Seeking a PA Wilds brewery? Look no further.
- by LaKeshia Knarr
- September 3, 2021
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Are you the type who is always seeking out the next best brew? Perhaps you travel with an empty growler in the back seat for when you’ve found a tasty liquid treat that you want to take home. Or, maybe you just like to have a locally-made beer when you sit down for a great meal.
If any of the above describes you, then you’ll enjoy the list below. These PA Wilds breweries bring freshly-made beers to a whole new level, and they’re within a stone’s throw of some of the Commonwealth’s best outdoor experiences.
Tip: Make sure to double check hours of operation. Many establishments have seasonal hours or are open for limited hours on weekdays.
Allegheny National Forest & Surrounds
Explore Pennsylvania’s only national forest, the Allegheny National Forest, and the surrounding communities during a trip through the northwestern section of the Pennsylvania Wilds!
BENT RUN BREWING CO.
20 Clark St., Suite B, Warren (Warren County)
www.bentrunbrewing.com
Bent Run Brewing Co. is one of Warren’s newest businesses, serving up a variety of great beers and food. Located in a large building that formerly housed the Loranger Company’s manufacturing factory, the brewery is adjacent to a rock-climbing gym and an outfitter, creating a unique recreation hub that is sure to suit everyone in the family’s interests.
BRADFORD BREW STATION
104 Chestnut St., Bradford (McKean County)
www.bradfordbrewstation.com
Bradford Brew Station offers a craft brewery serving ales, lagers, porters, IPA’s, stouts, ciders and pilsners, as well as a restaurant. In addition, the Brew Station carries only wine, spirits, and ciders that have been hand crafted in Pennsylvania. The site also includes an oil feed memorabilia display and a store, where you’ll find brewery mementos, including their very own Zippo lighter manufactured in the same city. The company notes it is the first legal brewery to open in Bradford since 1945.
LOGYARD BREWING
103 Fraley St., Kane (McKean County)
www.logyardbrewing.com
This “hyper-local” brewery is committed to using high-quality malt. The small-batch brewery utilizes an array of local, national and international hops, while growing its own harvest for future batches. Being located in the pristine PA Wilds allows Logyard to brew using some of the purest spring water available in the country. The company seeks to be environmentally mindful and takes care in choosing ingredients as well. Logyard provides spent grain to local farmers for their livestock.
Elk Country
Don’t miss your opportunity to view the largest wild elk herd in the Northeast in the Pennsylvania Wilds Elk Country landscape. Be sure to take a trip on the Elk Scenic Drive during your journey.
STRAUB BREWERY
303 Sorg Street., St. Marys (Elk County)
www.straubbeer.com
Straub Brewery is one of the oldest brewing companies in the country, and it has been family-owned since 1872. The spring-fed mountain water used by Straub goes straight from the Laurel Run Reservoir and into their delectable brews. This Elk Country classic is a site not to be missed; residents and travelers alike are welcome to tour the facility and get a taste from the “Eternal Tap.”
I-80 Frontier
One of the most traveled interstates of America, Interstate 80 cuts through the southern portion of the Pennsylvania Wilds like a main artery. Here you’ll find quick access to a variety of Wilds experiences that can take you to roads less traveled.
BOOM CITY BREWING COMPANY
317 Pine St., Williamsport (Lycoming County)
www.boomcitybrewing.com
Boom City specializes in a variety of micro-brewed beers, including their own signatures creations. They serve eight house brews on tap daily as well as other Pennsylvania wines and liquors. The brewery offers lunch, dinner and a late night menu, sourced from local growers and meat suppliers. Be sure to make reservations for Fridays and Saturdays, as live entertainment is sure to pack the place!
BOXCAR BREW WORKS AT DOOLITTLE’S
1290 Rich Highway, DuBois, (Clearfield County)
www.dootlittlestation.com
The Boxcar Brew is a nano-brewery housed inside of a train car, like all the other attractions at Doolittle Station in DuBois. The brewery works with home brewers to bring their visions to visitors. It features 20 taps, including lagers and ales, from crisp pilsners to dark stouts.
BROKEN AXE BREW HOUSE
1 E. Bald Eagle St., Lock Haven (Clinton County)
www.brokenaxebrewhouse.com
With a commitment to eating, drinking and celebrating local, the proprietors at Broken Axe Brew House feature Pennsylvania-made brews, while working on developing their own line. Decorated with images from the region’s logging history, the name and location both seek to celebrate the heritage of the Wilds. Note: this is a 21+ establishment.
BULLFROG BREWERY
229 W. Fourth St., Williamsport (Lycoming County)
www.bullfrogbrewery.com
Located in the heart of Williamsport, the Bullfrog Brewery offers housemade beers and root beer, as well as a dining menu using fresh, locally grown or raised ingredients whenever possible (and there’s a full-page macaroni and cheese menu). Come for live jazz every Wednesday night and look for other musical acts on weekends.
CLARION RIVER BREWING
600 Main St., Clarion (Clarion County)
www.clarionriverbrew.com
A microbrewery and restaurant offering reimagined American cuisine. Its handcrafted beers tell the history of Clarion County, from the only person to be executed there, to its award-winning festival that attracts nearly a half of a million people, and its history as a key iron producer in the late 1800s.
LOST IN THE WILDS BREWING
21964 Route 66, Shippenville (Clarion County)
www.lostinthewildsbrewing.com
Lost in the Wilds Brewing is located near Clarion. A family-friendly establishment, the brewery features a patio, and visitors can also bring lawn chairs and blankets to spread out in the yard too. In addition, pets are allowed outside, and service animals are permitted inside. Patrons may bring outside food and snacks, or order delivery, to accompany their alcoholic beverages.
NEW TRAIL BREWING COMPANY
240 Arch St., Building 18, Williamsport (Lycoming County)
www.newtrailbrewing.com
New Trail Brewing is committed to brewing fresh, great-tasting, locally-made beer for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. With that in mind, the brewery crafts great beer for all to enjoy when taking a moment away from exploration of new places, new trails and memorable adventures.
RACE STREET BREW WORKS
511 Spruce St., Suite 2, Clearfield (Clearfield County)
www.racestreetbrew.com
This small town brewery started in a residential basement. Run by a husband and wife team, it is now located in an industrial park and offers over 20 craft beers on tap and a unique menu of world flavors, including vegetarian and vegan options. One must visit the creatively curated space to understand how Race Street Brew Works is “WAY DIFFERENT BY DESIGN!”
RIEPSTINE’S PUB & BREWERY
913 Arch St., Williamsport (Lycoming County)
Facebook.com/Riepstines-Pub
Riepstine’s Pub offers a place where people can come together to enjoy both freshly brewed beer and traditional pub cuisine. From IPAs to lagers and more, there are plenty of brew options available to suit anyone’s taste.
ROBIN HOOD BREWING COMPANY
1796 Zion Road, Bellefonte (Centre County)
www.robinhoodbrewingco.com
Robin Hood Brewing Company is a distributing brewpub that boasts a continuously-rotating selection of award-winning IPAs, wheat beers, and experimental brews. Their menu is filled with pizza, pub food, and creative American favorites. May through October, visitors can even bring their canine friends along to relax outdoors during their “Pooches on the Patio” season.
Pine Creek Valley & the PA Grand Canyon
Pine Creek Valley, home of the PA Great Canyon, is one of the Commonwealth’s most spectacular getaways. Featuring the 63-mile long Pine Creek Rail Trail and plenty of state forest lands, this is one of the ultimate destinations for outdoor adventure seekers, including hikers, bikers, anglers and hunters.
BALD BIRDS BREWING COMPANY
220 Shaffer Lane, Jersey Shore (Lycoming County)
www.baldbirdsbrewing.com/jersey-shore
Bald Birds Brewing visitors can enjoy Bald Birds beers at the taproom, alongside food created by locally-renowned food truck company Gunzey’s Hot Sausage. Gunzey’s has set up a permanent residence inside the Bald Birds taproom and offers a custom menu. In addition to the taproom and brewing facility, Bald Birds is also home to a top-tier event venue.
WELLSBORO HOUSE
34 Charleston St., Wellsboro (Tioga County)
www.thewellsborohouse.com
This relaxed restaurant and bar, located in an 1860s building, features American food, lots of beer (of which about eight brews are made at its Wellsboro House Brewery), and plenty of televisions for sports fans.
YORKHOLO BREWING COMPANY
19 N. Main St., Mansfield (Tioga County)
www.yorkholobrewing.com
Called “a gem in the wilderness” by some patrons, Yorkholo Brewing Company is an artisan brewpub, which specializes in small batch brews; throughout the year it brews between 20-30 different styles of beer. It also purchases from and works to promote the 10 local farms it partners with.
Did we miss a brewery in the PA Wilds? Let us know in the comments!
Don’t forget Bradford Brew Station in McKean County!
Thanks so much for the note, Todd. We’ll be sure to add it to the list!