Brewing in the PA Wilds: New Trail Brewing Company
- by Britt Madera
- August 8, 2023
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Part of the Brewing in the PA Wilds series
With the love of the outdoors at the center of all they do, New Trail Brewing Company believes that great beer makes life’s experiences taste even better. Founded in 2018 in Williamsport in the I-80 Frontier landscape of the PA Wilds, New Trail makes great beer for everyone to enjoy when you dare to explore new places, do new things, take new trails, and have truly memorable adventures.
New Trail Brewing Company is committed to preserving the wild wonders of Pennsylvania. That’s why they brew fresh, great tasting, locally made beer for people active in outdoor recreation, and why they strive to manage the beer making process to have the least impact on natural resources. Several of their beers even give back to these important causes, including The Wilds Are Calling Hazy IPA which is a licensed product of the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship.
Photo: Don Rick pouring a beer from the tap at New Trail Brewing Company, by Bill Crowell
New Trail Brewing calls The Wilds Are Calling Hazy IPA “a 16-ounce postcard, a liquid invitation to spend some time in the PA Wilds, enjoy all that nature has to offer, visit some breweries and other independent businesses, and find a new favorite destination.”
The Wilds Are Calling was brewed at New Trail but was marketed in collaboration with 17 other breweries, with the beer first being distributed across the region in May 2023. A portion of total sales benefits the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, advancing the mission of marrying conservation and economic development in a way that inspires and strengthens rural communities.
“The PA Wilds mission of conservation and economic development greatly benefit the brewing industry by protecting our first ingredient, driving tourism, and connecting neighbors to economic resources and each other,” says Don Rieck, New Trail Brewing Company’s Marketing Director. “ We’re thankful to call The PA Wilds home, proud to brew our beer here, and eager for you to join us.”
New Trail Brewing won the 2023 PA Wilds Champion Award for Best Brand Ambassador for The Wilds Are Calling Hazy IPA and their consistent enthusiasm when talking about the PA Wilds region and its outdoor recreation assets.
In addition to The Wilds Are Calling, New Trail Brewing Company’s other beers also harken to the outdoor rec that so many travelers enjoy.
Photo: Don Rieck at the bar at New Trail, by Bill Crowell
Another brew that gives back is New Trail’s Replenish IPA, with the mission to Replenish Pennsylvania’s native tree populations. $1 of every case and the equivalent in draft will go directly to planting new trees that will clean the air and water for future generations of people and wildlife.
Even the names of the beers are like little stories about exploring the outdoors.
The first beer ever made at New Trail was Trail Ale, an appropriately named amber ale.
Lazy River Pils is a favorite, which brought home the Gold Medal from the Great American Beer Festival in 2019!
S.O.B. Hill is named in honor of The Hyner View Trail Challenge, a 50 kilometer trail race that New Trail has been sponsoring since they opened, and the course culminates with the final rise – S.O.B. Hill.
Photo: The tasting room at New Trail Brewing Company in Williamsport, by Bill Crowell
Broken Heels Hazy IPA is New Trail Brewing Company’s most popular beer, and it has an interesting story behind the name. One of New Trail’s founders broke both of his heels right before brewery construction began. Not to worry though, he directed the whole project from his wheelchair and is now back up on his feet. Double Broken Heels is another great option, which takes everything you love about Broken Heels and cranks it up to 9.2%.
Located in a former industrial building, New Trail’s brewery and tasting room is now an attractive place for locals and travelers alike to hang out. The walls of the tasting room have topographic trail maps painted on them, and you can literally point to places you’ve been… or still want to go! The live edges of the wooden tables will feel right at home for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts who love the forest.
Photo: The topographic map wall and live-edge wooden tables at New Trail Brewing Company, by Bill Crowell
Real Taste Food Truck is on-site during all of New Trail Brewing Company’s Tasting Room hours, so you can enjoy plenty of tasty foods with your drinks. Cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages are also available.
Many weeks, New Trail Brewing also has live music or other events planned at the tasting room. Be sure to check their social media for more information.
You’re encouraged to bring the whole family too! New Trail welcomes supervised kids and leashed and well-behaved pets as well!
New Trail Brewing is a Host Site member in the Experience Makers category of the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania. Learn more about New Trail Brewing 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.
