brewing is Closing Their Maryland Production Facility

The End of Guinness Brewing in Maryland

For Maryland beer history, this is a significant loss.

Guinness Open Gate wasn’t simply another brewery.

It was one of the largest and most recognizable brewery destinations in the state, backed by one of the most recognizable beer brands in the world.

Its arrival also represented a strange moment in American beer.

The craft beer boom had convinced consumers to seek out breweries as destinations. Breweries weren’t merely places where beer was made anymore.

They became restaurants.

Tourist attractions.

Event venues.

Social gathering places.

Weekend destinations.

Guinness essentially took that idea and applied it to a global beer brand.

For a while, it was an impressive combination.

But the fact that Guinness is now closing Open Gate is another reminder that the brewery-as-destination model isn’t immune to the economic realities affecting the rest of the industry.

Guinness Isn’t Going Away

It’s worth making an important distinction here.

Guinness isn’t leaving America.

You aren’t going to wake up November 2 and discover that Guinness Draught has disappeared from American bars.

The Guinness brand remains one of Diageo’s major global beer brands, and the company has made clear that it intends to continue investing in Guinness.

What’s disappearing is the Baltimore brewery experience.

Once the Halethorpe operation is gone, Guinness will have just one remaining Open Gate brewery in the United States: Chicago, which opened in 2023.

So if you wanted to visit an American Guinness brewery, the list is about to become considerably shorter.

A $250,000 Goodbye to Baltimore

Diageo says it understands that the brewery’s closure affects more than its own business.

The company plans to establish a $250,000 community fund supporting local organizations and initiatives focused on economic opportunity and the hospitality industry.

The company has also said that its immediate priority is supporting employees affected by the closure and providing resources and assistance during the transition.

The closure also affects hospitality workers at the site.

Aramark, which provided hospitality services at the brewery, said 174 of its employees supporting the location would be affected and that it was looking for opportunities elsewhere within the organization where possible.

Those numbers are worth remembering.

When a brewery closes, it’s easy to focus on the beer.

The people who brewed it, served it, cooked the food, gave the tours, cleaned the building and made the place function are the ones whose lives actually change.

Eight Years Is a Long Time in Beer

Eight years doesn’t sound like an eternity.

In the beer business, though, it can feel like a lifetime.

When Open Gate opened in 2018, the American craft beer landscape looked very different.

There were more breweries opening than closing.

Consumers were still aggressively chasing new releases.

The brewery taproom was one of the hottest concepts in the industry.

The idea that people would drive significant distances simply to spend an afternoon drinking beer at a brewery seemed almost unquestionably sound.

Then came the pandemic.

Inflation.

Higher labor costs.

Higher real estate and operating expenses.

Changing drinking habits.

The explosion of alternatives to traditional beer.

And a broader correction across the craft beer industry.

Guinness is obviously not an independent craft brewery.

But the closure demonstrates that even one of the world’s largest beer companies isn’t immune to the changing economics of the American beer market.

One Last Pint

There is something fitting about the fact that Guinness Open Gate will have one final month.

The brewery’s final day open to the public will be Sunday, November 1, 2026.

So there is still time.

Time for one more trip.

One more tour.

One more flight.

One more experimental beer.

One more walk through the beer garden.

One more Guinness.

And, for those of us who have spent years documenting the American beer scene, one more opportunity to visit a brewery that will soon become part of beer history rather than part of the current beer landscape.

Because eventually every brewery becomes one of two things:

A place you can still go.

Or a place you remember going.

Guinness Open Gate is about to become the second one.

And that’s a hell of a thing to say about a brewery that only opened eight years ago.

The Last Call

The Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe will close to the public on November 1, 2026, with operations expected to wind down completely by the end of the year.

More than two million people walked through those gates.

More than 700 beers came out of the innovation brewery.

Thousands of memories were made.

For eight years, a little piece of Ireland sat just outside Baltimore and invited Maryland to come have a beer.

Now, it’s almost time to close the gate.

So if you’ve been putting off that last visit, you’ve got about a month.

Go have the beer.

Raise the glass.

And give Guinness Open Gate one final Sláinte.

Other Guinness Related Articles

• Beer Review: Guinness Draught (Guinness)
• Beer Review: Baltimore Blonde (Guinness Open Gate Brewery)
• Guinness Baltimore Blonde Beer Production Moving to New York
• Guinness Brewing is Closing Their Maryland Production Facility

This is one of the flagship beers at The Beerded Goat Brewing Company. So let’s dive in and take a good look at it. Firstly, its a Czech Pilsner – Bohemian style, and it weighs in at 5.3% ABV.

(See our article about our sneak preview of The Beerded Goat Brewery: A Sneak Peek at the Beerded Goat Brewery.)

The Standard by Beerded Goat

Beerded Goat Brewing Co. (now operating under the broader “The Goat” sports-bar identity in Lower Paxton Township) opened in 2023 in the former Newfangled Brew Works space. Head brewer Brian Keeney leans toward traditional, well-executed styles, and The Standard is a clear expression of that approach—a clean, classic Czech-style pilsner that serves as one of the brewery’s reliable house pours.

Appearance Crystal clear pale gold with a bright, persistent white head that leaves fine lacing. The spunding (natural carbonation) shows in the lively, tight bead.

Aroma Soft grain and light honey-like malt sweetness up front, followed by classic Czech Saaz character: mild herbal, floral, and grassy notes with a hint of spice. Nothing aggressive or fruity—just clean and inviting.

Taste Crisp and balanced. Mild bready/grainy malt with a soft honey edge gives way to an assertive but refreshing Saaz bitterness that stays dry and clean rather than harsh. The finish is snappy and lingering without any residual sweetness or off-flavors. It drinks true to style: straightforward, sessionable, and focused on drinkability.

Mouthfeel Light-to-medium body with lively, natural carbonation from the spunding process. It feels crisp and refreshing on the palate—exactly what you want in a pilsner meant for multiple rounds or game-day sipping.

Overall The Standard lives up to its name. It’s a well-made, no-frills Czech pilsner that prioritizes clarity, balance, and refreshment over trends or gimmicks. At 5.3% it’s highly sessionable and pairs easily with the brewery’s food (pizza, wings, burgers) or simply stands alone as an easy, reliable pour. Keeney has called it one of his favorites, and the brewery itself positions it as a go-to first-round choice.

If you like classic European pilsners that emphasize clean malt and noble hops over modern hop bombs or haze, this is a solid local example worth seeking out on draft at the brewery. Cheers.

My Untappd Rating: ****
Global Untappd Rating: 3.66 (as of 8.1.26).

Untappd Description:

Brewed with 100% Weyermann floor malted Pilsner and hopped with 100% Check saaz. Spunded for natural carbonation. Crisp, clean, and crystal clear. Mild grainy notes of soft honey balanced by an assertive and refreshing bitterness. This is the Standard

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If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

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We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

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The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of May 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

]]> 16950 https://thebeerthrillers.com/2026/07/24/tree-house-brewing-has-made-a-beer-for-jimothy-the-internets-favorite-raccoon/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tree-house-brewing-has-made-a-beer-for-jimothy-the-internets-favorite-raccoon Sat, 25 Jul 2026 01:36:54 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=16953 Tree House Brewing Has Made a Beer for Jimothy, the Internet’s Favorite Raccoon

There are certain moments when you realize the internet has completely broken the concept of normal.

A raccoon becomes famous.

The raccoon gets a name.

The name is Jimothy.

And then, naturally, one of the most famous craft breweries in America puts Jimothy on a beer can.

Welcome to 2026.

Tree House Brewing Company has apparently decided that the only appropriate way to celebrate the viral Seattle raccoon known as Jimothy is to give him the ultimate craft beer honor: his own can design.

And, honestly, we’re here for it.

Tree House’s Jimothy Beer Can

Who the Hell Is Jimothy?

If you’ve somehow managed to avoid the internet for the past several weeks, first of all, congratulations.

Second, Jimothy is a raccoon from Seattle who became an unlikely internet celebrity after videos and photos of him began circulating online.

Jimothy has a condition known as short spine syndrome, which gives him his distinctive appearance. Rather than looking like your average raccoon sneaking around a trash can at 2 a.m., Jimothy has an unusually compact body that makes him look like someone accidentally hit the “squish” button on a raccoon.

The internet, being the internet, immediately fell in love.

And somewhere along the way, he became Jimothy.

The name is almost as funny as the raccoon himself.

Jimothy has accumulated a considerable following online, with people becoming fascinated by his appearance, personality and general raccoon-ness.

Then Massachusetts got involved.

Because apparently Seattle needed a little more New England IPA in its life.

Tree House Enters the Chat

Tree House Brewing, the Massachusetts brewery best known for beers such as Julius, Green and Haze, recently unveiled a can featuring Jimothy.

The brewery confirmed on Instagram that the cans were real and described them as “beautiful,” while the Jimothy cans went on sale at Tree House’s Charlton location.

And that’s about as much explanation as Tree House apparently felt was necessary.

Which might actually make the whole thing better.

There wasn’t some massive corporate marketing campaign explaining the strategic importance of raccoon-based beer branding.

There wasn’t a 47-slide PowerPoint presentation about “leveraging the Jimothy demographic.”

There was just a picture of a weirdly shaped raccoon on a beer can.

Beautiful.

Is “Jimothy” Actually a Beer?

Here’s where things get slightly confusing.

Despite the internet’s immediate tendency to call it a “Jimothy beer,” the Jimothy connection appears to be primarily a can-design tribute, rather than Tree House announcing an entirely new beer style specifically brewed in Jimothy’s honor.

Tree House has not provided many details about the beer itself, and the brewery’s announcement focused on the can design and its availability.

That’s important because, naturally, the craft beer internet immediately started treating Jimothy like the next legendary Tree House release.

Which, frankly, is exactly what should happen.

Because if we’re going to live in a world where a raccoon can become famous enough to get a Tree House can, we might as well enjoy it.

Tree House Is Probably the Perfect Brewery for This

There are thousands of breweries that could have put a raccoon on a can.

But Tree House?

It somehow makes perfect sense.

Tree House has spent years developing an enormous cult following around its hazy IPAs, limited releases, colorful artwork and highly recognizable branding.

The brewery’s flagship Julius is one of the defining beers of the modern New England IPA movement, while beers such as Green and Haze have become equally recognizable names among IPA enthusiasts. Tree House itself recommends Julius as the starting point for people who haven’t tried the brewery, with Green and Haze as alternatives.

Tree House also has the kind of fan base that will happily travel considerable distances to acquire cans.

So when you put a bizarrely adorable viral raccoon on one of those cans?

People are going to want it.

Badly.

In fact, people were already looking for Jimothy cans almost immediately after the release, with social media users discussing how badly they wanted one.

This is how craft beer works now.

You don’t necessarily need a groundbreaking new IPA.

Sometimes you just need a raccoon.

Jimothy Summer Has Arrived

There is something wonderfully ridiculous about the entire thing.

Craft beer has spent the last decade becoming increasingly sophisticated.

We’ve had pastry stouts.

Triple IPAs.

Barrel-aged everything.

Beer brewed with coffee, fruit, spices, cereal, candy and ingredients that sound like they were selected by someone wandering around a Whole Foods at midnight.

And now?

Raccoon beer.

Or, more accurately, a Tree House beer wearing a raccoon costume.

I’m not complaining.

The craft beer industry has always been at its best when breweries don’t take themselves too seriously. The Jimothy can feels like a reminder that beer is still allowed to be fun.

You don’t need to explain the water chemistry.

You don’t need to give us a dissertation on hop varietals.

You don’t even need to tell us why the raccoon is there.

Just put Jimothy on the can.

We’ll figure it out.

The Internet Has Officially Won

There is also something very 2026 about this entire story.

A creature in Seattle becomes famous online.

People give him a ridiculous name.

The name spreads.

Memes happen.

Then a brewery in Massachusetts thousands of miles away decides:

Yep. That’s going on a beer can.

And suddenly people who couldn’t tell you anything about raccoon biology are discussing Tree House distribution.

That’s the power of the internet.

It’s also the power of craft beer.

The best brewery merchandise has always been about more than just the liquid inside the package. People collect cans because the artwork tells a story, represents a moment or simply looks cool sitting on a shelf.

Jimothy checks all three boxes.

It’s weird.

It’s timely.

And it’s impossible to look at without wondering how the hell we got here.

Will Jimothy Become a Tree House Legend?

That’s probably the fun part.

Tree House has plenty of legendary beer names.

Julius.

Green.

Haze.

Very Green.

And now, at least unofficially, we have Jimothy.

The raccoon probably won’t become a permanent member of the Tree House lineup.

But that’s not really the point.

For a brief moment in the summer of 2026, a viral raccoon became part of the craft beer world.

And that’s considerably more entertaining than another brewery announcing that it has released a 9.2% double dry-hopped triple hazy IPA with “notes of citrus, tropical fruit and dankness.”

Give me Jimothy.

I’ll take the raccoon.

The Bottom Line

Tree House Brewing putting Jimothy on a beer can is exactly the kind of wonderfully stupid, completely unnecessary and strangely wholesome story that makes the craft beer world fun.

No, Jimothy doesn’t need a beer.

No, Tree House doesn’t need Jimothy to sell beer.

And yes, people are probably going to want the can anyway.

Because sometimes craft beer isn’t about hunting down the newest hop combination or arguing about whether a beer is technically a double IPA.

Sometimes it’s about seeing a funny raccoon on a can and thinking:

“I need that.”

So here’s to Jimothy.

Here’s to Tree House.

And here’s to the glorious insanity of craft beer in 2026.

Long live Jimothy.

And somebody please give that raccoon a beer.

The Beer Thrillers will, of course, accept donations of Jimothy cans for extremely serious journalistic research.

News Sources

• Jimothy – The Viral Raccoon Gets His Own Beer
• Jimothy – Beer Advocate
• Jimothy Survived Against The Odds
• Tree House Releases Instagram – Jimothy

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For more updates on Pennsylvania brewery news, closures, openings, and expansions, follow The Beer Thrillers on social media and subscribe for the latest articles on the state’s ever-evolving craft beer scene.

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If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s (past) weekly columns, book reviews, board game reviews, hike reviews, and so much more. We have several writers to check out: B. Kline, Josh, Paul R. Kan, Drunk Duck; and past writers like Amy.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

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Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We are also now on BlueSky as well, so make sure to check us out there also. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

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The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of May 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

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.

The Pennsylvania craft beer community is mourning the unexpected loss of Larry Winans, co-owner and co-founder of Jackass Brewing Company in Lewisburg. For the past seven years, Winans helped turn a friendship, a shared love of homebrewing, and a little too much beer into a brewery that became part of the fabric of the local community. Now, as Jackass Brewing Company moves forward, the people who knew Winans are remembering not only the brewer and business owner, but the friend, community member, and relentlessly positive presence behind the beer.

Larry Winians (photo courtesy of Jackass Brewing)

Jackass Brewing Company Carries On the Legacy of Co-Founder Larry Winans

For seven years, Jackass Brewing Company has been part of the craft beer community around Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, bringing locally made beer, friendship, and plenty of good times to the area.

Now, the brewery is moving forward without one half of the friendship and partnership that started it all.

Larry Winans, co-founder of Jackass Brewing Company, has died at the age of 61.

But for longtime friends, customers, and the people who helped build the brewery alongside him, the story of Larry Winans isn’t simply about the loss of a brewery owner. It’s about the loss of a friend—and the legacy he leaves behind at Jackass Brewing Company and throughout the Lewisburg community.

From Friendship to Homebrew to Jackass Brewing Company

The story of Jackass Brewing Company begins, appropriately enough, with two friends and a batch of homemade beer.

Winans, a dentist by profession, and Skip Kratzer, a school teacher, became friends through fitness. The two eventually started talking about brewing beer together after meeting at a pub located across the street from where Jackass Brewing Company would eventually open.

Kratzer asked Winans if he wanted to make beer.

They did.

What started as two friends experimenting with homebrewing eventually became something considerably larger.

“We always joked that we ended up, we had a problem, we had more beer than we knew what to do with,” Kratzer said. “We started giving it to our friends, and eventually, when the demand kept going, we decided this would be a great adventure.”

And so Jackass Brewing Company was born.

The brewery opened in East Buffalo Township and gradually became a fixture in the Lewisburg-area craft beer scene.

For Kratzer, however, the brewery was always about more than beer.

It was about people.

“The Gold Standard of What a Friend Is”

When Kratzer talks about Winans, one word keeps coming back to him: friend.

“If I could use one word that I think the whole world would describe him as, is he was a friend,” Kratzer said. “He is probably the gold standard of what a friend is.”

That friendship was the foundation of Jackass Brewing Company.

The business may have involved beer, taprooms, recipes, equipment, employees, customers and all of the other things that come with running a Pennsylvania brewery. But underneath all of that was the relationship between two best friends who decided to take something they enjoyed doing together and turn it into a business.

That’s a familiar story in the craft beer world.

Breweries frequently begin with a couple of friends making beer in a garage, basement or kitchen before eventually asking the much bigger question:

What if we actually did this for a living?

For Winans and Kratzer, that question became Jackass Brewing Company.

Seven years later, it had become a community.

Jackass Brewing Company Isn’t Going Anywhere

While Larry Winans is no longer here, Kratzer says Jackass Brewing Company will continue.

The brewery’s Lewisburg and Williamsport locations will remain in operation, with Kratzer and the rest of the Jackass Brewing Company team carrying the business forward.

That doesn’t mean moving on from Winans.

If anything, Kratzer says the opposite.

“We exist to carry his memory forward,” he said.

That’s an especially meaningful statement considering what the brewery—and the broader hospitality industry—has already experienced.

Kratzer specifically pointed to the community’s support during the COVID-19 pandemic, when breweries, restaurants, bars and other small businesses across Pennsylvania faced an incredibly uncertain future.

“This community has kept us alive during the difficult times of COVID,” Kratzer said. “I have no doubt that they will continue to do so in the future. We’ll find our way forward from this.”

For an independent craft brewery, community support can mean everything.

People don’t simply visit their local brewery because they want a pint. They go to see friends, meet new people, celebrate birthdays, listen to music, grab dinner, bring their families, watch a game, or simply spend a couple of hours somewhere that feels like home.

That sense of community appears to have been particularly important to Winans.

Captain Positivity

Kratzer described his friend as “Captain Positivity.”

And that positivity wasn’t something he kept to himself.

According to Kratzer, Winans had an infectious personality and a natural ability to bring people together. His legacy, he believes, will be rooted in the way he cared about other people and the community around him.

That’s perhaps one of the more fitting legacies for someone who helped create a brewery.

Beer has always been about more than what’s in the glass.

At its best, craft beer is about bringing people together.

A brewery becomes a meeting place. A table becomes a gathering point. A beer becomes an excuse to sit down with somebody you haven’t seen in a while.

And people like Winans become part of the reason those places matter.

A Bucket List and One Remarkable Item

Among the memories Kratzer shared was something particularly interesting: Winans had a handwritten bucket list containing things he wanted to accomplish during his life.

One item stood out to Kratzer.

Winans wanted to receive “an abundance of public adoration.”

Looking back, Kratzer believes his friend accomplished exactly that.

“I believed he’s achieved it, whether or not he knew he did, is that one of his Bucket List items was to receive an abundance of public adoration,” Kratzer said. “The public adored him.”

It’s a striking thought.

Not because public adoration is necessarily something most of us would put on a bucket list, but because it says something about the relationship Winans had with the people around him.

A successful brewery can be measured in barrels brewed, pints poured, locations opened, awards won or years in business.

But there are other measurements, too.

How many people knew you?

How many people considered you a friend?

How many people felt welcomed when they walked through your doors?

And, perhaps most importantly, how many people are going to miss you when you’re gone?

By those measurements, Winans appears to have left quite a legacy.

The Future of Jackass Brewing Company

Jackass Brewing Company will now enter another chapter.

The brewery will continue operating in Lewisburg and Williamsport, while the people who knew Winans work to keep the spirit of what he helped create alive.

There will inevitably be difficult days.

There will also be beers poured, conversations had, friends reunited and new memories made.

That’s the strange thing about breweries.

They are businesses, but they can also become landmarks in people’s lives.

A place where someone had a first date.

A place where friends meet every Friday.

A place where somebody celebrates a birthday.

A place where a family gathers.

A place where two friends once decided they had made too much homebrew and wondered what might happen if they turned their hobby into something bigger.

That decision eventually became Jackass Brewing Company.

And now, even without Larry Winans physically there, the brewery remains one of the places where his story continues.

Jackass Brewing Company isn’t just carrying on a business. It’s carrying forward a friendship, a community and the legacy of one of the people who helped create it.

Larry Winans is survived by his wife, two adult children, family and friends.

Services will be held Sunday, June 28, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Rooke Chapel on the campus of Bucknell University.

He was 61 years old.

Looks like things are going to get Funky in Elizabethtown again…. This time with a bit of Inspiration. No, Funk Brewing is not coming back to their old location. But – Inspiration Brewing Company – headed by Brian Mills, is coming to the old Funk Brewing taproom spot. Located at 28 S Market St, Elizabethtown, PA 17022 – which is the main way through Elizabethtown, the location was originally the Funk Brewing Taproom and then became the Pine Creek Spirits location until they also left leaving the space vacant until now.

First hints popped up with Inspiration Brewing announcing that they had some “Funky News” with the backdrop being an image (slightly blurred) of the Funk taproom.

Inspiration Brewing’s “Funky News Coming Soon” announcement (photo courtesy of Inspiration Brewing Company)

Inspiration Brewing Company Expanding to Elizabethtown, PA

The original brewery – the old Pour Man’s Brewing spot – in Ephrata isn’t going anywhere and will still be open. (You can read about our attending the soft opening at Inspiration Brewing Company.) This will be their second location. The current spot in Ephrata is located at 284 S Reading Rd. Ephrata, PA 17522. (You can see a map showing travel from Inspiration Brewing’s main location in Ephrata to their new taproom in Elizabethtown here: Inspiration to Inspiration.)

A few days ago Inspiration Brewing posted the vague news post:

“Funky News Coming Soon! Inspiration Brewing” with the backdrop being the Funk Brewery’s taproom building blurred.

We’re just going to leave this right here for you.

#inspirationbrewingco #craftbeer #breweriesinpa #craftbrewery #findyourinspiration #secondlocation

-Inspiration Brewing Company – Facebook Post (June 2nd)

They have now revealed the information, that they are taking over the original Elizabethtown Funk Brewing’s Taproom. Their announcement June 4th:

Welcome! Follow along as we work to open our new location in Elizabethtown.

– Inspiration Brewing Elizabethtown Brewpub – Facebook Post (June 4th)

On their original and main Facebook page, they also posted this on June 4th:

Well, @followers, we have some news. We are getting ready to open our second location! We will be working hard over the next few months to get the doors open. In the meantime, you can follow the page for the new Elizabethtown location here: https://www.facebook.com/ibcetownpub

As for our original taproom, that isn’t going anywhere. We love that location, but also wanted to bring our vision of a full food menu to life. The second location will give us that ability. We hope that you follow along on this journey and look forward to it as much as we are.

-Inspiration Brewing – Facebook Post (June 4th)

A Brewed Up Building

The future home of the Inspiration Brewing Company Elizabethtown Brewpub (photo courtesy of Inspiration Brewing Company)

The 28 S Market Street building has seen some beer in it’s day. It was the Funk Brewing Company’s Taproom for a while, even sustaining a fire in 2022. (Funk Brewing Taproom on Fire) (Funk Brewery Fire Update) Then in February of 2024 Funk Brewing shuttered it as their taproom and it became the Pine Creek Spirits.  Pine Creek Spirits stayed on in the building until they too closed their doors in June of 2025. It has since stayed vacant. (Nearly one full year until Inspiration Brewing Company’s announcement.)

Inspiration Brewing had their grand opening in Ephrata, in March of 2025. (Grand Opening of Inspiration Brewing Company) They took over the original spot of Pour Man’s Brewing who had moved to downtown Ephrata. Pour Man’s had just previously acquired St. Boniface Brewing expanding their brewing capacity, and needed much bigger space and a much bigger restaurant than the current (and now Inspiration) location.

See other articles on Funk Brewing:

• Beer Review: Royal Rumble 
• Beer Review: Griddle

See also:

• A History of Pour Man’s Brewing
• A History of St. Boniface Brewing
• Pour Man’s Brewing Releases Crisp and Crushable Variety Pack

For More Information on Inspiration Brewing Company

Inspiration Brewing logo

For more information on Inspiration Brewing, the following comes via Untappd. Inspiration Brewing is listed as a Brew Pub from Ephrata, PA. With 15 uique beers and over 2,200 ratings, with a global average rating of 3.84 (as of 6.9.26). Their Untappd description formerly read: “Coming soon to Lancaster County, PA
#findyourinspiration .” Now currently reads: “Ephrata, PA #findyourinspiration ”

You can find them at these social media platforms:

• Inspiration Brewing – Official website
• Inspiration Brewing – Facebook
• Inspiration Brewing – Instagram
• Inspiration Brewing – Untappd

There’s a satisfying little rebellion in drinking a rye-forward brew from a namesake West Coast IPA house: it feels like Sierra Nevada nudging tradition and saying, “Let’s spice things up.” Rye Torpedo is that nudge — a confident, approachable IPA that leans on an assertive rye backbone and classic piney-hop character to deliver something familiar with a wink. It’s not a revolution, but it’s a deliberate, well-executed spin that rewards repeated sips.

Rye Torpedo by Sierra Nevada

Appearance: Poured into a tulip, Rye Torpedo shows a clear amber-gold hue with a faint copper tint and a steady, off-white head that leaves a tidy lace as you work through the glass. The carbonation sits lively but not aggressive; at rest it presents the kind of clarity and color that says this beer knows its job and plans to do it without fuss.

Aroma: Upfront, the nose is a textbook Sierra Nevada blend of citrus rind, resinous pine, and floral hop perfume — think grapefruit peel, orange blossom, and fresh-cut spruce. Beneath that, the rye steps in with a subtle spiciness and a whisper of black pepper and dry biscuit that keeps the aroma from falling into one-note hop territory. There’s also a soft, bready malt sweetness that grounds the hops without weighing them down. It’s inviting and balanced: aromatic enough to promise a hop-forward ride but tempered by cereal warmth and rye tang.

Taste: First sip delivers the expected punch of citrus and resin, but the rye is the star of the mid-palate. It brings a peppery, slightly nutty snap that complements rather than competes with the hop bitterness. The bitterness is firm — assertive, but clean — and it plays nicely off a modest caramel malt base that gives the beer some chew and body. Hop flavors range from grapefruit and tangerine to a sapmy, piney undercurrent; they’re classic West Coast but tuned so the rye can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them. The beer never feels overly sticky or sugary — instead, it’s brisk, with the rye adding a dry, spicy dimension that keeps each sip lively.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a crisp, dry finish, Rye Torpedo offers a pleasant contrast between weight and snap. There’s enough malt to give it substance, but the carbonation and rye’s dryness push it toward a finish that cleans the palate rather than clinging to it. That crispness is one reason the beer drinks easier than the hops’ aromatics might lead you to expect; you can comfortably have two without feeling overwhelmed.

Balance and complexity: Where Rye Torpedo earns its four stars is in the way it balances familiarity with a little adventurousness. Sierra Nevada doesn’t try to complicate the beer with exotic adjuncts or gimmicks — it pares the recipe down to a solid malt bill, a healthy dose of rye, and a hop program that leans classic. That combination produces more nuance than a straight IPA: you get peppery spice, piney resin, citrus tang, and just enough malt sweetness to keep things grounded. It’s not a hyper-complex craft IPA in the avant-garde sense, but it’s thoughtfully assembled and nuanced enough to reward repeated drinking and discussion.

Drinkability and food pairing: With its medium body and dry finish, Rye Torpedo is highly drinkable; it pairs especially well with spiced dishes and smoky proteins. Think pepper-crusted steak, grilled sausages with mustard, or a smoked gouda sandwich — the rye and hop bitterness will stand up to bold flavors without getting lost. For lighter fare, it also complements sharper cheeses and bright salads with citrus-forward dressings. In short, it’s versatile at the table and dependable in the hand.

Packaging and presentation: Brewed by a stalwart of American craft brewing, Rye Torpedo wears the Sierra Nevada badge with quiet confidence. Whether from a can or on draft, it pours true to style and carries a familiar label of quality — no theatrical packaging required. That steady presentation is part of the appeal: this is a brewery that knows how to execute a concept without needing to shout about it.

Who it’s for: If you like West Coast-style IPAs but are curious about something with a spicy twist, Rye Torpedo is a natural fit. It’s friendly enough for hop lovers who prefer balance over pure bitterness, and it has enough character to please drinkers who enjoy rye-forward beers or those looking for a little more texture than a straightforward pale. It’s also a good middle ground for folks who enjoy traditional Sierra Nevada offerings but want something with a touch more grit.

What could be better: The beer’s restraint is mostly a virtue, but it’s also the reason Rye Torpedo doesn’t earn a perfect score. For hop die-hards chasing maximalism or brewers pushing the envelope of acidity, haze, or experimental adjuncts, this will read as conservative — deliberately so. A slightly more adventurous hop profile or a bolder rye presence might tip this from “very good” to “unforgettable” for some palates. That said, the decision to keep it measured preserves broad appeal and drinkability.

Final thoughts: Rye Torpedo is a smart, well-balanced IPA that blends classic West Coast hop character with a spicy rye core for extra personality. It’s not a radical departure from what you expect from Sierra Nevada, but it’s a welcome variant — thoughtful, tasty, and thoroughly drinkable. For those reasons, it earns a solid four out of five stars: a reliable, characterful brew that hits the sweet spot between approachability and distinctiveness.

My Untappd Rating: **** out of 5
Global Untappd Rating: 3.85 out of 5 (as of 5.10.26)

Untappd Description:

Bold hop flavor and full-bodied malt combine in this IPA, inspired by our classic Torpedo but brewed with rye malt.

MALTS
C-60, Munich, Rye, Two-row Pale

HOPS
Chinook

YEAST
Ale

-B. Kline

Pennsylvania craft beer has always had a strong relationship with lagers, and Tröegs Pennsylvania Lager fits right into that tradition. It’s a beer that doesn’t try to force the issue or show off too hard; instead, it focuses on being clean, balanced, and easy to enjoy. That approach works especially well here, because this is the kind of beer that can quietly become a regular go-to.

Troegs Premium Lager (photo courtesy of Troegs Independent Brewing)

First Impressions

The beer pours with a bright, classic lager appearance that immediately suggests refreshment. It looks crisp in the glass, and that first visual impression lines up nicely with what the beer delivers once you take a sip. There’s a straightforward charm to it that makes it feel familiar in the best possible way.

Aroma

The nose is subtle but inviting, with grainy malt notes leading the way. There’s a clean, fresh quality to the aroma that keeps the beer from feeling too soft or too neutral. It gives you the sense that this is a carefully made lager, one that values precision and drinkability.

Flavor and Mouthfeel

The flavor profile is smooth and well-composed, centered around a solid malt backbone with a crisp finish. It doesn’t overload the palate, and that restraint is part of what makes it work so well. The body lands in a comfortable middle ground, giving the beer enough presence to feel satisfying without becoming heavy.

The mouthfeel is especially important here because it reinforces the beer’s overall sense of balance. Each sip feels clean and steady, which makes it easy to keep reaching for the glass. That kind of drinkability is often what separates a good lager from a forgettable one.

Overall Impression

Tröegs Pennsylvania Lager succeeds because it understands what it wants to be. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel, and it doesn’t need to. Instead, it offers a polished, reliable lager experience with enough character to keep it interesting and enough restraint to make it highly drinkable.

For fans of well-made Pennsylvania beer, this one is worth checking out. It’s the kind of release that feels equally at home on a casual weeknight or alongside a good meal, and that versatility makes it an easy recommendation.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 pints

For More Information on Troegs Independent Craft Brewing

According to Untappd, Troegs Independent Craft Brewing is a regional brewery with 164 unique beers listed (despite their being over 500 Scratches). (A lot of vintage and variants get consolidated into single unique listings as well.) They have 2.4 Million ratings and a global average rating of 3.79 (as of 4.25.26). Their Untappd bio reads:

“Founded in Pennsylvania in 1997 by brothers John and Chris Trogner, Tröegs Independent Brewing is driven by a sense of adventure and curiosity. Our brewery has been built by family, friends and kindred spirits who share a love of great beer. Together, we all make Tröegs. You might know our Perpetual IPA, the best-selling IPA in Pennsylvania. Or the dark, malty and crisp Troegenator. You may have come across such iconic beers as Nugget Nectar or Mad Elf in your beer travels. Perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to try one or two of the hundreds of experimental Scratch Series beers we’ve brewed over the years. Whether you’re already a member of our extended family or you’re just getting to know our brewery, there’s always something new to discover with Tröegs.“

You can find them at the following social media pages:

• Troegs.com (Official Website)
• Troegs Independent Craft Brewing (Facebook)
• Troegs Independent Craft Brewing (Instagram)
• Troegs Independent Craft Brewing @ Twitter
• Troegs Independent Craft Brewing (Untappd)

More Troegs Independent Craft Brewing Related Articles

Looking for more Troegs in your diet? Here’s some other Troegs Independent Craft Brewing related articles we’ve written:

• Troegs Brewing and Wigle Whiskey Team Up to Bring Peach Whiskey Back
• Troegs Independent Craft Brewing Adds 1,628 Solar Panels To Their Brewery
• Beer Review: Double Blizzard (Troegs Independent Craft Brewing)
• The Mad Elf Gets a Face Lift – Troegs Independent Craft Brewing Changes The Mad Elf’s Look
• Troegs Brewing Releasing Cordial Elf
• Beer Review: Double Nugget Nectar (Troegs Independent Craft Brewing)
• Beer Review: Grand Cacao (Troegs Independent Craft Brewing)
• Beer Review: Scratch 417 (Orange Lemon Peel) (Troegs Independent Craft Brewing)
• Beer Review: Haze Charmer (Troegs Independent Craft Brewing)
• Beer Review: Scratch 400 (Pre – Prohibition Lager) (Troegs Independent Craft Brewing)
• Multiple Beer Review: Scratch 394, Scratch 395, Scratch 396, and Mad Elf (Troegs Independent Craft Brewing)
• Two Beer Review: Fresh Fest and Trail Day Pale Ale (Troegs Independent Craft Brewing)
• Multiple Beer Reviews: Fest Lager, Scratch 385 – Krausened Dunkel Lager, and Scratch 386 – Tangerine Passionfruit Guava Tart Ale (Troegs Independent Craft Brewery)
• Beer Review: Fuzzy Nudge (Troegs Independent Craft Brewing)
• Multiple Beer Reviews: Scratch 382 – Blackberry Lime Tart Ale, Scratch 383 – Hazy IPA (Citra, Galaxy & Simcoe), Dear Peter, and Naked Elf (Troegs Brewing Company)
• Multiple Beer Review – Brewery Flight (Troegs) – Beers – Scratch #379 – Krausened Keller Pilsner, Scratch #378 – DIPA, Scratch #377 – Oat IPA, and Scratch #376 – Passionfruit & Guava Tart Ale
• Beer Review: Scratch 375: Coco-Nator (Troegs Independent Brewing Company)
• From Philly to Pittsburgh: Pennsylvania’s Top Craft Breweries You Must Visit
• Hershey Bears Celebrate Calder Cup Championship at Troegs Brewery
• Troegs Brewing Company Adds Hopora IPA to Their Seasonal Hop Cycle Series
• Beer Review: Tropical Stout (Troegs Independent Brewing and Windy Bridges Brewing LLC)
• Oktoberfest Lager Returns to Troegs Independent Brewing (Troegs Independent Brewing’s Oktoberfest Lager Has Returned)
• Tröegs Hop Cyclone Releases Today
• Master of Pumpkins Returns for 2023 with Over 3,000 Pounds of Fresh Local Pumpkins
• The Naked Elf Returns for 2023
• Troegs Announces Gingerbread Cookie Stout
• Troegs Brewing Adding Graffiti Highway IPA and DIPA
• Bourbon Barrel Aged Triple Nator Releasing at Troegs Brewery
• Enchilada Stuffed Peppers and Sunshine Pilsner
• Troegs Brewing to Release Second Cut in Spring 2024
• Troegs Brewing Releasing Cyclops Teardrops This Thursday
• Hops and Vines for Hunger Kick-Off Event at Troegs Brewery
• Mad Elf Set to Release on October 9th
• Troegs Independent Brewing is Releasing Scratch 500 and Scratch 501 – Double Perpetual IPA and Triple Perpetual IPA
• Tröegs Independent Brewing Mad Elf Grand Cru Returns In Limited Cork and Cage Bottles
• Tröegs Brewing Releasing the Most Wonderful Beer of the Year Sampler on Monday
• Recipe: Crispy Beer Roast Turkey (using Troegenator)
• Troegs Brewing Releasing Night Gazer Stout
• Nugget Nectar Is Being Released the Day After Christmas
• Troegs Brewing to Release Sunshine Salt and Lime Lager in 2024
• Troegs and Patagonia Collaborate for Kernza Lager Release
• Troegs Brewing and Dewey Beer Releasing a Collaboration – Adventure Was Promised
• Troegs Brewing Releases Field Study Summer IPA
• First Cut – Mango IPA – Is Coming Out on Thursday February 22nd
• Troegs Brewing Releasing Leisure Cruise
• Troegs Brewing Teaming Up with Warwick Farm and Free Will For Releases
• Troegs Brewing, AntiFragile Brewing, Sworn Brewing, and Warwick Brewing Team Up for Storm the Field IPA
• Troegs Brewing and Tonewood Brewing Collaborate for Brothers Gotta Hug
• Troegs Brewing Creating Super Duper Juicer
• Troegs Brewing Releasing Second Cut Mango Double IPA
• Bikes and Brews Returns April 27th
• Troegs Brewing Releases 15 – Can Summer Variety Pack
• Hopora Returns for July 2024
• Troegs Brewing is Releasing Oktoberfest on August 5th
• Troegs Brewing to Release Double Perpetual IPA on August 19th
• Troegs Brewing and Sloop Brewing Collaborate on Sloop John T
• Unearthing the History of Harrisburg Brewing: From Barnitz to Troegs
• Troegs Brewing is Bringing Back a Fan Favorite – Java Head Stout
• Nimble Giant Set to Return on June 5th
• Leaf Seeker IPA: Tröegs Brewing’s Bold New West Coast-Style Seasonal Beer
• Beer Review: Leaf Seeker IPA (Troegs Independent Brewing)
• A Pennsylvania Craft Beer Thanksgiving: Maple-Brown Ale Glazed Turkey (Featuring Troegs, Victory, and More)
• Tröegs Delivers “A Smile With Every Sip” In Year-Round Pennsylvania Lager
• Beer Review: Tröegs Pennsylvania Lager (Troegs Independent Brewing)

New Trail drops a sessionable West Coast–inspired IPA that’s built for all-day adventures.

New Trail’s newest Session IPA – 24/7

A beautiful spring day in Dauphin County, the kind where you’re thinking about hitting the Susquehanna or just firing up the grill. I grabbed a 4-pack of New Trail’s latest — 24/7 Session — and figured it was time to see what the Williamsport crew cooked up this time. New Trail has been crushing it with hazies for years (Broken Heels fans know what’s up), but this one takes a different trail: a crisp, hop-forward session IPA with West Coast vibes. Let’s pop the can.

24/7 Hazy Session IPA by New Trail Brewing Co.

Beer: 24/7 Session Brewery: New Trail Brewing Co. (Williamsport, PA) Style: Session IPA (West Coast–inspired) ABV: 4.7% IBU: Not listed, but it carries a solid bite

Appearance: Pours a bright, clear golden hue with a tight white head that settles nicely. Good bubbles rising, and it leaves some solid lacing on the glass. Looks clean and inviting — exactly what you want when you’re planning on having a few without tapping out early.

Aroma: Big hop forward right away. Pine, citrus zest, and a touch of resin with some floral notes dancing around. Centennial, Amarillo, and Simcoe are doing the heavy lifting here, giving it that classic West Coast hop character without going overboard. It’s fresh and bright — makes you think of cracking it open on a hike or by the river.

Taste & Mouthfeel: First sip hits with a nice malt backbone that’s light but supportive — just enough sweetness to balance things out before the hops roll in. You get that firm, clean bitterness with grapefruit, pine, and herbal edges. It’s crisp, dry, and refreshing with a snappy finish that keeps you coming back. Mouthfeel is light-to-medium, highly carbonated, and super drinkable at 4.7%. No heaviness, no cloying sweetness, just pure sessionability. This is the beer you can drink from lunch through sunset and still feel human.

It’s got that “I could do this 24/7” energy without the next-morning regret. In a sea of super juicy hazies, this one stands out by going back to basics while still delivering big flavor.

Overall: New Trail continues to show why they’re one of the most reliable breweries in Pennsylvania. While everyone else is chasing the next pastry stout or milkshake IPA, they quietly drop a well-balanced session beer that actually tastes like it belongs in a cooler on the trail. It’s approachable for newer drinkers but hoppy enough to keep the nerds happy. Perfect for Central PA summers (or those rare warm Lancaster spring days).

My Untappd Rating: 4.0 — A crusher that’ll be in regular rotation.

For more New Trail Brewing News and Beer Reviews Click Here: New Trail Brewing Co. 

-B. Kline

Just yesterday we reported on Idiom Brewing in Frederick, MD shutting down, and now we have news that The Brewer’s Art has abruptly shut down in the outskirts of Baltimore, MD (“technically considered Mt. Vernon”).  Located at 1106 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201, yet another brewery closing in 2026, and another in Maryland, and still also another that Amy and I had visited.

The Brewer’s Art bar (photo courtesy of The Brewer’s Art website’s gallery)

Abrupt Closure

If you’ve ever ducked down the stairs into The Brewer’s Art’s basement bar — that low-ceilinged space where the wood got a little sticky by last call and the taps were always ready for another round — this one might sting a bit. After three decades in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, The Brewer’s Art has quietly closed its doors for good.

Opened back in 1996, it was more than just a brewpub. Upstairs, you’d flirt with a pint of Resurrection or Beazly between bites of duck-fat rosemary fries; downstairs, regulars found their corners and their folks. It was the sort of place you didn’t just go to drink — you went to belong

But earlier this week, staff got word in a way very few of us would have guessed: a text. Owner Volker Stewart told employees the business couldn’t continue — finances had taken a turn, strains that had been growing worse in recent months finally left them without a path forward. The doors were to stay closed, and payroll stopped with the last shift.

That abruptness has left a lot of folks reeling — not just the 20 or so people who worked there, but the community that somehow folded this spot into its own story. On Mount Vernon sidewalks and online forums alike, you see those memories surface: first legal pints, Friday night happy hours, quiet conversations over a hazy flight. Some are holding onto the hope the beer might live on somewhere else; others are just mourning the loss of a place that felt like home.

What happens next — whether the recipes get poured again under a new roof, or whether Resurrection quietly becomes a memory in fridges and growlers across town — isn’t yet clear. But for now, The Brewer’s Art is a name you’ll only bring up in stories and inside jokes and toasts.

Cheers to the years it was.

For More Information on The Brewer’s Art

The following comes via Untappd.

(Note: It is already listed as out of business, so the stats for number of unique beers has been removed.)

The Brewer’s Art is a brew pub located in Baltimore, MD. With (blanked out) unique beers and over 101,000 ratings, with a unique average rating of 3.64 globally (as of 2.2.26). Their Untappd description reads: House brewed beers and innovative cuisine in a 1901 mansion.

You can follow them at these social media platforms:

• The Brewer’s Art – Official Website
• The Brewer’s Art – Facebook
• The Brewer’s Art – Instagram
• The Brewer’s Art – Twitter
• The Brewer’s Art – Untappd

Their Facebook was last updated on January 29th, with no word of the closure (updated – as of 2.3.26, their Facebook page still hasn’t been updated).

Sources

• Brewer’s Association of Maryland
• The Banner
• CityBiz
• Reddit – Brewer’s Art Closing
• WMAR2 News