Pennsylvania Beer Staple - The Beer Thrillers https://thebeerthrillers.com Central PA beer enthusiasts and beer bloggers. Homebrewers, brewery workers, and all around beer lovers. Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:03:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://i0.wp.com/thebeerthrillers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cropped-The-Beer-Thrillers-December-2022-Logo.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Pennsylvania Beer Staple - The Beer Thrillers https://thebeerthrillers.com 32 32 187558884 Appalachian Brewing Company: End of an Era for Harrisburg’s Flagship Brewpub https://thebeerthrillers.com/2025/07/15/appalachian-brewing-company-end-of-an-era-for-harrisburgs-flagship-brewpub/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=appalachian-brewing-company-end-of-an-era-for-harrisburgs-flagship-brewpub Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:03:03 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=16498 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.

(See also: Unearthing the History of Harrisburg Brewing: From Barnitz to Troegs)

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.

(See also: Unearthing the History of Harrisburg Brewing: From Barnitz to Troegs)

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.

SEO Keywords: Appalachian Brewing Company Harrisburg closure, Appalachian Brewing Company history, Pennsylvania craft breweries, Harrisburg brewpub, craft beer news, ABC brewery beers, Appalachian craft sodas, Abbey Bar Harrisburg, central PA beer scene, best Pennsylvania breweries

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

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:

 

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 Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We are also now on BlueSky as well, so make sure to check us out there also. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server).

We 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.)

 

 

 

]]> 16498