Brewing in the PA Wilds: Straub Brewery
- by Britt Madera
- July 18, 2023
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Part of the Brewing in the PA Wilds series
Brewing since 1872, Straub Brewery is one of the oldest family-owned and operated breweries in the United States, still operating in their original location in St. Marys, in the Elk Country landscape of the PA Wilds.
Although certainly one of the bigger breweries in the PA Wilds, Straub has kept its old-time charm. They continue to handcraft German-American style lagers and traditional craft beer, and the company is now run by the seventh generation of its original founding owners. Straub’s roots run deep in the PA Wilds’ history, as the brewery is the smallest pre-Prohibition brewery still in business in the US.
Travelers stop by Straub from near and far to experience one of the most unique attractions within a brewery: Straub’s Eternal Tap. It’s located just off of the production floor, and visitors are encouraged to sample a fresh taste of one of the company’s flagship beers from the tap. The Eternal Tap is so popular that it has received national and international recognition, being highlighted by the Associated Press, the Toronto Star, the Orlando Sentinel, the Maui News, and many more. Fodor’s Travel called out Straub Brewery as one of the “5 Best Places in America to Drink American Beer.”
Visitors can also schedule an up-close-and-personal look at how Straub’s beer is made with their tours, which are offered on a limited basis.
Stewardship and conservation are important to folks in the PA Wilds, and Straub Brewery uses some innovative sustainable practices. They are the last brewery in the US to produce and sell beer in returnable 16-ounce glass bottles. The bottles are washed and reused by Straub. Reusable cardboard cases and dividers help cut down on packaging materials. In fact, the PA Resource Council honored Straub Brewery in 2016 with its “Leadership in Reusable Packaging” award. A reusable box can last for about 5 to 10 returns, and a single reusable bottle can last anywhere from 5 to 10 years!
Straub offers its five year-round beers on tap: Straub American Lager, Straub American Light Lager, Straub American Amber Lager, Straub IPL (India pale lager), and 1872 (pre-Prohibition-style lager). Depending on the time of year, visitors can also enjoy the brewery’s seasonal beer styles, including Kölsch Ale, Vienna Lager, Dunkel, Helles, Doppelbock, 1872 Lager, Maibock, Altbier, Oktoberfest, Pilsner, and Hefeweizen.
Straub Brewery is a Host Site member in the Experience Makers category of the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania. Learn more about Straub 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.
