Harrisburg PA Beer - The Beer Thrillers https://thebeerthrillers.com Central PA beer enthusiasts and beer bloggers. Homebrewers, brewery workers, and all around beer lovers. Wed, 10 Dec 2025 02:56:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://i0.wp.com/thebeerthrillers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cropped-The-Beer-Thrillers-December-2022-Logo.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Harrisburg PA Beer - The Beer Thrillers https://thebeerthrillers.com 32 32 187558884 ZeroDay Brewing Has Just Announced Closure of Their Taproom on 3rd Street in Harrisburg https://thebeerthrillers.com/2025/12/03/zeroday-brewing-has-just-announced-closure-of-their-taproom-on-3rd-street-in-harrisburg/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=zeroday-brewing-has-just-announced-closure-of-their-taproom-on-3rd-street-in-harrisburg Thu, 04 Dec 2025 01:24:22 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=16718 ZeroDay Brewing Has Just Announced Closure of Their Taproom on 3rd Street in Harrisburg

In shocking news, just moments ago (at 8:00 PM), ZeroDay Brewing announced that they will be closing their taproom on 3rd street in Harrisburg, PA. Located at 925 N. 3rd Street, Harrisburg, PA, United States, Pennsylvania, they stated that the taproom will be closing, but their brewery production will continue, and they will still maintain their outposts at the Broad Street Market and MidTown Cinema.

ZeroDay’s Announcement – Moving Forward with Gratitude

The Announcement

Just moments ago, at 8:00 PM on December 3rd, 2025, ZeroDay Brewing posted the following on their social media accounts:

Zeroday Brewing Company has made the very difficult decision to close the Zeroday Taproom on 3rd Street. Our final day of service will be Sunday, December 28, 2025.
Our brewing facility remains fully operational, and our Outposts at the @broadstreetmarket and @midtowncinema will continue serving the craft beer you know and love.
We are incredibly grateful for the community that gathered in our Taproom, for the celebrations, collaborations, concerts, dinners, and conversations that made the space so special. Thank you to our extraordinary staff and to every guest who walked through our doors.
Zeroday began with a belief that everyone deserves a moment to pause and find their own “zeroday.” That belief continues. We look forward to welcoming you at the Broad Street Market, Midtown Cinema, and events around town — and to sharing more moments with you at the Taproom through December 28.
While this is good that they will be maintaining their outposts. It is a rough look to see them closing the main taproom. This follows on the heels of The Vegan Hunter announcing their closure (also in Harrisburg) and HiJinx Brewing announcing their closure (though looking to stay open going forward via new partnership). The end of 2025, specifically the end of December, may see more of these sorts of stories as leases and rents come up and breweries take a hard look at the profits versus losses.

For More Information on ZeroDay Brewing

The following comes via Untappd.

ZeroDay Brewing is a micro brewery from Harrisburg, PA. They have 475 unique beers and over 71,000 ratings. Their global average rating is 3.71 (as of 12.3.25). Their Untappd description reads: “Zeroday Brewing Co. is an award winning microbrewery located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania established in 2015. Taproom 925 N. 3rd Street Harrisburg Outpost at the Historic Broad Street Market 1233 N. 3rd Street Harrisburg Outpost + Hot Dog Bar at The Midtown Cinema 250 Reily St Harrisburg“.
You can follow them at these social media platforms:

 

Brewery News

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


Follow The Beer Thrillers

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

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:

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 ReviewsHike ReviewsBook ReviewsBrewery News, Brewery OpeningsBrewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – FacebookFacebook GroupTwitterInstagramYouTube, 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 also now have a SLACK channel – which acts as a hybrid chat room, message board, Reddit style; workspace and posting area for us. You can hang out with us there and chat about all kinds of things – not just beer, but “off topic” things like movies, TV, books, podcasts, hiking, sports, and more! Join us at: The Beer Thrillers on SLACK.

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 May 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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

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

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

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The Vegetable Hunter is Closing Their Doors https://thebeerthrillers.com/2025/11/28/the-vegetable-hunter-is-closing-their-doors/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-vegetable-hunter-is-closing-their-doors Sat, 29 Nov 2025 01:05:03 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=16729 The Vegetable Hunter is Closing Their Doors for the Last Time on November 29th

A beloved vegan restaurant and a craft beer brewery in Harrisburg is closing their doors after an eleven year run. Their final day will be on November 29th, 2025. Their Harrisburg location is at 614 N 2nd St, Harrisburg, PA 17101. They also have a location in Carlisle and a vendor stand in Hershey.

The Vegetable Hunter’s social media announcement

The Announcement

After 11½ years of plant-based magic, mayhem, miracles, and memories, we’re closing our doors.
We’ve seen it all- the beautiful, the hilarious, the unforgettable.
Every guest, every employee, every amazing and wonderfully weird moment has left a mark on this little vegan corner of the world.

Tomorrow, 11/29/25, is our last day.
Come through, grab a bite, tip the crew, soak in the vibe.

A new restaurant will be taking over soon, not fully vegan, but offering plenty of vegan love to keep the option open and the spirit alive.

Thank you for being part of our journey.
Stay kind. Stay wild. Stay plant-powered.
K & J
The Vegetable Hunter

The Vegetable Hunter (Instagram Post)

One of many Central PA (and national) breweries closing. The Vegetable Hunter was much more than just a craft brewery however. They were the premiere vegan restaurant in the Harrisburg, Carlisle, and Hershey areas of Central PA and received much celebrated attention for their foods, as well as their beers. They will be missed both from the brewery scene as well as from the restaurant scene. Especially in Harrisburg.

For More Information on The Vegetable Hunter

The following comes via Untappd.

The Vegetable Hunter is a nano brewery from Harrisburg, PA. They have 182 unique beers and over 4,100 ratings with a global average rating of 3.7 (as of 11.28.25). Their Untappd description reads: “Boutique brewery located in Harrisburg, PA. We handcraft each batch of beer onsite, 1 BBL at a time. It’s small batch brewing using fresh and unexpected ingredients. The beer recipes are crafted to complement the seasonal food featured in our restaurant. We utilize PA grown malts, hops, fruits, herbs and vegetables as much as possible. Our beer lineup is constantly changing, but you can always expect to see approachable, hop-forward ales and rustic row house ales (Saison, Grisette, etc.).

You can follow them at these social media platforms:

 

Brewery News

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


Follow The Beer Thrillers

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

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:

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 ReviewsHike ReviewsBook ReviewsBrewery News, Brewery OpeningsBrewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – FacebookFacebook GroupTwitterInstagramYouTube, 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 also now have a SLACK channel – which acts as a hybrid chat room, message board, Reddit style; workspace and posting area for us. You can hang out with us there and chat about all kinds of things – not just beer, but “off topic” things like movies, TV, books, podcasts, hiking, sports, and more! Join us at: The Beer Thrillers on SLACK.

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 May 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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

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

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

 

 

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Haunted Hops: Five Pennsylvania Craft Beers to Sip This Halloween https://thebeerthrillers.com/2025/10/31/haunted-hops-five-pennsylvania-craft-beers-to-sip-this-halloween/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=haunted-hops-five-pennsylvania-craft-beers-to-sip-this-halloween Fri, 31 Oct 2025 21:03:36 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=16649 Haunted Hops: Five Pennsylvania Craft Beers to Sip This Halloween

As the leaves fall and the nights grow longer, it’s time to dive into the seasonal brews that bring all the thrills of October to your glass. For fans of craft beer and the spooky season, there’s no better time to explore Pennsylvania’s haunted-hops landscape. Below are five beers brewed by PA breweries that lean into Halloween vibes—names, labels, stories and all.

Pennsylvania Halloween Themed Beers (can art is our creation, for their labels see below)


1. Master of Pumpkins (2025) — Tröegs Independent Brewing (Hershey, PA)

Master of Pumpkins by Troegs Independent Brewing

One of Pennsylvania’s most iconic fall-season beers, Master of Pumpkins returns for 2025 with all its harvest-pumpkin glory. The Hershey-based Tröegs brewers source 3,000 lbs of Pennsylvania-grown longneck pumpkins every year, roast and purée them, then brew a rich, spiced ale that leans deep into autumn.


Abram-style: Sweet caramel malt backbone, pumpkin depth, spices (cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg) and at 7.5 % ABV, hearty enough for a brisk October night.

 

2. Young Pumpkinstein — Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company (Croydon, PA)

Young Pumpkinstein

A fun twist on the pumpkin-beer tradition: Young Pumpkinstein is described as a Märzen-style lager brewed with allspice, candied ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg, finishing dry yet spiced.
Specs: 5.2 % ABV, 23 IBU.


3. Michael Meyer’s Lemon IPA — Pizza Boy Brewing Co. (Enola, PA)

Pizza Boy’s Michael Myers Lemon IPA

Here’s a wild card on the Halloween list: a lemon-hazy IPA that uses horror theme branding to good effect. According to its description:

“Brewed with predacious amounts of oat and pilsner malt, fresh meyer lemon zest and a maniacal amount of Amarillo, Mosaic and NZ Motueka hops … Notes of supernatural citrus, blood stained everything, sharp knives and inside-out William Shatner masks.”
It clocks in at 6.66 % ABV.


4. Reaper’s Revenge Blood Orange & Pomegranate Ale — Wallenpaupack Brewing Company (PA)

Reaper’s Revenge by Wallenpaupack Brewing

Lending a hint of theatricality, this beer is tied to a haunted‐attraction experience and embraces the spooky side of fall. While I couldn’t find full specs, its marketing says:

“Just in time for the Halloween season … a beer that not only captures the essence of the season but … embodies the thrilling, hair-raising experience.” (via the brewery)
This beer joins the list to highlight a more theatrical style of Halloween craft brew—bold names, fruit twist (blood orange & pomegranate), an event tie-in. Great content for a blog segment like “Not just pumpkin: Halloween beers that think outside the Jack-O-lantern.”


5. Batch No. 666 — Appalachian Brewing Company (Harrisburg area, PA)

Batch 666 by Appalachian Brewing Company

Bringing classic Halloween flair: devilish name, dark-bronze hue, and a clear “in the spirit of Halloween” tagline. The brewery describes it as:

“Produced with 1,666 lbs of malt along with three 6 lb hop additions. The result is a dark bronze colored brew with tons of flavor, and a delightfully clean finish! Be careful, this one can sneak up on you and take you to the dark side. We’re sorry, the devil made us do it!”
Vintage/specs: Strong Ale / American style, 7.7 % ABV.

Other Fall Lists

Check out our other fall lists:

Follow The Beer Thrillers

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

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:

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 ReviewsHike ReviewsBook ReviewsBrewery News, Brewery OpeningsBrewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – FacebookFacebook GroupTwitterInstagramYouTube, 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 also now have a SLACK channel – which acts as a hybrid chat room, message board, Reddit style; workspace and posting area for us. You can hang out with us there and chat about all kinds of things – not just beer, but “off topic” things like movies, TV, books, podcasts, hiking, sports, and more! Join us at: The Beer Thrillers on SLACK.

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 May 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rails & Ales: Brewery Train Adventures Near Harrisburg and Hershey https://thebeerthrillers.com/2025/04/02/rails-ales-brewery-train-adventures-near-harrisburg-and-hershey/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rails-ales-brewery-train-adventures-near-harrisburg-and-hershey Thu, 03 Apr 2025 01:42:28 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=16732 Rails & Ales: Brewery Train Adventures Near Harrisburg and Hershey

Craft beer and railroads share an unlikely bond: both were born from industrial grit, designed to bring people together, and perfected by those obsessed with precision. For beer lovers in the Harrisburg–Hershey region, that connection is no longer just metaphorical. Within a few hours of Central Pennsylvania, several historic railroads and scenic train lines now offer beer-focused excursions or sit within easy reach of excellent breweries.

If you’ve ever wanted to swap a brewery crawl for a train whistle and a pint, here’s your guide.

Rails and Ales – A Great Way to Travel and See New Breweries


New Hope Railroad’s “Brew Hope Express” (New Hope, PA)

About two hours from Hershey, the New Hope Railroad offers one of the most beer-centric rail experiences in Pennsylvania: the Brew Hope Express. This vintage excursion pairs a nostalgic train ride through Bucks County with onboard beer tastings and light charcuterie.

Expect scenic countryside views, smooth pours of rotating craft beers, and a relaxed, almost European beer-train atmosphere. It’s ideal for a low-stress day trip — short, focused, and built specifically for craft beer fans.

Why it works from Central PA:
It’s a straightforward drive and one of the most polished “beer train” experiences in the state.


Stourbridge Line + Runaway Train Brewery (Honesdale, PA)

If you want something more immersive, head northeast to Honesdale, where the Stourbridge Line teams up with Runaway Train Brewery for a full rail-and-brewery adventure.

This experience typically includes:

  • A scenic vintage train ride along the Lackawaxen River

  • Beer samples served onboard

  • A guided brewery tour once you return to town

  • A sit-down meal at the brewery

This feels less like a novelty and more like a craft beer event built around history, scenery, and production. It’s also one of the most complete “rail + beer” combinations within reach of Hershey.


East Broad Top Railroad’s “Broad Top Brews” (Central PA)

The most “local pride” option for Central PA drinkers is the East Broad Top Railroad near Rockhill Furnace. This narrow-gauge historic railroad runs a special Broad Top Brews train that turns a heritage steam-era ride into a rolling beer festival.

You’ll sample beers from regional breweries, ride through wooded ridges and farmland, and return to a festival-style environment with live music and food vendors.

For residents of Harrisburg and Hershey, this feels like a home-region event rather than a long-distance destination.


How to Build Your Own “Rail & Ale” Weekend from Central PA

Even without official beer trains, you can easily create your own brewery-and-rail adventure using commuter or regional rail lines.

From the Harrisburg–Hershey area, a good strategy is:

Drive to a station → Ride a scenic or regional train → Walk or rideshare to a brewery → Repeat.

Philadelphia and its suburbs are especially rich with breweries within short distances of stations. You can turn a simple regional rail trip into a personalized brewery crawl without worrying about city parking or long drives between stops.


Why This Works So Well for Central PA Beer Fans

The Harrisburg–Hershey area sits in an underrated sweet spot:

You’re close to:

  • Historic narrow-gauge railroads

  • Scenic mountain lines

  • Multiple day-trip brewery towns

  • And a surprising number of rail-based beer events

You don’t need to fly. You don’t need a big budget. You just need a free Saturday, an appreciation for good malt, and a willingness to let someone else drive the train.


Final Pour: Are Beer Trains Worth It?

If your idea of a perfect beer experience includes:

  • Real pints instead of sample-fest chaos

  • A slow pace

  • Scenic views

  • And actual conversation without brewery-crawl exhaustion…

Then brewery trains might be one of the most underrated beer experiences in the Mid-Atlantic.

For Harrisburg and Hershey drinkers, they’re not just accessible — they’re practically in your backyard.

Follow The Beer Thrillers

For more updates on Pennsylvania brewery news, closures, openings, and expansions, follow The Beer Thrillers on social media and subscribe for the latest articles on the state’s ever-evolving craft beer scene. Search for us on all of your favorite social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky, etc.) – search “THE BEER THRILLERS”.Thanksg

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

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

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

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

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

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

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