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When Washington Goes Dark: What the 2025 Federal Shutdown Means for Pennsylvania Breweries

B. Kline — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 23:32:10 +0000

When Washington Goes Dark: What the 2025 Federal Shutdown Means for Pennsylvania Breweries

For beer lovers, the notion of a federal government shutdown might seem distant—something about national parks, IRS forms, and Congress fighting over budgets. But for breweries—especially craft breweries with narrow margins, seasonal releases, and regulatory dependencies—a shutdown can become existential. In October 2025, as federal funding lapsed and agencies began furloughing non-essential staff, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) effectively ground to a halt in its regulatory functions.

This post is a deep dive into how the shutdown ripples through the craft brewing world, nationally and in Pennsylvania, how breweries can respond, which ones may weather the storm best, and what the future might hold.

The Government Shut Down and Pennsylvania Breweries (2025 Edition)

1. Overview: The 2025 Shutdown and What’s Actually “Off the Shelf”

What triggered it

On October 1, 2025, the U.S. federal government entered a partial shutdown after Congress failed to pass appropriation bills or a continuing resolution. The lapse in funding forced many federal agencies to suspend non-essential operations.

The TTB, a critical agency for breweries (and wineries, distilleries), publicly posted its shutdown plan: out of approximately 459 staffers, 398 would be furloughed, leaving only around 61 “excepted” employees to maintain legally required and essential operations.

What functions continue (and why)

The TTB’s “excepted” functions are narrowly defined. Among the tasks that will continue:

Processing excise tax returns that include remittance (i.e. payments)
Maintaining minimal computer / IT operations to avoid data loss or system collapse
Protecting statute expirations, liens, seizures, federal property — i.e. safeguarding legal and financial infrastructures
Criminal enforcement, to the extent required by statute, and operations that cannot legally pause

However, most of what breweries rely on will be suspended or delayed:

Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) reviews and approvals
Formula approvals
Brewer’s permit application or modification
Laboratory services and testing
Non-criminal investigations, audits, inspections
Administrative support, customer service, and non-statutory tasks

In effect, if you had a label to approve or a change in formula to submit, it’s on ice. You can submit electronically, but nothing moves until TTB is fully funded again.

Trade associations are already warning of a backlog when operations resume.

2. National Impact: The Shockwaves through the Craft Beer Industry

It’s easy to imagine that a government shutdown is a “Washington problem,” but the brewing sector is one of the less obvious industries hit hard and fast. Let’s trace the national picture before we localize to Pennsylvania.

Why breweries are uniquely vulnerable

Regulatory dependency: Breweries must interact with TTB for label approvals, permit changes, formula permissions, and compliance oversight. When TTB pauses, breweries cannot legally launch new products or adjust existing ones.
Seasonal and specialty beer timing: Many breweries operate on tight windows: spring IPAs, summer sours, fall pumpkins, winter stouts. Any delay in approval can push a beer’s launch past its season, undermining marketing and sales.
Supply chain interlocking: Ingredient imports, yeast procurement, packaging changes (if new label art or recipes), and logistics are often timed to regulatory clearance. Delays there cascade into production and distribution.
Margin sensitivity: Craft breweries typically run lean. A few weeks of delay can jeopardize cash flow, especially for smaller operations without deep reserves.
Three-tier distribution pressures: Because craft brewers often must move through distributors and retailers, downstream partners expect timely delivery. A delay in one link (label approval) can stall the entire path.

Recent shutdowns as precedent

In the 2019 federal shutdown, breweries found their seasonal releases held up. In the Philadelphia region, for example, breweries that had planned winter or spring launches were forced to delay or cancel new beers because labels couldn’t be approved.

Industry analysts note that during shutdowns, many breweries end up with “tanks full of beer they can’t release.”

The Brewers Association, reacting to the current shutdown, is advising brewers to expect immediate disruptions to labeling, formula, permitting, and that the pause may last for some time.

Distillers, winemakers, and crossover impacts

While this post is beer-centric, the parallels in the wine and spirits world help underscore how universal the regulatory risk is:

Distillers see the same freeze on label and formula approvals during shutdowns.
The wine industry notes that permit and label processing stops entirely, though excise payment functions remain.
The broader hospitality sector feels the ripple: delayed new product releases, fewer SKUs entering the market, and slowed innovation.

In short: The shutdown isn’t a minor inconvenience. It threatens growth, planning, and the very operations of craft beer producers across the country.

3. Pennsylvania Breweries: Facing the Shutdown in the Keystone State

Now let’s zoom in. Pennsylvania is one of the heavyweight states in craft beer. The stakes are high—and uneven across breweries.

The state’s brewing landscape (pre-shutdown)

To understand who’s most vulnerable, we need to recap how Pennsylvania’s beer economy stands:

Pennsylvania ranks among the top states in craft beer production and economic impact.
As of 2023/2024, the craft beer industry in PA contributed billions to state economies, with strong volumes.
However, 2024 saw some contraction: some of PA’s larger craft breweries reported sales declines, and at least 18 breweries closed in the state.
The craft boom in PA has also been tempered by saturation, competition, and broader market pressures.
Additionally, in 2025, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant (a multi-location brewpub chain that included ten in PA) abruptly closed all locations, citing financial challenges.

Given this backdrop, a shutdown may push already marginal players dangerously close to the edge.

Local precedents: how past shutdowns affected PA brewers

In 2019, when the federal shutdown paused TTB approvals, breweries in the Philadelphia region reported that seasonal launches were delayed or canceled. WHYY covered how Dock Street Brewery, for example, had new beer plans halted midstream.

Ted Zeller, General Counsel to the Pennsylvania Brewers Association, warned that without label approvals, beers can’t reach shelf or tapline.

These episodes show that PA brewers are not new to this risk—but this shutdown may be deeper, longer, and more consequential.

What’s different in 2025

Larger scale and more sophistication: Some PA breweries now operate regionally or nationally and often have tighter supply chains, making delays more damaging.
Slimming margins: With recent sales declines and closures, many breweries may not have much buffer.
Distribution complexity: Breweries supplying interstate markets will be directly hit if TTB doesn’t approve labels for out-of-state distribution.
Connected local networks: PA breweries often collaborate, co-brew, or share resources. Therefore, a shock to one node can affect others.
Media attention and local demand: As beer tourism picks up, local reputation matters. Delays or canceled launches may erode consumer trust.

Who in Pennsylvania may handle this better (and who’s vulnerable)

Best positioned:

Large, vertically integrated breweries
For example, D.G. Yuengling & Son, with deep reserves, long operating history, and diversified operations, is better able to weather temporary disruptions. (Though even they are not immune—2024 saw an 8% sales drop for Yuengling.)
Breweries with stable, ongoing SKUs
Brewers whose core lineup dominates their sales are less reliant on frequent label tweaks or seasonal launches.
Breweries with local focus
Breweries that sell primarily within Pennsylvania and whose distribution doesn’t cross state lines may be less exposed to label/distribution bottlenecks.
Those with compliance and regulatory foresight
Breweries that preemptively processed label changes, modular formula options, or prepared alternate versions may be more resilient.
Cash-rich or well-funded operations
The ones with financial reserves to absorb a few weeks (or even months) of stalled product launches.

Most vulnerable:

Small startups and taproom-centric breweries
New breweries relying on label and permit approval to launch or move beyond taproom sales could face crippling delays.
Breweries with heavy seasonal catalogs
Those whose revenue depends heavily on limited releases (e.g. fall pumpkin ales) are in the crosshairs.
Breweries with narrow margins
Those already struggling with rising costs, labor pressure, or debt burden will feel immediate financial strain.
Operators with heavy interstate distribution
If their label approvals are stalled, they can’t ship new beers out of state, which may suppress growth or demand.

While I did not find credible published quotes yet from specific Pennsylvania breweries making statements about the 2025 shutdown, the patterns and warnings are consistent from breweries in other states and in prior shutdowns. The Brewers Association, American Craft Beer, and LibationLaw provide strong industry frameworks.

4. Historical Context: Shutdowns, Precedents, & Lessons Learned

To truly appreciate the severity of the current landscape, it helps to look back at how prior shutdowns have hit breweries—and what lessons can shape responses.

2019–2020 shutdowns and craft beer

The 2019 federal shutdown (Dec 2018 – Jan 2019) was one of the longer interruptions in memory. During that time:

The TTB essentially stopped approving new labels, formulas, and permits. Breweries were left waiting.
In the Philadelphia region, breweries canceled or delayed seasonal launches.
Some breweries reportedly had beer languishing in tanks because they couldn’t legally bring it to market.

The takeaway: even a few weeks of delay can derail a brewery’s schedule, cash flow, and consumer momentum.

Shutdowns during the Trump era & industry behavior

While not always explicitly tied to breweries, shutdowns under the Trump administration repeatedly spotlighted delays in regulatory agencies—a pattern breweries grew accustomed to treating as “business risk.”

Some breweries adopted strategies like:

Pre-submitting all anticipated label filings before seasonal cycles
Buffering product inventory before expected shutdown windows
Avoiding reliance on narrow release windows near the edges of regulatory cycles

These behavioral adaptations are relevant now as well.

Broader regulatory and enforcement shutdown history

Historically, during government shutdowns, many federal oversight functions roll back to bare minimums — public health, safety, and financial protection are prioritized, while discretionary functions halt. This has ripple effects in food, environmental, and industrial sectors. Breweries often live in that discretionary space (e.g. labeling, new product approvals).

Additionally, during shutdowns, the backlog and pent-up demand can swamp agencies when they reopen—leading to long delays even after funding is restored. That “catch-up hangover” is part of the real cost.

5. What Breweries Can Do: Mitigation Strategies & Prepared Moves

Even as the shutdown looms, breweries aren’t powerless. Below are actionable strategies to reduce risks and improve resilience.

Pre-shutdown preparedness (ideally before the lapse)

File early and often
Submit label changes, formula modifications, and permit adjustments before the funding cutoff—if possible.
Submit “scalable” or modular label/ formula alternatives
If your process allows, pre-file alternate labels or versions that require minimal changes so that small tweaks may sail through or avoid major rejections later.
Stock up buffer inventory
For key seasonal or high-margin beers, produce extra in advance so you have something to market while new releases are stalled.
Reserve critical raw materials
If import or customs delays might arise, have extra hops, yeast, adjuncts, or packaging materials in hand.
Tighten compliance and audits now
Make sure all existing labels, formulations, ingredients, and documentation are in order to minimize risk of regulatory flags when oversight resumes.
Stress test cash flow
Model scenarios: what if launches are delayed two months? What if some SKUs are stuck? Understand worst-case margins.
Engage with trade organizations
The Brewers Association, state brewer groups, and regional alliances can lobby, share intelligence, and amplify impact.

During the shutdown: defensive operations

Pause new launches
Don’t start marketing or production of new SKUs intended for release until the regulatory path clears.
Pivot focus to core SKUs and taproom sales
Double down on what you already can sell legally without needing new approvals.
Communicate carefully
Let distributors, retailers, and customers know there may be delays—maintaining goodwill is crucial.
Monitor federal announcements
Stay abreast of TTB, Treasury, and Congressional developments via official portals and trade newsletters.
Document everything
Track submission dates, label versions, formula data, correspondence—so when the agency reopens, you have clear records.
Plan for extended backlog
Anticipate that even after funding returns, approvals may be slow. Prioritize essential filings first and consider triaging less critical ones.
Explore intra-state sales or local channels
If possible under state law, sell more directly to local consumers or use taproom strength to offset distribution delays.

Post-shutdown: recovery & catch-up

Push prioritized filings immediately
As soon as TTB reopens, move critical filings (seasonal releases, revenue drivers) to the head of the queue.
Reconfirm submissions
Sometimes, during the pause, systems or databases may lose synchronization—confirm that your filings are intact.
Negotiate with distributors/retailers
Get buy-in for staggered delivery or alternate SKUs while the label queue clears.
Leverage marketing flexibility
Use the delay period to ramp up pre-launch hype so that once you’re cleared, demand is ready.
Learn and adapt
Use the shutdown experience to revise your regulatory strategy for future cycles.

6. Pennsylvania Breweries Best Equipped (and What They Bring to the Table)

Some Pennsylvania breweries are better positioned to survive (or even thrive) during a regulatory freeze. Below are illustrative types and examples, along with traits to emulate.

D.G. Yuengling & Son (Pottsville, PA)

Legacy scale & capital reserves: As the oldest brewery in America, Yuengling has operational depth and financial strength.
Core SKU dominance: They rely heavily on flagship beers, less frequent branding shifts, and have strong name recognition.
Vertical infrastructure: Large operations, distribution networks, and buffer capacity give flexibility.
Community and brand loyalty: Their historic brand status gives them a cushion when marketing or new SKUs stall.

While not immune to shutdown pressures—they saw an 8% sales drop in 2024—Yuengling is in a relatively advantaged position.

Tröegs Independent Brewing (Hershey, PA)

As one of Pennsylvania’s well-known craft names, Tröegs has a diversified portfolio, regional distribution, and a stable market presence. Their size and brand equity give them room to absorb delays. (Cited among PA’s top producers in recent rankings.)

Pittsburgh Brewing / Iron City

Pittsburgh has a storied brewing heritage. Pittsburgh Brewing (and legacy brands tied with it) can tap into legacy branding and local loyalty.

Mid-sized regional brewers

Brewers who have scaled somewhat—enough to maintain reserves, but still nimble—are in a sweet spot. If they primarily serve Pennsylvania or neighboring states, so long as label and permit issues are handled prudently, they may endure better than small startups.

Taproom / direct-sales centric brewers

Breweries whose revenue and brand come largely from on-site sales, community events, and local customers can sidestep some distribution and label pressures. While they still need regulatory compliance, their reliance on novelty SKUs is lower.

Traits to emulate (beyond names)

Advance filing discipline
Modular product planning
Cash buffer and financial flexibility
Strong local consumer support
Robust taproom and direct-to-consumer channels
Agile marketing and pipeline coordination

These traits help create a buffer against the sudden regulatory blackout.

7. Closing Thoughts

This shutdown is more than a bureaucratic freeze — it’s a stress test on how deeply entwined craft beer is with federal infrastructure. I’ve seen breweries born in garages and grow into regional legends; I’ve watched label art get revised, formulas rebalanced, and seasonal beers become brand inflection points. The TTB, often unseen by drinkers, is a silent gatekeeper. When it pauses, the gates slam shut.

Pennsylvania, with its brewing heritage rooted in Yuengling and vibrant craft corridors in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Lancaster, and beyond, is front and center in this fight. Some breweries will grit their way through with lean operations and agile pivots. Others may stagger. A few may not survive. That’s not alarmism — it’s acknowledging the unexpected: months of delays, a backlog of approvals, and consumer impatience.

If Congress and the White House manage to restore funding soon, we’ll see a mad sprint at TTB headquarters to clear the backlog. But that won’t erase the weeks lost. Breweries that had planned, built buffer, and stayed lean will have a head start. Those caught flat-footed will be scrambling.

To brewers in Pennsylvania: move carefully, prioritize your essential SKUs, protect your cash, and plan as though this shutdown could last weeks — or even stretch long enough to undermine your seasonal wheels. Trade groups, local MLA’s, and the Pennsylvania Brewers Association must be your ally. Use them. Stay vocal in public forums, media, and with congressional offices — your local voice counts.

I believe in the resilience of this community. Beer thrives on risk, on experimentation, and on the tenacity of people who wake daily to mash, boil, ferment, package, and sell. But risk without hedges is needless and preventable. Use this as a wake-up call: regulatory risk is real. Build for it. And when the breweries in Pennsylvania emerge from this shutdown, let the stories of adaptation, survival, and ingenuity be part of what defines the next chapter in American craft beer.

Raise one — cautiously, but optimistically — to better days ahead.

8. Sources

Libation Law Blog — “TTB Publishes Shutdown Plan: What It Means for the Beverage Industry”
https://libationlawblog.com/2025/09/30/ttb-shutdown-plan-2025/
Treasury / TTB — “TTB Shutdown Plan (Lapse Plan PDF)”
https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/266/Treasury_TTB_Lapse_Plan.pdf
TTB — “Funding Lapse Information for TTB Employees”
https://www.ttb.gov/funding-lapse-information-ttb-employees
Brewers Association — “Government Shutdown Now in Effect: What Brewers Should Know”
https://www.brewersassociation.org/government-affairs-updates/government-shutdown-now-in-effect-what-brewers-should-know/
Brewers Association — “Government Shutdown Now in Effect (alternate)”
https://www.brewersassociation.org/current-issues/government-shutdown-now-in-effect-what-brewers-should-know-2/
Wine Institute — “U.S. Government Shuts Down: TTB Services Suspended”
https://wineinstitute.org/news-alerts/u-s-government-shuts-down-ttb-services-suspended/
Spirits & Distilling — “What the TTB Shutdown Means for Distillers”
https://www.spiritsanddistilling.com/what-the-ttb-shutdown-means-for-distillers
Fox43 — “Pa. breweries step up after Iron Hill closure”
https://www.fox43.com/article/life/food/pa-breweries-step-up-after-iron-hill-closure-customers-staff-gift-cards-rewards/521-3cf68293-94ba-4c2f-bc02-bed1bb968ca8
Axios — “Pennsylvania’s largest breweries see sales drop in 2024”
https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/07/01/pennsylvania-breweries-sales-drop-beer
Axios — “Pa. breweries hold strong in 2024 beer rankings”
https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/04/23/pennsylvania-2024-craft-brewery-rankings

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MAPS OF BREWERIES

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The Average Cost of Beer Per Ballpark (2025)

B. Kline — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 19:37:50 +0000

The Average Cost of Beer Per Ballpark

Beer and baseball just go together…. like… baseball and cracker jacks…. or baseball and peanuts…. or baseball and soft pretzels. You know… come to think of it, all of these foods are very salty and make you want to drink… I wonder if thats a coincidence?

Beer prices at Major League Baseball (MLB) stadiums in 2025 vary significantly, reflecting each team’s pricing strategies and efforts to enhance fan experience. While some teams have introduced value menus to offer more affordable options, others maintain higher prices, especially for premium or craft selections. So its no wonder you wanna know where you can get the most bang for your buck, so lets see what stadiums and ballparks have the best cost to beer ratios!

Union Craft Brewing’s beer at Camden Yards. (photo courtesy of Union Craft Brewing)

Average Beer Prices Across MLB Stadiums

Based on available data, the average price for a 16-ounce domestic beer at MLB stadiums in 2025 is approximately $7.50. However, prices can range from as low as $3.00 to as high as $15.00, depending on the stadium and beer type.

Notable Examples

Most Expensive: At Steinbrenner Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays’ spring training, a 16-ounce beer can cost up to $15.00, the highest reported in the league. Bookies.com
Affordable Options: Teams like the Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers have introduced value menus, offering beers for as low as $5.00 to attract more fans and provide a family-friendly experience. MarketWatch
Special Promotions: The St. Louis Cardinals offer $5.00 beers at the Budweiser Terrace during all games, providing fans with a more affordable beverage option. Reddit

Price Per Ounce

Analyzing beer prices per ounce provides additional insight:

Highest Per Ounce: The San Francisco Giants have one of the highest per-ounce prices at $0.73, reflecting the premium pricing at Oracle Park. ESPN.com
Lowest Per Ounce: The Colorado Rockies offer beers at $0.25 per ounce, making Coors Field one of the most affordable stadiums for beer.

Average Beer Prices in 2025

While the average beer price at MLB stadiums in 2025 hovers around $7.50 for a 16-ounce domestic beer, fans can find both more affordable and more expensive options depending on the stadium and available promotions. Teams are increasingly offering value menus and special deals to enhance the game-day experience and make attending games more accessible to a broader audience.

See Our Article: The Best and Closest Brewery to Every MLB Ballpark

🍺 Average Beer Prices at MLB Ballparks (2025 Season)

Team	Stadium	Average Beer Price
Baltimore Orioles	Oriole Park at Camden Yards	10.99$
Boston Red Sox	Fenway Park	10.50$
Chicago White Sox	Guaranteed Rate Field	10.50$
Chicago Cubs	Wrigley Field	10.49$
San Francisco Giants	Oracle Park	9.00$
Pittsburgh Pirates	PNC Park	8.91$
Milwaukee Brewers	American Family Field	8.49$
Texas Rangers	Globe Life Field	8.00$
Philadelphia Phillies	Citizens Bank Park	7.69$
Houston Astros	Minute Maid Park	7.50$
New York Mets	Citi Field	7.50$
Cincinnati Reds	Great American Ball Park	7.49$
Los Angeles Dodgers	Dodger Stadium	7.00$
Oakland Athletics	Oakland Coliseum	7.00$
New York Yankees	Yankee Stadium	6.00$
Detroit Tigers	Comerica Park	5.29$
St. Louis Cardinals	Busch Stadium	5.25$
Miami Marlins	loanDepot Park	5.00$
Tampa Bay Rays	Tropicana Field	5.00$
Cleveland Guardians	Progressive Field	5.00$
Kansas City Royals	Kauffman Stadium	5.00$
Seattle Mariners	T-Mobile Park	5.00$
San Diego Padres	Petco Park	5.00$
Minnesota Twins	Target Field	4.99$
Atlanta Braves	Truist Park	4.99$
Arizona Diamondbacks	Chase Field	4.99$
Los Angeles Angels	Angel Stadium	4.50$
Toronto Blue Jays	Rogers Centre	4.44$
Colorado Rockies	Coors Field	3.00$
Washington Nationals	Nationals Park	3.00$

Now, as you can see, by the low prices of some of these parks, this obviously doesn’t indicate the best beer is being consumed! The math was accumulated over the total prices of beer items listed in various places in the parks, and also takes in some discounts and different methods that some (season ticket holders, etc.) have of reducing the costs. Its also prince per ounce, so costs may seem off balance due to this as well.

Numbers and information comes via Market Watch.

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.

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The Closest and Best Brewery Near Every MLB Ballpark

B. Kline — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 21:11:54 +0000

The Closest and Best Brewery Near Every MLB Ballpark

In honor of baseball season kicking off today, let’s take a look at the best breweries nearest to each of the MLB ballparks throughout the country.

There’s nothing quite like catching a Major League Baseball game on a sunny afternoon—or under the lights—with a cold beer in hand. But while stadium beer options are improving, true craft beer lovers know that the best pints are often found just outside the ballpark gates.

Whether you’re a baseball diehard on a ballpark tour or a local looking to elevate your game-day experience, we’ve rounded up the best and closest craft brewery to every MLB stadium. From legendary lager halls to modern hop havens, these breweries are perfect pregame or postgame destinations.

Slugger by Sly Fox Brewing at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA

🧢 American League

Baltimore Orioles – Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Checkerspot Brewing Company (0.5 miles)
A short walk from Camden Yards, Checkerspot is a haven for local beer lovers. Their Flagship Helles and Juniperus IPA are favorites—perfect for cooling down after a humid Baltimore afternoon.

Boston Red Sox – Fenway Park

Trillium Brewing Company – Fort Point (2.5 miles)
While not next door, Trillium’s Fort Point taproom is worth the trek for juicy IPAs, saisons, and some of the city’s most revered hazy offerings.

Chicago White Sox – Guaranteed Rate Field

Revolution Brewing – Kedzie Taproom (5 miles)
A Chicago staple, Revolution is known for Anti-Hero IPA and its barrel-aged Deep Wood series. A short ride from the South Side gets you to one of the Midwest’s best breweries.

Cleveland Guardians – Progressive Field

Market Garden Brewery (0.7 miles)
Just down the road in Ohio City, Market Garden pours a great lineup with something for everyone—from their classic Progress Pilsner to seasonal sours.

Detroit Tigers – Comerica Park

Atwater Brewery (1 mile)
Set along the Detroit River, Atwater serves up hometown classics like Vanilla Java Porter and Dirty Blonde Ale. A short walk or quick drive makes it a game-day go-to.

Houston Astros – Minute Maid Park

8th Wonder Brewery (0.4 miles)
Just blocks from the ballpark, 8th Wonder celebrates Houston with creative beers and a vibrant taproom. Try Dome Faux’m, their ode to the Astrodome.

Kansas City Royals – Kauffman Stadium

Boulevard Brewing Company (7 miles)
A bit of a drive, but no KC beer tour is complete without Boulevard. Hit up their Beer Hall before or after the game for Tank 7, Space Camper, and more.

Los Angeles Angels – Angel Stadium

Golden Road Brewing – Anaheim (1.5 miles)
A SoCal staple, Golden Road’s Anaheim outpost is minutes from the stadium and offers a laid-back beer garden with a solid core lineup.

Minnesota Twins – Target Field

Fulton Beer (0.2 miles)
Fulton’s taproom is practically in Target Field’s shadow. Sweet Child of Vine and Lonely Blonde are local legends worth sipping with a brat and baseball.

New York Yankees – Yankee Stadium

The Bronx Brewery (1.5 miles)
A short ride into the heart of the Bronx brings you to this hip, industrial-style brewery with a strong lineup and community spirit.

Oakland Athletics – Oakland Coliseum

Drake’s Brewing Co. (1 mile)
Tucked behind a warehouse facade, Drake’s Barrel House delivers West Coast IPA gold and a cozy outdoor space for pregame pints.

Seattle Mariners – T-Mobile Park

Fremont Brewing (3.5 miles)
A drive across town brings you to Fremont, a must-visit brewery with a loyal following and an award-winning lineup, including their legendary Lush IPA.

Tampa Bay Rays – Tropicana Field

Green Bench Brewing Co. (0.6 miles)
Located in downtown St. Pete, Green Bench is one of Florida’s finest, offering everything from Berliner weisses to barrel-aged stouts.

Texas Rangers – Globe Life Field

Legal Draft Beer Co. (1.1 miles)
Just a mile from the ballpark, Legal Draft delivers sessionable beers in a laid-back Arlington setting—perfect for pregame hops or postgame analysis.

Toronto Blue Jays – Rogers Centre

Steam Whistle Brewing (Next to the stadium)
You can’t get any closer than Steam Whistle. Located in the historic Roundhouse just steps from Rogers Centre, this pilsner-focused brewery is practically part of the stadium experience.

⚾ National League

Arizona Diamondbacks – Chase Field

Wren House Brewing Company (3 miles)
A quick Uber ride rewards you with one of Phoenix’s most acclaimed breweries. Valley Beer is a crisp, local lager that hits the spot on a game day.

Atlanta Braves – Truist Park

Fire Maker Brewing Company (7 miles)
Named one of the best new breweries in the U.S., Fire Maker’s hazy IPAs and fruited sours make them worth the trip from The Battery.

Chicago Cubs – Wrigley Field

Half Acre Beer Company (4 miles)
Cubs fans can hop a short ride north to Half Acre’s Balmoral taproom for a full menu of IPAs, lagers, and wild ales. Daisy Cutter is a Chicago icon.

Cincinnati Reds – Great American Ball Park

Rhinegeist Brewery (0.5 miles)
Just a few blocks from the stadium, Rhinegeist’s massive taproom offers panoramic views, house-made cider, and some of the best IPAs in the state.

Colorado Rockies – Coors Field

The SandLot Brewery (Inside the stadium)
Tucked inside Coors Field, SandLot was the birthplace of Blue Moon and remains a working brewery today—making it a unique ballpark destination.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Dodger Stadium

Angel City Brewery (4 miles)
Located in the Arts District, Angel City offers unique brews like Avocado Ale and a sprawling indoor-outdoor space—ideal for cooling down postgame.

Miami Marlins – loanDepot Park

Wynwood Brewing Company (2 miles)
Wynwood is Miami’s OG craft brewery, serving up hop-forward ales and Latin flair in the heart of the arts district.

Milwaukee Brewers – American Family Field

Leinenkugel’s Barrel Yard (Inside the stadium)
Yes, inside the ballpark. The Barrel Yard is a working brewery overlooking left field—offering fans a truly immersive brewpub experience.

New York Mets – Citi Field

Mikkeller NYC (Previously in the stadium)
Note: Mikkeller NYC closed in 2020, but nearby Queens Brewery is a solid backup with inventive, bold beers and Mets-themed brews.

Philadelphia Phillies – Citizens Bank Park

Yards Brewing Company (2.5 miles)
Philadelphia’s brewing roots run deep, and Yards leads the charge with classics like Brawler and Philadelphia Pale Ale.

Pittsburgh Pirates – PNC Park

Southern Tier Brewing – Pittsburgh Taproom (0.3 miles)
Located right across the Allegheny River, Southern Tier’s North Shore location is perfect for a game-day hang. Grab a 2XIPA and enjoy the view.

San Diego Padres – Petco Park

Ballast Point Brewing – Little Italy (1.2 miles)
San Diego is a beer mecca, and Ballast Point’s Little Italy spot is a short stroll from the stadium. Sculpin IPA is a San Diego legend.

San Francisco Giants – Oracle Park

21st Amendment Brewery (0.2 miles)
Just steps from the park, 21st Amendment serves up crowd-pleasers like Brew Free! or Die IPA and Hell or High Watermelon Wheat.

St. Louis Cardinals – Busch Stadium

Urban Chestnut Brewing Company (2 miles)
UCBC blends Old World and New World styles with German precision. Their Midtown location is just a short hop from the stadium.

Washington Nationals – Nationals Park

Bluejacket Brewery (0.3 miles)
A game-day favorite, Bluejacket offers creative, well-crafted beers just a block from the ballpark, plus a full kitchen and patio.

⚾🍺 Final Thoughts

Whether you’re in town to see your team on the road or exploring your own backyard, combining baseball and craft beer is always a win. These breweries bring flavor, community, and a touch of local pride to America’s pastime.

Got a favorite pregame pint spot we missed? Let us know in the comments or tag us on social media with your ballpark beer pics!

Team Name	Stadium	Brewery	Distance
Arizona Diamondbacks	Chase Field	Wren House Brewing Company	3 Miles
Atlanta Braves	Truist Park	Fire Maker Brewing Company	7 Miles
Baltimore Orioles	Oriole Park at Camden Yards	Checkerspot Brewing Company	0.5 Miles
Boston Red Sox	Fenway Park	Trillium Brewing Company – Fort Point	2.5 Miles
Chicago Cubs	Wrigley Field	Half Acre Brewing Company	4 Miles
Chicago White Sox	Guaranteed Rate Field	Revolution Brewing – Kedzie Taproom	5 Miles
Cincinnati Reds	Great American Ball Park	Rhinegeist Brewery	0.5 Miles
Cleveland Guardians	Progressive Field	Market Garden Brewery	0.7 Miles
Colorado Rockies	Coors Field	The Sandlot Brewery	(Inside the Stadium)
Detroit Tigers	Comerica Park	Atwater Brewery	1 Mile
Houston Astros	Minute Maid Park	8th Wonder Brewery	0.4 Miles
Kansas City Royals	Kauffman Stadium	Boulevard Brewing Company	7 Miles
Los Angeles Angels	Angel Stadium	Golden Road Brewing – Anaheim	1.5 Miles
Los Angeles Dodgers	Dodger Stadium	Angel City Brewing	4 Miles
Miami Marlins	loanDepot park	Wynwood Brewing	2 Miles
Milwaukee Brewers	American Family Field	Leinenkugel’s Barrel Yard	(Inside the Stadium)
Minnesota Twins	Target Field	Fulton Beer	0.2 Miles
New York Mets	Citi Field	Queens Brewery	9.4 Miles
New York Yankees	Yankee Stadium	The Bronx Brewery	1.5 Miles
Oakland Athletics	Oakland Coliseum	Drake’s Brewing Co.	1 Mile
Philadelphia Phillies	Citizens Bank Park	Yards Brewing Company	2.5 Miles
Pittsburgh Pirates	PNC Park	Southern Tier Brewing Company – Pittsburgh Taproom	0.3 Miles
San Diego Padres	Petco Park	Ballast Point Brewing – Little Italy	1.2 Miles
San Fransisco Giants	Oracle Park	21st Amendment Brewing	0.2 Miles
Seattle Mariners	T-Mobile Park	Fremont Brewing	3.5 Miles
St. Louis Cardinals	Busch Stadium	Urban Chestnut Brewing Company	2 Miles
Tampa Bay Rays	Tropicana Field	Green Bench Brewing	0.6 Miles
Texas Rangers	Globe Life Field	Legal Draft Brewing	1.1 Miles
Toronto Blue Jays	Rogers Centre	Steam Whistle Brewing	(Adjacent to the Stadium)
Washington Nationals	Nationals Park	Bluejacket Brewery	0.3 Miles

There is so many good choices of breweries around all of the different stadiums and ballparks, but hopefully this gives you an idea and a starting place to check out. Hopefully your team wins (unless their playing against the Phillies) and cheers!

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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Yards Brewing Company vs Saint Arnold Brewing Company

B. Kline — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 22:55:00 +0000

Yards Brewing Company vs. Saint Arnold Brewing Company – A Friendly Wager

A Friendly Wager

A great ‘tradition’ that has popped up around the big sports championships each year seems to be city vs. city craft brewery bets / wagers. First time I remember seeing it was when Sam Adams challenged Sweet Water Brewery back in 2017 over Super Bowl 51…. and well, we all know how that turned out (the infamous 28 – 3). (You can read about it here: Sam Adams Issues a High Steaks Challenge to Atlanta Based Brewery). Over the years there’s been lots of breweries who have participated in these types of bets and challenges and wagers. City brewery vs. city brewery. Usually with stuff like a case on the line, or having to keep the other brewery’s beers on tap, or having to make a beer in honor of the winning team, etc.

I just want to point out that as a Phillies fan – ya’ll know who I’m rooting for in this wager.

Terms of the Agreement

As announced today, on all of the social media platforms for both Yards Brewing Company and Saint Arnold Brewing Company, the wager is simple – “WHEN the Phils win, Saint Arnold himself will pose for a photo with Yards beer, our merch, and a Phils flag. IF Houston wins the Series, we will have to share a photo of us drinking Saint Arnold Beer, wearing Saint Arnold merch, and holding the ‘Stros flag. It is a win-win deal!” (Yards Brewing Company.)

Here is the full announcement by both challengers:

Yards Brewing Company:

Game on! Saint Arnold Brewing Company in Houston is feeling pretty confident so we challenged them to a bet they couldn’t resist:
WHEN the Phils win, Saint Arnold himself will pose for a photo with Yards beer, our merch, and a Phils flag. IF Houston wins the Series, we will have to share a photo of us drinking Saint Arnold Beer, wearing Saint Arnold merch, and holding the ‘Stros flag. It is a win-win deal!
Then we thought, “Let’s make it a win-win-WIN!” Yards will donate $1 of every pint of Philly Standard sold in our taproom on game days to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region and Saint Arnold will donate $1 of every pint of H-Town Pils sold during Series games to Kids’ Meals, Inc. regardless of the outcome.
Now let’s start drinking and helping. #GoPhils #RedOctober #MadeByPhila
Yards Brewing Company – Facebook

Saint Arnold Brewing Company:

Game on!
Yards Brewing Co., in Philadelphia, is feeling pretty confident and they are challenging us to a bet we couldn’t resist.
If Astros win the World Series, Yards Brewing will have to share a photo drinking Saint Arnold Beer, wearing Saint Arnold merch, and holding the Astros flag that we are going to mail to them. If the Phils win (very unlikely), Saint Arnold himself will pose for a photo with Yards Brewing beer, their merch, and Phillies flag. It is a win-win deal!
Then we thought, “Let’s make it a win-win-WIN!” Saint Arnold will donate $1 of every pint of H-Town Pils sold during the World Series games to Kids Meals Houston Kids’ Meals, Inc. and Yards Brewing will donate $1 of every pint of Philly Standard sold in their taproom through the end of the series to Ronald McDonald House Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region.
Now let’s start drinking and helping. Go ’Stros!
Oh, we almost forgot! Yards Brewing, what kind of beer would you like us to send when we win? Art Car IPA is a good one to drink the pain away.
Saint Arnold Brewing Company – Facebook

The Charities Involved

Its so great to see that these two breweries are going a step above and beyond with their wager and involving the local communities and charities. And this is what is so great about the craft beer community – how much a part of the REAL community they are. For more information on the charities involved, you can click the links below:

Competitors

Let’s take a look at who the competitors are, so the fans can see the challengers (and why they should be rooting for Yards Brewing Company and the Phillies):

Yards Brewing Company

All information comes provided by Untappd. Yards Brewing Company is a regional brewery with 717 unique beers and an overall average rating of 3.62 (as of 10.28.22), with a total of 674,000~ ratings. Their Untappd description reads: “Yards Brewing Company has been proudly brewing, bottling and now canning in the City of Brotherly Love since 1994. We’ve grown from a garage-sized operation in the Manayunk section of Philly to Roxborough, Kensington, Northern Liberties, and now to our newest location – a 70,000 square foot brewery and taproom – at 500 Spring Garden Street. Philadelphia Pale Ale and Brawler, both nationally recognized ales, lead a balanced portfolio of quality, handcrafted beers including eight year-round offerings and several seasonal and limited releases. Founder, Tom Kehoe, and the Yards Crew share a commitment to supporting the good people and organizations making their backyard a better place to live and work. Here at Yards, it’s always been about working hard, having fun and giving back. The Brew Unto Others motto reflects our commitment to quality, community and sustainability. It’s also a call-to-action. We encourage you to get together, to enjoy our beer, each other’s company and to Brew Unto Others every day. #YARDS #BrewUntoOthers“

Social Media for Yards Brewing Company can be found at:

Saint Arnold Brewing Company

All information comes provided by Untappd. Saint Arnold Brewing Company is a regional brewery with 206 unique beers with 786,000~ ratings and a global average rating of 3.79 (as of 10.28.22). Their Untappd description reads: “Saint Arnold Brewing Company, located in Houston, is Texas’ Oldest Craft Brewery. Our goal is to brew world class beers and deliver them to our customers as fresh as possible. Our customers are beer lovers – people that appreciate great, full-flavored beers.“

Social Media for Saint Arnold Brewing Company:

Let the Games Begin!

Tonight starts the World Series! Game One is in Houston starting at 8:03PM (EST). Good Luck Phillies! Let’s F’n Goooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Updates

(Some friendly banter posts that both breweries have posted on their Facebook pages.)

Saint Arnold Brewing Company (10.31.22):

Yards Brewing Co. are you ready for game 3?

abc13.com

Saint Arnold Brewery and Yards Brewing Company make friendly bet against World Series teams

The bet? The losing company must wear the winning team’s merch and hoist the team’s flag inside the beer halls.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company (10.31.22):

H-Town is ready for game 3! If you couldn’t make the trip to Philadelphia, we’ve got you covered! Come to the Beer Garden and watch the World Series on the Super Screen.

What’s better than drinking Saint Arnold beer during the World Series games? Drinking Saint Arnold beer and knowing that the more you drink, the more you help. Don’t forget that Saint Arnold will donate $1 of every pint of H-Town Pils sold at the Beer Garden & Restaurant during the World Series games to Kids Meals Houston Kids’ Meals, Inc..

If you happen to be in Philadelphia for the World Series, you can also drink and help there! Yards Brewing Co. in Philadelphia will donate $1 of every pint of Philly Standard sold in their taproom through the end of the series to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region.

We have a special connection with Yards Brewing Co. because they challenged us to a bet that we couldn’t resist and they will probably regret. If Astros win the World Series, Yards Brewing will have to share a photo drinking Saint Arnold Beer, wearing Saint Arnold merch, and holding the Astros flag. If the Phils win (very unlikely), Saint Arnold himself will pose for a photo with Yards Brewing beer, their merch, and Phillies flag. We will be sending them some Hideaway, cause that’s what they are going to do when we win.

Now let’s drink, help and win!

Yards Brewing Company (10.29.22):

Real Ale? More like Real(Ale)muto! Sunday, Nov 13th, we’re opening up our entire facility & allowing guests to roam the brewery & enjoy rare, one-of-a-kind cask-conditioned brews from Philly area breweries & beyond! Tickets at the link! https://bit.ly/YardsRealAle2022

yards.ticketleap.com

Yards 2022 Real Ale Invitational

Real Ale is back! Sunday, November 13th12-4pm The Yards 2022 Real Ale Invitational will have 50 cask-conditioned beers from the latest and greatest Philly area breweries, your favorite American brewers, and of course, Yards. Sample as you roam our brewhouse and packaging facility. Jam to live music….

Yards Brewing Company (10.29.22):

Game 2 Time! $5 20oz Philly Standard and Philly Standard Lime during all Philly v Houston Championship Baseball games in the taproom! We know it’s a picture of a can, but catching a pint of beer in a glove would have been a mess. #GoPhils #RedOctober #MadeByPhila

Yards Brewing Company (10.30.22):

Looks like Houston managed to avoid the sweep, time to bury ’em at The Bank. ICYMI, we’ve got a wager with Saint Arnold Brewing Company. WHEN the Phils win, Saint Arnold himself will pose for a photo with Yards beer, our merch, and a Phils flag. IF Houston wins the Series, we will have to share a photo of us drinking Saint Arnold Beer, wearing Saint Arnold merch, and holding the ‘Stros flag.

In addition, Yards will donate $1 of every pint of Philly Standard sold in our taproom on game days to Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House and Saint Arnold will donate $1 of every pint of H-Town Pils sold during Series games to Kids’ Meals, Inc. Everyone wins, but mostly Philly.

#GoPhils #RedOctober #MadeByPhila

Phillies – World Series

For more articles and information we’ve posted on the Philadelphia Phillies and the World Series, and our game – day daily Philly beer reviews, check the list below. Make sure you root on the Phillies while drinking and reading too!

Thanks For Reading

I am super – super – super – super pumped for the World Series this year! Its been 13 long years since the Phillies have been in the World Series, and after the disappointing loss to the Yankees, its a great time to avenge ourselves and get the beautiful city of Philadelphia another World Series ring! Grease up the poles! I’m thinking Phillies in 6!

Tonight (actually leaving to go shortly) we’ll be at the Boneshire Brew Works 6th Anniversary Celebration and will be watching the beginning of the game there. Come on out and hang with us and watch the game! (As long as you’re rooting on the Phillies that is.)

Cheers!

-B. Kline

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The Craft Beer Industry Needs to Change

BKline — Tue, 18 May 2021 11:25:17 +0000

This won’t be like most of our articles here on The Beer Thrillers; sadly this won’t be uplifting, or happy, or about how great the craft beer industry is. Hopefully, it will be optimistic by the end, and a voice for change, and hope in the future, that things will be better. But the verdict is out on that. Many times in the past there have been ‘voices for change’ that have been silenced, quieted, ignored, or had their names and reputation ran into the mud.

Hope and change is why this article is even an article. It’s why Brienne is using her Instagram page (@ratmagnet) to shed a light on a very dark corner of the craft beer industry. The beer industry in general.

This will be an uncomfortable conversation. But its one we need to have. Frankly, its one we needed to have far too many times in history, and even more frankly – it’s one every industry needs to have.

It’s a difficult and uncomfortable conversation we need to have with ourselves, with our friends, co-workers, bosses, customers, people of authority, people without a voice; flat out – all people. It’s one of those “THEE CONVERSATIONS” that is talked about, said that it’s talked about, and told to be talked about… but isn’t talked about.

I will give the warning here – this article may be triggering. It will discuss sexism, it will discuss sexual harassment, gender control and gender power, and this all might be troubling to many people, especially those who have been traumatized and lived through this, those who soldiered on and hid their PTSD and their experiences.

I will also be a bit more open, and discussing things that are maybe a bit more personal here, than I have in any other article or post or piece here on the blog. I think this is all relevant, I think it needs to be discussed, and I want to make this discussion happen.

We Can… We Should… We Need To Do Better

This is almost a phrase that is brandied about too much, too often, and thrown around too light heartedly, or without even relevance or reverence. “Men need to do better.” Fair, and true statement. But it doesn’t mean anything. Everyone needs to do better, all the time. Period. We all do. I do. We all do.

Firstly, we are all humans (unless you are a robot reading over this, or an intelligent alien species hacking into my blog, or an evolved Cat in the future), and thus prone to being… well, human. Prone to mistakes. Errors of judgment. Moments of weakness. And propensities of the nature of greed, lust, evil, and all that entails. We are also, prone to ignorance, to not understanding, and to not learning.

One of the biggest crimes after big momentous events, is our unwilling to learn. To see the lesson. To grow. To become better. To examine ourselves. The first person we all need to hold accountable is ourselves. If we can’t do that, if we can’t hold our own heads up, our own esteem up, our own egos up, if we can’t look ourselves in the mirror, if we can’t examine our characters down to the core, then there is no victory in holding the elite, the owners, the businessmen, the workers, the powerful accountable. Even the lowliest serf must first hold himself accountable before he can hold the King accountable.

That is not to say at all that the King shouldn’t be held accountable, far, far, far from it. It means change begins at home. It means that we must be the change we wish to see. This doesn’t give the King slack, or an ability to get off, oh no, he must be held accountable as well – in fact he needs to be held accountable far more than that lowliest serf. Those with power have the responsibility of that power. In whatever form they control and wield it. Be it ownership of a business, be it an authority figure (our leaders, our politicians, our clergy, our philosophers, our social workers, our business owners, our voices), be it a role model, be it a parent.

This also goes for all people. All backgrounds, all creeds, all colors, all philosophies, all thoughts, doctrines, dogmas, all genders, all loves, all faiths, all practices, all people. Plato said that at his trial Socrates stood in front of the tribunal and said: “An unexamined life is not worth living.” And this has become one of the most famous phrases in history, and for good reason. We must examine ourselves daily. All of us. We have all wronged in the past. But if we don’t examine these wrongs, we have no place to grow, if we just give cop out apologies and a non-comital “sorry” and “I won’t do it again”…. what do we do when it happens again? And again? And again?

To be human is to grow. Who we are at 56 is not who we were at 25 or 10 or 5. And that’s because of growth, one of the most powerful agents of the universe is change. Time is change and change is time. But if we are stagnant, and unchanging in time, if we don’t accept our flaws, don’t accept the wrongs we made, and assume ourselves at the point of infallibility, then all is lost right there and then.

I Can’t Believe This Still Happens in 2021

This is another phrase I abhor. And especially in this context, and especially by who utters it the most (men – specifically probably white men in this context). You know who says this? The naieve, the blind, the ignorant, the man who doesn’t want to believe, or the ones who just want to look better on the Facebook page of their female friend. “Oh my gosh, I had no idea this happened in 2021 still! Shouldn’t we be beyond this?! In this industry no less?!?!” (And yes, that is almost verbatim a comment I’ve seen, by a man.) The ‘fake’ or ‘disingenuous’ incredulity.

Its demeaning, and it downplays, and it lessens the impact.

Because you know who does believe this still happens in 2021? Women. Women or who are being sexually manipulated, women who are being harassed at work, women who are being told they can’t do this or that because they are, or might, or never will be pregnant (and yes, women can be belittled at work for NOT being pregnant or wanting to be pregnant just as much as they can be belittled at work for BEING pregnant).

You know who also knows this still happens in 2021? All of us. Deep down, we all know its still going on. We’re not truly surprised when we hear on the news about how this or that celebrity did this or that horrible thing. When so and so had an affair or when so and so turns out to be a behind the scenes creepy producer. We know that 2021 is not different than 2020 in this regards or different or better than 2015 or 2004 or 1995.

…But it can be made to be different.

I would put money on people saying “Its 2005, how can this still be going on?” or “This still happening in 2005? I thought we were beyond this! Better than this!” in 2005. And I bet they said the same thing in 2000. And 1990. And 1980. Etc.

So lets work at actually becoming better.

We All Make Mistakes, So Let’s Learn

What are mistakes but ways to learn and grow? Thats the entirety of the point of them. To learn, to grow, to become better and understand ourselves, our world, our errors, our flaws, our strengths, our weaknesses, and everything in between, so that tomorrow we are better than we are today.

I was in Middle School when I was taught by a teacher to do three things every day: One thing to make the world a better place, one thing to make yourself a better person, and one thing to make someone else better. And over the years since, I’ve heard this same dictum in different ways. Things like, do one thing to make yourself more intelligent, more spiritual, more helpful each day; or make your local area better, make yourself better, make the world better; or do one thing to grow your body, one thing to grow your spirit, and one thing to grow your mind each day. And all of these takes boil down to one thing – making things better. January 1st doesn’t need to be the only day we set goals and try to achieve things and become better. I should be a better person on May 5th, than I was on May 4th. On August 29th, I should be better than I was on August 28th, and August 27th, and June 15th.

I know I make mistakes. I think back to my high school years and middle school years (late 90s / early 2000s) and I would certainly be by no means considered “woke” if people heard my verbiage or actions back then. I would barely be considered more intelligent than pondscum to be honest (and some might consider be still in the neighborhood of pondscum intelligence to this day really). I know I still make mistakes (there’s a reason I’m discussing hiking and reading more than beer on my blog lately). But this is how life is for all of us. We need to grow and learn from these mistakes.

We need to better ourselves. We need to hold ourselves to accountability, and we need to proclaim the wish to do so, so everyone knows, so they see it, and so they hold themselves accountable, so they examine themselves, so they better themselves.

Why are we having this discussion?

Maybe I should have started this article with this. The background, the story behind the story, the reason for this article. I believe most already know it, especially those reading this article. But for those who don’t, I want to discuss it here and now. I felt it rather more poignant discussing the need to change before launching into this. I’ve been somewhat vague and nebulous above about things, but after giving the history and the discussion in this segment, I’ll move onto the more specifics of it.

I was first made aware of the story of “Brienne’s Story” by Aaron Gore, a craft beer writer and friend on Facebook. he posted a GoFundMe for lawyer and court fees and money for Brienne due to people attacking her over her Instagram page.

As Vinepair’s article today states, Brienne Allan (a professional brewer) asked for women’s first hand accounts and stories of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. And she has received thousands of messages in response. Here is a small snippet by Beth Demmon at Vinepair about this:

What started last week on Tuesday, May 11 as an offhand request for women’s stories about experiencing sexism in the beer industry on a personal Instagram page has escalated into a mass callout of craft beer industry members across the world, sending shockwaves across the industry.
Thousands of messages — and counting — sent to brewer Brienne Allan (who goes by the Instagram handle @ratmagnet) include accusations against some of the beer world’s most lauded brewers and breweries: Shaun Hill, founder and brewer of Hill Farmstead; Jean Broillet, co-founder of Tired Hands Brewing; Jacob McKean, founder of Modern Times Beer, as well as Lord Hobo Brewing Company, Union Beer Distributors, BrewDog, and many others. Some allegations accuse brewery owners of complacency toward a toxic work culture under the shroud of progressivism; while others directly accuse individuals in the industry of sexual harassment, assault, and more.
Beth Demmon – VinePair Article: “Sweeping Accusations of Sexual Assault, Rock Craft Beer Industry”

This also comes on the heels of some other big news in recent weeks regarding BrewDog and and Yards and how they have treated female employees.

Brienne’s Instagram Homepage

Brienne, using her Instagram page (her handle is @ratmagnet) has eight stories that you can click through and read detailing the sexual assaults, harassments, abuses, and other horrible things done to women and other people of minority and gender flux. Her about page reads:

“Brienne
THESE STORIES ARE NOT MINE AND I DO NOT VOUCH FOR THEIR ACCURACY. Click the link to report www.brewersassociation.org/brewers-association-code-of-conduct“

She has eight stories with numerous posts in each on her Instagram page. I suggest reading through them all to get an idea of the scale and scope and size of this all. To see how many people have / are / will be affected by all of this. This is certainly not something to be taken lightly.

Several people and organizations have weighed in, with their comments, thoughts, and opinions about the current landscape and the recent news.

Breweries in PA Facebook Page

Typically we begin every Monday with something lighthearted to start the week. But today that does not feel appropriate.Over the weekend a very bright light was shined on discrimination and gross misconduct occurring in the craft brewing industry across the country. And a few prominent Pennsylvania breweries were named directly.We have no knowledge if the stories being shared are true or not, as all involved parties have not weighed in. But regardless, that does not make anyone’s experience of injustice any less valid. So we wanted to take the time this morning to acknowledge these stories, but more importantly stand in solidarity with anyone who feels they have been mistreated, victimized, or faced any other discrimination.Better yet, we must all work with one another to make this industry a shining example of the good that can be done through small businesses. We are working hard ourselves to make a positive impact throughout the industry, and we hope you all have the same goal in mind. We must not let acts of discrimination simply be justified as “playful banter.” Every person, regardless of gender, race, or age, should feel welcomed in the craft beer community, and we all play a part in achieving this.
Breweries in PA Facebook Page

Hannah, head brewer at Naked Brewing in Pennsylvania, made a very poignant and inspirational post on Facebook as well. One I thought that was so thoughtful and needed to be read by all, I asked her if I could use and share here on the blog, and she has graciously allowed me to post it here:

Hannah’s Facebook comments

I have been very quiet since the recent reports of sexual misconduct, assault, harassment and discrimination have surfaced, and there’s a reason for that:⁣⁣
𝐈𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐔𝐆𝐄𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆. ⁣⁣It is not because I don’t believe them. It is not because it is something I wish to ignore. Believe me, I fucking wish I could ignore it for even 5 minutes, but that’s just not how it works in my brain. ⁣⁣For warriors of abuse(I use that term over victim or even survivor because I AM a fucking WARRIOR), seeing, hearing, reading, listening to these accounts, can be hugely, hugely, hugely triggering. Memories and things that I had pushed way down below have quickly bubbled to the surface like a noxious gas bubble and are permeating every part of my life. The anxiety has been debilitating. I am *barely* holding my shit together. ⁣⁣For now, those things that have happened to me, the things that I have experienced, I have chosen to keep them private and not share within a public realm. Many people do know of the things I have experienced. I reported them many, many times to the organization that I worked for at the time (Note: not currently). There is written documentation. There are people that will read this and wonder if it’s them that I am referring to. And if you have to ask yourself that, then the answer is probably YES. There are people that have been the offender who have worked tirelessly to learn how to be a better person. They have atoned. And while it does not absolve them from the things of the past, I have been able to forgive *some* of them (but not all. Some of you still have A LOT of fucking work to do). ⁣⁣One of the biggest reasons that I am currently choosing to not publicly disclose specifics, is because of the lack of 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐇.
You may read this and say “but I’m here! I support you!” And while yes, I know that that is hugely true, is it enough?!? I don’t know. ⁣I HONESTLY DON’T KNOW. But I know that once it comes out publicly, you can’t put it back.
⁣𝐈 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐩. ⁣𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝. ⁣𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. ⁣𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐭… 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝗪𝐀𝐒 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐄.
Every single one of those people is still employed. And I have had to deal with and process those things for years. YEARS. ⁣⁣⁣Telling my stories (because yes it is plentiful) puts me back to a place of having to relive it. While I am currently reliving them, and then remembering even more that I suppressed, it is very different to have to relive it on a public stage. I’ve already lived it on a semi-public stage and saw just how much victim blaming and shaming happened, and I’m not sure that I am in a place to do that again in the present time. We can talk all day long about being an ally and an advocate and speaking up when you see something, but until there is more 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐇, I’m just not ready to blow open the experiences that I have had. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣I applaud people for doing this. I applaud those that are speaking up and sharing. I applaud those that are allies and advocates. But…It’s tough y’all. 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐊 𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒. They might not be okay. That’s the kind of support in the aftermath that we all need. Oh. And empathy. Have some. Please. ⁣⁣⁣This is all I have for now. Take care of yourselves. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐬. *If you have nothing positive or supportive to contribute to this post, then please kindly keep scrolling and save your keyboard warrior bullshit for another time. PleaseAndThankYou*
Hannah’s Facebook comments

Aaron Gore’s post on his Facebook:

Aaron Gore’s post and link to Brienne’s GoFundMe for Legal Fees.

Please help support the legal fund for Brienne. Some of the people who have been getting called out repeatedly for sexual harassment and assault in the stories she has been reposting are threatening legal action. While they may not have any legal case, that doesn’t mean that they cannot destroy her financially regardless.For us to keep having these hard conversations and continue to weed out the toxic elements of the craft beer community and work toward the ideals we say we believe in, we have to be willing to protect the people who shine a light on stuff like this.
Aaron Gore’s Facebook post

Brienne’s GoFundMe can be found here: Help Brienne with Legal Fees. As of 10:30PM (5.17.21) they are currently up to 12,900$ of the 15,000$ requested. You can click the link above to go and donate.

Where do we go from here?

Firstly, having this conversation is important. Its hard, its difficult, its awkward, its uncomfortable, but it needs to be made. And it needs to be remembered, and it needs to not be muted. It needs to be kept to the forefront. Just like our conversations on racism, our conversations for LBGTQ+? and our many other important conversations. It needs to be remembered, it needs to be ongoing, and it needs to be forefront.

Looping back around to the start of this article, we need accountability. In ourselves. In our businesses. In the breweries in question. We can define what happens with these breweries with our money, with our voices, and with our conversations. We can hold those mentioned accountable. We can require and request they speak up, defend or correct themselves. And we can then handle ourselves accordingly in light of how they handle the situation.

Teach and learn. Discussions and classes and lectures, meetings, etc. Many universities, schools, offices, and businesses offer chances to learn of diversity and to do training, specifically for diversity training, or other similar styled programs.

Teaching isn’t something just relegated to those already in the business. This needs to be taught in the home, to kids growing up; of all persuasions, it needs to be taught to the youth and the elderly. It needs taught wherever and whenever it can be. Every moment of every day, every interaction, everything that happens, is an opportunity to learn. To grow. And thats what we – as humans – as people – need to be doing.

Familiarize yourself with what sexism is. What sexual harassment is. What sexual abuse is. Just like racism, we all think we know what it is. “Bad words” and people saying they hate Group X, but thats not all it is. There’s so many more insidious forms of it. So many different ways to discriminate that we don’t see or might not know of. Especially for those who never been discriminated, abused, harassed, or prejudiced against. Your blinders are there and you cannot see them is no excuse for allowing it to happen in front of you over and over.

Familiarize ourselves with who and what has been mentioned and how they reacted. Are they lashing out? Attacking? Are they defending? Or are they growing, learning, becoming better? Are those who were found guilty still in power? Still in control? Still in ways able to manipulate, abuse, coerce, control, or harass; or are they still able to empower those who still do these despicable things?

Stopping it. When we see it, when we hear it, when we witness it, when we hear others speaking of how they saw it; we need to stop it. We need to listen to those victimized, we need to offer our ears and hearts to them, and we need to help stop it when we see it. The rude comments, the jokes, the harassments, the abuses, we need to stop it from happening in the first place.

Anyone who has gone to AA or to a therapist, or anything similar, can tell you that the first step is to admittance. Denial is a huge problem for anyone with an addiction, an issue, or a root problem. Denying there is a problem, either in yourself, or in the industry, or with the issue at large (in this case sexism) at all is denying the story of others, denying their tales, their lives, their experiences.

Personal

I find this all very personal, and we all should, everyone one of us. Everyone regardless of who we are, what we are, when and where we are, should find this personal. You don’t need to even think in terms of “my mother” or “my sister” or “my wife” or “my daughter”, think of it merely in terms of “Her Name” or “This Person”. This is how personal it needs to be. That we are don’t have to personalize it more than it is, because it is already this personal to us as a human race.

But, we still do, and I do, I think of my daughters. I have been blessed with three daughters. They love going on me to trips, hiking, visiting battlefields, going to great restaurants (they love eating good food), and they have enjoyed going to me in safe settings of breweries. Especially my middle child. She is on a quest and learning as she grows, just like the rest of us. She has a lot of struggles with herself, with people, with life, (don’t we all?). She is having a lot of questions as she journeys through life and navigating young life and where she is in and what she is in it. She loves going to breweries with me and learning aspects of the science behind it. She is my homebrewing partner in crime and helped me with an IPA batch and loved the brewing aspects of it. The science behind it is a science she can get behind herself, its not just figures and equations in a notebook, its something she can do and touch and help, and its not the theoretical or hypothetical, its more of the real. And she also sees how brewing, just like cooking, is an aspect of creativity, and this touches her very artful soul. She’ll be turning 12 just this week, and I think of her future.

If she pursues a job in this field – or any field – do I want this kind of work environment for her? Do I want this for my other daughters in whatever fields they get into?

The answer is obviously no.

One of the many quotes I go back and over with as a father, and I’m not sure of the source, but the quote is: “Look at yourself in the mirror, is this the type of man you want your daughter to marry. If not, change it.”

I think of the many industries that have been “MeToo’d” and how this past few years, this past decade, has been a massive wake up call for men, and for those in power, (specifically white men), and how much needed change and reform has happened, or begun, and how it needs to continue.

I feel like we are on a precipice, and we could easily teeter-totter over either side. We could go backwards and regress, we could mute the conversations, and hide ourselves up in towers or cabins or dark holes. A Texas politician is trying to stop teachers from discussing racism in the classroom. That is how you mute a conversation. That is how you defeat the conversation, defeat the change, defeat the progress. We need to tip to the other side, and progress, to better ourselves, to better humanity, and we can’t do that as individuals. We can’t do that as people who don’t help those less fortunate or different or voiceless or unable to help themselves. A team is only as good as their weakest link; and there is no weaker link in humanity than those unwilling to help or hold up or foster growth in their own colleagues, friends, relatives, and common folk.

At the end of the day, this is all a story about us. About us as people, about how “we need to do better”. How “we can’t believe this is still happening in 2021”. This is a story of hope and change. Optimism can still flourish, and in fact, needs to. We need to see how these conversations we are having, as troubling as they are, are going to affect and offer change, and make the world better; not just for women, or for minorities; but for all of us.

I look at my daughters, I look at my female friends, I look at myself, and I want a better world for all of us. Thats the personal of this. Thats the personal it should be for all of us. Look in the mirror. Do you want a world where you could be discriminated at – for your gender, for your race, for your creed, for your looks, for your philosophies, religions, likes, dislikes, etc?

I think to my own work and my job. The casino industry is certainly no alien to the world of misogyny. Much like the craft beer industry, it is a white man’s power world. I see how customers and co-workers treat the female co-workers. How they stare, and oggle, and make comments. I see how my own co-workers oggle the guests and call out “craps game” when a pretty woman walks by. I see how the girl in the tight pants gets talked to and treated differently than the man or the woman who is older. I’ve seen guests yell at the younger female dealers more than they would yell at a man because they think they can get away with it. Calling them all the most despicable names that they would never utter to anyone else; and this is someone they met for the first time and only dealt with for five minutes. Just yesterday I witnessed an older man (late 60s or older) screaming at one of the servers and calling her a “f***ing liar” over five dollars and following her around until security came over to him and escorted him out of the building. I’ve seen players and guests try and touch the female dealers and managers, small touches to their shoulders or thighs, or even worst touches to their backside and more.

This is why we need this change. Why we need these conversations. It needs to get put out there and blown up. It needs to be the issue that it is.

So I have hope, and optimism for the future. I have hope that in two months, this isn’t just forgotten about and swept over and moved on from. But that this conversation stays in the forefront, and that we continue to learn from it. To grow from it. For all of us to become better for it all. Lets look to the future when we’re all people, together, equal, productive, and happy, together.

I would like to thank Hannah and Aaron for reading over the article and allowing me to use their quotes and for their help. I cannot express enough, how much I suggest everyone read the Instagram stories, the Vinepair article, the GoFundMe page, and the other resources that are popping up. I believe this is a real conversation we need to be having across all landscapes and all fields and businesses. In families, in work, in places of worship, in philosophy centers, and in schools. I remember just a few years ago there would be beer labels with ‘boobs’ or cleavage or sexualized women, with beer names like “Panty Dropper” or “Hike Her Skirt Up” and other “rapey” sounding beer names (the theory being, once she was drunk, she was easy), and its good to see the industry has progressed from this at least. There is still some names out there that are ugly, names that I’d hate to take my daughters to the brewery and they see it up on the tap list, and worst to order it in front of them (needless to say I wouldn’t order it). We are making progress, albeit slowly, and in spurts and jumps rather than a straight continual line, but progress is being made, we just need to make sure it continues.

I thank you all for reading this very long post. I think its one we needed to make, and one I needed to write. With my mood being really down lately, and seeing this, and it hitting home, knowing how guys can be. Worrying about my daughters growing up in the world, wanting only the best for them, in all of their endeavors, and all the choices they make.

Knowing how charged this can be, please keep the comments section civil. I would appreciate if names are not used in the comments section, and we try to remain respectful, polite, and cognizant that this might be read by people you are talking to / about / from. I do have the ability to delete and block commenters, and will not hesitate to do so.

Again, thank you everyone for reading. With the new mandates in Pennsylvania changing, and places opening up more, please be careful, and hopefully soon we’ll be sharing a pint at the bar. Cheers!

-B. Kline

The Rich History of Beer in Pennsylvania: From Colonial Times to the Craft Beer Revolution

B. Kline — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 04:26:08 +0000

A Colonial Legacy: The Early Days of Pennsylvania Breweries

William Penn’s brewhouse

History often repeats itself, and nowhere is this more evident than in the history of beer. Pennsylvania’s love affair with brewing dates back to the colonial era, with small breweries flourishing across the state. One of the earliest examples is the Anthony Morris Brewery, founded in 1686 in Philadelphia. This establishment was among the original breweries of colonial America, setting the stage for a thriving beer culture in the region.

Fast forward to 1827, when German immigrant John Yost founded his John Yost Brewery in Womelsdorf, PA. Meanwhile, in Altoona, PA, the beer scene was bustling, with dozens of small breweries serving the local community. Some of these early breweries have stood the test of time, such as the family-owned Straub Brewery, established in 1872 in St. Marys, PA, and of course, Yuengling—America’s oldest brewery—founded in 1829 in Pottsville, PA.

The Impact of Prohibition: A Struggling Beer Industry

Yuengling Brewery located in Pottsville, PA

The beer industry faced a significant setback with the onset of Prohibition in 1920. By the time Prohibition ended in 1933, the beer scene had been decimated. The industry made a slow comeback, and by 1950, only 407 breweries were operating in the entire United States—a stark contrast to the vibrant scene of previous decades. The era of small, family-owned, and neighborhood breweries producing distinct, local beers seemed to be over, as big beer companies began to dominate the market.

Pabst Brewing Company managed to survive Prohibition by diversifying into cheese production and re-entered the beer industry after the ban was lifted. Miller Lite, introduced nationally in 1975, is another example of a brand that has continued to dominate the beer scene.

Prohibition, which lasted from 1920 to 1933, was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States. It was driven by the temperance movement, which argued that alcohol was the root cause of many societal issues, including crime, poverty, and family breakdowns. The movement gained significant political momentum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, culminating in the passage of the 18th Amendment in 1919, which legally enforced the prohibition of alcohol. The Volstead Act, passed shortly after, provided the legal framework for enforcing Prohibition, defining what constituted an “intoxicating liquor” and setting the penalties for violating the law.

Despite its intentions, Prohibition had several unintended consequences. Rather than eliminating alcohol consumption, it drove it underground, leading to the rise of illegal speakeasies and a booming black market for alcohol. Organized crime syndicates, most notably led by figures like Al Capone, capitalized on this demand by establishing extensive bootlegging operations. The enforcement of Prohibition laws proved difficult and costly, with widespread corruption among law enforcement and government officials. By the early 1930s, public sentiment had turned against Prohibition, and it was widely viewed as a failed experiment. This shift in opinion eventually led to the passage of the 21st Amendment in 1933, which repealed Prohibition and marked the end of this tumultuous chapter in American history.

The Craft Beer Renaissance: The Return of the Small Breweries

Perot Malting

So, when did the small, independent breweries make their comeback in Pennsylvania? The turning point can be traced back to the early 1970s, right before the introduction of Miller Lite. In 1972, a game-changing event occurred: the release of Cascade hops from a government breeding program. The floral and slightly bitter notes of this hop variety revolutionized the beer industry, setting the stage for the craft beer movement.

The true resurgence of small-scale brewing, however, began in 1978, when President Jimmy Carter lifted the ban on homebrewing, a prohibition-era relic. This decision reignited the idea that small-town, locally produced beer was not only possible but desirable. The formula was simple yet powerful: creative flavoring combined with small, local beer production equaled a craft beer explosion.

Dock Street Brewing Co.: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future

A full 307 years after William Frampton opened his brewery on Philadelphia’s Dock Street Creek, the legacy of Pennsylvania’s brewing history was honored with the founding of Dock Street Brewing Co. Rosemarie Certo and Jeffrey Ware established this pioneering brewery, one of the first post-Prohibition craft breweries in the country and Philadelphia’s first all-grain brewpub.

Yards Brewing Company: A Legacy of Innovation

Yards Brewing early on

In 1994, Tom Kehoe and Jon Bovi followed in the footsteps of these early pioneers. Inspired by their homebrewing experiments in the 1980s and a passion for unique beer flavors, they opened Yards Brewing Company in Philadelphia. Their success marked another significant milestone in the state’s brewing history.

The Modern Craft Beer Boom in Pennsylvania

Today, Pennsylvania is home to over 300 craft breweries, each contributing to the state’s rich brewing heritage. What started out as small, local, and personal has come full circle, but this time with even more flavor and creativity. The repetition of history has brought about a new era where beer is once again local, distinct, and deeply personal.

Thank You For Reading

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Cheers.

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Book Review: For the Love of Beer (Dr. Alison E. Feeney)

BKline — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 03:45:00 +0000

For the Love of Beer by Dr. Alison E. Feeney

I got to pick up this book by Dr. Alison E. Feeney last Thursday at the Mid-Town Scholar ahead of her panel discussion (alongside Hannah Ison, Jeffrey Musselman, and Sara Bozich). You can read about that here: “For The Love of Beer – Panel Discussion“. It was a fun and entertaining (and informative) night at the Mid-Town Scholar getting to listen to the three of them discuss breweries, beer, brewing, and community.

And that is the heart of this book. Communities. Even moreso than the breweries this is ‘about’, the heart of the book though is communities. And at the heart of a lot of communities, and growing, is craft breweries. Breweries, in particular craft breweries, are the seat of many things in communities now adays. Places like Boneshire, Moo-Duck, Troegs, and many other breweries that give back to their communities through charities and other activities. Breweries like ZeroDay and Millworks that act like centerpieces for revitalization of downtown areas.

There is so much to love about craft breweries and what all they do (and can do). And Dr. Feeney’s book covers that so well. From revitalizing downtown areas, or old historic buildings, to providing a center and a place for a community, to being an employment opportunity for the local town, to sustainability and environmental help, providing spent grain for local farmers, to helping charities, to hosting events, to having delicious food, to having local ingredients, etc, there is so much that breweries do for their local communities.

Dr. Alison Feeney has traveled all across Pennsylvania checking out various breweries, hop farms, malts, grains, communities, universities, etc, and has gotten a feel for the state, its history, its brewing industry, and the breweries and the people. She’s interviewed tons of people, she’s talked to customers, brewers, hop growers, home brew shop owners, just about everyone you can think of attached to the industry.

The book covers a lot of different breweries across the state. From big to little. From regional powerhouses like Victory and Troegs to smaller localized shops like Moo-Duck, Boneshire, Bonn Place, etc. She has traveled all across the state, all of the regions covered.

There is a wealth of information in the book detailing the history of beer, the history of brewing, the history of Pennsylvania, and brewing and beer in Pennsylvania, as well as a wealth of information and knowledge on brewing, the beer industry, and hops and other things in general. There is a ton of information on the breweries she’s visited as well, small details like the beers they have, or the information on how they restored the buildings they occupied, or little bits and info on the brewers or their styles.

The book is filled with pictures and images from all assortments of things, like hops, to the various breweries, to beer, to the workers at the breweries, to signs, to locations, etc. These pictures help fill in an overall image and idea of the breweries from across the state for those who haven’t gotten to visit them yet. Also with each brewery mentioned there is a small map of Pennsylvania showing where its located with an actual address as well. Its not a complete map of every brewery, and Dr. Feeney even states at the beginning that she isn’t providing a comprehensive listing of every brewery in PA as it’d be out of date before the book even saw print. Case in point – the book mentions Harty Brewing which has since folded up (relatively recently). But don’t let that fool you, this book is chock full of information and knowledge about PA beer and breweries.

At the beginning of the book is a note saying that a portion of the proceeds of the book are going to animal shelters and local places for animals. After this is the chapter previews which list which breweries are mentioned in which chapters and provides an outline for the book. Early chapters discuss beer and the history of it, progressing from Europe and Africa and Asia to America. Detailing the early pioneers to America and bringing beer over on the Mayflower, etc. It then discusses the history of beer and brewing in Pennsylvania.

Following this is how breweries affect communities, how they revitalize communities and buildings, and a chapter on historic buildings and how breweries are reusing old buildings. A chapter on the sustainability and environmental issues and help that breweries are doing and then a closing chapter on looking forward.

This book is a good read for anyone interested in beer, brewing, and especially for those interested in the craft breweries of Pennsylvania. She has provided lots of knowledge on the inner workings from the beginning to the present day on just about every tangential topic with the beer industry. I would certainly recommend this for anyone looking to learn about brewing and beer in Pennsylvania or just loves reading about breweries in Pennsylvania.

My GoodReads Score: ****
Global GoodReads Score: 4.00 (two ratings, three now, as of 10.9.19)

This was the first book review on the blog, hopefully you all like it, I know its a bit different then the beer and brewery reviews. But I am looking forward to doing a few more of these as I have a lot of beer books to read and go through. This is combining two of my loves – literature / books and beers, so this is definitely a double-win for me getting to review books about beer here for the blog. So if you are interested in this, let us know! Also if you have any beer book recommendations, be sure to leave them in the comments!

Thanks and cheers all!

-B. Kline
My GoodReads review link can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3007622590

Yards Brewing - The Beer Thrillers

When Washington Goes Dark: What the 2025 Federal Shutdown Means for Pennsylvania Breweries

When Washington Goes Dark: What the 2025 Federal Shutdown Means for Pennsylvania Breweries

1. Overview: The 2025 Shutdown and What’s Actually “Off the Shelf”

What triggered it

What functions continue (and why)

2. National Impact: The Shockwaves through the Craft Beer Industry

Why breweries are uniquely vulnerable

Recent shutdowns as precedent

Distillers, winemakers, and crossover impacts

3. Pennsylvania Breweries: Facing the Shutdown in the Keystone State

The state’s brewing landscape (pre-shutdown)

Local precedents: how past shutdowns affected PA brewers

What’s different in 2025

Who in Pennsylvania may handle this better (and who’s vulnerable)

4. Historical Context: Shutdowns, Precedents, & Lessons Learned

2019–2020 shutdowns and craft beer

Shutdowns during the Trump era & industry behavior

Broader regulatory and enforcement shutdown history

5. What Breweries Can Do: Mitigation Strategies & Prepared Moves

Pre-shutdown preparedness (ideally before the lapse)

During the shutdown: defensive operations

Post-shutdown: recovery & catch-up

6. Pennsylvania Breweries Best Equipped (and What They Bring to the Table)

D.G. Yuengling & Son (Pottsville, PA)

Tröegs Independent Brewing (Hershey, PA)

Pittsburgh Brewing / Iron City

Mid-sized regional brewers

Taproom / direct-sales centric brewers

Traits to emulate (beyond names)

7. Closing Thoughts

8. Sources

Thank You For Reading

The Average Cost of Beer Per Ballpark (2025)

The Average Cost of Beer Per Ballpark

Average Beer Prices Across MLB Stadiums

Notable Examples

Price Per Ounce

Average Beer Prices in 2025

🍺 Average Beer Prices at MLB Ballparks (2025 Season)

See Also

Thank You For Reading

The Closest and Best Brewery Near Every MLB Ballpark

The Closest and Best Brewery Near Every MLB Ballpark

🧢 American League

Baltimore Orioles – Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Boston Red Sox – Fenway Park

Chicago White Sox – Guaranteed Rate Field

Cleveland Guardians – Progressive Field

Detroit Tigers – Comerica Park

Houston Astros – Minute Maid Park

Kansas City Royals – Kauffman Stadium

Los Angeles Angels – Angel Stadium

Minnesota Twins – Target Field

New York Yankees – Yankee Stadium

Oakland Athletics – Oakland Coliseum

Seattle Mariners – T-Mobile Park

Tampa Bay Rays – Tropicana Field

Texas Rangers – Globe Life Field

Toronto Blue Jays – Rogers Centre

⚾ National League

Arizona Diamondbacks – Chase Field

Atlanta Braves – Truist Park

Chicago Cubs – Wrigley Field

Cincinnati Reds – Great American Ball Park

Colorado Rockies – Coors Field

Los Angeles Dodgers – Dodger Stadium

Miami Marlins – loanDepot Park

Milwaukee Brewers – American Family Field

New York Mets – Citi Field

Philadelphia Phillies – Citizens Bank Park

Pittsburgh Pirates – PNC Park

San Diego Padres – Petco Park

San Francisco Giants – Oracle Park

St. Louis Cardinals – Busch Stadium

Washington Nationals – Nationals Park

⚾🍺 Final Thoughts

See Also

Thank You For Reading

Yards Brewing Company vs Saint Arnold Brewing Company