Beer Review: Hocktoberfest by Sterling Pig Brewery: A Festive Brew with a Bold Personality

Hocktoberfest by Sterling Pig Brewery

First Impressions: Crisp and Classic

Hocktoberfest pours a deep amber hue, catching the light just right with a soft, autumnal glow. A frothy white head rises to the top, but doesn’t overstay its welcome, leaving a light lacing around the glass. The aroma hits you immediately: toasted malts, caramel sweetness, and a subtle hint of earthy hops. There’s that unmistakable whiff of baked bread that screams “fall is here” and transports you straight to a German beer garden, even if you’re sipping from your back porch.

The Flavor Profile: Smooth, Malty, and Oh-So-Drinkable

The first sip of Hocktoberfest is like an invitation to a cozy autumn gathering. It’s a full-bodied brew, but not heavy. Sterling Pig nailed the balance between malt sweetness and crispness. The initial taste is rich with caramel malts—think toasted bread with a touch of honey—but it doesn’t veer into cloyingly sweet territory. Instead, it rounds off with a gentle, slightly spicy bitterness from the hops that gives it a clean, refreshing finish.

One of the standout features of this Märzen is its smooth drinkability. At 5.8% ABV, Hocktoberfest is approachable, making it a perfect candidate for a lengthy session or pairing with hearty fall fare. (We’re thinking bratwurst, soft pretzels, and maybe even a slice of apple strudel.) It has a medium carbonation, which keeps things light and lively without distracting from the rich malt flavors.

The Experience: A Beer Built for Community

What really sets Hocktoberfest apart from the many other Oktoberfest beers flooding the market is its ability to feel both familiar and unique. Sterling Pig Brewery has crafted a beer that feels like it’s meant to be shared at long tables with friends, swapping stories, and enjoying the best that the fall season has to offer. There’s a communal vibe to this beer—one that encourages you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the moment.

The brewery’s playful branding only adds to the experience. Named after the pig—a cheeky nod to both their brewery and the pig roasts that often accompany Oktoberfest celebrations—Hocktoberfest brings a sense of fun and festivity to the table. And that’s what drinking good beer should be all about, right?

Pairing Suggestions: Feast Your Senses

If you’re going to throw an Oktoberfest party, Hocktoberfest is your beer of choice. As mentioned earlier, it pairs beautifully with all the fall comfort foods. Imagine biting into a savory bratwurst or a roasted pork shank while washing it down with this malty goodness. The beer’s caramel notes will enhance the richness of meats, while its crisp finish keeps your palate refreshed for another bite. Not into meat? No worries—this beer works wonders with roasted vegetables, aged cheeses, or a pretzel loaded with mustard.

If you’re like me and enjoy your beer with a sweet treat, grab a slice of caramel apple pie or some ginger snaps. The malts in Hocktoberfest will complement the caramel while the mild hop bitterness balances the sweetness, making it a match made in autumn heaven.

Final Verdict: A Märzen Masterpiece

Sterling Pig’s Hocktoberfest isn’t just another Oktoberfest beer; it’s a celebration in a glass. Whether you’re a seasoned craft beer aficionado or just dipping your toes into the world of seasonal brews, this Märzen has something to offer. It’s flavorful without being overwhelming, approachable without being boring, and festive without being gimmicky.

So, as the leaves start to turn and the nights get cooler, do yourself a favor and grab a pint of Hocktoberfest. Better yet, grab a six-pack, invite some friends over, and toast to good beer, good company, and the best season of the year. Prost!

Untappd Stats

My Untappd Rating: ***.75
Global Average Untappd Rating: 3.69 (as of 10.17.24)

Untappd Description: Our seasonal Marzen Lager has a solid malt backbone with notes of roasted malt and caramel. Best enjoyed in a stein the size of your head.

Sterling Pig Brewery’s website description: When it comes to our fest fest bier, we use only the best ingredients to achieve the smooth and malty brew you’ve come to know and love. This balanced and flavorful, amber-colored ale is brewed with a combination of malts and hops that produce rich and clean notes of caramel and malt. Note that this seasonal brew is best enjoyed fresh and preferably in a stein the size of your head. (It’s Oktoberfest, we don’t make the rules..)

Sterling Pig Brewery ships Hocktoberfest in four packs and cases to PA, DC, or VA. You can find Hocktoberfest here: Sterling Pig Brewery – Hocktoberfest.

Sterling Pig Brewery

Sterling Pig Brewery, based in Media, Pennsylvania, has quickly made a name for itself in the local craft beer scene. Founded in 2015, the brewery combines a passion for bold, flavorful beers with a sense of fun and community. Their mascot—a mischievous pig—embodies the playful, down-to-earth vibe that Sterling Pig aims to deliver in both their beers and their brewery experience. Whether you’re visiting their cozy brewpub or grabbing a pint at a local beer fest, the brewery has a welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere that makes you want to kick back and stay for a while.

At the heart of Sterling Pig’s success is their dedication to quality. Each beer is meticulously crafted, using a blend of traditional brewing techniques and creative innovation. From hop-forward IPAs to balanced lagers like Hocktoberfest, Sterling Pig’s lineup showcases a broad range of flavors that appeal to all types of beer drinkers. Their brewers are constantly experimenting, and you can often find limited-edition and seasonal releases on tap, giving patrons something new to look forward to with each visit.

(See Also: Top 6 BBQ Spots to Visit in or Around Philadelphia – Including Sterling Pig Brewery)

What truly sets Sterling Pig apart is their sense of community. Much like Hocktoberfest, their beers are built for sharing with friends, whether you’re gathered around the table at their brewpub or celebrating at home. The brewery frequently hosts events like trivia nights, live music, and even pig roasts, creating a lively, communal atmosphere where beer lovers can come together. It’s this combination of great beer, a friendly vibe, and a commitment to the craft that makes Sterling Pig Brewery a standout in the Pennsylvania brewing scene.

So, the next time you crack open a Hocktoberfest, know that you’re getting more than just a well-made Märzen—you’re supporting a brewery that values community, creativity, and the simple joys of enjoying good beer with great company.

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.

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The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of 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!

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

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

BBQ at Sterling Pig Brewery (photo courtesy of Sterling Pig)

Philadelphia may be famous for its cheesesteaks, but its BBQ scene is quietly smoking up some of the best meats in the area. Whether you’re craving tender brisket, Carolina-style pulled pork, or ribs so good they fall off the bone, these top BBQ spots around Philadelphia have got you covered.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best BBQ spots near Philadelphia to satisfy your cravings in 2024.

1. Fette Sau (Fishtown) – Modern BBQ Vibes

BBQ at Fette Sau (photo courtesy of Fette Sau)

One of the top BBQ spots in Philadelphia, Fette Sau brings a unique blend of traditional American barbecue with an industrial, modern twist. Located in the vibrant Fishtown neighborhood, this spot offers dry-rubbed meats smoked on-site daily. Fette Sau is well-known for its brisket, pulled pork, and Berkshire St. Louis-style ribs.

Pair your smoky meats with a rotating list of local craft beers, creating the perfect combination for a BBQ feast.

Must-try: Brisket and burnt-end baked beans
Location: 1208 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA
Website: Fette Sau BBQ

2. Mike’s BBQ (South Philly) – Texas Brisket Meets Philly Flavor

Mike’s BBQ in Philadelphia

When it comes to Texas-style BBQ in Philadelphia, Mike’s BBQ in South Philly is a standout. Known for their slow-smoked brisket, Mike’s takes BBQ to another level with a Philly twist—offering a brisket cheesesteak that combines local tradition with smoked meat goodness.

This local favorite began as a small operation but has quickly gained a reputation for some of the best BBQ in the city.

Must-try: Brisket cheesesteak
Location: 1703 S 11th St, Philadelphia, PA
Website: Mike’s BBQ

3. Sweet Lucy’s Smokehouse (Northeast Philly) – Family-Friendly BBQ

Sweet Lucy’s Smokehouse (photo courtesy of DoorDash)

If you’re searching for the best BBQ in Northeast Philadelphia, Sweet Lucy’s Smokehouse should be on your list. This family-friendly smokehouse has been serving up delicious smoked meats for over a decade. Their slow-cooked pulled pork, ribs, and turkey are packed with smoky flavor, and their Monday BBQ buffet lets you sample it all.

Must-try: Pulled pork with mac and cheese
Location: 7500 State Rd, Philadelphia, PA
Website: Sweet Lucy’s Smokehouse

4. Sterling Pig Brewery (Media) – Craft Beer Meets BBQ Perfection

Sterling Pig Brewery (photo courtesy of Sterling Pig Brewery)

Just outside the city in Media, Sterling Pig Brewery brings together two of life’s greatest pleasures: craft beer and BBQ. Known for their deliciously smoked wings and pulled pork sandwiches, this spot is a hidden gem for BBQ lovers and beer enthusiasts alike. Their beers, like the ‘Shoo Fly’ IPA, complement the smoky flavors perfectly, making it a must-visit for BBQ and brew fans.

Sterling Pig’s laid-back vibe, coupled with their mouth-watering BBQ and house-brewed beers, is worth the short trip from Philly.

Must-try: Smoked wings and pulled pork sandwich
Location: 609 W State St, Media, PA
Website: Sterling Pig Brewery

5. Deke’s Bar-B-Que (Manayunk) – Southern Flavors in Philly

Deke’s BBQ (photo courtesy of Deke’s BBQ)

Deke’s Bar-B-Que brings authentic Southern BBQ flavors right to Manayunk. Their St. Louis-style ribs, hickory-smoked brisket, and Carolina pulled pork will transport you to the South. The no-frills atmosphere keeps it casual, but the flavor is anything but ordinary. It’s the perfect spot for a relaxed meal with plenty of smoky goodness.

Must-try: St. Louis ribs and collard greens
Location: 4901 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA
Website: Deke’s Bar-B-Que

6. The Lucky Well (Ambler) – Memphis BBQ with a Modern Twist

The Lucky Well (Ambler)

If you’re up for a short drive outside of Philadelphia, head to The Lucky Well in Ambler. This spot is known for its Memphis-style BBQ, paired with craft cocktails for a modern twist. Their Memphis dry-rub ribs are a standout, as are the fried cornbread and apple slaw, creating a perfect BBQ meal.

Must-try: Memphis dry-rub ribs and fried cornbread
Location: 111 E Butler Ave, Ambler, PA
Website: The Lucky Well

Why These BBQ Spots Stand Out

Each of these BBQ joints offers something unique, from the modern vibes of Fette Sau to the craft beer pairings at Sterling Pig Brewery. If you’re a BBQ enthusiast searching for the best smoked meats near Philadelphia, you won’t go wrong visiting any of these places. With a mix of Texas-style brisket, Memphis ribs, and local specialties, Philly’s BBQ scene is diverse and delicious.

So next time you’re craving BBQ, head to one of these top spots for a feast you won’t forget.

Final Thoughts

Philadelphia’s growing BBQ scene is diverse and full of flavor. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, these top 6 BBQ spots are guaranteed to satisfy your smoky, savory cravings. Pair them with some local craft brews, and you’ll have an unbeatable dining experience.

Discover the top 6 BBQ spots around Philadelphia serving mouth-watering smoked meats and Southern-style sides. From Fette Sau to Sterling Pig Brewery, this 2024 guide covers the best BBQ near Philly.

Click here for a map of all six locations: Top Six BBQ Joints in Philadelphia Area

See Also

• Sweet ‘n’ Savory
• Craft Beer Meets Keto: Enjoying Low-Carb Brews with Healthy Meals

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 #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.)

Country Trails Brewing Company is Set to Open on April 6th

Country Trails Brewing To Open on April 6th, 2024

A new brewery is about to open in Montrose, PA. On April 6th, 2024, Country Trails Brewing Company will be having their Grand Opening at their brewery – located at: 19815 State Route 706, Montrose, PA, United States, Pennsylvania.

They announced on their Facebook Page – Country Trails Brewing Co. Facebook – that they will be hosting their Grand Opening on April 6th, 2024, and will have 12 taps available on opening day.

Facebook Announcement and Event Page

Country Trails Brewing Exterior

The following was their Facebook announcement on March 20th, at 3:40 PM:

Join us for the Grand opening of Country Trails Brewing on April 6th! We’ll have up to 12 new beers on tap, plus a food truck serving BBQ! Starting at noon. Hope to see you there!

Country Trails Brewing – Facebook Post

They also created an event page on Facebook – which you can find here: Country Trail Brewing Company’s Grand Opening.

For More Information on Country Trails Brewing

Not much is known about them yet, and they are just in the infancy of opening up. Untappd has them listed as a “home brewery / non-commercial” at the moment, and lists them as only having three beers, with 8 total check ins (6 unique).

Their beers listed on Untappd are: Blue Ridge Pale Ale, English Winter Ale, and Headless Horseman.

You can follow them on Facebook here: Country Trails Brewing. Or on Untappd here: Country Trails Brewing Co.

Country Trails Brewing Company’s Logo

Brewery News

Interested in finding out about many other brewery openings, new locations, closings, movings, and in general brewery news? You can check out our links below:

• Crystal Ball Brewing Closing
• Stoudt’s Brewing Closing
• Full Pint Brewing Closing
• Night Shift Brewing Cancels Expansion
• Other Half Brewing Company Opening Friday 2.18.22 in Philadelphia
• Midwest Coast Brewery Opening
• Boulevard Presidents Steps Down Amidst Allegations
• Brewery Opening: Howling Henry’s (Hummelstown)
• Brewery Opening: Highway Manor (Camp Hill)
• Brewery Opening: Rotunda Brew Pub (Hershey)
• Is JB LoveDraft’s Opening a Brewery?
• Tattered Flag at Hollywood Casino – Grantville – Opening Their 5th Location
• JB LoveDraft’s Grand Opening (Mechanicsburg)
• ZeroDay Opens Their New Tap Room (Harrisburg)
• Victory Brewery Fire and Explosion (Kennett Square)
• Sign of the Horse Brewery is Expanding in Hanover (Taking Over the Old Miscreation Brewery)
• Brewery Tour: Couch Brewery (Pittsburgh)
• Brewery Visit: Mellow Mink (Mechanicsburg)
• A Sneak Peak at the new Rubber Soul Brewery (Hummelstown)
• Rubber Soul Grand Opening (Hummelstown)
• VooDoo Lancaster Closing
• River Bend Hop Farm and Brewery Closes
• Homaide Brewing Says Goodbye To Their First Home
• Grand Opening of Hemauer Brewing (Mechanicsburg)
• Rally Point Tap Room Opening – Cox Brewing Company – Elizabethtown
• Spigot Brewing Closes
• Full Pint Brewing Closes
• Night Shift Brewing Cancels Expansion
• Mikkeller Brewing NYC Closes Permanently
• Pilger Ruh Brewing Needs Your Help (Pottsville)
• Official BBQ (Pizza Boy Secondary Location) (Rutherford)
• Aslin Beer Co. Now Ships to Pennsylvania
• Boneshire Brew Works to Open Second Taproom in Harrisburg (Harrisburg)
• Aslin Beer Company Confirms Expanding to Pittsburgh
• Rural City Beer Company Coming to Beamstown PA
• Grand Opening of Forest and Main’s New Brewpub
• New Bells-gium – New Belgium Owned Company Buys Bell’s Brewery
• Human Robot Expanding to Jenkintown
• High Road Brewing Company Coming to Camp Hill, Pennsylvania in Summer 2022
• YAH Brewing’s First Can Drop
• RAR Brewing’s Star Wars Can Drop
• Arboretum Trail Brewing Company Opens Their Doors Tomorrow
• Macklin Brewing Company in Development
• Michaux Brewing Company Grand Opening
• Shy Bear Brewing Announces Two New Locations
• Newfangled Brew Works Announces Closure
• Fourscore Beer Company Celebrates Their 3rd Anniversary
• Penn Brewery Announces Sale and Owner’s Retirement
• Voodoo Brewing Company To Open Brewpub on North Shore of Pittsburgh – August 27th
• Truth Beer Company’s Grand Opening
• Sobel’s Obscure Brewery’s Grand New Location and Opening
• AleCraft Brewing Company Expands Into Pennsylvania
• Boneshire Brew Works Celebrates 6th Anniversary
• Funk Brewing Company – Elizabethtown Brewery – Fire
• Funk Brewing Company – Elizabethtown Brewery – Fire Update
• Victory Taproom in Kennett Square Re – Opens
• Pour Man’s Brewery Is Moving Their Tap Room
• Qatar Bans Alcohol Sales at World Cup 2022
• Second Sin Brewery Company Celebrates Third Anniversary
• Round Guys Brewing Company’s Brewpub in Lansdale is Getting a Revamp
• VK Brewing Officially Opens at Historic Ship Inn
• Rocket Frog Brewing Company Announces Closure on December 11th
• Co – Hops Brewery and Cannery Appears to be Closed
• Where to Watch the USA vs Netherlands World Cup Game – in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia
• Liquid Noise Brewing Company Announces the Show is Ending (Brewery Closure)
• Looks Like Homaide Brewing Company Might Be Done (January 2023)
• Beltway Brewing Closing at the End of the Month (January 2023)
• Old Soul Brewing Starting up in Waynesboro Pennsylvania
• Cox Brewing Company Returning to Their Roots
• Helping the Hemauer Family
• Cellar Works Brewing Closing Cooper Station
• Imprint Beer Company Unveils The GNARCADIUM
• Blueprint Brewing Company Announces Their Closing on March 31st
• Pilger Ruh Brewing is Expanding into Gettysburg
• Back Porch Brewing Grand Opening
• Jigsy’s Old Forge Pizza and Brewpub is Expanding into Hershey
• LoveDraft’s Brewery Sabotaged
• Homaide Brewing Company Resurfaces
• Sign of the Horse Brewery Announces Closure of Zeichen des Pferdes and Re – Branding
• Mount Gretna Craft Brewery in Palmyra Announces Closing Immediately
• The Englewood Announces Re – Opening
• AB InBev Closes Cleveland’s Platform Brewing Company
• Full Tit Brewing Closing
• Camp Hill Brewery – High Road Brewing – Plans Scrapped
• YAH Brew is Coming to Hershey in Spring 2023
• Bespoke Brewing Moving and Expanding
• BrewDog Pittsburgh Has Closed
• Isle of Que Brewing – The Que Brew Crew – Has Announced Their Closing
• Fermentery Form Announces Temporary Closure
• Separatist Beer Project Announces Temporary Closing of Both Locations
• Fermentery Form Cited for Failing Health Inspections
• Guinness Brewing is Closing Their Maryland Production Facility
• Cox Brewing Company Celebrates 8th Anniversary
• Human Robot Expands into the Schuylkill
• Despite Being Closed – Fermentery Form Selling Bottles Tomorrow
• Cape May Brewing Company Acquires Flying Fish Brewing Company
• Our Town Brewery Expanding into Philly
• Smoketown Creekside – Brewery Operations For Sale
• Founders Announce Closure of their Detroit Taproom
• The Bruery Store D.C. Is Closed
• Founders Brewing Company Sued for Racial Discrimination (Again) Just Before Detroit Taproom Shut Down
• Liquid Noise Brewing Company – New Ownership, New Beer, New Friends
• YAH Brew Grand Opening
• FX Matt Brewing Company Acquires Flying Dog Brewery
• The Beerded Goat Brewing Company Taking over the old NewFangled Brewery
• River Horse Brewing Company Acquires DuClaw Brewing Company
• Carbon Copy Brewing will be taking over Separatist Beer Project’s East Passyunk Location for the Summer
• Anchor Brewing Will No Longer Be Sold Nationally
• The First Hershey Beer and Music Festival Announced
• Cushwa Brewing Company Opening Second Location in Columbia Maryland
• Guinness Baltimore Blonde Beer Production Moving to New York
• Black Rock Brewing Company – Downtown Pottsville – Will Not Be Re – Opening
• Jim Thorpe Brewing Needs Your Support
• Cinderlands Foederhouse Temporary Closure
• Appalachian Brewing Company Coming Soon to Carlisle
• Tattered Flag Brewery and Distillery Is Up For Sale
• New Belgium Teams Up with Magic the Gathering for Vastwood Seer IPA
• Anchor Brewing Could Be Sold Tomorrow
• Anchor Brewing Company Ceasing Operations and Liquidating Business
• A Sneak Peek of The Beerded Goat Brewery
• Allusion Brewing Company Appreciation Party
• Allusion Brewing Company Expanding to the North Hills
• With Heavy Hearts Tattered Flag Announces Last Day
• Appalachian Brewing Company Pairs with The Vegetable Hunter to Release Plant Based Beyond Beer Collaboration
• Getting Sworn In: A Sneak Peek at Sworn Brewing Company
• Arboretum Trail Brewing is Closing Their Taproom
• Mastic Trail Brewing Company Setting into the Sunset – Closing on September 2nd
• A Look at Local Time Brewery
• Second Sin Beer Announces Second Tap Room Location
• Rumor Mill: Snitz Creek Brewing To Take Over Mt. Gretna Brewing’s Old Location
• Howling Henry’s Not Looking to Finish Out the Year
• Brewery Fire Celebrates Their Fourth Anniversary: The Power of the Fourth
• Devil’s Eye Brewing Announces Closure on September 30th
• Walk to End ALZ at Lost in the Wilds Brewing – September 28th, 2023
• 12 Pennsylvania Breweries Collaborate on Buckeye Tears
• Stickman Brews Announces Immediate Closure
• Spring House Brewing to Open The Coffin Bar on Friday the 13th
• Cox Brewing Company Announces Closure at the End of 2023
• High Road Brewing Company Announces Grand Opening Celebration at High Road Taproom in Mechanicsburg
• Circle of Life – A Fond Farewell to North Austin’s Oldest Brewery
• BierHall Brewing Coming to Lancaster
• Smuttynose Brewing and Five Boroughs Brewing Joining Under the Ownership of Finestkind Brewing
• Highway Manor Brewing Has Seemingly Been Closed
• Tree House Opening a Saratoga Springs Location
• Cartel Brewing and Blending Announce Their Moving
• Cartel Brewing and Blending Grand Opening of Their New Location
• Wacker Brewing Announces Upcoming Closing
• Mindful Brewing Company Temporarily Closing
• Highway Manor Brewing Temporarily Closed For Remainder of 2023
• Snitz Creek Brewing is Coming to the Old Mt. Gretna Craft Brewery
• Chatty Monks Brewing Company Has Exciting News
• Liquid Noise Announces Opening Soon
• Jackass Brewing Company Adding Williamsport Location in 2024
• Truth Beer Company Announce New Lancaster Taproom
• Truth Beer Company Opening a Taproom in Lancaster
• Moss Mill Brewing Company of Huntingdon Valley is Closing
• Liquid Noise Brewing Company Sets Grand Opening for December 29th
• Three Beards Brewing Announce Closure
• Ingenious Brewing Announces the Upcoming Closure of their Brewery
• Allusion Brewing is Opening a Second Spot in McCandless Township, Duncan Manor in Allison Park
• Breweries that Opened in Pennsylvania in 2023
• Cox Brewing Company Close Out Celebration
• A New Owner Takes Over Olde Bedford Brewing Company
• North Country Brewing is Closing the Corn Crib at Freedom Farms Farmers Market
• Compass Mill Tap House is Temporarily Closed Down for Cleaning and Maintenance
• Aldus Brewing’s Dolphin and Anchor Pub in Downtown Hanover Set for Grand Opening
• HiJinx Brewing Company Adding Second Location
• Truth Beer Company is Having Their Grand Opening on Saturday – January 20th
• Wissahickon Brewing Company to Add a Second Taproom
• Hell in a Bucket Brewery is Moving to Marietta
• Smuttynose Brewing to Acquire Wachusett Brewery
• Sign of the Horse Bierhaus is Closing
• Anheuser-Busch InBev Closes Two Craft Brewpubs
• Species X Beer Project Opening Soon in Columbus
• The Alementary Announces Their Closure
• Our Town Brewery Taproom Set to Open in Philadelphia
• Mount Hope Brewfest is Cancelled
• Hoppy Valley Brewfest Announced for Beaver Stadium
• Grist House Brewery Will Be Taking Over the Taproom at Freedom Farms Farmers Market
• Necromancer Brewing Temporarily Closing
• Hysteria Brewing Company For Sale
• AleCraft Brewery Bel Air to Close
• Necromancer Brewing Permanently Closing
• Country Trails Brewing To Open in April
• Brewery Closings – Archives
• Brewery Openings – Archives
• The Craft Beer Conundrum: Navigating the Troubled Waters of the Craft Beer Industry

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Cheers.

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• MAPS OF BREWERIES

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The Grand Opening

Its finally here! Tomorrow is the full, true, grand opening for LoveDraft’s Brewing Company! We’ve talked before on the blog of their soft opening, and their continued soft opening, and their “no kids allowed” policy, and all the media and attention, and controversy that has ensued because of that. But, now its time to talk about their full grand opening.

We first broke the news that the Harrisburg downtown bar – JB LoveDraft’s Micropub – was going to be getting their own brewery back in October 20220. “Is JB LoveDraft’s Opening a Brewery?” And now its time for that realization to happen.

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Its time to get ready Mechanicsburg, because LoveDraft’s is going to be a lot different than a normal bar and a normal brewery on your block. Just take a look at their social media presence and you’ll understand.

Recently, LoveDraft’s got some nation wide attention with their “no kids allowed” policy post, which you can read about here: “NO KIDS ALLOWED“. They followed this all up with a list of their in-house rules, some of which are: everyone must be 21+, no politics, no religion, no sports, no wearing certain colors, be accepting of all people, and finally and most importantly “HAIL CTHULU.”

They are going into the old Quakerstate Lube off the Carlisle Pike. The address for the LoveDraft’s Brewery is 165 Gateway Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA.

The head brewer for LoveDraft’s will be Terry Hawbaker. The award winning former brewer for Pizza Boy. If you are from the Central PA area, you are most likely familiar with his work and his beers, and I’m sure you will be loving the beers he gets to make at LoveDraft’s.

The Venue

The venue is designed to be very similar to their bar in Harrisburg. They will be a big music presence in the area, and are working with the former production and agents from the Chameleon Club to book talents for their stage. Along with their rules policy, they will have a very eclectic and loud brand of music playing, with a much more adult theme to it than most other breweries and bars, especially in the area.

Their kitchen is going to be “Smokehouse” themed, ran by ShakeDown BBQ. They will specialize in BBQ, vegan and meat, and similar cuisine. Their Facebook page (under the MENU tab) currently has a code reader to let you see their full menu.

Grand Opening

The grand opening party / event kicks off at 5PM – tomorrow – August 7th, 2021. You can find their Facebook event page here: LoveDraft’s Grand Opening. It is looking to be a banger of a party!

Social Media Links and other Links

You can follow LoveDraft’s on the following social media outlets:

• LoveDraft’s Brewing Co. Facebook
• LoveDraft’s Instagram
• LoveDraft’s Website

Relevant LoveDraft Links:

• Is JB LoveDraft’s Opening a Brewery? (October 2020)
• NO KIDS ALLOWED – LoveDraft’s Brewery (August 2021)

Nearby breweries:

• Visiting Mellow Mink (Mechanicsburg)
• Wolf Brewery Opening (Mechanicsburg)
• Highway Manor Brewery Opening (Camp Hill)
• Highway Manor Brewery Review (Camp Hill)
• Beer Review – EverGrain Brewery (Mechanicsburg)

Can’t wait to get to see you guys out there at LoveDraft’s, listening to some killer tunes, eating amazing grub, and washing it down with Terry’s fantastic beers. Cheers all and Hail Cthulu!

-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!

For many locals, they’ve known about Official BBQ and Burgers for a while now. Unfortunately I only found out when Pizza Boy announced they would be using the little unassuming BBQ shack as their secondary location.

And now I feel like I’ve been missing out for quite a while.

You can check out their website, which lists menu, their about information, their services, their catering, as well as the new Pizza Boy beer menu here: Official BBQ and Burgers.

The new Pizza Boy bar at Official BBQ and Burgers is to the right as you enter with it being the counter for ordering your food as well (and opposite of pick-ups if you ordered your food by phone or to-go). They have twenty taps all set-up for Pizza Boy beer only. There is also a fridge by the entrance for non-alcoholic kid drinks as well as four and six packs of Pizza Boy beers.

The bar counter itself is large and with enough seating that it should provide enough space for just drinkers, there is also a row bar against the wall by the main bar where people can eat and drink as well. Plus their is a moderate sized dining room for families and people to get together and eat and drink.

On a busy night the dining room area will be cramped, but not too severely. When my family arrived roughly 6:30-6:45PM Friday night, the place was well packed, but not too the point of cramping (though we did snag the next-to-last table).

Opening night seemed to have a few hiccups and hitches. By the time we got there, Mac and Cheese and Brisket were sold out. And while in line, they took a phone call that got the remaining pulled pork until they could make more (which ended up taking roughly 25-30 minutes, even though they told us it’d be 15 minutes). But things happen and this can be expected for a “new” opening.

I say “new” because its not their first day, and its not an opening. The Pizza Boy bar located inside Official BBQ and Burgers was new and just going live, but the BBQ shack itself has been around for quite a while. Talking to a few locals/regulars, it seems like they’ve been doing ‘ok’ but never consistently busy or crazy packed; and hopefully the new bar with Pizza Boy’s marquee name will change that for them (it seemed to while we were there, though the place was empty when we left at 8:30PM). (They closed at 9PM).

While waiting for our food, I ordered my (first) drink; which was “Not My Style, But May Rate Anyway”. A delicious NEIPA from Pizza Boy.

Since I’m doing a ‘brewery’ / ‘secondary location’ / ‘restaurant’ review rather than a beer review, I’ll just give a glossing over details of the beer.

Beer: Not My Style, May Rate Anyway
Brewery: Pizza Boy Brewing Co.
Style: IPA – New England
ABV: 7%
IBU: None Listed
Untappd Write-Up: IPA w/ almond flour, coconut & lemon

This is a very bright yellow beer, with a very distinct hazy juicy IPA taste and feel with a powerful lemon kick to it. Not sure exactly what all the almond flour adds to it, because I don’t exactly taste almond, possibly because of how over-powering the lemon is (definitely in a good way, especially for me because I love lemon). Slight noticeable coconut but it is pretty subtle. A nice sippable beer with no ‘hop bitterness’ and really embodies the New England style IPAs that are more of the craze nowadays.

My Untappd Rating: ****.25
Global Untappd Rating: 3.81 (as of 11.30.19)

The salad came first, and everyone dug into that. The salad was massive, 5$, and as the menu said “NOT SMALL”. It definitely lived up to that. So while everyone chowed into that, I ordered my second beer which I started sipping just before our full meal came.

Beer: Visions of Yesterday
Brewery: Pizza Boy Brewing Co.
Style: Pale Ale – American
ABV: 5%
IBU: None Listed
Untappd Write-Up: (Blank)

This was a fine, well tasting, clear translucent pale ale. No frills, nothing super crazy going on. No adjuncts, no dry hopping, no late additions, nothing silly. Just a down to earth pale ale that was tasty and went perfectly with pulled pork, angus beef burger, and the green beans.

My Untappd Rating: ***.75
Global Untappd Rating: 3.60 (as of 11.30.19)

For a family of four, we got pulled pork, dozen wings, french fries, the salad, an angus beef burger, and the green beans. My daughters enjoyed trying out the numerous different BBQ sauces that were there, and they enjoyed their cream soda and root beer to drink theirs down, while I enjoyed my beers to wash my food down. The french fries were massive for a side. The wings were good with a smoked spiceyness to them even before putting on the sauces. The pulled pork was delicious. The green beans were absolutely amazing.

The food was absolutely phenomenal. I will say as a warning, for a family of four be prepared to drop a decent amount of cash. All told our meal was around the 100$ mark with the beers, the sodas, the food, and the tip. Obviously prices vary on what you order and how much, and the sodas do certainly add up as well as the beers. Most BBQ places are expensive or on the more costly side of things to begin with. And we knew this going in. This is no gripe, just a ‘heads up’ for those with larger families or those living on a budget.

The food is downright amazing though and well worth the costs. The time to receive the food took a while, but we are assuming hiccups with the increased volume of customers. The staff was amazing and downright friendly and talked with the girls and us and were very nice to us the entire time. The building was clean, the bathrooms clean, polished, the locals and regulars all friendly.

The four of us left full (belly aching full), happy, feeling good (especially me with the two beers in me) and with a ton of leftovers (which I am currently picking apart right now). We will definitely be back in the near future and most likely a lot of times after that. Official BBQ and Burgers is only about ten minutes from Hummelstown, two-three minutes from most of Rutherford, five-ten minutes from the outskirts of Harrisburg and fifteen minutes from Harrisburg itself, and fifteen minutes from Hershey and ten minutes from Linglestown. Its kind of ‘out in the middle of nowhere’ but its also an easy accessible drive from everywhere in the near area. Great secondary location for Pizza Boy, and one far closer for those in Hummelstown, Hershey, Linglestown, so this will make a great stop for many. And being so close to other breweries like Boneshire Brew Works, Newfangled Brew Works, Troegs Independent Brewing, Tattered Flag, and Iron Hill (Hershey) it can make for a nice easy stop for a nearby brewery tour. (Its about two minutes from both Newfangled Brew Works and Boneshire Brew Works).

Hopefully you all will stop in and check the place out. I highly recommend checking it out, and not just for the beer. Great food, great beer, great time. BBQ, Beer, Happy. (To go along with Pizza Boy’s other motto of “Pizza. Beer. Happy.”).

Cheers All!

-B. Kline