Brewing in the PA Wilds: Bullfrog Brewery
- by Britt Madera
- August 22, 2023
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Part of the Brewing in the PA Wilds series
Bullfrog Brewery is an award-winning, independent craft microbrewery, brewpub, eatery, and live music venue nestled comfortably in the vibrant heart of downtown Williamsport, along the I-80 Frontier landscape of the PA Wilds.
Williamsport is a city that is, itself, the cultural heart of scenic Northcentral Pennsylvania. Bullfrog Brewery opened in August of 1996 with a committed “focal on local” philosophy. They have a simple yet lofty goal: to be the place that people need to spend time, to brew beers that people need to have in their life, to offer food that people need to eat, to offer live music that people need to hear, and to be the kind of establishment that their beloved staff need to work.
Bullfrog Brewery strives daily to make a positive impression on the world while limiting their footprint on it.. From the start, they chose community-minded and farm-to-table approaches in what they serve from both their taps and their kitchen. With each visit, you aren’t merely supporting Bullfrog Brewery… they want you to know that you’re also supporting a community of locally owned and operated, sustainably run, environmentally and socially conscious businesses.
In addition to sourcing products and ingredients from local companies, even the food waste is sustainable! Leftovers are stored and transferred to Full Circle Bioconversion, a Williamsport-based company that uses black soldier larvae to create compost and frass, reducing their food waste output.
Although visitors are happy to hear about the thoughtful approach Bullfrog Brewery uses in their business, most visitors are simply thrilled to find artfully crafted beers and an inventive menu. Bullfrog Brewery features a continually rotating menu of staple, seasonal, and distinct craft brews. The beers blend old-world craftsmanship with a distinctly modern palette of flavors and ingredients, and at every opportunity endeavor to make use of local hops, berries, herbs, fruits, frogs (kidding!), or locally roasted, estate-grown coffees from their great friends at Alabaster Coffee Roaster & Tea Company of downtown Williamsport.
Over the years, Bullfrog has brewed and served up almost every style of beer cataloged. They have always had a penchant for showcasing “Belgish” (Belgian-style) ales that, in their humble opinion, offer the drinker the most exciting and adventurous taste experience the world of beer has to offer. They are also perhaps best known for sour beers and fruited farmhouse wheat and fermented cider.
Some noteworthy beers have won many prestigious awards and accolades, including Gold & Bronze medals at the Great American Beer Festival and Gold & Silver medals at the World Beer Cup. Bullfrog Brewery has twice been honored by RateBeer.com, ranking Bullfrog Brewery among the Top 100 Brewers In The World for 2016 and 2018 (from among over 22,000 brewers worldwide), as well as garnering 7 of the Top 25 Beers Brewed In Pennsylvania.
Sourcing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as locally pastured animals, enables Bullfrog Brewery to create truly delicious menu items celebrating the unique flavors of the PA Wilds region. They wholeheartedly believe in supporting local farmers and businesses, working together toward a stronger local economy. You’ll find familiar flavors of sandwiches, burgers, appetizers, and wings… as well as more unique flavors and options that meet the needs of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan guests.
Along with loving great beer and food, Bullfrog Brewery adores live music. One of Williamsport’s longest-standing, most dedicated supporters of original live music, Bullfrog Brewery regularly showcases the very best in national, regional, and local talent canvassing myriad genres: rock, blues, jam, bluegrass, alternative, reggae, ska, jazz, Americana, electronic, indie, world, and more. The Bullfrog features live music most Friday or Saturday nights (typically starting at 9 p.m.), and special musical treats on many Sunday, Monday, and Thursday evenings as well (usually at 8 p.m.).
At “The Frog,” as they’re often affectionately referred to as by the locals, you might just find your home-away-from-home. They hope you’ll hop on in and celebrate life with great beer, food, music, and friends at their “pad!”
Bullfrog Brewery is a Host Site member in the Experience Makers category of the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania. Learn more about Bullfrog Brewery and leave them a review or recommendation on their WCO profile.
About the Brewing in the PA Wilds series:
Each Tuesday, the PA Wilds blog will spotlight a brewery that is owned and operated within the 13-county PA Wilds region. As a wise hiker once told us, “Every trail should end with a beer.” We tend to agree! With all of the outdoor rec opportunities and brew pubs in our region, it’s easy to end an adventure with a side trip to a brewery to treat yourself, unwind, stretch your aching muscles and laugh with newfound friends. Use these brewery spotlights to learn more about the brewing businesses in the PA Wilds, their passion behind what they do, and the ales you can get when you stop there.
