Starting this weekend, Lakefront Brewery welcomes some of the best local musicians for stripped-down performances on their perfectly-suited patio space.

Current Sounds

It’s been 3 years since Lakefront completed work on their award-winning patio renovation and they’re excited to continue to find ways to celebrate it. Current Sounds is a brand new music series that will feature unique performances from musical artists ready to pull back the curtain and provide a special experience for Lakefront’s patio guests.

“There is a wide variety of eclectic musicians that we’re lucky to have”, says Sean Anderson, local musician and Lakefront Brewery tour guide who handles all music booking for the brewery. “It was fun to offer such a serene and special spot for the artists to get creative and in some cases, push the boundaries of the shows they’re used to playing”.

Current Sounds is free to attend and will occur every Saturday from 2pm to 4pm starting this Saturday May 24^th through August 30^th, with two special Sunday performances: this weekend ahead of Memorial Day, and Labor Day weekend. Friday performances will be from 3pm to 5pm and begin on June 13^th. All Friday performances are a part of It’s Alive presented by the Milwaukee Theater District.

Grab some award-winning beer, a basket of their famous cheese curds, relax along the river, and take in the Current Sounds.

PERFORMING THIS SUMMER

5/24 | Social Cig

5/25 | Pete Dangit

5/31 | Caley Conway

6/7 | Tommy Odetto

6/13 | Emmitt James
6/14 | Max & The Fellow Travelers

6/20 | ADORNER

6/21 | Genevieve Heyward

6/27 | Cullah

6/28 | Jack Tell

7/5 | JL Russell

7/11 | Blacktop

7/12 | Belle Weather

7/19 | Hanna Simone

7/25 | Micah Emrich

7/26 | Maximiano

8/2 | Happy Shotski Polka

8/9 | Jack Eyke

8/15 | Wildered

8/16 | Chris Haise

8/23 | Christian Cocroft

8/30 | Tail Light Rebellion

8/31 | Peter Thomas

To learn more about visiting Lakefront Brewery, head to their website at lakefrontbrewery.com. Additional Friday acts and any schedule adjustments will be found there.

For More Information on Lakefront Brewery

Lakefront Brewery, Inc. distributes its products to over 30 states, Ukraine, Canada, Sweden, and Denmark. Lakefront Brewery is the first brewery in Wisconsin and 22nd brewery in the world to be certified as a B Corporation. Lakefront Brewery also produced the first beer in the United States made from 100% in-state-grown ingredients, including a first-of-its-kind, indigenous Wisconsin yeast strain (Wisconsinite Summer Weiss), the first certified organic brewery and the first gluten-free beer granted approval by the U.S. Government (New Grist).
For more information, visit http://www.lakefrontbrewery.com

Other Lakefront Brewery Articles

• LAKEFRONT BREWERY NOW OFFICIALLY OWNS KENOSHA’S PUBLIC BREWING
• LAKEFRONT BREWERY TO HOST MAJOR INDEPENDENT WRESTLING EVENT – Brawl in the Beer Hall
• LAKEFRONT BREWERY PARTNERS WITH RIVERWEST ELEMENTARY TO RAISE IMPORTANT FUNDS FOR THEIR STUDENTS
• LAKEFRONT BREWERY WELCOMES PUPPIES TO THEIR PATIO FOR A JR’S PUPS-N-STUFF SUPPLY DRIVE
• LAKEFRONT SUPPORTS SUICIDE PREVENTION WITH A BEER AND AN EVENT
• LAKEFRONT BREWERY INCHES TOWARD AUTUMN WITH THEIR 4TH ANNUAL FALL FEST OF ALE
• LAKEFRONT RELEASES LATEST BREWERS’ RESERVE: IMPERIAL PUMPKIN ALE
• LAKEFRONT BREWERY PREPARES TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL CHEESE CURD DAY, HOLDS A CHEESE CURD PULL COMPETITION
• LAKEFRONT BREWERY UNVEILS THEIR 2024 LINEUP OF BLACK FRIDAY BEERS FOR YEAR 14
• PRIVATE DINING ON THE RIVERWALK IS BACK, BOOK YOUR HOP HOUSE AT LAKEFRONT BREWERY
• LAKEFRONT BREWERY WELCOMES LOCAL SWEDISH COMMUNITY FOR NEW YEARS EVE EVENT
• LAKEFRONT BREWERY HITS DOUBLE DIGITS WITH THEIR BEER HALL EXCLUSIVE BREWERS’ RESERVE RELEASES
• AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF LOVE AT LAKEFRONT BREWERY FOR VALENTINE’S DAY
• MILWAUKEE DIAPER MISSION IS BACK AT LAKEFRONT BREWERY, LOOKING TO PILE THE DIAPERS EVEN HIGHER
• LAKEFRONT BREWERY SET TO RELEASE CANS OF QUEEN BEAN, THEIR 5TH ANNUAL PINK BOOTS COLLABORATION BREW
• LAKEFRONT BREWERY AND HOFBRÄU MÜNCHEN UNITE FOR “BRÄU BUDDIES,” A LANDMARK COLLABORATION FOR BOTH BREWERIES
• LAKEFRONT BREWERY HOSTS 3RD ANNUAL PERIOD SUPPLY DRIVE, PARTNERING WITH MILWAUKEE DIAPER MISSION ON THEIR 7TH DONATION EVENT TOGETHER
• LAKEFRONT BREWERY ANNOUNCES EXPANDED OFF-SITE FOOD OFFERING, CURDS À LA CARTE
• LAKEFRONT BREWERY’S RIVERWEST STEIN GOES RETRO, READY TO PARTY LIKE IT’S 1987
• LAKEFRONT BREWERY ANNOUNCES DATE FOR 4TH ANNUAL GLUTEN-FREE MAIFEST, EMBRACING A FOCUS ON GLUTEN-FREE FOOD
• A NEW INTIMATE CONCERT SERIES, CURRENT SOUNDS, IS COMING TO LAKEFRONT BREWERY FOR PATIO SEASON

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

• MAPS OF BREWERIES

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The craft beer landscape of Central Pennsylvania is about to lose a beloved player. Iron Lion Brewery, nestled in the heart of Penn Township at the Markets at Hanover, has announced its impending closure on December 7, 2024. This news strikes a somber chord for local beer enthusiasts and music lovers alike.

Iron Lion’s journey began in 2021 as the Public House at the Markets, evolving into Iron Lion Brewery in late 2023. In its short but impactful run, the brewery has become a cornerstone of the Hanover community, blending the art of brewing with the soul of live music.

The Iron Lion Brewery Bar (photo courtesy of Iron Lion Brewery)

More Than Just a Brewery

Iron Lion wasn’t just about the suds; it was a cultural hub. The venue’s indoor stage has been a platform for local talent, hosting over 14 musical events in November alone. These performances, many free to attend, have been the backdrop to countless memories made over pints of craft beer.

The Final Countdown

As the clock ticks towards December 7, Iron Lion urges patrons to use any outstanding gift cards, including those from its Public House days. It’s a last call that beer aficionados won’t want to miss.

A Hopeful Horizon

While the brewery’s closure is imminent, the spirit of Iron Lion may live on. The owners have hinted at future partnerships to continue supporting live music in Hanover. This glimmer of hope suggests that while one chapter is ending, another may be brewing.

The Bigger Picture

Iron Lion’s closure is a stark reminder of the challenges facing craft breweries in Central PA. As we’ve seen with recent closures like Aurochs Brewing Company in Emsworth and Mad Princes Brewing in Doylestown, the craft beer industry is as volatile as it is vibrant.

Parting Thoughts

To the Iron Lion family: your contribution to Hanover’s craft beer scene and music community has been immeasurable. As you pour your final pints, know that your legacy will ferment in the memories of those you’ve served.

For craft beer lovers in Central PA, this is a call to arms. Support your local breweries, savor every sip, and remember that behind every pint is a story of passion, community, and craftsmanship. The craft beer scene in our region is rich and diverse, from the storied halls of Tröegs in Hershey to the innovative tanks of Axemann in Bellefonte. Let’s raise a glass to Iron Lion and to the future of craft beer in Central Pennsylvania.

Cheers, and may your glasses always be half full.

More Information on Iron Lion Brewery

The following comes via Untappd.

As of November 9th, 2024, Iron Lion Brewery is listed on Untappd as Iron Lion Brewing LLC, and is a brewpub in Hanover, PA. They have 6 unique beers and just 90 ratings, with a global average rating of 3.74 (as of 11.9.24). Their Untappd description is blank.

You can follow them at these social media platforms:

• Iron Lion Brewery – Official Website
• Iron Lion Brewery – Facebook
• Iron Lion Brewery – Instagram
• Iron Lion Brewery –B

Big things are brewing (and distilling) over at Broken Goblet Brewing in Bensalem! If you’re a local craft beer fan, you’ve probably already sipped a pint or two at this beloved spot, but now there’s a whole new reason to visit: The Mixing Room – a brand-new distillery and taproom.

Broken Goblet, in collaboration with the Mutual Respect Brewery Collective (a name that screams local camaraderie), has truly upped the ante. They’ve transformed a once-abandoned space into something special: a 6,000-square-foot hub that’s part distillery, part taproom, and soon-to-be kitchen. And yes, it’s right next door to the original brewery.

Broken Goblet Mixing Room (photo courtesy of Broken Goblet)

A Bit of Background: From Dormant to Delightful

The space originally had a different future in mind. It was meant to house Key Spirits and a pizza restaurant until the pandemic threw a wrench in those plans. The property sat empty for years until Broken Goblet stepped in with their vision. Now, thanks to their hard work, The Mixing Room is alive, thriving, and serving up something for everyone.

This new space is part of the growing Mutual Respect Brewery Collective, which includes:

• Broken Goblet Brewing
• Trauger Brewing
• Lucky Cat Brewing Company
• CaféDilla
• And a soon-to-be-revealed distilling brand (yes, the suspense is real!).

Inside The Mixing Room: Inviting and Intimate

Everything is made with Mutual Respect at Broken Goblet (photo courtesy of Broken Goblet)

So, what can you expect when you walk into The Mixing Room? Think cozy and chill vibes. The taproom offers a mix of seating options:

• Low tables for laid-back hangs
• High-tops for a group night out
• Lounge couches for maximum comfort

With seating for about 75 people and a bar that fits 10, the space is designed to feel personal and relaxing. Whether you want to enjoy a beer in peace or catch up with friends away from the usual buzz of the main venue, this is your spot. As co-owner Mike Sweeney puts it, “This was an answer to the questions, ‘Where do we go to get away from the noise?’ and ‘What if we just want to visit for a beer?’”

Beer, Spirits, and Seriously Good Cocktails

Craft beer lovers, don’t worry – you’re still covered. There are 16 taps pouring beers from all Mutual Respect brands. Grab a pint to stay, or pick up some cans and four-packs to go.

But here’s the exciting part: craft cocktails. While the distillery waits for its official Pennsylvania license, they’re serving drinks made with PA-based spirits. And to make those cocktails sing? Meet Anders, the new in-house mixologist with over a decade of experience working at top-notch speakeasies and whiskey lounges like Philly’s iconic Hop Sing Laundromat and The Local in New Jersey. Whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur or just looking to try something new, Anders has you covered.

Once the distillery gets rolling, expect clear spirits like vodka, gin, and white rum to kick things off. Down the road, they’re planning to dive into aged spirits, fun liqueurs, and maybe even some canned cocktails. If you’re into sipping locally-made spirits, keep your eyes on this space – big things are coming!

A New Taproom, But the Music Still Plays

If you’ve visited Broken Goblet before, you probably know their large music venue space. Here’s the deal:

• The original taproom is now officially the Music Room, a space for private events and live music shows.
• The Mixing Room is your go-to for a laid-back beer (or cocktail) experience.

It’s a win-win: grab a drink and relax in the new taproom, or head next door for live tunes when the mood strikes.

Hungry? CaféDilla Is Coming Soon

No taproom is complete without good food, and The Mixing Room is no exception. CaféDilla – one of the Mutual Respect Collective partners – is prepping to open their full kitchen this spring. For now, they’re serving up a limited menu, with more details to come as things heat up. Keep an eye out for updates because good beer + good cocktails + great food? That’s the trifecta.

The Verdict: Why You Should Visit The Mixing Room

Broken Goblet has always been a gem in the local craft beer scene, but The Mixing Room takes things to the next level. It’s intimate, creative, and brings together beer, spirits, and community all under one roof. Whether you’re stopping by for a fresh pint, exploring their cocktail menu, or just checking out what’s new, there’s something for everyone to love.

So, grab your friends, check out this new space, and support the folks at Broken Goblet and the Mutual Respect Brewery Collective. Cheers to great beer, excellent cocktails, and a little bit of local magic!

For More Information on Broken Goblet

The following comes via Untappd.

Broken Goblet is a brew pub in Bensalem Township, PA. They have 570 unique beers and over 52,000 ratings, with a global average rating of 3.78 (as of 2.29.24). Their Untappd description reads: “Broken Goblet Brewing is changing your perspective of how you experience craft beer. Summer 2014 – We show you that broken can be BEAUTIFUL.”

You can follow them at these social media platforms:

• Broken Goblet – Official Website
• Broken Goblet – Facebook
• Broken Goblet – Instagram
• Broken Goblet – Twitter
• Broken Goblet – Untappd

For More Articles on Broken Goblet Brewing

• Beer Review: This is the Way (Broken Goblet)
• Beer Review: They Burn Them All Away (Broken Goblet)

BrewFest for MS

On October 10th, from 1PM to 6PM at Hysteria Brewing Company (9570 Berger Road, Columbia Maryland) will be the Annual BrewFest for MS. Through a friend who does fundraising for MS here in the greater Central PA area, I found out about this event, and will be going with my friend, as well as my dog (Leela).

Since the event is for a good cause, I thought I would reach out to them and see what I can find out about the event (since I had never been to it before) ahead of going, and I got to have a wonderful phone conversation with Dave Raimist, co – founder and co – runner of the event (along with Jill Eisenberg).

A Lot To Talk About

So there’s a lot to talk about in this article, and a lot to unpack. So let’s get through it all. This article is a shout out to the event and a public notice and to get some attention for a fantastic and great event. I will do a follow up event after the event and after we went to it. So lets get right into this article and talk about the brewfest and the event, and then we’ll discuss what MS is, and go over my phone conversation with Dave.

The BrewFest for MS

The event itself is not a typical brewfest in the vein of say ‘Atlantic City Brewfest’ or the ‘Mount Hope Renaissance Faire’ brewfest, or others similar. This is an event at the Hysteria Brewery with beer, with food, with raffles, with 50/50s, with music, and other fun and games, with the proceeds (all the proceeds) going to the Bike MS fundraiser ran by Jill Eisenberg and Dave Raimist. As I write this, Dave is actually heading or in D.C. doing a fundraising event tonight.

This would be the 7th Annual (or 6th Annual) Brewfest for MS, but the number system got all kinds of screwed up due to COVID last year and them hosting the event virtually last year rather than in person.

The event is held at Hysteria Brewing Company. You can find out more information on them at their Facebook page, and their Untappd page. Hysteria Brewing Company is located at 9570 Berger Road in Columbia Maryland (its about an hour an forty minutes from Harrisburg – just as a reference).

Throughout the day you will have chances to enter raffles, as well as 50/50s and other fun events. While there, from 1PM to 6PM there will be food presented by Bullhead Beef Pit, as well as the beer from Hysteria Brewing Company. There will be ample seating inside and outside, though beer will only be able to be ordered from the inside of the brewery. This is a pet and kid friendly event, so you can bring out the youngsters as well as the dogsters.

There will be somewhere between 35 and 50 items available for raffle and 50/50. (Dave hasn’t gotten the full tally yet.) You also don’t have to be present in order to win the items. They will be posted on a bulletin board at 5PM and then everyone is able to go up and redeem their winners. After that, those items not redeemed, will be checked to see if their winners are present or not, and the winners will be notified.

There will also be two bands that will play live music during the event, both with ties to both organization runners. The first band plays from 1 to 2:30PM and the second band will play from 3 to 5PM.

Some current beers on tap at Hysteria:

• Hoodie Season
• IPAA Heavy
• Krispy Panda
• Brew ‘Em Hops Up
• I Don’t Remember The Title, But The Cover Was Blonde
• Juicy Sour Pink Square Candy
• Movie Night
• Be Kind, Please Rewind

What is MS?

For those who might not know, MS stands for Multiple Sclerosis.

The MayoClinic has a good concise definition of it:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).

In MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body. Eventually, the disease can cause permanent damage or deterioration of the nerves.

Signs and symptoms of MS vary widely and depend on the amount of nerve damage and which nerves are affected. Some people with severe MS may lose the ability to walk independently or at all, while others may experience long periods of remission without any new symptoms.

There’s no cure for multiple sclerosis. However, treatments can help speed recovery from attacks, modify the course of the disease and manage symptoms.

Multiple Sclerosis – Mayo Clinic

This is a horrible disease that affects far too many people, and fundraisers like this (the BrewFest for MS) and others such as Dave’s Bike MS and the various Walk for MS and Polo events in Central PA, go to try and find a cure for this disease.

As Dave was telling me in our phone conversation, his brother in law passed away in 2017 from complications due to MS.

So Come On Out

So please everyone, come on out and support this wonderful fundraiser. There is many ways you can help and donate towards the great cause, from the raffles, the 50/50s, food, beer, etc, as well as just straight up donating. You can also always donate to the various MS fundraisers without even leaving the comforts of your bed by checking out the National MS Society. Their website is: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/

For more Information

Various links to pages for more information:

• BrewFest for MS Event Page
• BrewFest for MS Facebook Page
• BrewFest for MS Twitter Page
• BrewFest for MS Instagram Page
• Mayo Clinic – What is MS
• National MS Society – What is MS

The Beer Thriller Links

For some similar articles and other various articles on our blog, you can check out:

• AC Brewfest Day 1 (2021)
• AC Brewfest Day 2 (2021)
• The RenFaire Brewfest
• Punk in Drublic (October 2nd, 2021)
• Pigtoberfest (2021)
• Rubber Soul’s 1st Anniversary Bash
• Human Robot: Milk Tube Race
• Beer Review: The Mangalorian (Brewery Fire)
• Brewery Review: Ministry of Brewing
• Beer Review: Esmeralda (Ministry of Brewing)
• Road Trip to Monocacy Battlefield and Frederick MD
• Beer Review: Jon Voight’s Car (RAR Brewing)
• Beer Review: Out of Order: Blue Milk (RAR Brewing)
• Brewery Review: Cushwa Brewing Company
• Beer Review: Peace Amongst Worlds (Cushwa Brewing Company)

Cheers!

-B. Kline

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

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Every so often I manage to get a game-plan to work out. And this was one of those rare occasions! The game-plan going in was to pick up my oldest daughter from her volleyball practice, quickly get to Troegs Brewery and surprise her with getting to see her favorite (local) band, Vinegar Creek Constituency.

We were here for a previous Second Friday at the beer garden at Troegs, I believe it was when they released the cans of Golden Thing and another beer, perhaps Lollihop or one of the other scratches turned main roster, and they had their food truck going and the band playing, and my oldest daughter just fell in love with the band(‘s music).

So, I got her at 6:30 from her volleyball practice, quickly got to Troegs, drove around their entire lot a good 3-4 times and found not a single spot, so I parked in the back corner by the warehouse and the gazebo, in a “not exactly a parking spot – parking spot”. (Which later on, a SUV would totally block off a whole section of the parking lot by parking at a spot where it was a parking spot for him, but he didn’t back into his spot fully, and it basically made a pincer area out of two parked cars so an entire row of parking spaces couldn’t get out…plus my “illegal/legal” spot.)

This was a special Second Friday though at Troegs, not only was it a Second Friday, not only was it a full moon, and not only was it “Friday the 13th”, it was also a can release! (Oh yea, the importance of those might be in the wrong order, I don’t know). They released cans of “Trail Day Pale Ale”, a recent scratch that they perfected. Also, to my shock, when I saw the menu, they had Fresh Fest on the taplist (inside) – which wasn’t there Sunday when I was last there.

After parking, and getting into the beer garden, which amazingly isn’t packed, we found a table three away from the band, with a couple sitting at it but with room for us, I plop the kiddo down and her gatorade from practice, order us two chicken tacos, and head inside for my beers (since they didn’t have Trail Day outside, which I was a bit surprised by since it was the release of the day). The inside was jam packed. Upstairs, downstairs, packed, tour going on as well that looked full. Every booth was full, even the patio tables were full, the bar was full, and without going upstairs but looking up at the loft, it looked full too. Wait in line at the bar, and see that they have Fresh Fest. I decide on just a taster for that (8.50$ for a half pint or 3.50$ for a 4oz, plus I was getting a full pint of Trail Day, and with the kid and driving, figured it’d be the safer route). Take the beers back to our table right as the band finishes their set-up and starts up at just a bit before 7 and the tacos are done and its time to dive in.

Craft breweries do some amazing tacos. They are “high end” tacos, like the ones at Newfangled, and at other food truck type things, or even the specialty day tacos at certain breweries, but they are always fantastic. Not exactly the most filling usually, and obviously you’re dropping a few more dollar bills on this than the 5-pack at Taco Bell, but for taste, its so worth it.

I was surprised to see Fresh Fest on the menu and having not had it, I figured why not, and grabbed myself a taster of that. (Was originally just planning on drinking a few Trail Days while listening and hanging out with the kid, but its always nice to get to try a couple new beers, so of course I’m gonna jump on that chance.)

Beer: Fresh Fest
Brewery: Troegs Independent Brewing Company
Collaboration: Apis Meadery
Style: Honey Beer
ABV: 6%
IBU: No IBU
Untappd Write-Up: We believe that good beer brings out the good in people. To celebrate the return of Fresh Fest -the nation’s first black beer festival- The drinking Partners, Apis Meadery and Troegs Independent Brewing gathered around a brew kettle to combine two quintessential summer flavors: peach cobbler and a bright refreshing honey ale. Pilsner, Vienna and honey malt stand in for the flaky crust, Pennsylvania honey and kveik yeast provide a sweet glaze, and peaches, apricots and a late dose of El Dorado and Lemondrop hops fill in the middle with balance of slight tartness and sweet fruit. Ready for seconds yet?

This is kind of a mix between a mead, and a tart/sour beer. Its a wonderful and interesting combination and does make me wish I got a full pint of it. Though, this is definitely no pounder, and not one you will be drinking more of one in a sitting most likely, not due to ABV or anything like that, but its just a heavy, full beer, that will sit on you for a bit. (Not a bad thing.)

Appearance is a bright orange glow. A meadish bright orange hue that (perhaps my picture doesn’t do justice to it) is clear, translucent, and has a shine to it. Honey colored through and through.

Aroma is very heavy peach. Kind of a funky peach, kind of ripe peach, but a tart, funky peach. A nice smell that tickled the nose and was just overall appealing.

Flavor is very heavy peach as well. The honey makes it smooth and provides that heavyness. It finishes with the tartness, but before that you get the heavy peach, the heavy sweet honey, and some breadyness, almost like a sweet peach pie (if I ate those kind of things) before it transitions into a tart peach pie (again, if I ate those kind of things). Its not overly dry but the tartness gives a bit of a sensation of that at the end, but this isn’t anything unpleasant and compliments the sweetness at the beginning of the beer very nicely.

My Untappd Rating: ****
Global Untappd Rating: 3.63 (as of 9.13.19)

The Fresh Fest went perfect with the taco, complimenting it very nicely. Debated even getting a second taco, or maybe trying one of the other two styles they had available (Corinitas or Black Bean), but opted out of that idea. (Not sure what corinitas is, but their website listed a “savory pork” taco, so perhaps thats that? I don’t know.) But we did see a few soft pretzels and my daughter decided we needed one… …and she was right, we did. So at the break in the band’s set, I braved myself up, and ventured back inside for the pretzel and a drink for her.

After about a 15-20 minute wait in line, and another 2-3 minutes for it to get done, got back outside as the band was starting up their second act. So at least timing worked out perfectly on that one.

The soft pretzel was absolutely phenomenal (and for 11$ for a soft pretzel, it better damn well be). Passed on getting my regular hop fries, hoping the pretzel would be filling, and it was. We were also (at this point anyway) planning on picking up a smores kit to do by the firepit later on (we ended up not doing it, I guess smores aren’t as cool when you’re 12 years old, I dunno).

Time to drink down this delicious looking pint of Troegs new Trail Day Pale Ale. It was a great beer to wash down the Oktoberfest soft pretzel and to continue our night listening to her favorite band.

Beer: Trail Day
Brewery: Troegs Independent Brewing Company
Style: Pale Ale – American
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: None Listed
Untappd Write-Up: This is the beer you want in hand when your compass lands you at trail’s end. The scene is set with a malt bill full of soft oats. Unmalted wheat from Pennsylvania adds haze and props up the oils of a bright hop combination. Citra dominates with notes of passionfruit and lychee, Lotus adds hints of orange rind and vanilla, and El Dorado works with a fruit-forward yeast to pull in flavors of candied peach. and beneath all that is a foundation of good. When you buy a Trail Day, you’re helping protect the Kittatinny Ridge, a 185-mile Appalahchian superhighway that provides clean water, rich forests, recreational trails and safe passage for migratory wildlife. We taste: peach, passionfruit, lychee.

I really enjoyed this beer as it was a nice typical Troegs beer, which means it had the characteristic Troegs taste for a pale ale/IPA/etc. I legit think I could be given five or six different pale ales/IPAs/wheats/hefeweizens and other similar style beers, blind-folded, and only one of the five or six being a Troegs beer, and I’d be able to pick it out. Its probably the yeast strains they do, or their technique brewing, but they just have a characteristic taste, (perhaps the water?), or maybe I’m over thinking it, or maybe its just because I’ve had over 200+ different, unique beers from them, so I’ve built up a bit of an ‘idea’ on them. I don’t know, but this beer fit that mold, and it tasted great.

Troegs is very big into conservation and helping with wildlife protection, environmentalism, and other great things like this. Like donating and paying for the mural in Harrisburg with proceeds going to the conservancy, just like this beer does. Some money from each pint/can sold (not sure on percentages, you might have to check with Troegs directly for that information), goes to help Kittatinny Ridge conservancy.

As per Wikipedia:
“Kittatinny Mountain (Lenape: Kitahtëne^[1]) is a long ridge traversing across northwestern New Jersey running in a northeast-southwest axis, a continuation across the Delaware Water Gap of Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain Ridge (also known as Kittatinny Ridge). It is the first major ridge in the far northeastern extension of the Ridge and Valley province of the Appalachian Mountains, and reaches its highest elevation (the state’s highest), 1,803 feet, at High Point in Montague Township. Kittatinny Mountain forms the eastern side of Wallpack Valley; the western side comprises the Wallpack Ridge (highest elevation: 928 feet (283 m) above sea level.”( Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kittatinny_Mountain.)

So its always great to see this, and great that Troegs is helping them out, just makes buying that pint or can of this that extra bit special and nice, and gives you warm glowy butterfly feelings in your tummy.

This is a very hazy pale ale. Its pretty much just one step up from Scratch 380 – Trail Day Dry Hopped Pale Ale. Might even be the same recipe but just given a full name as a regular/seasonal rotation, I don’t know, but its listed as a Pale Ale – New England on the scratch, and a Pale Ale – American on the new fully named version. (I gave the scratch version a **** on Untappd). Either way, this new version of it could easily be labeled a New England Pale Ale as well, as it is very hazy, especially so for a Troegs beer, that typically shies away from the haze.

Appearance is orange, unfiltered, hazy. Its not fully unfiltered but it definitely looks somewhat unfiltered and there is a bit of sediment and floaters (but nothing appalling or unappealing about it). The haze makes it not exactly un-see-through-but-not-super-dense either. (Thats the best way I could explain it.)

Aroma is soft, pale ale qualities, but with a good dose of hops. You can deeply smell the hops and the dry hopping. You get some fruity qualities, mostly stone fruit, like apricot and such, but you get the dry hopping mostly.

Taste is soft as well, pillowy, like the little bit of head that came with the beer. Soft, mellow, but also bursting with taste. Not mellow bland, but mellow soft. There is no hop bitterness from this, and it tastes like a typical NE-IPA or NE-PA. There is a smoothness t it from vanilla that helps with that New England vibe and taste to it. I also pick up notes of orange, passionfruit, and peach, kind of like candied peaches. Almost reminiscent of those peach ring gummies (like the ones Tattered Flag used in a few of their beers, which I reviewed one of). There is a definitely malty backbone to this that isn’t super typical for New England Pale Ales but its pretty subdued, just there, and you know its there. The Citra hops gives it a nice citrus punch that combines with the peach and passionfruit flavors very nicely. And it has a great finish that leaves a very nice and pleasant aftertaste on your tongue.

My Untappd Rating: ****.25
Global Untappd Rating: 3.87 (as of 9.13.19)

The beer garden is a wonderful experience and venue at Troegs whenever they do music here, its always a nice, relaxing atmosphere, with good, low-key vibe music playing. You could hear the band up on the patio, but with the beer garden’s setup you would not have been able to see them. Back beyond the band, they have a firepit that was open all night and lots of families were roasting s’mores on it. My daughter I suppose was “too cool” or “too old” (or just too tired after the band got done) and didn’t want to do it. So once the band packed up, I tried to get her to talk to them or at least get a picture with them, but she got too shy, and refused, so we made our way back to the car. Where… I had to wait and struggle to get out our area due to the SUV.

Afterwards, I dropped my daughter off with her mother, and being in the area I couldn’t help but stop in at Mount Gretna Brewery. So look for a review of the flight I had there probably after work tomorrow (Saturday, the 14th).

All in all, it was one of those rare nights when the game-plan went according to plan, and it was the rare daddy-daughter date night that actually worked out and everyone was happy. So I’m marking it down as a win. She got to see her favorite band that she’s been crushing on, I got to eat tacos and soft pretzels and hang out with my daughter, and she got to eat tacos and soft pretzels and hang out with her old man, and I got to try two new Troegs beers that were delicious. All in all a total win.

Look for my review of the flight from Mount Gretna sometime after 8PM or so when I get home from work, until then, keep “doing what you do”.

-B. Kline