Viva Las Vegas

Welcome to the Fabulous Las Vegas

In just moments Esteban and Laura’s son – Marcos – will be picking me up, and taking myself, Esteban, and Laura to Harrisburg International Airport (HIA), where we will meet up with Josh (MasterMind X Studios) and Drew (Knights of Nostalgia), to fly to Las Vegas and spend the next few days there. (We will be flying back on January 3rd.)

Drew is turning 40 today, and this trip will be to celebrate his birthday, celebrate New Years Eve / New Years Day, to visit his father (who will be driving up from Texas), and to most importantly – have some fun. I’ve known Drew since 5th grade (his 6th grade). The above link is his Facebook page, and this is his YouTube page where he streams video games (typically older games). (See: YouTube – Knights of Nostalgia. And also see: Facebook – Knights of Nostalgia.)

Drew and Esteban used to run a podcast together called “So a Mexican and a Scot Walk Into a Bar…” I appeared on several podcast episodes – including ones about The Irishman, Breaking Bad / Better Call Saul and El Camino, as well as Star Wars, The Umbrella Academy, and LOST themed ones. Josh (MasterMind X Studios) has also appeared on a few as well. (See: Moon of Vega Beer Review – where I discuss the podcasts a bit more.)

Josh will be joining us on the trip, he runs the MasterMind X Studios Facebook page as well as his own YouTube channel – MasterMind X Studios.

Itinerary

We don’t have a strict itinerary for the trip, but there is certainly things we all want to do while we’re in Vegas.

Some definite things we want to check out are all the various casinos, the fountain show at the Billagio, the old strip on Fremont Street, the Mob Museum, numerous breweries, and much more sight seeing.

Our flight path looks like this:

• Monday: Harrisburg (HIA) to Charlotte. Charlotte to Las Vegas.
• Friday: Las Vegas to Philadelphia. Philly to Harrisburg (via puddle jumper).

Breweries

In a perfect world, I’ll get to visit all these breweries, but we will see. Time will be both loose and tight while in Vegas (isn’t it always on vacations?), and the ones at the airport are very time restrictive, and are all determinate on terminals, landing times, boarding and off boarding times, etc.

But these are the possible, and hopeful breweries I could get to visit:

Charlotte Airport

• Sycamore Brewing
• NoDa Brewing Company
• Wicked Weed Brewery

Las Vegas

• BrewDog Las Vegas
• Beer Zombies
• Able Baker Brewing Company
• Nevada Brew Works
• CraftHaus Brewing
• HUDL Brewing
• Hop Nuts Brewing
• Voodoo Brewing Vegas
• Chicago Brewing Company
• Ellis Island Hotel and Brewery
• Tenaya Creek Brewing
• Beer District Brewing

Some of these are very doubtful, but some are quite possible. BrewDog is located near the New York Casino, so walkable from where we’ll be staying (Harrah’s Casino). Beer Zombies isn’t too far of an Uber ride from Fremont Street, and speaking of Fremont Street and the Old Strip, there is a few breweries inside of casinos there (Chicago Brewing and Ellis Island). In the Arts District (an Uber drive from the Harrah’s) there are several breweries all in a row – Able Baker, Nevada Brew Works, HUDL Brewing, CraftHaus Brewing, and Hop Nuts Brewing. On a side street somewhere in this area is also Voodoo Brewing Vegas, so that’s also a possible stop.

We’ll see what all we get to, fingers crossed, but would be great to knock off quite a few new breweries from the list.

Time to Go

Okay, Marcos is just about to pull up. I’ve walked Leela, I’ve drank a Fiddlehead Imperial IPA while writing this, and it’s not even 4:30 AM yet. Here’s the kick off to what should be a great vacation! Cheers everyone! Chat with you soon, and I’ll try to keep the social media accounts busy while I’m there. I will do a full recap post once I get back, and might even do some day recaps while I’m there (I am taking my laptop), or I might write each day up individually when I get back and slice them in. We’ll see.

Alright, cheers, and see ya Pennsylvania!

Thank You For Reading

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 weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

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.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

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!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

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 August 2024.) 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.)

A beautiful mural in Phoenix, Arizona

Four in Phoenix

Being in Phoenix last month was a nice break from a Pennsylvania winter and I also dodged an
Arizona summer. With temps in the mid-sixties during the day and under sunny skies, the
weather demanded that I find some beers to drink. I managed to hit four breweries that are
definitely worth a visit no matter the weather.

Tombstone Brewing Company – North

A flight at Tombstone Brewing Company – North.

Located in a small strip mall in the north of Phoenix, this brewery was a lot of fun. I sat at the
bar where a super-friendly bartender was happy to talk with me about the beer selection. I
also met the owner who told me how happy he was to take over what used to be a poolhall. It
was a great afternoon. I look forward to spending more time here during my next trip. Favorite
Beer: Dry Irish Stout 10% ABV packs a lot of toasted flavor without being overpowering or too
bitter.

Wren House Brewing Company

Beers at Wren House Brewery.

My friend Gina joined me for the next three brewery visits. Wren House was recommended by
Joel from The Brewery Travels Podcast. It was a great recommendation. Gina and I visited
Wren House that’s a small bungalow on a busy street. Stepping inside, the place is a welcoming
respite from the traffic outside. There are a lot of little nooks where you can find an intimate
spot and a large space near the bar if you want to be part of the taproom vibe. A small
courtyard is near the side of the bar for sitting outside. Gina and I had flights at the bar, but
unlike the four small pours that other breweries typically serve, Wren House only serves two at
time. It’s actually a great way to focus more intently on the tastes and flavors of the
beers…they also don’t get warm in the Phoenix heat. My favorite was the Jomax Oatmeal Stout
6.9% ABV made with Ethiopian coffee after fermentation, which gave the beer a drier finish and
a little pep as well. Gina liked the Spellbinder with Citra Hazy IPA 6.9% ABV that had a nice
citrus and peach flavor.

PHX Beer Co

A flight at PHX Brew Co.

Jumping into an Uber, Gina and I headed to PHX Beer Co. Unlike Wren House, PHX Beer Co.
was much more like a familiar craft brewery with cornhole, giant Jenga and board games in a
makeshift courtyard inside the building. Also like most craft breweries, flights with four small
pour were on the menu. My favorite was the Morenci Copper Ale 5.2% ABV with its malty and
caramel notes. Gina’s favorite was the bright and crisp Bird City Lager 4.4% ABV.

OHSO Brewery and Distillery

A flight at OHSO Brewery and Distillery.

Grabbing another Uber, off we went to OHSO Brewery and Distillery. When we pulled up to
OHSO, we noticed right away that a sizable portion of the bar was outside. We took two of
those seats in the softening afternoon sun. The bartender came right over and spent some
time helping us decide what to get for our final flights of the day. Gina and I both agreed that
we should probably eat something. It had already been a full day of beer drinking. The
artichoke dip and the steak and fries were just what we needed…and they were delicious! We
both thought the artichoke dip was one of the best we’d ever had. The beers were great, too.
My favorite was the malty and dry Big Rapid Imperial Red 9.5% ABV. Gina’s favorite was the
citrusy Boom Dynamite American IPA 6.4% ABV.

Phoenix

These four breweries are only a small snapshot of the craft beer scene in Phoenix. There are
dozens of breweries in and around the city, but Tombstone, Wren House, PHX and OHSO are a
good place to start!

A beautiful mural in Phoenix, Arizona

Paul R. Kan

Paul R. Kan is the author of Hawai’i Beer:  A History of Brewing in Paradise which was a North American Guild of Beer Writers’ award winner and a #1 new release on Amazon’s Books on Beer.  He has written for Good Beer Hunting and is Editor-at-Large at The Beer Thrillers.  Along with beer reviews, book reviews and interviews, he also writes about the interesting ways beer intersects with people and society.  His current book project is Red, White and Brew:  The Beers and Battles that Shaped America. He lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

ʻOi kau ka lā, e hana i ola honua (While the sun yet shines, do all you can).

Paul R. Kan Articles

The following are articles that Paul R. Kan has written here for The Beer Thrillers:

• Book Review: Beer and Society: How We Make Beer and Beer Makes Us (Eli Revelle Yano Wilson and Asa B. Stone)
• Book Review: A Woman’s Place is in the Brewhouse – A Forgotten History of Alewives, Brewsters, Witches, and CEOs (Tara Nurin)
• From Central PA to the Pacific: A Beer Lover’s Hawaiian Journey An Interview with Alexander B. Gates
• Book Review: The Greatest Beer Run Ever (John Chick Donohue and J.T. Molloy)
• Twofer Brewfer Brewery Reviews: Gearhouse Brewing Co. and Liquid Art Brewing
• Tapping into Heritage and Hope on Maui
• Book Review: Brewed in Japan (Jeffrey Alexander)
• Three Questions and a Pint: with Josh Dourte
• Three Questions and a Pint: with Noah Reighard
• Visiting Four Breweries in Phoenix: Getting to Visit Tombstone Brewing Company, Wren House Brewing, PHX Beer Co, and OHSO Brewery and Distillery

Thank You For Reading

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 weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

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.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

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 love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

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 #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) 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 has emerged as a craft beer lover’s paradise, boasting a thriving beer scene that stretches from the bustling streets of Philadelphia to the picturesque landscapes of Pittsburgh. With an abundance of talented brewers, innovative beer styles, and unique taproom experiences, the Keystone State offers a beer pilgrimage like no other. In this article, we’ll take you on a journey to explore Pennsylvania’s top craft breweries that are a must-visit for any beer enthusiast.

Craft beer in Pennsylvania has experienced a remarkable renaissance in recent years, solidifying the state’s reputation as a powerhouse in the craft brewing industry. The history of brewing in Pennsylvania dates back centuries, with early German immigrants bringing their brewing traditions to the state. This heritage laid the foundation for a beer culture that has flourished and evolved over time.

Pennsylvania is home to an impressive number of craft breweries, ranging from small, neighborhood nano-breweries to large-scale production facilities. The state’s diverse geography and rich agricultural resources contribute to the wide array of ingredients and flavors found in Pennsylvania beers. Local breweries take pride in using locally sourced hops, grains, and even fruits to create unique and distinct brews that showcase the region’s agricultural bounty.

One of the key factors driving the success of Pennsylvania’s craft beer scene is the strong sense of community and camaraderie among brewers. Collaborations between breweries are common, fostering a spirit of creativity and innovation. Beer festivals and events, such as Philly Beer Week and Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week, further strengthen the bonds within the brewing community and provide opportunities for beer enthusiasts to sample a vast selection of beers from across the state.

Pennsylvania’s craft breweries are known for their experimentation and willingness to push boundaries. Brewers in the state are constantly exploring new techniques, flavors, and styles, resulting in a diverse and ever-evolving beer landscape. From juicy hazy IPAs to complex barrel-aged stouts, Pennsylvania’s craft breweries offer a wide range of options to suit every palate.

Moreover, the craft beer movement in Pennsylvania has not been limited to the major urban centers. Breweries have sprouted up in small towns and rural areas, revitalizing communities and providing unique gathering spaces. These breweries often prioritize sustainability, community engagement, and local partnerships, reflecting the values of the regions they call home.

Pennsylvania’s craft beer industry has also garnered national and international recognition, with many breweries winning prestigious awards and earning acclaim for their exceptional brews. The dedication to quality, craftsmanship, and the relentless pursuit of brewing excellence have elevated Pennsylvania’s craft beer reputation on a global scale.

As craft beer continues to thrive in Pennsylvania, it has become a major draw for beer tourists and enthusiasts from around the world. Visitors can embark on brewery tours, attend beer events, and explore the unique taproom experiences offered by the state’s breweries. The combination of outstanding beer, welcoming taprooms, and the state’s rich brewing heritage make Pennsylvania a must-visit destination for beer lovers seeking a truly immersive and memorable craft beer experience.

Five (5) Must Visit Breweries

Pennsylvania is home to hundreds of breweries (over 500+), so theres no shortage of breweries you should be visiting.

1. Tired Hands Brewing Company (Ardmore, PA): Located in the quaint town of Ardmore, just outside Philadelphia, Tired Hands Brewing Company has gained a cult-like following for its boundary-pushing beers and artistic approach to brewing. The brainchild of Jean Broillet IV, Tired Hands is known for its hazy IPAs, rustic farmhouse ales, and experimental brews that showcase unique flavor combinations. With a commitment to using locally sourced ingredients, Tired Hands creates a sensory experience like no other. Their cozy brewpub provides an intimate atmosphere where patrons can savor their innovative brews while enjoying delicious artisanal food pairings.
2. Victory Brewing Company (Downingtown, PA): Founded in 1996, Victory Brewing Company is one of Pennsylvania’s most prominent and celebrated craft breweries. Located in Downingtown, Victory has gained recognition for its exceptional beers and commitment to quality. Their diverse lineup features a wide range of styles, from their iconic HopDevil IPA to their rich and complex stouts. The brewery’s state-of-the-art facility offers visitors the opportunity to witness the brewing process firsthand through guided tours. Additionally, their spacious and vibrant taproom provides a welcoming atmosphere to sample their brews, enjoy live music, and savor delicious food at their brewpub.
3. Troegs Independent Brewing (Hershey, PA): Nestled in the sweet town of Hershey, Troegs Independent Brewing combines creativity, sustainability, and a deep passion for beer. Troegs has become a household name in Pennsylvania and beyond, known for their commitment to brewing balanced and flavorful beers. Their state-of-the-art brewery boasts an impressive lineup of beers, including their flagship HopBack Amber Ale and the highly sought-after Nugget Nectar. Visitors can embark on a self-guided tour through their beautiful facility, learning about their sustainable brewing practices and enjoying samples in the Tasting Room. Troegs also offers a Snack Bar that features delicious food made with locally sourced ingredients, perfectly paired with their brews.
4. Brew Gentlemen (Braddock, PA): Venturing west to Pittsburgh, we find Brew Gentlemen, a brewery dedicated to crafting exceptional beer with a focus on quality and simplicity. Located in the vibrant neighborhood of Braddock, Brew Gentlemen has gained a loyal following for their thoughtfully brewed beers. Their minimalist taproom exudes a cozy and convivial atmosphere, where patrons can engage in conversations with the friendly staff and fellow beer enthusiasts. From classic styles like lagers and pale ales to more adventurous offerings, Brew Gentlemen’s commitment to excellence shines through in every sip. Their dedication to community engagement is evident in their events and collaborations, making it a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike.
5. Dancing Gnome Brewery (Pittsburgh, PA): Tucked away in Pittsburgh’s Sharpsburg neighborhood, Dancing Gnome Brewery has made a name for itself with its expertly brewed hop-forward beers. This small but mighty brewery has gained a loyal following for their dedication to quality and consistency. Dancing Gnome is known for their juicy and aromatic IPAs, pushing the boundaries of flavor while maintaining a commitment to well-crafted brews. The industrial-chic taproom provides the perfect backdrop for beer enthusiasts to enjoy their latest releases and seasonal offerings. With a rotating selection of beers, each visit to Dancing Gnome promises a new and exciting experience.

Four (4) More Craft Breweries to Visit

Why stop at five breweries right? If you got a bit more spare time, why not try these four more:

6. Weyerbacher Brewing Company (Easton, PA): Situated in Easton, Weyerbacher Brewing Company has become a staple of the Pennsylvania craft beer scene since its founding in 1995. Known for their bold and innovative brews, Weyerbacher offers an impressive lineup that spans a wide range of styles. From their rich and complex Belgian-style ales to their robust barrel-aged beers, Weyerbacher delights beer enthusiasts with their creativity and craftsmanship. The brewery’s taproom provides a warm and inviting atmosphere to enjoy their diverse selection of beers, including seasonal and limited-release offerings. Visitors can also take guided tours to learn about the brewing process and gain insights into Weyerbacher’s commitment to quality.
7. Yards Brewing Company (Philadelphia, PA): A pioneer in Philadelphia’s craft beer scene, Yards Brewing Company has been crafting exceptional beers since 1994. With a focus on traditional brewing techniques and locally sourced ingredients, Yards has become a beloved institution in the city. Their lineup includes classic styles like ales, lagers, and IPAs, as well as unique seasonal brews that showcase their creativity. The brewery’s expansive taproom offers a lively and energetic atmosphere, complete with outdoor seating and regular events. From guided tours to beer education programs, Yards provides visitors with a comprehensive beer experience that highlights the rich history and vibrant present of Philadelphia’s brewing culture.
8. Voodoo Brewery (Meadville, PA): Located in Meadville, Voodoo Brewery has garnered a reputation for pushing the boundaries of flavor and experimentation. Founded in 2005, Voodoo Brewery combines traditional brewing techniques with a modern twist, resulting in unique and often bold brews. Their lineup features a diverse range of styles, including hop-forward IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, and sour beers. The brewery’s rustic and industrial-inspired taproom invites visitors to explore their extensive beer offerings while enjoying the lively and welcoming atmosphere. Voodoo Brewery also hosts regular events, such as beer releases and live music, making it a popular destination for locals and beer enthusiasts alike.
9. Grist House Craft Brewery (Pittsburgh, PA): In the heart of Pittsburgh’s Millvale neighborhood, Grist House Craft Brewery offers a laid-back and community-oriented beer experience. With a focus on quality and creativity, Grist House produces a variety of beers that cater to different palates. From their hoppy and juicy IPAs to their crisp and refreshing lagers, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The spacious outdoor beer garden, complete with picnic tables and a rotating selection of food trucks, provides a relaxed and inviting space to savor their brews. Grist House also hosts events and collaborations with local artisans, further enriching the vibrant beer culture of Pittsburgh.

These are just nine breweries from a vast, large state to cover. There’s so many more I can list. These are more of the notables, more of the well knowns, the larger, and bigger breweries. Theres so many little craft breweries that are worth mentioning, ones like Boneshire Brew Works, Allusion Brewing Company, Gunpowder Falls Brewing, Logyard Brewing, Pilger Ruh Brewing, Tattered Flag Brewing, Wolf Brewing, Olde Bedford Brewing, J.J. Ratigan, etc, etc, etc. The list could go on for days.

Pennsylvania’s Great Craft Beer Scene

Pennsylvania’s craft beer scene is a treasure trove for beer enthusiasts, with breweries like Tired Hands, Victory, Troegs Independent Brewing, Brew Gentlemen, and Dancing Gnome Brewery leading the way. From the innovative and artistic offerings of Tired Hands in Ardmore to the longstanding excellence of Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, these breweries showcase the best of Pennsylvania’s craft beer landscape. Whether you’re exploring the vibrant streets of Philadelphia or venturing into the steel city of Pittsburgh, these breweries offer not only exceptional beers but also unique experiences that allow visitors to engage with the brewing process, sample a variety of styles, and connect with fellow beer lovers. Embark on a beer-centric journey from Philly to Pittsburgh and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Pennsylvania’s top craft breweries. Cheers to the thriving beer scene in the Keystone State!

From Easton to Philadelphia and Meadville to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s craft beer scene is a tapestry of diverse breweries that showcase the passion, innovation, and craftsmanship of the state’s brewers. Whether you’re seeking out experimental flavors, traditional styles, or a mix of both, the top craft breweries in Pennsylvania offer an array of experiences for beer enthusiasts to explore. From the artistic offerings of Tired Hands and the long-standing excellence of Victory Brewing Company to the community-oriented vibes of Grist House Craft Brewery and the boundary-pushing creations of Voodoo Brewery, each brewery leaves its unique imprint on the state’s beer landscape. So, embark on a beer-filled journey through Pennsylvania and discover the rich flavors and stories that make the Keystone State a haven for craft beer lovers. Cheers to the thriving craft beer culture in Pennsylvania!

A Series of Craft Beer Articles

This is just one of several in a series of over arching ‘craft beer’ related articles. Several alone in a ‘flagship’ series. In the next few weeks there will be some more that come out as well. I would like to have this general level of different ‘craft beer articles’ that everyone can kind of jump to and read and use for informative purposes, and give a better understanding for the other articles on the site.

Some of these articles are about definitions (like “What is Craft Beer?“) and others are about Craft Breweries in general like the Top 50 Producing Craft Breweries, etc.

• The Battle of the Breweries (2023) Winner Is
• Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies in the United States (2023)
• Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies in the United States (2023)
• What is Craft Beer?
• I’ve Missed Drinking (A Look at Non Alcoholic Beers)
• The Rise of Non-Alcoholic Beer: A Guide to the Best Non Alcoholic Brews
• Best Non-Alcoholic Beers For 2021
• Craft Beer 101: Your Guide to the World of Small – Batch Brewing
• How to Build Your Own Homebrew: A Comprehensive Guide for Craft Beer Enthusiasts
• Brewing a Traditional Lithuanian Farmhouse Beer – Keptinis
• Human Robot – Milko Pour – A Look at Milk Pours
• Hemp and Beer – Happy 4:20 Day
• Map of Maine Breweries
• Map of New Hampshire Breweries
• Map of Vermont Breweries
• Sipping on Tradition: A Guide to Craft Beer Flagship Beers
• Discovering the Best Independent Breweries with Beer Drop Craft Beer Subscription Service
• Breaking Down the Buzz: The Health Benefits of Craft Beer
• Craft Beer Styles: Exploring the Wide World of Flavor
• May the Fourth Be With You (2023) – Star Wars and Craft Beer
• Zelda and Craft Beer
• From Philly to Pittsburgh: Pennsylvania’s Top Craft Breweries You Must Visit

Some Pennsylvania Brewery Reviews

• Brewery Review: Battlefield Brew Works
• Brewery Review: Highway Manor Brewing Co.
• Cox Brewing Company: Back to Their Roots (A Cox Brewing Company Brewery Review)
• Twofer Brewfer Brewery Reviews: Gearhouse Brewing Co. and Liquid Art Brewing
• It Was All A Dream (A Visit to YAH Brewing) (A YAH Brewing – Soft Opening – Brewery Review)

Thank You For Reading

Thank you for reading everyone. Hpe you liked this look at 5… no wait… 9… different breweries to check out from Philly to Pitt! What are some of your favorite breweries in the state? What Pennsylvania Breweries would you say are “MUST VISITS”?

Let me know in the comments!

Cheers All!

-B. Kline

Cheers!

-B. Kline

Like I always say at the end of these articles — thanks for reading. We appreciate all the views and visitors! Let us know what you think of the site and the blog, and how we could improve it!

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 weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

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.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

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 love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

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 #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) 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.

Nestled in the heart of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh has emerged as a vibrant hub for craft beer enthusiasts. With a rich history, a strong sense of community, and a commitment to quality brewing, the Steel City has become a must-visit destination for beer lovers from around the world. In this article, we delve into the flourishing craft beer scene in Pittsburgh, highlighting the breweries, events, and unique flavors that make it a true beer lover’s paradise.

A Historic Foundation

Pittsburgh’s brewing tradition dates back to the mid-19th century when German immigrants settled in the city, bringing with them their brewing expertise. This legacy laid the foundation for the city’s craft beer renaissance that began in the late 20th century. Today, Pittsburgh is home to a diverse array of breweries, each with its own distinct style and personality.

Breweries Galore

(Some of the breweries in Pittsburgh.)

The craft beer scene in Pittsburgh offers an impressive array of breweries, ranging from small, intimate taprooms to large-scale production facilities. Some of the standout breweries include Grist House Craft Brewery, Dancing Gnome Brewery, East End Brewing Company, and Brew Gentlemen. These establishments have gained widespread recognition for their innovative brewing techniques, high-quality ingredients, and commitment to pushing the boundaries of flavor.

There is roughly 75 breweries in the Greater Pittsburgh area. In a directional order, here are most of the breweries:

• Sly Fox Brewing
• Penn Brewery
• Voodoo Brewery
• Southern Tier
• Allegheny City Brewing
• 412 Brewery
• War Streets Brewing
• Four Points Brewing
• Fat Head’s Saloon
• Helltown Brewing
• Aslin Beer Company
• Bonafide Beer Co.
• Cinderlands Brewery
• Burgh’ers Brewing
• Eleventh Hour Brewing
• Church Brew Works
• Trace Brewing
• COVEN Brewing
• Two Frays Brewery
• Lolev Beer
• Hop Farm Brewing Co.
• Arboretum Trail Brewing
• East End Brewing
• Hofbrauhaus
• Cellar Works Brewing
• Acclamation Brewing
• Invisible Man Brewing
• Yellow Bridge Brewing
• Quinn Brewing
• New Crescent Brewing
• Unity Brewing
• Conny Creek Brewing
• Devout Brewing
• All Saints Brewing
• Four Seasons Brewing
• Lincoln Avenue Brewery
• Abjuration Brewing
• Cobblehaus Brewing
• Helicon Brewing
• Altered Genius
• Coal Tipple Brewing
• Petrucci Brothers
• Beaver Brewing Company
• Strange Roots Experimental Ales
• Grist House
• Dancing Gnome
• Hitchhiker Brewing
• Necromancer Brewing
• Aurochs
• Mastic Trail Brewing
• Old Thunder Brewing
• The Leaning Cask Brewing
• Full Pint
• Dented Keg Brewing Company
• Stick City
• North Country
• ShuBrew
• Union Brothers Brewing
• Missing Links
• Butler Brew Works
• Recon Brewing
• Inner Groove
• Insurrection AleWorks
• Headley’s Brewing
• Mindful Brewing
• Spoonwood Brewing
• Golden Age Beer Co
• Brew Gentlemen Beer Company
• Pittsburgh Bottleshop
• Firewhistle Brewing
• Rusty Gold Brewing
• Bloom Brew
• Washington Brewing Company
• Levity Brewing
• Noble Stein Brewing
• Allusion Brewing Company
• Yellow Bridge Brewing

Unique Flavors and Local Ingredients

Pittsburgh’s craft brewers are known for their creativity and willingness to experiment with different ingredients, resulting in a wide variety of unique flavors. From hop-forward IPAs and rich stouts to refreshing sours and barrel-aged delights, there is a beer for every palate. Many breweries in the area also source their ingredients locally, collaborating with nearby farms and businesses to showcase the region’s agricultural bounty.

Community and Collaboration

One of the defining characteristics of the Pittsburgh craft beer scene is the strong sense of community and collaboration among brewers. The city’s breweries often come together to create special collaborative brews, host joint events, and support charitable causes. Beer festivals and tasting events provide opportunities for enthusiasts to sample an extensive selection of local beers while fostering a sense of camaraderie among brewers and attendees alike.

Events and Festivals

Pittsburgh’s craft beer scene truly comes alive during the various beer festivals and events that take place throughout the year. The Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week, held annually, showcases the city’s breweries, highlighting their craftsmanship and dedication. Additionally, beer enthusiasts can enjoy events like Fresh Fest, the nation’s first Black beer festival, which celebrates diversity in the brewing industry.

Fueled by Hops has hosted several brewfests in the Pittsburgh area.

• Best Brunch Ever (Beer Festival)
• Interview: Ryan Galiotto (Fueled by Hops)

Beer Tourism and Beyond

The allure of Pittsburgh’s craft beer scene extends beyond the city limits, attracting beer lovers from across the region and beyond. Visitors can embark on brewery tours, guided tastings, and even beer pairing dinners, immersing themselves in the local beer culture. The city’s vibrant neighborhoods, rich history, and thriving food scene further enhance the overall experience, making Pittsburgh an ideal destination for beer tourism.

Brewery Taprooms: A Welcoming Experience

Pittsburgh’s craft breweries are more than just places to enjoy a great pint. Many of them boast inviting taprooms that offer a warm and welcoming atmosphere for beer enthusiasts. These taprooms often feature stylish and comfortable spaces where patrons can relax, socialize, and learn about the brewing process. Engaging with knowledgeable staff members and fellow beer lovers creates an environment of shared passion and appreciation. Whether you’re a seasoned beer aficionado or new to the craft beer scene, the taprooms in Pittsburgh provide an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in the local brewing culture.

Craft Beer and Culinary Delights

The craft beer scene in Pittsburgh extends beyond the breweries themselves, as the city’s vibrant culinary landscape embraces the art of beer pairing. Many local restaurants and eateries collaborate with breweries to curate exceptional food and beer experiences. From gastropubs serving up creative dishes infused with craft beer flavors to establishments offering meticulously crafted tasting menus with perfectly paired brews, Pittsburgh’s culinary scene takes pride in highlighting the city’s craft beer offerings. Exploring the city’s craft beer scene is not just about the liquid in your glass but also about the delectable flavors that complement and enhance the overall experience.

Supporting Local and Sustainable Practices

Pittsburgh’s craft breweries are deeply committed to supporting local businesses and practicing sustainability. Many breweries source their ingredients from nearby farms and suppliers, promoting a farm-to-glass approach that emphasizes freshness and supports the local economy. Additionally, several breweries prioritize eco-friendly practices by implementing energy-efficient systems, recycling programs, and water conservation measures. These efforts showcase the industry’s dedication to not only brewing exceptional beer but also contributing positively to the community and the environment.

Pittsburgh’s Thriving Craft Beer Scene

Pittsburgh’s craft beer scene continues to captivate beer enthusiasts with its rich history, diverse breweries, unique flavors, and strong sense of community. From the welcoming taprooms and immersive beer and culinary experiences to the commitment to supporting local businesses and practicing sustainability, the city’s craft beer culture offers a multifaceted and enriching journey for visitors and locals alike. With each sip, Pittsburgh reveals its dedication to craftsmanship, innovation, and the art of brewing, ensuring that the city remains a vibrant and thriving destination for craft beer lovers for years to come.

With its deep-rooted brewing history, dedication to quality, and a tight-knit community of brewers, Pittsburgh has firmly established itself as a destination for craft beer enthusiasts. From the diverse range of breweries and unique flavors to the collaborative spirit and exciting events, the Steel City’s craft beer scene continues to evolve and captivate. Whether you’re a seasoned beer connoisseur or simply looking to explore new flavors, Pittsburgh’s craft beer landscape is sure to impress and leave you thirsting for more.

With so many great breweries to check out: Sly Fox Brewing, Penn Brewery, Voodoo Brewery, Southern Tier, Allegheny City Brewing, 412 Brewery, War Streets Brewing, Four Points Brewing, Fat Head’s Saloon, Helltown Brewing, Aslin Beer Company, Bonafide Beer Co., Cinderlands Brewery, Burgh’ers Brewing, Eleventh Hour Brewing, Church Brew Works, Trace Brewing, COVEN Brewing, Two Frays Brewery, Lolev Beer, Hop Farm Brewing Co., Arboretum Trail Brewing, East End Brewing, Hofbrauhaus, Cellar Works Brewing, Acclamation Brewing, Invisible Man Brewing, Yellow Bridge Brewing, Quinn Brewing, New Crescent Brewing, Unity Brewing, Conny Creek Brewing, Devout Brewing, All Saints Brewing, Four Seasons Brewing, Lincoln Avenue Brewery, Abjuration Brewing, Cobblehaus Brewing, Helicon Brewing, Altered Genius, Coal Tipple Brewing, Petrucci Brothers, Beaver Brewing Company, Strange Roots Experimental Ales, Grist House, Dancing Gnome, Hitchhiker Brewing, Necromancer Brewing, Aurochs, Mastic Trail Brewing, Old Thunder Brewing, The Leaning Cask Brewing, Full Pint, Dented Keg Brewing Company, Stick City, North Country, ShuBrew, Union Brothers Brewing, Missing Links, Butler Brew Works, Recon Brewing, Inner Groove, Insurrection AleWorks, Headley’s Brewing, Mindful Brewing, Spoonwood Brewing, Golden Age Beer Co, Brew Gentlemen Beer Company, Pittsburgh Bottleshop, Firewhistle Brewing, Rusty Gold Brewing, Bloom Brew, Washington Brewing Company, Levity Brewing, and Noble Stein Brewing, (Whew, that was quite a mouthful!); you certainly won’t go bored in Pittsburgh!

A Series of Craft Beer Articles

This is just one of several in a series of over arching ‘craft beer’ related articles. Several alone in a ‘flagship’ series. In the next few weeks there will be some more that come out as well. I would like to have this general level of different ‘craft beer articles’ that everyone can kind of jump to and read and use for informative purposes, and give a better understanding for the other articles on the site.

Some of these articles are about definitions (like “What is Craft Beer?“) and others are about Craft Breweries in general like the Top 50 Producing Craft Breweries, etc.

• The Battle of the Breweries (2023) Winner Is
• Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies in the United States (2023)
• Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies in the United States (2023)
• What is Craft Beer?
• I’ve Missed Drinking (A Look at Non Alcoholic Beers)
• The Rise of Non-Alcoholic Beer: A Guide to the Best Non Alcoholic Brews
• Best Non-Alcoholic Beers For 2021
• Craft Beer 101: Your Guide to the World of Small – Batch Brewing
• How to Build Your Own Homebrew: A Comprehensive Guide for Craft Beer Enthusiasts
• Brewing a Traditional Lithuanian Farmhouse Beer – Keptinis
• Human Robot – Milko Pour – A Look at Milk Pours
• Hemp and Beer – Happy 4:20 Day
• Map of Maine Breweries
• Map of New Hampshire Breweries
• Map of Vermont Breweries
• Sipping on Tradition: A Guide to Craft Beer Flagship Beers
• Discovering the Best Independent Breweries with Beer Drop Craft Beer Subscription Service
• Breaking Down the Buzz: The Health Benefits of Craft Beer
• Craft Beer Styles: Exploring the Wide World of Flavor
• May the Fourth Be With You (2023) – Star Wars and Craft Beer
• Zelda and Craft Beer
• From Philly to Pittsburgh: Pennsylvania’s Top Craft Breweries You Must Visit
• The Best Craft Breweries in the United States
• The Thriving Craft Beer Scene of Pittsburgh

Some Pennsylvania Brewery Reviews

• Brewery Review: Battlefield Brew Works
• Brewery Review: Highway Manor Brewing Co.
• Cox Brewing Company: Back to Their Roots (A Cox Brewing Company Brewery Review)
• Twofer Brewfer Brewery Reviews: Gearhouse Brewing Co. and Liquid Art Brewing
• It Was All A Dream (A Visit to YAH Brewing) (A YAH Brewing – Soft Opening – Brewery Review)

Related Pittsburgh Articles

• From Philly to Pittsburgh: Pennsylvania’s Top Craft Breweries You Must Visit
• BrewDog Pittsburgh Has Closed
• Voodoo Opening Brewpub in North Shore of Pittsburgh on August 27th
• Aslin Beer Company Confirms Their Expanding Into Pittsburgh
• Aslin Beer Co. Coming to Pittsburgh
• The Trip to Indy – Day One Recap: On The Move Towards Pittsburgh (Juniata Brewing Company and Levity Brewing Company)
• The Trip to Indy – Day Two Recap: Landfall in Pittsburgh and Shenanigans (Allusion Brewing Company, Couch Brewery, Hop Farm Brewing Company)
• World Beer Cup 2023 Winners – Pennsylvania
• Allusion Brewing Wins Three Awards at the 2023 CBMAs
• Arboretum Trail Brewing Is Opening Their Doors
• Tortured Souls Brewing Company Kickstarter Campaign
• Best Brunch Ever (Beer Festival – May 14th, 2022)
• Allusion Brewing Company Wins Two Top Awards
• Couch Brewery Announces Upcoming Closure
• Fury Brewing Company Announces Closure
• Punk in Drublic (October 2nd, 2021)
• Grist House Shipping Statewide in Pennsylvania
• Beer Review: Mutant Temple (Strange Roots Experimental Ales)
• Cinderlands Beer Company is Expanding to Their Third Location
• Untappd (Next Glass) Purchases Hop Culture
• BREW: The Museum of Beer – Is Set to Launch Their Online Exhibit
• Levity Brewing is Expanding and Adding a Second Tap Room
• Beer Review: Macho Man (Couch Brewery)
• Brewery Tour: Couch Brewery
• The Trip to Indianapolis: Day One: 1000 Steps Trail, Juniata Brewing Company, Ghost Town Trail, Hoodlebug, Levity Brewing
• The Trip to Indianapolis: Day Two: Rock Furnace Trail, Allusion Brewing Company, Couch Brewery, Riverview Park, Hop Farm Brewing Company, and The Meadows Casino and Racetrack
• Spigot Brewing Closing
• Full Pint Brewing Closing
• Beer Review – Northmont (Yellow Bridge Brewing)
• Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies (2023)
• Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies in the United States (2023)
• Allusion Brewing Company
• The Battle of the Breweries (2023) Winner Is…
• The Best Craft Breweries in the United States
• Cellar Works Brewing Closing Cooper Station
• Sobel’s Obscure Brewery’s New Location – Grand Opening
• Penn Brewery Announces Sale and Retirement
• Going on the Road
• The Trip: Day 1 Recap
• The Trip: Day 2 Recap
• The Trip: Day 3 Recap

Thank You For Reading

Cheers All!

-B. Kline

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 weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

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.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

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 love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

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 #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) 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.

Visiting Virginia Breweries

Thats probably the headline I should just go with. Because, lets be honest: Visiting Virginia Breweries in Fairfax, Sterling, and Ashburn – Or Voyaging in the Land of Animal Breweries – Saying Farewell to Rocket Frog Brewing and Hello to Chubby Squirrel Brewing, Lost Rhino Brewing, and Old Ox Brewery — is a mouthful! And probably ruins all attempts at search or marketing or whatever.

A simpler, better title would have just been “Visiting Virginia Breweries” or even “Visiting Virginia Breweries in Fairfax, Sterling, and Ashburn”, or maybe just my subtitle – “Voyaging in the Land of Animal Breweries”. I dunno, but I couldn’t decide on what I wanted, and so here you go – enjoy the long winded title!

But enough on why I named the article what I did, lets move onto the actual article right?

Firstly, let’s talk about why we headed down to Virginia in the first place….

Rocket Frog Brewing Company Announces Closure

Back on November 29th, Rocket Frog Brewing Company announced they would be closing their doors for the last time on December 11th. You can read about it here: Rocket Frog Brewing Announces They Will Be Closing December 11th.

We had first visited them back on January 15th of 2022. Here, I’ll share an excerpt from the closing article:

Amy and I got to travel to Rocket Frog back in January on a Bengals play-off gameday. I got out of work early (I was still working Saturdays then), using my top of the EO card and we made the two and a half hour trek down to Virginia hitting some breweries. We stopped in the Sterling Park Business Center to hit two breweries right off the bat. The first of which was Rocket Frog.

We had a really good time. We got to see the Bengals win against the Las Vegas Raiders – their first playoff win in 30 years (they last won in January 1991). We got to Rocket Frog Brewing Company before the game started. We then watched the first half at Crooked Run Fermentation, before driving to Beltway Brewing where we saw a little bit of the third (they didn’t have any TVs on, so we quickly left to get to Mustang Sally’s after a flight), and we finished the game out at Mustang Sally’s where I got to witness the first playoff win since I was 5 and a half years old. Amy and I then celebrated and finished the night out watching the Bills rout the Patriots at Bunnyman Brewing.

Rocket Frog Brewing Announces They Will be Closing December 11th – The Beer Thrillers

You can find our trip here: Trip Down to Sterling Virginia and Beyond to Visit Rocket Frog Brewing Company, Crooked Run Fermentation, Beltway Brewing, Mustang Sally Brewing Company, and Bunnyman Brewing.

December 10th – The Trip

Traveling with a nearly (one day shy) month old certainly changes things a bit. It certainly doesn’t make the trip go smoothly, thats for sure. So there was certainly a new monkey wrench thrown into the works that wasn’t there our last trip to Virginia.

To start the day, we decided we would hit Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company first, mainly because its the furthest from home, and do a ‘hit the others as we work our way home’ approach. Our typical approach to brewery visiting, and usually the one that works out best for us.

Plus, Amy has absolutely been looking forward to hitting Chubby Squirrel. (To the point where she got two Christmas gifts for her from the brewery…. shhh…. nobody tell her…. she has no idea….) They popped up on our radar from an Instagram or Facebook suggestion post. They immediately grabbed Amy’s attention – firstly with the fun name, secondly with the food options. Poutine and pierogies. You had us at poutine and pierogies. We could seriously do an entire blog post on just poutine, and another on just pierogies. Maybe list all the best breweries in the area with poutine and pierogies… hmm….

Anyway… I digress.

So we originally had planned on leaving in the morning at 10:30AM. According to Google Maps it would take us 2 hours and 30 minutes to get there, putting us as at getting there at 1PM. Perfect.

Well, as you might imagine, things didn’t go according to plan. We’ve been in the process of moving Amy’s Uncle Bob’s car into our name, and with him having moved into an assisted care home and unable to drive anymore we needed the title, and this and that, etc, etc, etc… and Uncle Bob’s been having some memory issues, so it was a bit of an issue finding the title and everything required, so we were just going to request a new title; but luckily just before we were about to do that he found it. This then took up our morning, taking SueAnn (Amy’s mom), Amy, Scarlet, and myself to the notary and getting this all finalized. And a few other errands, and then dropping her mom back off, and then finally on the road… at a healthy 12:20PM to start the day…

Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company

After a stop at a Sheetz outside of Gettysburg (where Amy says to me, hey… maybe on the way home we can stop at Fourscore Beer Company, and I just assure her and say, sure… sure… sure dear… we’ll have time I’m sure… – insert massive eye roll here), and another stop a bit of the ways down as well (both stops were to feed and change Scarlet) we finally made it to Fairfax Virginia at roughly 3PM.

I ordered a flight, and we got the pierogies and the poutine to go with it. (Because, of course we got the poutine and pierogies to go with it.)

The beer flight was:

• Prancing Squirrel Christmas Ale – a Spiced / Herb Beer. 7.4% ABV, 15 IBU. Global average rating of 3.82. I gave it ****.
• Hazy Squirrel – a New England IPA. 6.2% ABV, 55 IBU. Global average rating of 3.56. I gave it ****.
• OK This is Gonna Be Weird IPA – a West Coast style IPA. 5.4% ABV and 55 IBU. Global average rating of 3.73. I gave it ****.
• FUCOVID Cinnamon Bun Stout – an Imperial / double stout. 8.9% ABV. Too new for global average rating. I gave it ****.

The poutine and pierogies were wonderful. We had an absolute wonderful time there. The ladies working were so very nice and were loving getting to see Scarlet Emma. I highly recommend Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company if you get in the Fairfax Virginia area. Found out as we were leaving, there is even another brewery just a block away – Ornery Brewing; which sadly we didn’t have the time to stop at. We are definitely planning on coming back, so will certainly be stopping there as well. Also looked like the town was doing a little Christmas thing in the nearby park / business district area.

For more information on Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company, check out their links:

• Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company (Untappd)
• Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company (Official Website)
• Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company (Instagram)
• Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company (at Twitter)
• Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company (Facebook)

Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company’s information on Untappd: they are considered a brew pub out of Fairfax, Virginia. They have 146 unique beers with around 10,000~ ratings. They have a global average rating (as of 12.13.22) of 3.65. Their Untappd description reads: “No need to be bitter, we’ve got the hops! Located in Downtown Fairfax, Virginia, Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company is the first nanobrewery & brewpub in the City of Fairfax.”

Scarlet Emma

Speaking of Scarlet Emma, she’s now been to quite a few breweries already (and is just a wee bit over one month old). Her first brewery was Boneshire Brew Works (because, right now, where else?). She’s most recently been to Compass Mill Tap Room, Jackass Brewery, Selin’s Grove Brewing, and just the day before this Virginia trip we had errands in Reading so she got to visit Willow Creek Brewing and Saucony Creek Brewery at Franklin Station. And now after this trip, you can add Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company, Lost Rhino Brewing, and Old Ox Brewery. (You’ll see why shortly I don’t consider her trip to Rocket Frog Brewing Company as counting.) So in total she’s been to nine breweries so far.

Rocket Frog Brewing Company

From Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company to Rocket Frog Brewing Company was about a twenty – five minute drive. (And was the longest distance between the breweries we hit; other than the initial drive down and home.) We got there around 5:15 – 5:20PM and the place was absolutely rocking. Standing room only on the inside, their deck was pretty packed, and even the spill over tables they were using in the parking lot were full. The parking lot itself was pretty full as well.

Amy decided to stay out in the car with Scarlet and feed her rather than even brave the insides of the brewery. Amy gets a bit of an anxiety in large crowds, so it was fully understandable for her to stay out, especially with Scarlet. (You can read Amy’s excellent article about her anxiety here – Brewfests with Anxiety.) We debated about skipping the brewery, and even heading over right next door (well, a block around the corner) to Crooked Run Fermentation; but we decided that we made this entire trip to stop at Rocket Frog Brewing Company, so I went in and grabbed two tasters and bought a stein to go.

The tasters I got there were:

• Bowcaster – a brown ale, 5.2% ABV, no IBU. Global average rating of 3.92. I gave it **** and 1/4.
• Snark Infested Waters – a schwarzbier, 4.5% ABV and 22 IBU. Global average rating of 3.71, I gave it ****.

Rocket Frog Brewing Company has already listed their brewery as “permanently closed” on Google, Google Maps, Facebook, and Untappd. They delisted all of their beers on Untappd as well. So the following information is slightly skewed due to that.

Rocket Frog Brewing Company on Untappd is listed as a “permanently closed” brewery from Sterling Virginia (formerly listed as a micro brewery). They have 0 unique beers with a total of 42,298 ratings, and a global average rating of 3.82 (as of 12.13.22). Their Untappd description reads: “Closed December 2022 Rocket Frog Brewing Company is an independent craft brewery based in Sterling, Virginia, serving the greater Northern Virginia and Washington, DC community. Our passion for quality craft beer runs deep and we demonstrate this with our four to five flagships, seasonal offerings, and a variety of specialty beers throughout the year.”

For more information on Rocket Frog Brewing Company:

• Rocket Frog Brewing Company (Untappd)
• Rocket Frog Brewing Company (Official Website)
• Rocket Frog Brewing Company (Instagram)
• Rocket Frog Brewing Company (at Twitter)
• Rocket Frog Brewing Company (Facebook)

They recently did a podcast with DC Beer, which you can find here: A Moment to Celebrate a Beloved Brewery.

Lost Rhino Brewing Co.

We decided to skip Crooked Run Fermentation as we were running out of time, and really didn’t want to be leaving Virginia too late. (Even from the Ashburn area where Lost Rhino is, its about a 2 hour and 12 minute drive home.) As it was, we were looking at maybe having to skip Old Ox Brewery, so time was becoming a bit of an issue. We did stop and get gas, as gas is always a good 20 to 30 cents cheaper in Virginia than it is back home in Central PA.

Lost Rhino was another lovely brewery find. We saw it on our one trip to Virginia, but sadly only on the way back home so we didn’t have time to stop, so I made it a point of interest to hit it today. And besides I figured – why stop the animal themed brewery names? We were already hitting Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company and Rocket Frog Brewing Company, why not add Lost Rhino Brewing Company and Old Ox Brewery to the list? If we wanted, we could have went and hit Ocelot Brewing (again) as well, to really round out an all animal named brewery tour of Virginia.

I ordered a flight as we watched the end of the Army vs. Navy game that went into overtime and provided a great ending. My flight included:

• Coco Caliente – an Imperial Double Pastry Stout. 8.5% ABV, 20 IBU. Global average rating of 3.93. I gave it ****.
• Tmavý Dark Lager – dark lager, 6.2% ABV, 32 IBU. Global average rating of 3.64. I gave it a ****.
• Pink Panther – Sour / gose. 5.2% ABV. Too new for a global average rating. I gave it a *** 3/4.
• Face Plant – a West Coast style IPA (IPA American). 6.8% ABV, 65 IBU. Global average rating of 3.64, I gave it a ****.
• Dark Hours – Imperial / Double stout. 10.9% ABV, 79 IBU. Global average rating of 3.98, I gave it a **** and 1/4.

‍‍We very much liked our time there, and will definitely be back down in the area for a return visit. (In fact, we really enjoyed every brewery on our trip this time, not always a lock for our trips.)

Lost Rhino Brewing Company’s information via Untappd:

Lost Rhino Brewing Company is a micro brewery from Ashburn, Virginia. They have 252 unique beers and around 122,000~ ratings. They have a global average rating (as of 12.13.22) of 3.59. Their Untappd description reads: “Lost Rhinoʼs founders, Matt Hagerman and Favio Garcia, set out on an adventure of their own: a coast-to-coast journey in search of discovering the greatest traditions and the wildest frontiers of beer brewing. Our beers are inspired by the experience of choosing the scenic route, the tough challenge, the road less traveled. In the brew house, we take pride in bringing together a global perspective and locally harvested ingredients. Everything we craft is personal, from our innovative pursuit to cultivate wild Virginia yeast strains from nearby orchards, meadows, and even fossils, to our steadfast dedication to support local Virginia farms.”

For more information:

• Lost Rhino Brewing Company (Untappd)
• Lost Rhino Brewing Company (Official Website)
• Lost Rhino Brewing Company (Instagram)
• Lost Rhino Brewing Company (Lost Rhino at Twitter)
• Lost Rhino Brewing Company (Facebook)

Quick Shout Out

If I got you reading this far, please indulge me on a quick shout out. This Sunday we will be appearing on the Central PA Pour Podcast. You can find out more information on them here:

• Central PA Pour (YouTube)
• Central PA Pour (Facebook)
• Central PA Pour (Pod Bay)

Pretzels – Pretzels – Pretzels

While I’m at it here, let me do a quick public service announcement. We have recently joined up with Pretzels.com to provide you with a cheaper option on pretzels; a perfect gift for this time of year. They make a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer. We will have a few posts and videos (an unwrapping / unboxing video, as well as beer and pretzel pairing posts) so be on the lookout for all that. Yes, we are an affiliate with them, so when you go and order, be sure to use our gift code: THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – this will provide you with 20% off your order, as well as help us keep the blog running.

Ok, now, back onto our last stop of the night.

Old Ox Brewery

Luckily it didn’t take a whole lot of convincing to get Amy to stop at one more brewery, namely because she wanted some food for the ride home. I was given a “hard fast” 8PM deadline at Old Ox (spoiler alert – we didn’t leave til 8:30PM). We ordered the meatballs which were extremely tasty, and I did my usual – ordered myself a flight.

My flight from Old Ox Brewery was:

• Billionaire Space Party – a collaboration with RAR Brewing – a west coast style IPA. 7.1% ABV, no IBU listed, global average rating of 3.81, I gave it a ****.
• Robot Dreams – a milkshake IPA, 7% ABV. A global average rating of 3.88, I gave it a ****.
• Hoppy Place IPA – traditional west coast / American IPA. 6.5% ABV, 65 IBU. Global average rating of 3.69, I gave it a ****. (Humerous note: when looking things up here for the post, on Untappd they have a check – in for this from a person from a day ago that says “quite hoppy. solid taste” and proceeded to give it **1/2 …….. and this is why people don’t take Untappd all that seriously.) (Checking the dude’s profile, he gives one beer a “tasty” comment and only **, but then also says “very tasty” for Voodoo Ranger and gives it ****1/2 ….so once again, take Untappd with the grain of salt that it needs to be taken with.)
• Bourbon Barrel Oxorcist – Pumpkin / Yam beer. 10% ABV, 12 IBU. Global average rating of 3.94, I gave it ****.

We had a really great time, talked to the bartender at closing, who comes up often to the area to play softball – at Spooky Nook – where we were just at a few weeks ago (thus why we went to Compass Mill Tap House). Once again, as with the other stops, wonderful food, beer, and great service.

Some information on Old Ox Brewery via Untappd:

Old Ox Brewery is a micro brewery from Ashburn Virginia with 482 unique beers and 115,000~ ratings. They have a global average rating of 3.66 (as of 12.13.22). Their Untappd description reads: “Old Ox is a family owned and operated commercial brewery. Our family works together. Plays together. Celebrates together. Faces life’s obstacles together. We’ve founded our brewery on hard work and a commitment to the community. We are looking for ways to partner with the artists, farmers, restaurants, retailers, and other businesses that make Loudoun County a special place to live. We chose Old Ox Road as the inspiration for our brewery. Old Ox is one of the oldest roads in Loudoun County and was originally built to connect the agricultural producers of Loudoun County to the markets in Fairfax County and beyond. It is this same sense of connection that we want to provide for our customers…whether they are here in our tasting room or enjoying a pint in their favorite restaurant or tavern. We brew in a 30-barrel brewhouse. Just to give you some perspective, each batch we brew will produce 930 gallons of beer. That is enough for 9,920 12-oz. cans of beer or a little over 413 cases of beer per batch. Our beer is on draft in many restaurants and in on the shelves in stores in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. Of course, our beer is always available in the Tasting Room either by the pint, refillable growlers or kegs.”

For more information:

• Old Ox Brewery (Untappd)
• Old Ox Brewery (Official Website)
• Old Ox Brewery (Instagram)
• Old Ox Brewery (at Twitter)
• Old Ox Brewery (Facebook)

Heading Home

After hitting up Old Ox Brewery it was time to head home. Needless to say, like I called it, we didn’t have the time (or energy) to hit Fourscore Beer Co in Gettysburg. No issues on the return trip and we made it home around 11PM, just enough time for me to take Leela for a walk and hit my 10K steps (haven’t missed a day this entire year, not about to miss one yet).

Conclusion

This trip really hit it out of the ballpark. Every brewery was fantastic. The beers were wonderful, the food was great, the staff at all the spots was on point and lovely people. We always have a blast on our trips, but there’s usually a dud or two breweries on our journeys. Not this time, each place was a home run. Can’t recommend the breweries enough. If you get down to Virginia – particularly Fairfax and Ashburn, make sure you hit these guys up. They are well worth your time and visit!

Other Trips and Travelogues

• Big 3 Day Weekend
• Big 3 Day Weekend: Friday Recap
• Big 3 Day Weekend: Saturday Recap
• Virginia Road Trip (Quick Recap) (November 2021)
• The Trip to Indianapolis – Recap Articles:
• The Trip to Indy
• The Trip to Indy – Day One Recap
• The Trip to Indy – Day Two Recap
• The Trip to Indy – Day Three Recap
• The Trip to Indy – Day Four Recap
• The Trip to Indy – Day Five Recap
• The Trip to Indy – Day Six Recap
• The Trip to Indy – Day Seven Recap
• Recap and Stats
• August (2019) Road Trip Series:
• Going on the Road
• The Trip: Day 1 Recap
• The Trip: Day 2 Recap
• The Trip: Day 3 Recap
• Rickett’s Glen (2020) Road Trip Series:
• A Road Trip to Rickett’s Glen
• The Trip to Rickett’s Glen
• Monocacy Battlefield Road Trip:
• Impromptu Two-Day Trip to Frederick Maryland
• Road Trip to Monocacy Battlefield (June 19th – June 20th, 2020)
• Hiking Sunset Rocks and Checking Out Maxie’s Brewhouse:
• Hiking Sunset Rocks and Checking Out Maxie’s Brewhouse in Shippensburg Pennsylvania
• Other Brewery Hopping Articles:
• Brewery Touring York and Hanover PA
• Brewery Hopping – 12.27.19
• Breweries Around the Outskirts of Harrisburg – 9.6.19

Thanks For Reading

Thanks for reading everyone! The year is nearing its end, and 2022 has been a wild one! I’m still off until the 26th when I go back to work. Amy has already gone back, so its mostly me here at home with Scarlet (and Leela). So when she’s asleep I’ve been working on the blog. Lot of big things in the works for 2023!

But 2022 isn’t over yet, and we still have some great stuff coming out.

Like I said earlier, we are affiliated now with Pretzels.com so be sure to check them out and use our promo code – THEBEERTHRILLERS20 to get 20% off your order.

Also, as I said earlier, we will be doing a podcast / video with Central PA Pour on Sunday. So be on the lookout for that.

We still have a planned trip to The Alementary in Hackensack New Jersey; just not sure when we’re gonna be going. But you’ll know when we do.

Thanks for reading everyone, as always, we appreciate it so much here. Cheers to all!

(PS: This article took me all day to write because I had to do it in small bits and pieces whenever Her Majesty Scarlet napped.)

Cheers!

-B. Kline

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.

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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 #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. 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!

Taking it Easy

Well…. after the big hard day on Saturday, we decided to take yesterday (Sunday) a lot easier. After the Cushwa Brewfest, and the big beer share we did in the hotel afterwards, it was time for an easier day. So needless to say, the six brewery tour I had in mind was crossed off a bit and we went a lot slower.

Originally I planned on doing the Antietam Battlefield, then Harper’s Ferry, then Harper’s Ferry Brewing, then Abolitionist Ale Works, and then on the way back through and home hitting a few other breweries (Milkhouse Brewery and Fourscore Beer Co being ones I remember).

Well, we definitely didn’t do quite all that. We left the hotel just before check out time (11AM), and went to Antietam Battlefield. We walked some of it, but mostly did the drive tour, due to how cold it was. After this we went to Harper’s Ferry Historical Park, paid the 20$ to get in…. and decided not to do the shuttle and stuff, due to time, and everything else. So basically, I paid 20$ to park, walk around just a little bit, and read a few signs, get a brochure (20 dollar brochure!) and leave.

Harper’s Ferry

After leaving the historical park, instead of parking down at the train station and checking out the town a bit, being hungry (and me being thirsty), we went to Harper’s Ferry Brewing. The view from the brewery was fantastic, and the beers and food were good.

After this we went back into West Virginia to Abolitionist Ale Works. Checked them out (flight at the top of this article). Cool place, cool vibe. Also took two beers to go home with.

And while in Charlestown, I had to stop at the casino for a bit. If for nothing else professional curiosity. Getting to walk around their casino and compare it to the one I work at, seeing the nuances and differences. Also had two beers while walking around, and stopped at the Sports Book area to watch the end of the Rams and Buccaneers game.

Homeward Bound

Then we were off to home. Skipping the stops in Maryland and Gettysburg that we originally thought / planned on, and just heading home. Nice to finally see the old place again and get to see Leela puppy again (my parents were taking good care of her). Took Leela for a small walk around the town as a few snow flakes fell, and called it a night.

Thanks for reading up on our recap of the three day weekend, you can check out the other articles here:

Big 3 Day Weekend

• Big 3 Day Weekend
• Big 3 Day Weekend: Friday Recap
• Big 3 Day Weekend: Saturday Recap
• Big 3 Day Weekend: Sunday Recap
• Cushwa 5th Anniversary Celebration

Also, be sure to check out Amy’s companion piece as well:

• Brewfests with Anxiety

Thanks For Reading

Don’t worry, I’ll give a more indepth article on the whole weekend in the days ahead (maybe a week or so). Be sure to check that out.

As always, please be sure to leave some comments, questions, concerns for us here or on our social media pages. Thanks for reading!

Cheers!

-B. Kline

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.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Where we started….

If you read the previous article – Big 3 Day Weekend – this is the first recap article in the series.

So Friday certainly was a day! We got to Dogfish Head at about 11:15AM. (Having left right after I finished and posted yesterday’s article.) And we hit it hard. First beer on the taster was the ‘Rip Van Wrinkle World Wide Stout’ which was a 18.4%. Then proceeded to follow that up with Orloso 120 Minute (a 15.4%) and 120 Minute regular. We did three flights at Dogfish Head Brewery before leaving for Burley Oak.

Well… we had to make an impromptu stop at Dewey Beer Co in Harbeson… then went to Burley Oak. At Dewey Beer we got several 6oz pours.

At Burley Oak we did a flight, and picked up our JREAMS Hydra and JREAMS Swerve that we ordered online. The flight was absolutely tasty.

We then traveled Tall Tales Brewery in Maryland on our way to Loakal Branch in Delaware to dip back into Maryland before hitting RAR Brewing.

RAR Brewing ended up being the last brewery stop of the day – as we got there only around 7PM. Its amazing how fast time travels at breweries. So, needless to say we did not hit the full list of breweries I planned.

Where We Ended Up

Yea… we never quite get to all of the breweries on my itineraries. Just how it is (I often get ‘scolded’ or over-planning or being too ambitious with my plans.

But, after RAR Brewing, we traveled all the way to Hagerstown from basically 9PM to 12-midnight to check in at our hotel in Hagerstown to spend the night and be prepared for the Cushwa Brewfest today. (Which, I am wrapping this article up, with the Uber on its way.)

Friday was still a very good day. We still got to six breweries – Dogfish Head, Dewey Beer Co, Burley Oak, Tall Tales, Loakal Branch, and RAR Brewing. Thats still a lot and we did plenty of traveling! (I got to have 36 beers in total at the various breweries, and quite a bit of food as well too.)

So now, I am wrapping this up, the Uber is nearly here, and we will be on our way to the Historic Springfield Barn for the Cushwa 5th Anniversary Celebration Brewfest. Maybe I’ll see you there! I know I can’t wait for it!

Thanks for Reading

This is definitely a brewfest that looks absolutely banging. You can get the details here: Cushwa 5th Celebration. I hope to be able to see some of you there, and I can’t wait for all the delicious brews!

Cheers!

-B. Kline

Thank you for reading everyone. Have any questions, comments, or requests? Leave them for us in the comments section or on our social media pages! Thanks for reading! We appreciate you all checking in with us.

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.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Big Weekend

Got a big weekend lined up for us here at The Beer Thrillers. With the kingpin of the trip being the Cushwa 5 Year Anniversary Celebration.

Just about to head out as soon as my friend arrives. Today might be the biggest part of the trip, with the plan being:

Friday

• Leave Home
• Stop at the bank
• Get gas at Sheetz

Then its time to hit the breweries:

• Dogfish Head Brewery
• Burley Oak Brewery
• Tall Tales Brewery
• Burnish Beer Co
• Loakal Branch Brewery
• RAR Brewing
• Cult Classic Brewery
• Street Car Brewing
• City – State Brewery
• Audacious Ale
• True Respite Brewery
• Harper’s Ferry Brewing
• Antietam Brewery

And then end the day at our hotel. And then Saturday, the main event begins:

Saturday

• Uber from Hotel to Historic Springfield Barn for the Cushwa Brewfest
• Uber to Cushwa Brewery
• Walk to Homaide Brewery
• Uber back to Hotel

Sunday

Sunday will be a bit more of a peaceful day, as far as drinking goes. It will still be a fun and eventful day.

• Leave Hotel
• Antietam Battlefield
• Harper’s Ferry
• Harper’s Ferry Brewery (if we don’t get to it on Friday)
• Abolitionist Ale Works
• Charlestown Casino
• Appalachian Trail C.O. Canal Towpath
• Milkhouse Brewery
• Fourscore Beer Co
• Gettysburg
• Home

We’ll see how it goes. Tomorrow morning before the brewfest, I’ll give a recap of how Friday (today) went. And then Sunday morning, I’ll give a recap of the brewfest. And then after Sunday some point, I’ll do a full article of our travels just like my previous travelogues. Be sure to check in for all of it!

Thanks For Reading

Thanks for reading everyone. Hope you can follow along with our wacky adventures, and hopefully we’ll get to most of the breweries on the list. (I always overbook the itineraries.)

Be sure to check in each day with the recaps!

Cheers!

-B. Kline

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.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Turkey Hill

No, this isn’t a run to the store to get your favorite ice tea or ice cream, this is a pretty cool trail that overlooks the Susquehanna River. I’ve hiked and walked this trail several times in the past, doing the full trails, and all the encompassing views and parts of the different paths (the Enola Grade, the flat area, etc.), mostly with Ming or with my trusty canine companion Leela, or just by myself even.

This time however, Leela and I and a friend, took the hike up and did just the Overlook Trail, which is just a portion of the Turkey Hill Trail found on AllTrails. There isn’t a specific or technical “Turkey Hill Overlook Trail” on maps or on AllTrails; there is however the Turkey Hill trail, and several conjoining trails that use the name and there is the lower portion that runs along the river. I am calling this the Turkey Hill Overlook Trail because it turns left and takes you to the overlook, and then you can turn right back around and head back down. So basically its a simplified and shorter version of the Turkey Hill Trail, and primarily would be just to climb / hike to the top, get to the overlook and look out over the river, and then back down.

The above screenshot of the AllTrails app shows what one of several possible Turkey Hill trails look like. The red is the followed trail for that particular one. The dotted lines are several other trails that could be also followed. The path we took was from the starting point to where that little tip of a dotted line stick out near the beginning, as that is where it the trail turns up to stand underneath the windmills and be at the overlook to look out over the Susquehanna River.

Ok, enough preamble, lets get down to the hike itself.

The Turkey Hill Overlook Trail

We got to the Turkey Hill Trail parking lot around 3PM or so, parked, let the dog out and got her to do her ‘dirty sinful business’ (as Reverend Lovejoy would say) right away so we could dispose of it before doing the hike. We then started on the path which was pretty despite the fall foliage already being done. As it was also late in the season, there was nobody around either (we passed three people total on the entire trip).

The path is nice and decently wide at the start before you head into the hillside proper and begin your ascent upwards. At this time of year, there was a lot of leaves down which made it a bit slippery (especially on the way back down). The hill up isn’t too excessively difficult or hard to climb, and its not extremely rocky, but there is some moderate difficult spots and some rocks to navigate. At certain points of the year you can see what could be modestly called a waterfall but I would be more inclined to call it a stream running downhill. When we hiked there wasn’t any water flowing down as it had been pretty dry for a bit.

It was a crisp cold day on the hike, with a slight breeze, but it was still nice for the hike, and was beautiful. My hike beer for the trip was Golden Sky by South County Brewing Co.

Beer: Golden Sky
Brewery: South County Brewing Co
Style: Blonde Ale
ABV: 4.2%
IBU: 12
Untappd Description: A session-able but flavorful Blonde Ale, dry-hopped with Citra & Hallertau Blanc. Nice honey malt tones with pear and apple notes. A real crusher!
My Untappd Rating: ****
Global Untappd Rating: 3.78 (as of 12.9.21)

The hike up to the top went uneventful with no falls, slips, or spills. Leela was a good hiking buddy up and knew the way perfectly (this wasn’t her first trip). Getting to the top, instead of following the path of the Turkey Hill trail which would lead out over a plain area and down into the Enola Grade, we turned left and went to the overlook underneath the wind turbines.

The view from the overlook area of the Susquehanna River and surrounding area is very pretty, especially on a lovely clear, crisp day like it was. And behind the actual overlook spot are the wind turbines on the top of the hill, which give the whole area an interesting buzzing / helicopter like background noise. The top of the trail, where the overlook itself is; is a nice structure to stand on, with a railing (as you can see in the one beer pic), there is some kind of smaller structure nearby that looks like it at one time housed one of those binocular / telescopic view things (the ones where you put a quarter in them to look through the eye – hole lenses).

Some pics from the overlook and the trail:

The Hike Back Down

The hike back down with Leela was relatively uneventful. Due to the abundance of fall leaves that were down, we did slip a bit every so often, but overall it was a relatively easy descent. Only passed one hiker on the way back down, as it was starting to get closer to sunset on the way down.

All in all, the trip took us a total of one hour and a half. Its a shortened version of the main trail which can take a much longer time, depending on if you take all the different routes and side-trails and other parts of the Enola Grade and Turkey Hill area. It also depends on how long you spend at the top of the hill at the overlook enjoying the wonderful view. I would suggest going in early fall to capture all the fall foliage.

Post Hike

After the hike, we of course had to re-hydrate. So what better way to re-hydrate than to do so at breweries? In the area near the Turkey Hill trail, you have several options. We chose to stop at Columbia Kettle Works in Columbia, and then check out the new River Trail Brewing (formerly Pig Iron Brewing – same building – new owners / brewers) in Marietta. Been to Columbia Kettle Works before and enjoyed every visit there. Food was delicious and the beers on point. River Trail Brewing was leap years ahead and better than the old Pig Iron Brewery that was in the same building. Didn’t get any food there, but the beers were good, especially for a new and starting out brewery. I would recommend both, especially Columbia Kettle Works; I’d say at least stop in and give River Trail Brewing a try.

Thanks For Reading

As always everyone, thanks for reading. We will definitely be doing more hike posts in the future, especially in 2022, I want to go on a lot more hikes (and varied and out of state places too) and want to keep up on writing up a post after each hike. So be on the lookout for that in the future.

For more hike posts from us here at The Beer Thrillers, check out these hikes:

• Hike: Hawk Rock (Duncannon, Pennsylvania)
• Hike: Governor Dick (Manheim, Pennsylvania)
• Hike: Rattling Run – Water Tower (Dauphin, Pennsylvania)
• The Trip to Ricket’s Glen

For more reading and sources on Turkey Hill Trail and the Overlook:

• Turkey Hill Nature Preserve
• Turkey Hill Overlook Trail
• Explore Outdoors: Turkey Hill
• AllTrails: Turkey Hill Trail

Cheers everyone!

-B. Kline

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.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Road Trip Recap

Like I said in yesterday’s Puzzles and Pagans (2021) beer review – we were taking another road trip, this time to Virginia. So here’s the quick recap of where all we went:

• Wheatfield Spring Farm and Brewery (Waterford, VA)
• Harvest Gap Brewery (Hillsboro, VA)
• Adroit Theory (Purcellville, VA)
• Ball’s Bluff Battlefield and National Cemetery
• Ocelot Brewing Company (Sterling, VA)
• Aslin Beer Company (Herndon, VA)

All in all, it was a fantastic trip. Loved each of the breweries for their own different reasons, and will go into that more, when I do the full article on the trip.

We’ve done many other brewery tours and trips, and a lot recently, so be sure to check in the Travelogues section here to see them all.

Thanks for checking out this little quick recap, and stay tuned for when we give the full account! These breweries were a blast!

Also, make sure you check out the still ongoing #freebeer Small Brewery Sunday Giveaway!

Cheers!

-B. Kline

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.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!