Harrisburg Beer Week - The Beer Thrillers

Seven Harrisburg – Hershey Area Breweries Come Together to Bring Back the 717 Collaboration Beer

B. Kline — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 23:36:09 +0000

Seven Harrisburg – Hershey Area Breweries Come Together to Bring Back the 717 Collaboration Beer

(The following is a press release.)

Tröegs Independent Brewing announces the return of 717 Collaboration Beer, a joint endeavor among the Hershey-based brewery and six other popular local breweries.

717 Collaboration Team Up Photo (showcasing all of the people who worked on the 717 beer) (photo courtesy of Troegs Independent Brewing)

A collaborative effort between Appalachian Brewing, Boneshire Brew Works, Ever Grain Brewing, Pizza Boy Brewing, Wolf Brewing, Zeroday Brewing, and Troegs Independent Brewing, the beer serves as a reminder of the camaraderie that exists among breweries thanks to the thriving craft beer industry in Central Pennsylvania.

Some of the brightest ideas have been developed among sharing stories and laughs with friends over beer. Whether we’re Central PA natives or transplants, we’ve all come together in the 717 with one common goal – to brew great beer and cultivate great friendships.

– John Trogner, Co-founder of Troegs Independent Brewing, and head brewmaster for the 29 year old Central PA brewery – which opened in Harrisburg and then later moved to Hershey

The Resurrection of the 717 Collaboration Beer

As you can see from the team up photo above, the beer was created by Troegs Brewing, Appalachian Brewing, Boneshire Brew Works, Ever Grain Brewing, Pizza Boy Brewing, Wolf Brewing, ZeroDay Brewing, and YAH Brew, created at the ZeroDay Brewing facility. Also in the picture includes various people from other breweries like Hemauer Brewing, YAH Brew, and helpers such as the Harris Family brewers, and more.

The 717 Collaboration label (photo courtesy of Troegs Independent Brewing, as seen on Untappd and the various websites and social medias of the breweries involved)

Brewed at Zeroday’s brewing facility in Harrisburg, the West Coast-style Pilsner weighs in at 6.3% ABV and highlights Mosaic, Nelson Sauvin, and Solero hops. The beer combines the light, malty and crisp attributes of a pilsner with the hop-forward aroma and dry bitterness of a West Coast-style IPA.

Collaboration brews are always fun. When you put seven breweries in the same place to come up with a recipe, you’re going to generate awesome conversation and ultimately come up with a great beer. It’s proof that beer brings people together, and this collaboration is a reminder of that spirit.

-Hannah Ison, Director of Brewing Operations at Zeroday

Distribution

All seven participating breweries will unveil the 717 Collaboration Beer on Thursday, July 17. The limited beer will be available exclusively on tap at each brewery’s tap room.

(Note: This is a press release. This beer’s release also comes on the heels of Appalachian Brewing Company announcing the closing of their Harrisburg Brewpub.)

Troegs Related Articles

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

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Appalachian Brewing Company: End of an Era for Harrisburg’s Flagship Brewpub

B. Kline — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:03:03 +0000

Appalachian Brewing Company: End of an Era for Harrisburg’s Flagship Brewpub

Appalachian Brewing Company (Harrisburg)

Celebrating 28 Years of Craft Beer History

The Appalachian Brewing Company (ABC), a pioneer in central Pennsylvania’s craft beer scene, officially announced the closure of its original Harrisburg brewpub after 28 years of operation. Situated in the heart of Harrisburg, this flagship location was more than a local staple—it was the region’s first brewery since 1951 and a driving force behind the city’s revitalization and craft beer renaissance.

Landmark Brewery Roots

Founded in 1997, the Harrisburg brewpub occupied a stunning, historic three-story structure built circa 1915, with deep beer heritage and original lagering rooms dating back to 1890. The brewery’s brick walls and exposed timber beams provided the perfect backdrop for ABC’s mission: to blend innovative craft brewing with a warm, inviting dining experience.

Appalachian Brewing Company’s Harrisburg Legacy

Appalachian Brewing Company (ABC) made history when it was founded in 1997, becoming the first brewery to operate in Harrisburg since 1951. Its flagship brewpub was housed in a massive three-story brick and timber building, originally built around 1915, with a lagering room dating back to 1890. Restoring this space from an abandoned warehouse to a vibrant hub for beer, food, and community events was a monumental labor of love that took nearly two years. The renovation not only revived a piece of Harrisburg’s industrial history but also marked ABC as a pioneer in the region’s craft beer renaissance.

From its opening, ABC became a central point for social life in downtown Harrisburg, offering brewery tours, live music at the Abbey Bar, rooftop dining with views of the city, and a menu that paired scratch-made, locally sourced food with its lineup of ales, lagers, and craft sodas. As the company grew, the Harrisburg location remained its largest and most iconic site, brewing flagship beers like Mountain Lager and Hoppy Trails IPA for distribution throughout the mid-Atlantic. ABC’s bold move brought brewing back to the state capital, fostering a renewed appreciation for local beer culture and solidifying its place as an anchor in Harrisburg’s identity.

Jack Sproch, co-founder and longtime owner of Appalachian Brewing Company, is recognized as a visionary in Pennsylvania’s craft beer community. As both brewer and business leader, Sproch—alongside his founding partners Shawn Gallagher and Artie Tafoya—helped revive Harrisburg’s brewing tradition in 1997 by launching ABC in a historic warehouse. Under his stewardship, the company grew from a single brewpub into a respected regional brand known for consistent, innovative beers, quality craft sodas, and a genuine commitment to community and hospitality.

Why Did ABC Harrisburg Close?

After nearly three decades, the Harrisburg location is shutting its doors due to shifting market dynamics and increased competition. The company cited evolving consumer patterns and a saturated craft beer landscape as primary reasons for retiring this legendary location—reminding us that even icons must adapt to changing tastes and economic realities.

For twenty eight years ABC was a Harrisburg craft beer anchor, Appalachian Brewing Company’s flagship brewpub closed its doors largely due to changes in the market landscape. The company cited evolving consumer patterns and a saturated craft beer market as the key drivers. Over the past several years, competition in the Central Pennsylvania craft beer scene has increased significantly, with new breweries emerging not just locally but also across the state and nation. This has led to more options for consumers and put substantial pressure on even the most established brewpubs to continually adapt and stand out.

Additionally, there has been a broader national trend of softened demand for beer—shipments and consumption have both declined, reflecting shifts in consumer preferences and economic pressures. The popularity of alternative beverages like hard seltzers and spirits, alongside continued cautious spending, has challenged traditional breweries. These headwinds resulted in the difficult decision to retire their Harrisburg location, even as ABC continues to operate and innovate at its other sites.

By acknowledging these challenges, Appalachian Brewing Company aims to focus on its remaining locations while adapting its operations to thrive in a rapidly changing craft beer landscape.

Appalachian Brewing Company’s Brewing Will Continue

The company will continue brewing operations at the complex and The Abbey Bar will remain open for events. They will continue their normal brewing operations out of the Appalachian Brewing Company’s location, primarily still for distribution, for The Abbey Bar, and for their other locations.

This comes also with the news of the returning 717 Collaboration Beer releasing soon. (See here: 717 Collaboration Beer Returns.)

Appalachian Brewing Company: More Than Just a Brewpub

While the Harrisburg closure marks the end of an era, ABC’s legacy lives on. Here’s what every craft beer enthusiast should know:

ABC’s Multi-Location Footprint

Other Brewpubs: ABC operates locations in Mechanicsburg, Gettysburg (two spots), Lititz, and Shippensburg, each with their own unique beer programs and inventive kitchens
Production & Distribution: ABC’s reach extends across the mid-Atlantic, distributing flagship beers, seasonal specialties, and small-batch brews to bars, restaurants, and retailers throughout the region
Annual Production: The company boasts an annual output of 15,000 US beer barrels, making it one of Pennsylvania’s largest independent craft breweries

Standout Beers & Craft Offerings

ABC’s taplists have always featured a diverse lineup:

Flagship Brews	Seasonal/Rotating
Aero-Head Bock	Zoigl Star Lager (unfiltered)
Trail Blaze Maple Brown Ale	Celtic Knot Irish Red Ale
Chocolate Avenue Stout	Anniversary Maibock
Mountain Lager (Dortmunder Export)	Mad Cameron Belgian Wit
Hoppy Trails IPA	Fresh Hop Pale Ale
Outta Focus Double IPA	Rutty Buck Pumpkin Ale
Jolly Scot Scottish Style Ale	Batch No. 666 Halloween Beer
Water Gap Wheat Ale	Grinnin’ Grizzly Holiday Spiced Ale
	Pennypacker Porter

Award-Winning Craft Sodas: Beyond beer, ABC became famous for craft sodas—such as Root Beer, White Birch Beer, and Ginger Beer—brewed with natural ingredients
Small-Batch Spirits: The Mechanicsburg location now features a Spirits store, with ABC’s own bourbon, gin, rum, and vodka (including lemon, orange, and vanilla flavors)

The Abbey Bar: Harrisburg’s Iconic Venue

Above the Harrisburg brewhouse, The Abbey Bar will be remembered as a vibrant center for live music and special events. Locals and visitors alike enjoyed a unique combination of craft beer culture and entertainment in this celebrated space.

The Future of Appalachian Brewing Company

Appalachian Brewing Company is committed to continuing its tradition at its remaining locations, with new brews, creative menus, brewery tours, and events that foster the spirit of independent brewing

. While the Harrisburg brewpub’s closure will be felt by many, ABC’s impact on Pennsylvania’s craft beer evolution endures—and you can still sip your favorites at locations across the state.

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For up-to-date taplists, brewpub events, and info on ABC’s remaining locations, visit their website or stop by a neighboring Appalachian Brewing Companyny taproom.

See Other Appalachian Brewing Company Articles

Looking to read more about Appalachian Brewing Company? You can check out these articles we’ve written:

For More Information on Appalachian Brewing Company

The following comes from Untappd. Appalachian Brewing Company is a micro brewery out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. They have 149 unique beers and over 218,000 ratings, with a global average rating of 3.56 (as of 7.15.25). Their Untappd description is blank.

You can find them on the following social media pages:

Brewery News

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Prototype Brewery Invitational

B. Kline — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 23:17:00 +0000

Prototype Brewery Invitational – 4.30.22

A Brewfest Two Years in the Making

In a lot of ways, this is a brewfest two years in the making. Its also kind of a brewfest filling a void that got left open two years ago.

See, there was this little thing called… “covid” or as we knew it better then – “coronavirus” two years ago, and that pretty much put a lockdown on everything in the brewery industry. As a result, the Prototype Brewery Invitational in 2020 got put on hold, hiatus, seemingly cancelled, until now. Also as a result of that (as part of many factors), the Harrisburg Beer Week also came to a close.

So now we fast forward to 2022, and in one week we are finally getting the long awaited Prototype Brewery Invitational.

Prototype Brewery and Meadery

The Prototype Brewery and Meadery has been in ‘start up’ mode for two (two plus) years now. Partly the love and brain child of Kevin Keller (also the event organizer for this), of Evil Genius credit and fame. The brewfest is partly celebration of all their friends that they are hoping to do collaborations in the future with (and ones Kevin has done work with in the past) and sort of a kick off to whenever they finally open. (No date yet.)

Prototype Brewery and Meadery has been pouring at events for a bit of time now, most notably was recently at the Cushwa 5th Anniversary. Kevin Keller is good people, and I love the idea of both a brewery and meadery in one, so I am eagerly awaiting their opening.

The Brewfest

List of Breweries for the Brewfest

This is absolutely looking like a killer brewfest lineup! Check out this lineup from their ticket page:

Abomination Brewing Company

Against the Grain Brewery

Aslin Beer Company

Beat Street Beer Project

Boneshire Brew Works

Bottle Logic Brewing

Burnish Beer Co.

Cellar Works Brewing

Chatty Monks Brewing

Cinderlands Beer Co

Civil Society Brewing

Collusion Tap Works

Cushwa Brewing Company

Dancing Gnome Beer

Dewey Beer Company

Dream State Brewing

Ever Grain Brewing Co.

Fourscore Beer Co.

Funguys Brewing

Great Notion Brewing

Grist House

Hidden River Brewing Company

Hidden Springs Ale Works

Hitchhiker Brewing

Imprint Beer Company

Ingenious Brewing Company

Lovedraft’s Brewing Co.

Narrow Gauge Brewing Company

New Trail Brewing Company

North Country Brewing Company

Ology Brewing Company

Other Half Brewing Company

Pilger Ruh Brewing

Rotunda Brewing Company

Short Throw Brewing Co.

Species X Beer Project

Tripping Animals Brewing Co.

Vitamin Sea Brewing

Wolf Brewing Co.

Yah Brew

That is a killer lineup! Other Half, Tripping Animals, Vitamin Sea, Ology, Great Notion, Civil Society, Grist House, Hitchhiker, Bottle Logic, Aslin, Cushwa, Fourscore, Dewey, Against the Grain…. …..some absolute amazing breweries.

Me and my buddy Drew have our tickets, and we got the VIP tickets to be in an extra hour. (I fully suggest going this route if any are available.)

Tickets

Tickets for the brewfest come in three types:

DD (15$)
General Admission (1PM – 4PM) (55$)
VIP (12PM – 4PM) (75$)

Additional information on each:

General Admission: GA will grant you access to samples from over 40 breweries from around the nation from 1-4pm. I’m addition, there will be live music, food vendors and plenty of brewery swag (While supplies last). A special edition tasting glass will be included in this package.
VIP: Early Entry tickets will grant you access to the sampling, music, food vendors and brewery swag an hour early from 12-4p. Select breweries will have limited beers that will be available exclusively during this hour. Have a certain brewery you absolutely need to sample beer from? Here is your opportunity!

Location

The brewfest will be at the Zembo Shrine in Harrisburg. This is a great venue for brewfests. Harrisburg Beer Week has done their Little Big Beer Fest there in the past, and other events have been there before. Its a lovely venue. Parking isn’t horrible, but its not the best. I obviously highly highly highly highly recommend Uber or Lyft or getting dropped off, but if you do have a DD, there should be enough parking.

Some general rules and FAQ:

– Each ticket is permitted one entry.

– Must be 21+ to consume alcohol. Must have valid proof of ID.

– Must 21+ to attend

– No ticket or event wristband sharing is allowed.

– We ask that you please do not arrive before 11am

– No backpack or large bags allowed in venue

– No Pets allowed

– No refunds on any ticket sales

– Event is rain or shine

– Tickets are not transferable

– Parking Information TBA

To get your tickets you can go to their Eventbrite page here: Prototype Brewery Invitational – Tickets.

They have hinted that in the upcoming days before the brewfest that they will be posting a beer tap list for each brewery. Can’t wait to see what these amazing breweries will be pouring!

(Post notice: I just saw that their ticket page list of breweries isn’t inclusive of some of the later additions, or they just missed putting some on it. But the logo pictures I have at the top of the heading show all of the 46 breweries that will be there. Some more notable breweries are Heist Brewing, Human Robot, and Hop Butcher!)

For More Information

For more information on the brewfest and to stay connected, check out the following pages:

Thanks For Reading

Are you going to the brewfest? If so what breweries are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments! I think I’m gonna be wearing my Mandalorian RAR shirt, so see if you can find me and we can clink some glasses together.

Cheers all!

-B. Kline

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Boneshire Brew Works is Expanding into Harrisburg with a Second Tap Room

BKline — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 14:48:07 +0000

Boneshire Brew Works

Boneshire Brew Works is moving into Harrisburg. While always been a part of the Harrisburg beer scene, their physical tap room and brewery has been kind of on the periphery and outskirts of Harrisburg proper. The brewery itself is located on Derry Street next to the 717 Armory and Blue Smoke BBQ food truck, as part of a small outlet mall that includes Marino’s Pizza, Signal 5 Crossfit, and Everest Spice. The address being: Boneshire Brew Works, 7462 Derry St, Harrisburg, PA 17111.

But now, they are moving into the city proper. The city that they’ve helped and worked on so much through events like Harrisburg Beer Week and sip @ soma and 3rd in the Burg, and other great events like brewfests and Beers and Bacon. The city that has loved and embraced Boneshire Brew Works so much, is now fully accepting them into the capital itself.

As reported yesterday – Monday July 13th 2020 – on The Burg’s website, as well as on our Facebook page, and then later on PennLive and with an interview Alan Miller did with Breweries in PA – Boneshire Brew Works will be setting up a taproom on 3rd Street in Harrisburg.

Boneshire Brew Works beer line up. English Curse, Green Machine, Devil’s Burden, Tried and True, and Dark of the Forest.

As quoted from The Burg’s press release on the brewery’s expansion: “On Monday, Harristown Enterprises announced that Boneshire would open a tasting room in the SoMa neighborhood on S. 3^rd Street in space that had been the location of Sip@SoMa.

‘We are a small brewery that focuses on providing an opportunity for community gathering, and we think Boneshire and SoMa are a perfect fit,’ said Alan Miller, majority owner of Boneshire, which is based in Swatara Township.

In early 2019, Harristown opened the snug, 25-seat Sip@SoMa in a first-floor storefront as an interim measure until it could attract a brewery to the location. Since then, breweries from around PA have used the 12-tap system to serve their beer on a visiting, rotating basis, often in conjunction with 3^rd in the Burg, though the COVID-19 pandemic has put a halt to that undertaking.”

SoMa at night, Harrisburg Life

Harrisburg is a vibrant and large city with a diverse culture and many tourist opportunities and attractions. The capital of Pennsylvania, it sees many people coming from all over to visit annually. Located along the Susquehanna and near towns of Hershey and Hummelstown, it provides a lot of entertainment options for visitors. From museums to the waterfront, from bars to restaurants all over the city, there is much to see, eat, drink, and do in Harrisburg. Harrisburg currently has a few other craft breweries – ZeroDay Brewing and The Millworks are the two largest, but there is also a small craft brewery in the vegan restaurant – The Vegetable Hunter.

The sip @ soma location has been a prime target for craft beer and has been a vital part of the craft beer scene in the Harrisburg area. Sara Bozich, a regular planner, and part of the creation of Harrisburg Beer Week regularly (well, regularly pre-COVID-19) hosted ‘block parties’ there, offering a variety of craft breweries and craft beer – but one staple that typically was well represented at the block parties was Alan Miller’s Boneshire Brew Works.

sip @ soma storefront, photo courtesy of The Burg website.

According to Harristown Enterprises: “Boneshire expects to open its SoMa tasting room in spring 2021. It also will continue operating from its main location on Derry Street outside of Hummelstown.

‘Having a dynamic, local craft brewer like Boneshire take over the space is exactly what we’re looking for in the neighborhood,’ said Brad Jones, Harristown’s president and CEO.”

Alan Miller is very enthusiastic for the growth. As well as he should be. Expansion is the key to much of the craft beer scene. Growing, maintaining quality, growing, maintaining quality, is the key to success. You can look at other local breweries like Troegs Independent Craft Brewing or Tattered Flag Brewery and Distillery, and see how their growth has led to more growth. Troegs Brewing originally started in Harrisburg on Paxtang Street and has since moved to Hershey, just outside of HersheyPark on HersheyPark Road, growing to become one of the largest producers of beer in Pennsylvania (behind Yuengling Brewing and Yards Brewing). Likewise, Tattered Flag Brewery and Distillery has grown to several additional locations – Gettysburg, as well as the old Hershey Biergarten and soon to Lancaster. Growth can be difficult for some breweries, and there is usually a small bit of a ‘adjustment period’. Breweries like Rotunda Brewing Company expanded in recent history from a small little bottle shop and near home-brewery size equipment, to a 7 Barrel System, as well as opening a second brew pub in Hershey. There was a small window of time for them that was an ‘adjustment period’, but after that small blip and bump, they’ve maintained that quality they were known for before hand, and now providing it on a bigger scale, and to more people – which is ultimately the goal of all craft breweries and craft brewers. Alan being no exception to that.

Alan is an extremely smart brewer and knows what he is doing. I, personally, think he will have no difficulty with the adjustment and addition of the new taproom, due to open in Spring 2021. The new tap room won’t be adding any additional brewing size capacity to Boneshire Brew Works, but will be providing a second location to have their beers on tap. This will likely mean a quicker turn-over for their production though, so Alan will probably have to spend more time brewing to meet the demands of two locations as well as wherever else their kegs are shipped, and if they further their market by moving cans into beer distributors.

From The Burg’s press release, Alan had to say: “We love the feel and vibe of the SoMa area in Harrisburg, and we have been involved in the SoMa block party since day one and are excited to have a permanent place in the neighborhood.”

This is certainly an interesting time for brewers, not just in Pennsylvania, but the world over, as the coronavirus – COVID-19 is still working its way through the human population. A difficult time for brewers with a lot of uncertainties. Hemauer Brewing recently opened their doors during the pandemic, and Wolf Brewing Co, has had their opening pushed back a bit due to the pandemic as well. Likewise, Rubber Soul Brewing in Hummelstown which was due to open back in late May / early June, still has yet to open, and is looking to open tentatively late July / early August.

The tap room is typically described as ‘intimate’. Its small, and cozy, relaxed, ‘intimate’, but will feature a vibrant tap list. The seating is only 25, which is rather small, but will work well for Boneshire Brew Works. The current tap system has 12 taps, and will thus be able to cover the full spread of Boneshire Brew Works’ beer menu, as well as possibly other ‘guest taps’ if they so choose to do. (As per their licensing, Boneshire Brew Works can have guest taps for craft beer from any Pennsylvania brewery.)

The map and distance from Boneshire Brew Works brewery to their new taproom location in Harrisburg.

The current location for Boneshire Brew Works (their brewery) is 7462 Derry Street Harrisburg PA. The tap room’s location will be 13 South 3rd Street Harrisburg PA.

Boneshire Brew Works

For additional information, you can check out these sources:

For more articles from The Beer Thrillers on Boneshire Brew Works, check out:

Brewery Openings and Expansions:

Definitely excited for the opening of this tap room. It will be great for the residents of Harrisburg, it also shows off the hard work Alan Miller and his co-owners / partners have been putting into Boneshire Brew Works, it will also be great for the craft beer scene in Harrisburg to feature another great craft brewery, and will be great for craft beer enthusiasts in Harrisburg; as well as be great for Boneshire Brew Works. Hopefully soon, in Spring 2021 I will be sitting and having a drink (or two, or three) with some of you at the new Boneshire Brew Works taproom!

Until then – cheers everyone!

-B. Kline

Boneshire Brew Works