Pennsylvania News - The Beer Thrillers

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

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:

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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

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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Map of Breweries in Pennsylvania

beermapsofusa — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 22:39:35 +0000

Map of Pennsylvania Breweries

Scroll down to view the interactive map of all of the currently active breweries in the State of Pennsylvania. Click on the beer mugs to get locations, names, and other data about each brewery. There is also a list to the left that you can click the name of the brewery and it will bring up their location on the map itself. This is a map of Breweries in Pennsylvania, and if you scroll to the very bottom of this page, you can find the listing of all of the other maps we have made thus far. (Hopefully soon it’ll be completely done. We are working geographically starting from Maine and working our way towards California.) We will then do the various territories, and eventually the provinces of Canada and Mexico.

So scroll down just a little bit for the Map of Pennsylvania Breweries.

The Map of Breweries in PA

Maps of Breweries in the United States

As a service and a resource to all of our readers, we are creating a full list of all of the breweries in the United States. Starting with Maine and working geographically we are planning on getting all 50 states done, as well as all territories and districts, as well as a fun map of all of the breweries we personally have been to. We are then planning to combine them all into one large map of all of America.

Who knows, if I’m not completely brain dead by the endeavor afterwards I might do Canada and Mexico as well, and then work our way through other countries.

I’m sure nearly as soon as I get each state done new breweries will open and old ones will close. So I am going to need some help from everyone to keeping these up to date. If you notice any breweries missing or ones that have closed, please let us know. Thank you so very much.

Map of Breweries in Pennsylvania

The above is a map of breweries in the state of Pennsylvania. If you know of any missing (or closed) please let us know by leaving a comment, using our CONTACT US page, or e – mailing us directly at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

How to Use The Map

You can zoom in, and click on each of the beer mugs with the paw prints on them to see the breweries. This will call up their address via Google Maps, as well as any other information they have supplied to Google (phone numbers, websites, etc.). You can also save this map to your Google Maps so when you call up Google Maps these locations will be pinned onto your map as an overlay.

Maps of Breweries in the United States of America (USA)

The below is a list of maps of the states, territories, and districts of the United States. As well as a fun map of all the breweries that The Beer Thrillers have been to. I am working on getting these done geographically, starting with Maine. (When the state is underlined and in color, means the map is done and ready to be viewed.)

States

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Territories

American Samoa
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
Guam
Republic of the Marshall Islands
Republic of Palau
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Districts

Washington D.C.

Miscellaneous Maps

Fun Maps

Map of All the Breweries that The Beer Thrillers Have Visited (Total)
Map of All the Breweries that The Beer Thrillers Visited (in 2024)
Map of All the Breweries that The Beer Thrillers Visited (in 2023)
Map of All the Breweries that The Beer Thrillers Visited (in 2022)
Map of All the Breweries that The Beer Thrillers Visited (in 2021)
Map of All the Breweries that The Beer Thrillers Visited (in 2020)

Pennsylvania Breweries

Two additional resources we currently have to offer for Pennsylvania Breweries:

If we decide to add any future maps, we will update the page if necessary. If you have any map suggestions for us, please feel free to comment, contact us, or e – mail us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

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.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

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

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.

How Doubling Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Could Cripple America’s Craft Beer Industry

B. Kline — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 01:17:21 +0000

How Doubling Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Could Cripple America’s Craft Beer Industry

Trump, Tariffs, and Beer

In a move sending shockwaves through the craft brewing world, President Donald Trump has announced plans to double tariffs on aluminum and steel from 25% to 50%, effective Wednesday, June 4. While the legal basis for this increase rests on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which allows tariff hikes for reasons of national security, the real-world impact is poised to hit one of the most iconic and homegrown American industries: craft beer.

Aluminum and the Lifeblood of Cans

Aluminum cans are no longer just the realm of mass-market lagers. Today, approximately 76% of all U.S. packaged beer is sold in aluminum cans, according to the Brewers Association. That number is even higher among newer and mobile-friendly breweries who prefer cans for their portability, recyclability, and faster chilling times.

The challenge? Much of the raw aluminum used in U.S. can production is imported, particularly from Canada, even though the final rolling and manufacturing of cans often happens domestically. With the proposed increase in aluminum tariffs, brewers could soon face a steep hike in canning costs.

(See our article: Tariffs and Taps: How Trump’s Trade Policies Would Impact Craft Breweries)

What Is the Midwest Premium?

The “Midwest Premium” is the benchmark pricing metric for aluminum in the U.S. and has already seen notable spikes following the tariff announcement. As of June 2025:

The Midwest Premium is hovering around 32 cents per pound, up from 26 cents in early May.
That increase translates into several cents more per can, which may sound small — but for breweries producing tens of thousands of cases, the extra costs can stack up fast.

Steel Tariffs and the Price of Brewing

While aluminum affects packaging, steel tariffs hit the brewhouse. Most stainless steel kegs used by American breweries come from Europe — particularly Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic — and brewing equipment is frequently sourced from China and the EU.

With tariffs on steel doubling, breweries looking to expand, replace aging tanks, or even just keep up with maintenance are looking at some painful math. Some estimated impacts:

New fermenter or brite tank costs could jump by 15–30%.
Imported kegs could rise from $120 to over $160 per unit.
Shipping container delays and tariffs could extend wait times on equipment by months.

(See our article: Trouble Brewing: How Trump’s Liberation Day Tariffs Are Impacting Craft Beer)

A Delicate Balance for Small and Independent Breweries

Unlike global macrobreweries, most of the 9,500+ small and independent breweries in the United States operate on tight margins and rely on a complex supply chain. With slim profit windows and rising labor, ingredient, and utility costs, another shock to the system — like spiking materials tariffs — could spell disaster for the most vulnerable producers.

“We source American-made cans, but the aluminum still comes from Canada. This kind of increase puts a big dent in our already-tight packaging budget,” says one Pennsylvania-based brewery owner. “We’re not sure if we’ll need to raise prices, shrink can sizes, or move to bottles. None of those are ideal.”

Domestic Production: A Long-Term Solution?

The Brewers Association has expressed hope that tariff pressure might eventually lead to increased domestic production of steel kegs and brewing equipment. But that shift won’t happen overnight. It requires:

New factories outfitted for food-grade steel.
Specialized labor trained in beverage equipment.
Incentives or subsidies to compete with cheaper foreign alternatives.

Until that infrastructure is in place — likely years from now — brewers will continue to rely heavily on imports.

(See our article: When Canada Attacked Yuengling!)

Could There Be a Reprieve?

There’s still uncertainty. President Trump has delayed or reversed some recent tariffs after backlash. But there’s no guarantee this time. That means:

Breweries should immediately consult with suppliers to understand cost impacts.
Strategic changes, like buying in bulk or diversifying suppliers, may soften the blow.
Advocacy groups like the Brewers Association are actively lobbying for exemptions or policy reversals.

The Bigger Picture: Craft Beer in an Uncertain Economy

With inflation still looming, interest rates high, and operating costs climbing across the board, this tariff announcement adds another pressure point to an already-stressed industry.

Craft beer sales dipped slightly in 2024, with the Brewers Association reporting a 2% decline in volume, though dollar sales remained relatively flat due to price adjustments. But if input costs rise sharply, consumers could soon see higher six-pack prices, or worse, a thinning out of local options as small breweries fold under economic strain.

Final Thoughts: Stay Informed and Support Local

Craft beer isn’t just an industry — it’s a culture, a movement, and a community. Whether you’re a brewer, a beer drinker, or a retailer, now is the time to stay informed and support local.

We at The Beer Thrillers will continue monitoring these tariff changes and their impact on our beloved beer scene. Expect updates, interviews, and breakdowns in the weeks to come.

🍻 Have thoughts on the tariff hikes? Are you a brewer affected by these changes? Drop us a comment below or reach out — we’d love to share your story.

Sources:

See Our Related Articles

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.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

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

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.

Beer Busters Podcast Are Ending Their Journey – An End of an Era and a Great Epic Journey

B. Kline — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 21:30:58 +0000

Beer Busters Podcast is Ending: So Long, And Thanks For All The Beer

Episode 269 of the Beer Busters Podcast will be their final podcast. They dropped it on us just a bit ago today (at 2:57 PM) and said “Thats a Wrap” on what was an amazing, epic, journey through Pennsylvania, Central PA, Jersey, New York, and so much more of the craft beer world. Their very first podcast was on May 6th, 2013; and their final podcast just released today – January 19, 2025. A nearly full 12 year, epic run, of 269+ podcasts, YouTube videos, blog articles, and so much more that helped the brewing community so much over the years.

Beer Busters Podcast – Episode 269: So Long, and Thanks for all the Beer (photo courtesy of Beer Busters Podcast)

Episode 269: So Long, and Thanks for all the Beer

This is the end of the road. The epic journey of the Beer Busters Podcast is ending with their swan song of episode 269. You can find the episode at their website here: 269: So Long, And Thanks For All The Beer. Or YouTube here: Episode 269: So Long, And Thanks For All The Beer.

Episode description:

Episode 269

With Sincere Gratitude

A lot has changed in the last 12 years, including us. We present for you one last free-for-all with just the Beer Busters. Thank you, sincerely, to all of you for riding along. Be true to yourselves and kind to each other.

– Steph, Dan, and Wayne

—Beer Busters Podcast: Episode 269: So Long, and Thanks for all the Beer

Beer Busters Podcast

Beer Busters is a podcast dedicated to celebrating and exploring the world of craft beer. The show was founded in 2013 by brothers Dan and Wayne Baker, along with their cousin Steph Heffner. Since its inception, Beer Busters has been a bi-weekly podcast where the hosts sit down with brewers, owners, representatives, and others in the craft beer industry to sip brews and discuss various topics related to beer. The podcast format typically includes:

Interviews with industry professionals
Discussions about beer history and brewing techniques
News segments about the craft beer world
Interactive segments like “Know Your Beers” and “Happy Fun Time”

For example, in a 2015 episode, Dan brought news stories about NFL beer prices and Metallica beer cans, while Steph taught listeners how to prepare for a beer event in the “Know Your Beers” segment. Over the years, Beer Busters has covered a wide range of topics, including:

The history and origins of non-alcoholic beer
Different beer production methods
Community reactions to various beer trends
Beer-related events, particularly in the Philadelphia area

The podcast has featured numerous guests from the craft beer industry. In a December 2022 episode, they hosted Matthew Steinberg (Co-Founder and Head Brewer) and Kelsey Roth (General Manager) from Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Company, discussing topics such as local sourcing, sustainable practices, and social initiatives in brewing. Beer Busters has maintained its presence across various podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and others. The show continues to provide listeners with a mix of education, entertainment, and insider perspectives on the craft beer industry.

Meet the Beer Busters

The Beer Busters podcast is primarily hosted by three individuals:

Dan Baker: One of the founding members of the podcast, Dan is a brother to Wayne and cousin to Steph. He often takes the lead in hosting segments like “Happy Fun Time” and brings news stories to discuss on the show.
Steph Heffner: Another founding member, Steph is a cousin to Dan and Wayne. She has been known to lead educational segments like “Know Your Beers,” sharing her knowledge about beer and brewing with listeners.
Wayne Baker: The third core member of the podcast, Wayne is Dan’s brother. While sometimes absent from episodes due to other commitments, he is an integral part of the team and contributes to the show’s dynamic.

These three hosts have been consistently involved with Beer Busters since its inception in 2013. They travel to breweries and other beer-related locations to record episodes, interviewing industry professionals and exploring various aspects of craft beer culture. Occasionally, the podcast features guest hosts or longtime friends of the show. For example:

Mark Graves: Described as “Slimy Sauce himself,” Mark is a longtime friend from the earliest days of Beer Busters who has filled in for Wayne when he was unable to attend a recording session.

The Beer Busters team has maintained their dedication to celebrating and exploring the world of craft beer for over a decade, providing listeners with a mix of education, entertainment, and insider perspectives on the brewing industry

Find the Beer Busters

You can still find the Beer Busters through these different means (websites, podsites, social media, etc.) Their content will most likely be staying online for the near foreseeable future; no word on if or when it will be taken down.

Website: Beer Busters Podcast
- Full List of Podcast Episodes: Beer Busters Archive of Episodes
Facebook: Beer Busters Podcast – Facebook Page
YouTube: Beer Busters Podcast @ YouTube
Beer Busters Podcast – Podcast Feed RSS
Beer Busters Podcast on Twitter: Beer Busters Podcast @ X
Instagram: Beer Busters Podcast on Instagram

Beer Busters Podcast: 2013 – 2025
(photo courtesy of Beer Busters Podcast)

Beer Busters Legacy

The Beer Busters Podcast, which ran from 2013 to 2025, left an indelible mark on the craft beer community. For over a decade, hosts Dan Baker, Steph Heffner, and Wayne Baker traveled to breweries and beer-related locations, bringing listeners a unique blend of education, entertainment, and insider perspectives on the brewing industry. Their dedication to celebrating and exploring the world of craft beer resonated with audiences, earning them a loyal following and a 4.8-star rating on Apple Podcasts.

Throughout its run, Beer Busters consistently delivered engaging content, featuring interviews with industry professionals, discussions on beer history and brewing techniques, and interactive segments like “Know Your Beers” and “Happy Fun Time”. The podcast’s final episode, aptly titled “So Long, And Thanks For All The Beer,” aired on January 19, 2025, marking the end of an era for craft beer enthusiasts. In their farewell message, the hosts expressed gratitude to their listeners and encouraged them to “be true to yourselves and kind to each other,” reflecting the warm and inclusive spirit that characterized the show. The podcast ran from May 6, 2013, to January 19, 2025, completing 275 episodes over nearly 12 years. They maintained their signature style of traveling to breweries, interviewing industry professionals, and featuring their popular “Happy Fun Time” segments throughout their run.

Beer Busters’ legacy extends beyond its audio content. The podcast played a significant role in showcasing Pennsylvania’s German brewing heritage and leadership in brewing German-style lagers. By providing a platform for brewers, owners, and industry representatives to share their stories and expertise, Beer Busters contributed to the growth and appreciation of craft beer culture. As the craft beer landscape continues to evolve, the impact of Beer Busters’ 12-year journey in educating and entertaining beer enthusiasts will undoubtedly be remembered and cherished by its dedicated listeners.

Brewery News

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

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.

MAPS OF BREWERIES

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

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 January 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!

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.

Sly Fox Brewing Ordered to Pay Nearly $200K for Withholding Tips

B. Kline — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 05:10:21 +0000

Sly Fox Brewing Ordered to Pay Nearly $200K for Withholding Tips: What It Means for the Craft Beer Industry

In a story that’s sending ripples through Pennsylvania’s craft beer scene, Sly Fox Brewing, a well-known name with a strong local following, has been ordered to pay nearly $200,000 in back wages, damages, and penalties. This decision comes after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) found the brewery in violation of federal wage laws.

Let’s dive into what happened, why it matters, and what it says about supporting fair practices in the restaurant and craft beer industry.

Sly Fox Brewing Company logo

What Happened at Sly Fox Brewing?

The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division discovered that two Sly Fox locations in Pittsburgh—the Taphouse at Point State Park (300 Liberty Avenue) and the Highline Brewery (46 S. 4th Street) — violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Specifically, they allowed managers to participate in the tip pool, a clear no-go under federal law.

For restaurant and brewery workers who rely on tips as a vital part of their income, this is more than just a policy violation—it’s a significant financial hit.

The Breakdown of Penalties:

Back wages recovered: $84,710
Liquidated damages: $84,710
Civil penalties: $15,435

In total, the brewery was required to pay $184,855 to rectify the situation.

Why This Matters

Craft beer is a community-driven industry, built on passion, creativity, and collaboration. But like any business, it must also adhere to fair labor practices.

“Restaurant workers often make low wages and depend on every dollar earned, including tips, to help support themselves and their families,” said John DuMont, the Wage and Hour District Director in Pittsburgh. His sentiment highlights the importance of respecting the hardworking people behind the scenes.

Whether you’re pouring pints, running food, or cleaning up after hours, every role contributes to the experience we beer lovers enjoy. Ensuring fair wages and proper treatment is essential for a thriving industry.

What Does This Mean for the Craft Beer Community?

For craft beer enthusiasts and brewery owners alike, this story serves as a wake-up call. It’s a reminder to support breweries that not only produce great beer but also take care of their employees.

For Brewery Owners:

If you’re running or thinking about starting a brewery, this is a clear signal to get your labor practices in order. The craft beer community values transparency and fairness, and maintaining these values is crucial to building a loyal customer base.

For Beer Lovers:

Next time you visit a brewery or restaurant, consider the people making it all happen. From your bartender to the back-of-house staff, everyone deserves fair pay for their hard work.

About Sly Fox

Sly Fox Brewing Company is a Pennsylvania craft beer staple, founded in 1995, and known for its bold flavors and innovative approach to brewing. With locations spanning the state, including the renowned Taphouse at Point State Park and the Highline Brewery in Pittsburgh, Sly Fox has built a reputation for quality beers that cater to a wide range of palates. From their flagship Pikeland Pils to seasonal favorites like Christmas Ale, the brewery offers a mix of traditional styles and creative brews that keep customers coming back. Over the years, Sly Fox has become a go-to destination for beer lovers and a key player in the local craft beer community.

Beyond its beers, Sly Fox is deeply rooted in Pennsylvania’s culture. Their involvement in events like the Sly Fox Bock Fest & Goat Race showcases their passion for creating experiences that bring people together. This blend of creativity and community engagement has helped the brewery maintain its popularity, even in a competitive craft beer landscape. However, recent labor-related controversies remind us that every business has room for growth and improvement. As Sly Fox continues to evolve, many hope it will prioritize not only great beer but also the well-being of its dedicated staff.

A Message to Other Employers

The Department of Labor isn’t taking violations lightly. “This legal action recovers the workers’ hard-earned wages and sends a message to other restaurant employers that violations come at a cost,” said Samantha N. Thomas, the Philadelphia Regional Solicitor of Labor.

The case against Sly Fox Brewing reinforces the importance of following labor laws and ensuring that tipped workers receive their full earnings.

Wrapping Up

While Sly Fox Brewing is known for its craft beer, this situation casts a shadow over the brand’s reputation. It’s a reminder that success in the craft beer world isn’t just about the product; it’s about the people.

As craft beer fans, we can use this moment to celebrate and support breweries that prioritize fairness and community. Let’s raise a glass to good beer—and to doing the right thing.

Have thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments below or share your favorite employee-focused breweries.

For More Information on Sly Fox Brewing

The following comes via Untappd.

Sly Fox Brewing Company is a regional brewery from Pottstown, PA. They have 514 unique beers and over 484,000 ratings with a global average rating of 3.56 (as of 11.27.24). Their Untappd description reads: “Sly Fox Brewing Company is headquartered in Pottstown, Pennsylvania with a 50-hectoliter production brewery and tasting room at 331 Circle of Progress. The Pottstown brewery location opened in January 2012 and Sly Fox beers are currently available in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey. Sly Fox is considered to be one of the most well-respected craft brewers in the Mid-Atlantic region. The company was founded in December 1995 by the Giannopoulos family when Peter Giannopoulos opened the Sly Fox Brewhouse & Eatery in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Sly Fox now has six pub locations: Phoenixville, Pottstown, Malvern, Wyomissing, and two pubs in Pittsburgh.”

You can follow them at these social media platforms:

Sly Fox Brewing – Official Website
Sly Fox Brewing – Facebook
Sly Fox Brewing – Instagram
Sly Fox Brewing – Twitter
Sly Fox Brewing – Untappd

Brewery News

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Berg Brewing to Open in Chambersburg

B. Kline — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:30:14 +0000

Berg Brewing to Open in Chambersburg PA

Berg Brewing is all set to open in Chambersburg, PA. They just posted a few hours ago at 6:25 AM about ‘having all their t’s crossed’ and ready to go. They will be located in Chambersburg Pennsylvania; alongside GearHouse Brewing, TBC Brewing, and Maxie’s Brewhouse.

You will be able to find them at 100 South Main Street, Chambersburg PA.

This was their post on Facebook from 2 hours ago:

We’ve officially dotted every “i” and crossed every “t,” and we’re thrilled to announce we’re moving in to 100 South Main Street!

A huge thank you for your patience while we kept things under wraps to make sure this could be our permanent spot (we owe you all a pint)! Special shoutout to @_maneandco for partnering with us on the space and build-out—y’all are the best!

Stay tuned for updates as we settle in and start collaborating with our fantastic neighbors (looking at you, @neighborsfoodhall ). 2025 is shaping up to be an epic year, and we can’t wait to raise a glass with you soon!

•••

#craftbeer #pacraftbeer #smallbatchbrewery #bergbrewing #germanstylebeer #smallcraft #bergbeerco #chambersburgpa #weregladyourehere #bergwerk

Berg Brewing Company – Facebook Post

In a year where we have seen far more brewery closings than brewery openings, its so great to see some growth still happening in the industry. Check back with us as we have a more in-depth report on their opening.

For More Information on Berg Brewing

The following comes via Untappd. Berg Brewing is a Nano Brewery out of Chambersburg, PA. They currently have 4 unique beers listed and just 4 ratings. (No official global rating yet.) Their Untappd description is blank. You can find them at these social media platforms:

Brewery News

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

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!

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You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

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The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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Englewood Brewing Temporarily Closes with Announced Rescheduled Opening in 2025

B. Kline — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 15:45:27 +0000

Englewood Brewing Temporarily Closes with Announced Rescheduled Opening in 2025

Englewood Brewing Company (photo courtesy of Englewood Brewing from 2020)

Englewood Brewing Temporarily Closes with Announced Rescheduled Opening in 2025

Englewood Brewing has just announced that they will be (ceasing immediately) closing their restaurant operations. “Temporarily pausing our restaurant operations”, as of Monday – October 14th, 2024. They made the official post on their social media moments ago – (a pre-scheduled posting at 10:00 AM, Monday October 14th, 2024). They edited it shortly after due to comments to include the “ceasing immediately” and defining the date as of Monday, October 14th, 2024 that they will be closing the restaurant operations.

Their Facebook post reads:

Exciting Changes Coming to Englewood Hershey in 2025!

To our amazing Englewood Hershey family,

We want to thank you for all the love and support over the years. As we look ahead to 2025, we’ve decided to temporarily pause our restaurant operations, effective Monday, October 14th, to make some exciting improvements and deliver an even better experience when we return next year!

While we take this time to reboot, you can still join us for concerts, private events, weddings, and coffee at Englewood Hershey. We’re hard at work behind the scenes, getting ready to bring you the very best of Englewood Hershey in the new year.

This isn’t goodbye – it’s just a brief pause. We’ll be back better than ever in 2025! Stay tuned for updates, sneak peeks, and everything we have in store.

Thank you for your continued support, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you soon!

Photo Credit: SkyviewAerials – Harrisburg Jack Harlacker

Englewood Brewing’s social media announcement that they will be temporarily pausing their restaurant operations.

Englewood Brewing – Facebook Post

Englewood Hershey Pauses Restaurant Operations for a Refresh: Reopens in 2025 with New Look and Menu

Englewood Hershey, the popular restaurant and music venue in Derry Township, has announced a temporary closure starting today. Located at 1219 West End Ave. in Hershey’s “vibrant” West End, the venue is pausing its restaurant services to undergo significant changes aimed at enhancing its dining experience.

(See: A Taste of The Englewood – Our Review Of The Englewood’s Opening Day)

Why Englewood Hershey is Closing: A Strategic Hiatus

Co-owner Rick Russell shared that this temporary closure is a strategic decision to “evolve” the restaurant into something more in line with their original vision. “Restaurants go through evolutionary periods, and we are experiencing that right now,” Russell explained. “We’re fortunate enough to be able to pause operations and make these changes.”

The plan is to keep the restaurant closed through the start of 2025, but the venue will remain open for private events, live concerts, and comedy nights during the interim. Brewing operations will also continue without interruption, ensuring that Englewood Hershey’s craft beers will still be available to guests.

A Reboot for Englewood Hershey: What Changes Are Coming?

Englewood Hershey originally opened its doors in 2020, housed in a historic barn, as part of a multimillion-dollar project. The establishment quickly became a staple in the Hershey area for its combination of great food, craft beer, and live music. But, according to Russell, the experience has drifted towards a more casual atmosphere than initially intended.

Russell and business partner Jeff Sharp, who operate under Loto Station, LLC, are committed to refining Englewood’s identity. The reboot will include changes to the dining room, a refreshed menu, and an overall more upscale vibe.

Russell emphasized that these updates are necessary to keep Englewood relevant in the fast-paced restaurant industry. “It’s a reboot, and I think it’s part of the evolutionary change of restaurants,” he said. “We want to make it stronger and more customer-focused.”

Englewood Hershey’s Brewing Continues – And So Does Roasting

Though the restaurant is on hiatus, guests can still visit Englewood Roasting Company. This establishment, located at the former Cocoa Beanery on the same property, will remain open with extended hours and an expanded lunch menu during the restaurant’s closure.

Past Closures and Challenges: Water Damage Issues

(See: The Englewood Re-Opens)

Englewood Hershey has had to close twice in the past due to water damage. In late December 2022, a cold snap caused pipes to burst, forcing a seven-week closure. A year prior, a faulty sprinkler system also flooded parts of the venue, resulting in a temporary shutdown. Despite these setbacks, Russell and his team remain committed to ensuring the long-term success of the venue.

More Information on The Englewood

As per Untappd; The Englewood (Englewood Brewing) is a micro brewery from Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. They have 73 unique beers and over 15,000 ratings with a global average rating of 3.68 (as of 10.14.24). Their Untappd description reads: Englewood Brewing is an independent craft brewery that produces sought after brews poured fresh from the taps, in cans and crowlers. The restaurant serves American fare variations out of the state-of-the-art kitchen.

You can follow them on the following social media platforms:

The Beer Thriller’s Articles About The Englewood

Looking to read more about The Englewood and Englewood Brewing? Check out these articles:

Brewery News

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

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!

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MAPS OF BREWERIES

You can check out our different directories here: Beer Reviews, Hike Reviews, Book Reviews, Brewery News, Brewery Openings, Brewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

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The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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.

Victory Brewing and Tastykake Team Up Again For Peanut Butter Kandy Kake Porter

B. Kline — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 12:30:20 +0000

Victory Brewing and Tasty Kake Are Teaming Up Again

Their doing it again, for their second in what is now becoming a series, Victory Brewing and Tasty Kake are teaming up (again). Previously Victory Brewing and Tastykake teamed up to create the Victory Brewing – Koffee Kake Ale. (See: Victory Brewing Company and Tastykake Company Team Up for Koffee Kake Ale). This time they are back together, teaming up to make the Peanut Butter Tastykake collaboration.

Victory Brewing and Tastykake Team Up Again For Peanut Butter Kandy Kake Porter

Tastykake’s Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes

Victory Brewing (out of Downingtown PA) is again teaming up with Tastykake to release the Tastykake Peanut Butter Kandy Kake Porter. Tastykake is one of the most Pennsylvanian treats you can find (most likely at your WaWa or Sheetz or Rutter’s), and is always a go to treat for road trips and at home snacks. (I know personally its one of Amy’s favorites.) (I am fully anticipating a stop at Breski’s Beverages or West Connection Beer Vault once this is released to pick up a six pack.)

This will be a porter with notes of chocolate, peanut butter and light pound cake. It is the second release in what is becoming a series of beers between Victory Brewing and Tastykake. Currently its listed at being a 6% porter, and will be sold in 12 oz bottles (like the previous Victory Brewing – Tastykake pairing – Koffee Kake Ale), and its also noted that it will be released in cans. We will keep you updated on more information as we get it, including release dates, and if Victory will be hosting any events. (Last time they had a Tastykake Tap Takeover at their brewery.)

For More Information

For more information, stay tuned as we keep the blog updated on when new releases and more information will be available by Victory Brewing and this collaboration. You can also see these previous Victory Brewing and Tastykake articles:

How to Find It

Find Victory’s new Tastykake Koffee Kake Ale at retailers near you after launch by exploring the Beer Finder at VictoryBeer.com/BeerFinder. Follow Victory on social media at @VictoryBeer and Tastykake @Tastykake for updates and more on co-branded events behind this tasty collaboration.

More Information on Victory Brewing Company

The following comes from Untappd. Victory Brewing Company is a regional brewery from Downingtown PA. They have 956 unique beers, and over 2.8 Million reviews, with a global average rating of 3.67 (as of 8.24.24). Their Untappd description reads: Co-founders Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet The story of Victory Brewing Company starts on a school bus in 1973 when fifth-graders Ron Barchet and Bill Covaleski stepped aboard, on their way to a new school. The two became fast friends and remained so, even as they grew up and went to college on opposite coasts. Just months out of college, Bill’s appreciation of good beer and access to his father’s home brewing equipment inspired him to explore the hobby. That same year (1985), Bill gave Ron a home brewing kit as a Christmas gift. With that, both Bill and Ron developed their love of the craft, and a friendly rivalry grew between the two. The good-natured competition pushed Bill and Ron to become accomplished.

They have the following social media pages:

Tastykake – Koffee Kakes

Looking for more information about Tastykake and Koffee Kakes? Check out this link here:

Koffee Kake Cupcakes (Tastykake)

Some Articles About Victory Brewing Company

The Best Pennsylvania Breweries for Summer Beers
From Philly to Pittsburgh: Pennsylvania’s Top Craft Breweries You Must Visit
Sipping on Tradition: A Guide to Craft Beer Flagship Beers
Victory Brewery in Kennett Square Fire and Explosion
Victory Brewing Company and Tastykake Company Team Up for Koffee Kake Ale
Victory Brewing and Tastykake Collab Koffee Kake Ale to be Released on December 22nd
Beer Review: Koffee Kake Ale (Victory Brewing and TastyKake)
Victory Brewing Is Hosting A Tastykake Takeover
Victory Brewing and Tastykake Are Teaming Up Again for Peanut Butter Kandy Kake Porter

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!

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The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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.

Sworn Brewing a Year Later – A Sit Down with Jesse and Amanda

joshdoncevic — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 16:13:35 +0000

Sworn Brewing (photo courtesy of Sworn Brewing Company)

Sworn Brewing One Year Later

Its been just over a year since we visited Sworn Brewing in Mechanicsburg, PA and got to hang out with owners Jesse and Amanda. As we came to see them about their grand opening and pick their brains about the new brewery, this time we came to pick their brains one year later on. On the verge of their first anniversary, their one year anniversary, we stopped in – Josh, Amy, and myself (Ben), to take a seat with them, outside in the gorgeous (super) sunny weather.

(See: Getting Sworn In – A Sneak Peek at Sworn Brewing Company)

Just like we did with that article, we are breaking down this article as well, taking a look at it from the perspectives of Josh, Amy, and Ben; with each of us writing a section. (As a preview of how we did it, here’s a look back at the Getting Sworn In article):

The Set – Up

Amanda and Jesse are married and co – owners of Sworn Brewing Company. Jesse is also head brewer. We heard about them opening up their new brewery in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and I reached out to Amanda when I saw a post of hers’ on one of the beer groups. We locked down a meeting date – July 24th, 2023 – and all set to go. So Josh, Amy, and myself met with Amanda and Jesse and got a walk through and a sneak peek look at the upcoming brewery.

For this article, I’m going to let Josh start us off, then switch over to Amy, and then I’ll wrap things up and conclude the article. Please let us know in the comments section what you think of this, and if you like how this article looks and reads. (Josh and I did a similar article when we got a behind the scenes look at Mellow Mink – and Amy and I did similar with a sneak peek of The Beerded Goat).

– Getting Sworn In – A Sneak Peek at Sworn Brewing Company

And just like with that article, I’m going to let Josh start things off, then we’ll tag Amy in, and then I’ll wrap things up.

Josh – Getting Sworn Into Dedication

Token to Midnight by Sworn Brewing Company

On a very warm, sunny and oddly rainless day in Central Pennsylvania, Ben, Amy & myself sat down outside of a little brewery nearing its one year anniversary with two of our friends to discuss how far 365 days have brought them. Those two friends are the husband and wife team that run Sworn, Jesse & Amanda Mills.

While drinking in their company and beer, we learned a thing or two about what happens to a brand new brewery that was set up and dedicated to providing excellent craft beer. Wait a second, has it actually been a year already? Almost from the day the brewery launched back in August of 2023, the writing team of Ben, Amy, and myself have been jonesing for Sworn’s one year anniversary. Why? Because when Jesse & Amanda invited the three of us to sit down with them just before their official opening, we all felt a similar sense that whatever this new brewery was going to be, it was going to run roughshod over everyone’s expectations. And that’s just what’s happened.

In a repurposed garage, then catering outfit, now burgeoning micro brewery nestled behind Atlantis Pools on E Trindle Road, Sworn has become the destination that beer nerds clamor for parking spaces four days a week. As mild-mannered and laid back as brewmaster Jesse aims to be, his beer and patrons tend to be the exact opposite when it comes to speaking to an incredible talent located in Mechanicsburg. A constantly rotating beer list should be an indicator there’s been no shortage of foot traffic when the doors are open, but that’s really just a fraction of the story.

From the outset, the mission statement is a simple one for Sworn: Make the best beer possible and keep that promise. Period. And how does one do that, you might ask? While there are many ways to answer this question, I can really only think of two answers. One, be Jesse Mills. Two, and on a more serious note, keep batches small and pay absolute attention to even the smallest of details. But that’s the everyday vision. When pressed for the five and ten year plans, Jesse gave us an answer with real gravity to it. Five years out, there is no plan to expand the brewery. You may scoff, but this is on purpose. In fact, everything about Sworn is purpose driven and calculated. In a time where breweries seem to be closing as fast as they open, a level headed approach to a new business is what’s needed. Not spending money on things that only look fancy, yet ultimately do not add to the bottom line is something that the Mills have avoided and intend to keep it that way. Ten years out … admittedly, ten years out is a long way to look, but if the past year is any kind of template for the success Sworn has achieved, then the years to come are bright indeed.

From opening the doors for the first time, pouring at the Hoppy Valley Brewfest, to collaborating with some of PA’s biggest and best breweries, Sworn is here to stay. Happy One Year Anniversary, Amanda and Jesse. Forever may your fermenters be full and your lines be long.

Amy – Getting Sworn Into Quality

Sworn Brewing Mexican Lager

Am I too much when I tell you I am writing my article about Sworn Brewing company while wearing my Sworn Brewing company shirt? It’s seriously a comfy shirt. It’s not your regular T-shirt that after a few good washings softens up, it was a well-made T shirt. I could live in this T-shirt.

Every time I am walking into Sworn, I think of the quote from their Facebook page “We will strive to make sure the highest quality items we can get our hands on will be used in every single process. Everything that comes out of our taps, every single small batch of beer that we make will go through a rigorous quality control process. If it does not meet our standards, it will never be consumed by the customer. We are not here to cut corners, we are here to make sure we can provide you with the best possible experience that you deserve, what the craft brewing industry deserves!”

I still remember quoting this a year ago and we are delighted to celebrate the 2 years of Sworn Brewing Company. Each time I see how quickly their beer kicks or a standing room only Friday night I can’t clap hard enough, and I can’t wear this comfy T-shirt any more proudly.

Every aspect of Sworn Brewing company embodies this level of quality in all their products. When Sworn Brewing posts a beer was just tapped you need to leave your house immediately or you aren’t going to get to taste it. Jesse

brews the beer in manageable smaller quantities, it keeps the impeccable quality on point.

We sampled several different brews they had on tap during our visit last month. They are probably long gone by now. But you’d also hope that, so the beer is always fresh. I also tried a glass of the house made non-alcoholic

cream ale. It lasted maybe 30 seconds in front of me. Having non-alcoholic options is inclusive for whatever the reason. (See: I’ve Missed Drinking A Lot.)

On our visit we also enjoyed some of the beloved queso. This house made queso is the perfect pairing with Sworn beer. I do believe the boyfriend understands this is a must order each time we frequent Sworn. It seems natural to wonder why they aren’t expanding and growing? The question stemming from Jesse and Amanda was “why?” And the obvious, they won’t let the level of quality decrease in the slightest. Why not consider how detail oriented their attempt at brewery perfection is?

Ben – Getting Sworn Into Craftsmanship

Sworn Brewing

I get to see Jesse and Amanda fairly often at work, and when I get the chance I break away and stand around chatting with them for quite a while. We talk shop, the business, the industry; we brainstorm ideas like creating a tap handle out of an old PlayStation or NES controller for their “Gamer” series of beers. Amanda will tell me how we need to start up a podcast – which we do – and which we are constantly planning on doing – and we get to chatting about new beers at my work, as well as at their brewery, etc.

The biggest thing we would discuss is how we needed to do a follow up article for them. Discussing their one year mark. How everything has changed – or nothing has changed. (And in that year, a lot has and hasn’t changed.) We’ve gotten to stop over at Sworn’s brewery in Mechanicsburg several times in the course of the year, we’ve gotten to hang out with them at the Hoppy Valley Brewfest, they’ve grown in what they sell for beer, for drinks, for merch, and even doing crowlers and growlers.

Speaking of growlers… we come to the one (and seemingly only) regret Jesse really has of their first year of operation. When asked, and prodded about what he would change; he said he would go back and not sell those growlers. (But I’m getting a bit ahead of myself.)

Amy and I arrived about 5 – 10 minutes after Josh, who was already a stout deep; we joined him and then Jesse and Amanda outside in the beautiful sunny patio area. Over the past year I’ve become horrible with checking into beers on Untappd, even going full brewery visits without checking into beers, but throughout the course of our time there in the late July days, we (between myself, Amy, and Josh) got the entire board of beers. And that list ran the gambit from a stout, to IPAs, to pale ales, a Mexican lager, and a sour. All were – as always – fantastic.

Some of the various topics we discussed were things like collaborations. Like their recently completed collaboration – Storm the Field – with Troegs Independent Brewing, Antifragile Brewing, and Warwick Farm Brewing. We discussed how they were going to do a collaboration with Adroit Theory and then it didn’t quite work out. The nuances to collaborations are a very tricky thing.

This brings me back to how once again, just like in previous times we’ve done interviews with people, Amy, Josh and I, like to take a non-journalistic approach of ‘chatting’ and ‘hanging out’ rather than note taking, writing down, jotting every last thing said, quoting and using tape recorders and such. We much more prefer an open, relaxed, fun style of chatting and then going through our recollection to make our articles (when we do these sneak previews or sit downs with brewers and breweries, like we’ve done with Couch Brewery, Mellow Mink Brewing, Lindgren Brewing, Beerded Goat, etc.)

One of the many things we discussed over and over was Untappd. Amanda certainly has some strong opinions and thoughts on the app. We discussed the pros / cons to it – as a whole, for the industry, as well as to Sworn Brewing in particular. Jesse told us about how they reached out and approached him about making their brewery a “verified venue” because of how well Sworn Brewing was doing.

Amanda getting frustrated at the kegging cleaner at Collusion Tap Works (photo courtesy of Sworn Brewing)

Jumping back up to the discussion on collaborations, we discussed their Clayton Bigsby beer (if you know, you know), a collaboration with Collusion Tap Works. Its a black kolsch. Jesse and Amanda both discussed their love for Collusion Tap Works and for Jared, and their working agreement with them (mostly Amanda begrudgingly discussing how she has to go there to clean kegs).

Some of the most interesting parts of the discussion was listening to Jesse talk about the art and the craft of brewing beer. How much he loves their small model, getting to do so many new batches (they are already past 100 batches for the brewery, and Jesse himself is over a thousand commercially and professionally). Jesse absolutely loves his small system, his model of making beer the way he wants to, the designs and recipes that he wants to, and being able to just constantly tweak, to constantly update, to constantly fiddle with everything to the way he wants. Like an artist sculpting. Or a painter painting. And he very much views this as an art, his art. He gets to craft it, near daily, making the batches he wants, with the recipes he’s worked on and the brewing system he created.

Jesse and Amanda

There are many things to say, but looking back over our pictures, and this one grabs my thoughts on it, is that I really wanted to point out is the dedication and enjoyment, and love that these two have for what their doing. Jesse obviously loves the brewing process, brewing, crafting, honing his beers. But they both love doing this. They genuinely enjoy running the brewery, talking to guests, sitting there and hanging out with people, chatting about beer, with beer, to people. They both have an extreme passion for the business, for the quality, for the art, for the beer, for what it means to people, to the community, to what it means for everyone. These two love getting to work with and for the people of not just Mechanicsburg, but all the people who visit their brewery. Who have taken home crowlers and given them to friends or tasted them with their friends. Nearly every single person that walked into that brewery on July 18th, knew Jesse and Amanda, they shook hands, hit fists, clapped shoulders, etc. Bantered with each and every person. Watching them with the people coming into their humble brewery, you can see why they do this, why they continue to do this, and why they want to continue to do this. Plus, I think it lets them keep giving their daughter (part time bartender) enough crap every day. (What parent wouldn’t want that?)

Throughout the course of our chat, we enjoyed the full menu, while Jesse and Amanda enjoyed their lager, we joked, we chatted about the past year, how crazy it all felt just a year ago sitting down to chat about the place to be, and how its ‘grown’ in that year. Grown being a relative term really. The brewery and the building itself is the same size, but there are so many differences. The patio area outside is bigger, theres a larger area to make food, and something that Jesse wants to do much more of. Theres the sense of how its grown in popularity, in community, and in spirit. We joked about things they could do or would do or would not do with the building and the area, we joked about things from their opening like the black drop down ceiling tiles, etc.

Funnily enough there isn’t much of anything Jesse wants to change, or even grow, in the sense of ‘getting larger’ materially. He enjoys his size, his location, their heartbeat of a brewery. They enjoy just what they have, not wanting to get ‘too big’ or to ‘outgrow’ themselves. We talked about satellite and second locations, and discussed how this doomed or severely hurt many other breweries. We discussed some financials of the industry and Sworn itself, but generally this was a dog best left to sleep. I think the biggest thing we could say as a takeaway is contentment in this aspect. They are secure, happy, and content with the creation, the situation, the brewery; not content in a “resting on their laurels” kind of way, but content in what they created, a happiness brought on by all the hardwork, sweat, and straight up work in the brewery; a contentment more born on satisfaction and not wanting to destroy whats already there. Progress will be made obviously, but not for lack of reason, lack of logic, lack of strategy and idea. Progress for Sworn will be in an essence a tactical idea.

Moving back to the beer aspect of our conversation, we chatted and discussed styles. We talked about IPAs, hazy and west coast, we talked about saisons, lagers, we talked about stouts and porters. Basically we covered the spectrum of craft beer, and how Jesse loves to brew and try them all. The challenge of coming up with new recipes for different styles is always forefront, but a challenge Jesse looks forward to, a challenge he wants and in almost an aspect its something that drives his brewing edge, his creativity. He keeps him a younger man in a sense. (Which I’m sure Amanda appreciates.) But that spark of creativity and wanting to try different approaches, different styles, different recipes, is the genesis and main thrust of The Gamer series. Jesse’s version of research and development, his system to test out new recipes and methods and variants, “what if I change this hop or tweak this grain bill”, etc.

The area around the smoker and cooking area for Sworn Brewing

Amy took the above picture of the ‘food prep’ area at Sworn Brewing, the smoker and outdoor grill area. And of course had to grab a shot of the award that Jesse won. Later in the conversations, Jesse talks about how awards and things like the Untappd stuff and tournaments and medals don’t appeal to him, so of course we had to poke at him, and mention how he “prominently displays this award”. (He promptly then removed said award, in a bit of a good natured huff.) When visiting the brewery, make sure you look for this award and point it out to Jesse.

Speaking of things that annoy Jesse, we would be amiss if we didn’t mention the stickers bearing his likeness. There is a sticker of Jesse’s head. And needless to say Jesse loves that this is a thing (maximum sarcasm involved here). We have discussed using the image for panties, as well as pasties, and other sorts of merchandise and memorabilia. One can only hope one day we’ll be able to buy Jesse themed pasties and panties from Sworn Brewing. (The ball is in their court.)

Wrapping This Up

We are fast approaching the 3500 word mark, and its best we get this wrapped up. As always, we had a wonderful time visiting. And even more so, we had a fantastic time chatting with Amanda and Jesse. They are absolutely phenomenal people to get to hang out with, and pick their brains about beer, the industry, brewing, everything really. They really are wonderful people, and its a blast getting to spend time with them, and getting to be at their brewery. And they don’t make bad beer either, so thats certainly a plus.

I can’t say enough great things about them, Sworn Brewing, and am constantly recommending the brewery to people that come into my work or that I meet out. The community aspect is top notch, and the place is welcoming, the beers are good, the food is great, and the vibe is perfect.

We are so happy to see how well they are doing, and wish them a Happiest Anniversary. One down, many more to go! (Here’s to revisiting this article and writing about their 50th anniversary!)

I want to again thank Amanda and Jesse for inviting us out and having us chat with them and getting to not just write the first article but this second article as well. I want to thank Josh and Amy as well for writing and helping craft this article. We visited on July 18th, and we wrote our portions somewhat from there, some in increments, but mostly in the later more recent time, so any errors and mistakes are due to our faulty minds, especially since “we had a few that day”.

I do want to apologize for some of the tardiness of this article, it was originally intended to get prepared and finished around the 10th of August, but real life (four daughters and all) tends to get in the way, and this article is just a mere 10 days late. My apologies.

I want to give one final shout of: “WHOOOOOO DEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY” to fully wrap this up.

More Information on Sworn Brewing Company

The following comes via Untappd.

Sworn Brewing Company is a nano brewery from Mechanicsburg, PA. They have 121 unique beers, and over 9,100 ratings, with a global average rating of 4.19 (as of 8.20.24). Their Untappd description is currently blank.

You can find them at the following social media platforms:

Some Articles Written by Josh

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Amy’s Column Series

For More Articles from Ben

All Of Us

Seen Through a Glass – Season 2, Episode 31: Let’s Talk Beer (our interview with Lew Bryson)

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Urban Artifact Brewery Files Federal Lawsuit Against Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Over Online Beer Sales Restrictions

B. Kline — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 02:23:09 +0000

Urban Artifact Brewery Files Federal Lawsuit Against Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Over Online Beer Sales Restrictions

Urban Artifact Brewery, Cincinnati Ohio.

Cincinnati, OH – Urban Artifact, a renowned brewery in Cincinnati’s Northside, has taken legal action against Pennsylvania’s Liquor Control Board, challenging the state’s restrictive policies on online beer sales.

For nine years, Urban Artifact has been delighting customers across multiple states with its unique fruit-flavored beers. However, the brewery has encountered significant hurdles when attempting to expand its distribution to Pennsylvania, particularly concerning its monthly and quarterly club membership cases.

The crux of the issue lies in Pennsylvania’s stringent regulations. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board stipulates that out-of-state breweries can only ship a maximum of 90 ounces of beer per month into the state. Additionally, these breweries must hold a retail or wholesale license – requirements not imposed on in-state breweries.

Jeffrey Jennings, the attorney representing Urban Artifact, argues that these regulations are inherently discriminatory. “What’s happening here is really unfair to out-of-state businesses. You shouldn’t be discriminated against just because you’re located in a different state,” Jennings stated.

Scotty Hunter, CFO of Urban Artifact, voiced his frustrations, highlighting the impact on small businesses. “We can only directly sell online to about eight states currently; Ohio and Kentucky are two of those, which is great for our region, but there should be much broader access, especially for a small business like us,” Hunter explained.

Urban Artifact’s lawsuit underscores a growing concern among out-of-state breweries facing similar challenges. The outcome of this case could set a significant precedent for interstate commerce and the craft beer industry.

For now, beer enthusiasts in Pennsylvania may find it challenging to access Urban Artifact’s beloved brews, but the brewery’s fight for fair treatment continues, with implications that could resonate across the craft beer landscape.

Urban Artifact is located at 1660 Blue Rock St, Cincinnati, OH 45223. We got to visit their brewery back in November 2020 as part of my trip to and from Indianapolis, IN. Was one of my favorite breweries of the trip, and I was so glad to find them soon distributing to Pennsylvania (shortly after I got back home they started). (See: The Trip to Indy – Day Five Recap: The Start of the Return Voyage – Visiting Cincinnati and Kentucky (Taste of Belgium, Moerlein Lager House, Braxton Brewing, Taft’s Ale House, Urban Artifact).)

More Information on Urban Artifact

The following comes via Untappd. Urban Artifact Brewing Company is a micro brewery from Cincinnati, OH. They have 712 unique beers and over 443,000 ratings with a global average rating of 3.86 as of 7.24.24. Their Untappd description reads: “A Cincinnati, OH brewery dedicated to producing world-class Fruit Tarts with a singular focus—to reward the curious.”

You can find them at the following social media platforms:

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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 #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) 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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