Brass Rail Beverage

Store

2828 Horseshoe Pike
PO Box 43
Campbelltown, Pennsylvania, 17010-0043
United States

(717) 838-9200 | map
brassrailbeverage.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.63
Reviews:
32
Ratings:
37
pDev:
6.91%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Slatetank:
Photo of Slatetank
Reviewed by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +1.5%
I was in the area recently and decided to visit Brass Rail Beverage, I am really glad I did. I like the layout first of all, the racks of cases is a great display choice with great labeling and organization based on style with Belgians, American Craft and Imports all in their assigned location.

The quality of the selections is great with some hard to find, but very great choices of each style of beer, not only the brands that produce them - for example St Bernardous, Tripel Karmeliet in Belgians and Sam Smith, Old speckled hen in British ales

They have the selection covered too! Right as I walk in I see Southampton, Stone, Founders, Dfh, Avery, Allagash and Troeg's. The also have Oskar Blues on hand, Bell's, Middle Ages, Southern Tier, Brooklyn as well as Locals like Stoudt's, ABC, and Yard's

The service is great here too! In just a matter of minutes I was asked if I needed help twice and the way they went about it was just very down to earth/friendly.

The prices are worth the short drive from Harrisburg as the value is reasonable and many of the cases like MOM by Rogue are not available year round or the fact you can get Rubaeus somewhere other than Philly make it a no-brainer as far as distance. This is my kind of Beer distributor - clean, neat and well stocked with the focus on craft beer.
Jun 19, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of a_daniel_life
Rated by a_daniel_life from Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev -0.6%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5
Since I'm there 3 times a week I'm somewhat basis, love the place and the staff. Have some great brews on draft. Plus awesome sandwiches.
Jun 04, 2016
Photo of jimboothdesigns
Reviewed by jimboothdesigns from Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
So glad I took my wife here before an afternoon of shopping in Hershey. The service and the food in the deli was fantastic. Great bottle selection, both warm and cold. Enjoyed a Ballast Point while chomping down a pastrami sandwich. Will definitely be spreading the word to my friends. I will be back for food and a case (or two) soon.
Dec 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.4 by PA-Michigander from Pennsylvania

Feb 27, 2015
 
 
Rated: 3.75 by stakem from Pennsylvania

Jul 11, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Kuoinetown from Pennsylvania

Jul 03, 2014
Photo of WanderingFool
Reviewed by WanderingFool from Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev -9.3%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
I was on vacation with my wife heading to Hershey Park and saw a sign for Brass Rail Beverage. We thought we'd check it out and see what beers they have that we can't find at home in the Boston area. The store is a very clean and well organized. They only sell beer by the case, but each brand has a small sign letting you know the price, brewer and a brief description of the beer. The front half of the store is all craft beer with the macro beers in the back. Brass Rail carry's beer from Stone, Dogfish Head, Rouge, some local PA brews (including Victory and Troegs) and regional beers like Bells and Great Lakes.

Other than the cashier, we were the only people in the store. The cashier was very friendly and let us know we can buy singles and growler fills at the deli next door. Prices for the cases we purchased were reasonable. We got some Two Hearted and a Great Lakes mix pack. Things we can't get at home. Each was about about $30-35. Two wheel hand carts are available if you're buying multiple cases.

If you're heading to Hershey and want to bring home some good regional beers definitely check out Brass Rail and the Brass Rail Deli next door for singles.
Oct 14, 2013
Photo of orangesol
Reviewed by orangesol from Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev -7.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
I have been in here a few times now, figured it was time for a review. Upon entering you see all the racks of beer laid out in front of you, with the registers to your right. Vibe is pretty good, as is the service, with a few people around to answer any questions you may have.

Quality has always been pretty good. I have only ever seen one or two out of date cases on the shelves. The selection has always been very good, although not as good as Westy's. They have quite a few exclusives, such as Founders, that nobody else can get. Prices are on-par or slightly above the areas average.

Overall a really solid distributor that I will continue to visit when I am in the area.
Feb 10, 2012
Photo of jneiswender
Reviewed by jneiswender from Massachusetts

4.64/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
Went here after going to the adjacent deli. Incredible selection of case beers.

Many Trappist selections by the six pack and case. Alot of local craft brews as well.

Pricing is fair. The place is kept clean and is very well organized. You can certainly find what you are looking for easily.

Parking is not abundant but you won't be looking for a spot. If you are looking for something smaller than a case, go next door to the Brass Rail Deli. Both are worth it.

No pushy service or obnoxious signs for macro brews in your face when you walk in.
Jan 04, 2012
Photo of kenatbeerswap
Reviewed by kenatbeerswap from Pennsylvania

4.64/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
I have been here several times and the people working there are always friendly and very helpfull. While checking out I was asked if I found everything. There were a couple of cases I was looking for and the person took the time and checked to see if these were cases they could get. I was also told that if I called in when looking for a beer if they don't have it but could get they will do there best to get it in.

They always have a good selection and get some of the harder to find stuff. All of their cases are marked with prices and I haven't had a case that's past its prime. I will be going back again.
Sep 29, 2011
Photo of micromaniac129
Reviewed by micromaniac129 from Pennsylvania

3.86/5  rDev -16.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
After reading many reviews here I was anxious to visit this place.
A couple of weeks ago we went to hershey's preopening day and stopped in.
Although we didn't stop to buy any cases the distrubutor itself looked clean neat and well stock. They also appeared to have a good soda collection.
Went to the deli for some single and indeed had a nice selection. That being said I would also point out that the beer selection was about what I would expect in the Philly area.
That being said I is also good to know that on our way into Hershey we can stop and get a couple of good sixes.
A good place to keep in mind or add to the fine list of beer places between Reading and Harrisburg.
May 15, 2011
Photo of Tomdee74
Reviewed by Tomdee74 from Connecticut

5/5  rDev +8%
Took a trip to Hershey with my wife and daughter and was looking for a place to score some good stuff.. thank you fellow BA'ers for telling me about this place!! what a gem this was for me!!

The guy Cisco and his wife who run these places are awesome! I grabbed a case of fresh bells two hearted here but was really amazed with the selection.. i'm gonna do a separate review of the deli but want to give these guys a big thumbs up!! Great selection and service... so happy i made the trip... read my review of the deli and you will see why!!!
Jul 20, 2010
Photo of shrek806
Reviewed by shrek806 from New York

4.65/5  rDev +0.4%
This is my first official review. I was in Hershey for a DMB show and was hoping to score some hard to find beers. Actually, the place to go for variety is next door at the Brass Rail Deli owned by the same person. Cisco, the owner, sells to himself so that you the consumer can try different beers. A mix six of any size bottles gets you 25% off. The selection was excellent and from my understanding, always changing. Cisco was a big help asking me if i was looking for anything in particular. he even went so far as to tell me to email him next time to see if he could hold a particular beer for me.
The food in the deli was quite tasty and made to order with quality ingredients. My only complaint is that the sandwiches could be a little bigger.
I will definitely return to the deli and beverage store.
Jul 11, 2010
Photo of jab5161
Reviewed by jab5161 from Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +4.8%
Cisco knows his stuff and is willing to help you make a good decision on purchasing your brew. Prices are a bit over the top at the deli (I've never been to the distributor), but it does not keep me coming back every week. 25% off six singles or more helps take some of the sting out.

Six taps are always pouring different and tasty stuff. Prices from the tap are usually a bit high for the area, but you do not go to the Brass Rail for bargains, you go to get stuff you cannot get anywhere else within hundreds of miles.

Never tried the food either, but always a pleasure to go to. Just wish it was opened Sundays/later than 9pm.
Mar 13, 2010
Photo of nismo80
Reviewed by nismo80 from Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +8%
Anyone located in Central PA and LOVES good beer knows about Cisco's distributor... now adjacent Deli. He keeps top quality beers on tap to sample, enjoy or take home in a growler. Plus his "mix six" with 25% off is unheard of around here.

Sit, relax, discuss, and enjoy the highly ranked beers on BA. Quality delicatessens and wings to enjoy with your high quality beer. He even has back issues of BA.com to read.

I suggest the Brass Rail to everyone I talk to that appreciates quality beer.
Dec 04, 2009
Photo of Kadonny
Reviewed by Kadonny from Florida

5/5  rDev +8%
Ok, I have been going to Campbelltown yearly now for 5 years for a soccer tournament and never had the opportunity to stop. Well, this year I actually had some time to check it out. What a pleasant surprise. I'm reviewing just the distributorship here.

Q: Wow, just amazing. From the minute you walk in you realize how awesome this place is. Well organized, neat, sparking clean, prices all clearly marked, amazing. The quality of beer was second to none, really. I still shake my head thinking about it.

S: Awesome. The lady at the register greeted me immediately and asked if I needed any help. I was not there more than 5 minutes when another person asked if I needed help. Cool.

S: OK, this is what just makes this place totally rockin. The selection was unbelievable. US craft included all the locals of course, Victory, Troegs, Stoudts, Sly Fox and more. Other great breweries like Founders, Bells, Hoppin Frog, Green Flash, Bear Republic, Coronado (new to PA), Terrapin, DFH, and more and more. Where this place stood out to me was the Belgians. All nice and neatly organized I saw Rochefort 8 and 10, St. Bernardus Abt 12, Westmalle, LaTrappe, Oval, Chimay, Corsendock and many more. Truly incredible.

V: Here is the only little knock. The pricing was fair, but far from cheap. Still, the selection overtakes the pricing no questions asked.

Overall I was amazed, I just wish it were closer to me. Still, at an hour plus drive I will definitely return, just to get the Belgians. Great, great place, kudos. Anyone in the area, STOP IN!
Oct 12, 2009
Photo of ClockworkOrange
Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -2.8%
I've been to Brass Rail a handful of times and am really impressed with the consistency of this shop. Cisco & Nikki do a fantastic job here. I'm always greeted with a smile and asked if I need assistance almost immediately upon entering the doors. The place is spotless, neat, and very well laid out. Stock seems to be rotated and just about everything has a price listed (a huge plus for me). Selection is fantastic - Bell's Founders, Tröegs, Bear Republic, Victory, Weyerbacher, Hoppin' Frog, Stone, Sierra Nevada, Ithaca, Ipswich, the Shelton Brothers porfolio, Stoudts, Sly Fox, you get the idea. You will find something here and leave happy. Case prices are reasonable. There is also a small area with gourmet sodas if that's your thing. Worth a stop of you are anywhere nearby.
Mar 30, 2009
Photo of boralyl
Reviewed by boralyl from Oregon

5/5  rDev +8%
I was in the Hershey area so I decided to take the 10 minute trip to the Brass Rail Deli/Beverage. I checked out the ditributor side first. As soon as you walk in the craft beer is on your left and right. There was a pretty good selection of beers. A lot of locals as well as Southern Tier, Lots of Founders, and a bunch of other great microbreweries. The prices were a tad high, but good luck finding these beers elsewhere while in the area. Overall the distributor's selection was just "ok".

Next I walked around outside to the Deli. I was amazed when I walked in. To your right was the deli and to your left were hundreds of bottles of different beer sitting out. At the back of the store was also a cooler with 4-5 doors with even more. Barely any macro beers at all. To say the least the selection was very impressive. Every bottle/can was individually priced. In addition they also had 6 beers on tap. I was lucky enough to get one of the last nitro drafts of Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout. It was poured into a Sam Adams Pint glass, and was absolutely delicious. I wish I would have looked better at what the others were on draft, as I don't recall them now. They were all pretty uncommon/rare micro brews.

I didn't try any of the food, but it looked like your typical deli food. The staff was very friendly and asked multiple times if I had any questions or needed any help. I believe I spoke with the owner, who was very beer saavy.

If you buy 6 or more beers(for take out) it is 10% off, which isn't bad. I ended up getting Oskar Blues Gorden Imperial IPA, Boulder Mojo Risen Double IPA, Voodoo Pillzilla, Founders Red Rye, Founders Double Trouble, and Weyerbacher Fireside Ale. All of that plus a 12oz draft of Founder KBS was around $30. It's a bit pricey, but for the selection, it can't really be beat.

Some beers represented there: Founders, Southern Tier, Avery, Hoppin' Frog, Voodoo, Boulder, Flying Dog, Flying Fish, Troegs, Appalachain, Weyerbacher, Victory, High and Mighty, Brewer's Art, Moylanders, Bear Republic, Stone and many more. There was also a decent amount of imported beers and Belgian beer. I'm not too much into that scene so I didn't look too closely as to what was available.
Mar 21, 2009
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

5/5  rDev +8%
I am sure I reviewed this place before about 2 years ago but alas it is gone and I revisited yesterday to stock up for a superbowl party.
Fairly unassuming concrete building on 322. Walking in the auto door the craft beer is on shelves to the left. Lots of BMC and other stuff back to the right, dont worry about that section you can find gold in the front! There is a solid mix of local regional craft brews like weyerbacher, victory, sly fox etc. But also a great mix of micros from across the country. Bells, Hoppin Frog, Laughing Dog, Erie, Thomas Hooker, Stone, Fort Collins etc. Also Cisco puts up the average BA scores for the beer on the price tag per case which is very cool. He also has a large book with ratings and reviews for anything he has in stock. Service is VERY helpful and friendly, three different staffers asked me if I needed help and they were all jovial, even had a fairly knowledgeable stout conversation with one of the workers, mostly about milk versus imperial stouts. Good stuff. I picked up a clipper city heavy seas variety for $34. with 6 barleywines and 6 imperial stouts in there this seems like a steal! I also saw a case of Dark Horizon on the shelf and almost bought it, but it was $120 for 6 bottle case, just cant do it. So went next door and got a single for $25.
Very excellent shop for this area, I will make it a must visit every time I come back into Middletown to visit family and friends.
Feb 01, 2009
Photo of SwiftyMcBeer
Reviewed by SwiftyMcBeer from Indiana

4.5/5  rDev -2.8%
Really surprised to find this place close to my brothers house. Great case selection and an even more interesting singles selection over in the deli part of the store. Singles that you just don't see everywhere, not even sure how the owner got his hands on all of them. He also was pouring 6 top-notch brews on tap in the deli area. The case prices seemed reasonable, singles prices were a little high, then again, you can't find this stuff elsewhere in the area, so you will pay. I will return again when I am not as rushed for time.
Dec 29, 2008
Photo of thain709
Reviewed by thain709 from Pennsylvania

4.41/5  rDev -4.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
I love Brass Rail. I have made a few stops here when I'm in the Hershey area. They have one of the best case selections in the area. They have all the big PA micros (Troegs, Victory, Stoudts, and so on..) plus they have a great selection of Founder's, Bells, Bear Republic and Avery. Their selection of imports is pretty impressive as well.

One thing I like about Brass Rail is that you are greeted by the big selection of micros as you walk in the door. It's not like the other stores where they hit you in the face with big fancy sale displays for "water." They know what's important and they let you know right off the bat!

I've always had great, friendly service when I've been there. The owner knows his stuff! The prices seem a dollar or two more expensive than some places...but they are average for PA.

AND...a little note on the deli...AMAZING!
Dec 24, 2008
Photo of akorsak
Reviewed by akorsak from Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev -9.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5
Quality: Well-lit and clean, the lay-out is beer geek friendly. Selection is top-notch.

Service: Service is good, friendly and happy to assist.

Selection: Fantastic selection that rivals Westy's for Central PA supremacy. Pennichuck, Two Brothers, Thomas Hooker, Founders and Bells highlight an excellent product line that is fresh (none of the dusty old offerings here).

A must-visit if you are on US-322 between Lebanon and Hershey. The Brass Rail also just opened a deli/bottleshop in the same facility, offering the same great selection for take-out.
Nov 15, 2008
Photo of djaquay
Reviewed by djaquay from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -2.8%
I'm very new to the craft beer world, but after reading very favorable reviews of Brass Rail, (and given that it's very convenient on US-322, on my way home from work), I figured I'd stop by.

All three people I spoke with were very friendly and eager to help me out. I explained my very novice experience level, and the two guys spent plenty of time answering my questions and giving suggestions for what would match my tastes.

Given that I'm new, and that this is the first PA distributor I've been to, take my value, selection and quality ratings with a grain of salt, but I certainly wish every store I went to had such good service. (And as one of the other reviews mentioned them opening a deli, I'm looking forward to having even more reasons to stop in, in the future.)
Aug 09, 2008
Photo of Hophead101
Reviewed by Hophead101 from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -2.8%
hard to believe a great beer place is nestled in the small town of Campbelltown, PA. in a state where you are required to buy beer by the case (unless you want to pay a premium price for 6-packs), it is hard to find good micro selections. Sisko (owner) has a great little shop. what i like the most is that all the micro beer is in the FRONT of the store. so you have to walk through it to get to the back of the store where they keep the rest of the watered down beer. nice touch. his prices are extremely reasonable for such a small operation. This was a great find. so if you are in need of some great beer, stop by Brass Rail - ask for Sisko - and he will take care of you.
Mar 24, 2008
Photo of Troegsfan
Reviewed by Troegsfan from Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +8%
Hi,
I have been a regular customer of Brass Rail Beverage since their opening around 3 years ago. Cisco (owner) and the entire staff are just wonderful. Cisco is passionate about bringing a world class beer selection to an area which needed such a store.
You are always greeted with a smile and he is always helpful in showing you any "new arrivals". I am very fortunate to have such a great beverage store just a few miles from my home.
If you want friendly, knowlegable service, Brass Rail Beverage should be your beer distributor of choice.

Keep up the good work Cisco.
Bob a.k.a (Troegsfan)
Mar 08, 2008
Photo of phnphilly
Reviewed by phnphilly from Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +4.8%
So I recently moved into the area and stopped in the Brass Rail to pickup a case of Nugget Nectar. As soon as i walked in I was pleasantly surprised at the selection of craft beer available. There were 3 full isles (both sides) filled with craft beer. U.S. craft beers (off the top of my head) included any PA beer, Bells, Founders, Bear Republic, Hoppin Frog, Jolly Pumpkin, 3 Floyds, southhampton, DFH Stone, Rogue, ....many, many more. It wasn't just one beer from these breweries either but rather almost their entire lineup. There was also a significant Belgian selection (I was eying up a case of cantillon 100% lambic).

Anyhow, I walk in and was asked if I needed any help. I asked for a case of Nugget Nectar and Cisco (I know I butchered the spelling of his name here) told me it was still on the truck. He went and unloaded a case from the truck for me and carried it to my car. We talked for about 5 minutes and he was obviously a fan of craft beer and enthusiastic about the selection they had.

The place was clean, cool, and every case had a price tag on the shelf....very well organized. It seems that all of the employees have a knowledge of craft beer (not just one person) and the prices are a few dollars cheaper than other, similar selection distributors in the area. One of the best distributors I've run into considering price, selection, and service in PA...I will be back to visit again many times.
Jan 16, 2008
Photo of tgbljb
Reviewed by tgbljb from Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev -6%
Visited the establishment early on a Friday afternoon. The craft beer selection is on the left as you walk in the front door which led me to believe that the owners have a true interest in stocking good beer. The selection was very good, with some products I have yet to find in this area. They also had Steg's winter beer, which is always difficult to find in the Lancaster area. The prices were comparable to other stoes in the area, Some items being a little mnore and some items being a little less. A nice store to visit, with an above average selection. This is what a beer store in Pennsylvania should be.
Dec 30, 2007
Photo of HombreWing
Reviewed by HombreWing from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -2.8%
Walking in the room radiated a nice temp. but it is winter. Concrete from what I recall everywhere. Totally fine with that. Anxious to see what summer is like inside. I was browsing 5 minutes when asked if I needed help. My politeful no was accepted and I was left alone to continue. I heard good things about the selection and they were true. My selection was greeted with an appropriate quip from what appeared to be an invested employee.
I would have "gotten into it" if I wasn't trying to get the kids, wife, and myself over to Hershey Candy Lane Lights and Rides.
I did compliment them on better prices than another quality local distributor. Looking forward to another visit soon.
Dec 09, 2007
Photo of Deuane
Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +0.4%
A very well kept and clean store. Easy access right on US 322 just east of Hershey, PA in Campbelltown. A nice large sign out front announces current specials and many of them are of the micro variety. Inside the "good" stuff is right up front and well organized. You actually have to walk through the micro area to get to the BMC area...nicely done!

As far as service...Cisco and his crew are top notch. They will hold something for you if you cant make it down for a day or two. Also he is happy to talk beer with you if he has the time. In addition he lets you know of new arrivals when you are in...such as the variety pack of Voodoo Brew that I picked up the last time in!

Prices are on par with other local places. He carries Founder's products, from Stockertown Beverage, and while they are a bit more here than they are at SB I cannot drive to Stockertown and back for less than the mark-up so therefore it is a non-issue.

A quality store that compliments Westy's---what they are to the west side of the greater Harrisburg are--Brass Rail is the solid cornerstone of beer on the east side. BRB may not have as many varieties as Westy's but I can assure you that even the most jaded beer geek will find something of interest.

Oh...and if all goes well a new deli / bottleshop / growler fill area will be up an running by 2008. Just another reason to go and check out this quality establishment!
Oct 19, 2007
Photo of chimayomy
Reviewed by chimayomy from Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +8%
If you love beer, than please make this store a regular stop.

I used to work in Hershey and this was my weekly stop to pick up a case ... or three, that I would share with my neighbors. What impressed me the most was the fact that the craft / micro brews were in the front of the store, if you want a macro you need to walk through this section first.

The breadth of micros is impressive. From local (Lancaster, Troeg's, Victory) to the regional (Dogfish Head, Ommegang) to the import (Chimay). The quality is there; and then you have "The Book".

The owner has taken the time and effort to build a three ring binder full of information, mostly gleened from BA, to allow you to compare beers and expand your own catalog of tastings. As far as customer service, during one visit I could not find a specific Ommagang, Rare VOS, when I was in his store. I talked with him for a few minutes and then went back to shopping. While I was still in the store, the owner came back to me, told me that he had talk with his distributor and that the VOS would be there the next day, 'Sorry for any inconvience'. I was blown away.

The next day, when I picked it up, I thanked him many times. Please help me support a businessman who understands quality trumps quantity.
Sep 10, 2007
Photo of DIM
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +8%
There are at least 5 distributors closer, but I almost always make the drive to the Brass Rail. I live in a fairly rural area, so I was very pleasantly surprised at the wide variety available. All the semi-local favorites(Lancaster, Stoudts, Troegs, Victory, Weyerbacher,etc.),many regional favs(DFH, Yards, etc), plus a wide array of brews I thought that I'd have to go on vaction to sample(Stone, Bells, Rogue, and a lot more I can't recall). The owner is unbelievably friendly and helpfull. He seems to have sampled nearly everything on his shelves, and is willing to give you his honest opinion to go along with the BA scores he has posted. His prices are usually a couple of bucks better than other distributors in the area. I can't sat enough good things about this place,so if you live anywhere near the Brass Rail it is well worth the trip. I know I always leave with the ass end of my car dragging and a smile on my face.

edit: Everytime I go in, his inventory has expanded. I'm upping selection from 4.5 to 5.0
Mar 06, 2007
Photo of ffejherb
Reviewed by ffejherb from Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev -7.1%
I stopped in Brass Rail Beverage to have a look around when I was on my way to Hershey via Rt. 322. It's quite spacious on the inside and there seemed to be plenty of parking outside. They also have a marquee outside displaying several of their case specials for the week. I also like the fact that they have a walk-in cooler area where you can go in and select your own cold beer, rather than asking what they have cold. The staff was friendly and greeted me upon my entrance. They also asked if they could help in any way. Immediately upon entering, I noticed all their microbrews on the left side of the front of the store. The area was a bit smaller than I had anticipated, but they still had a good selection, including all of the PA breweries (Troegs, Stoudt's, ABC, Weyerbacher, Lancaster, etc.) as well as a fairly good selection of other US names (Rogue, Smuttynose, Bell, DFH, Stone, etc.). Most of the macros were in the back aisles, as well as most of the imports. Their prices seemed a bit lower than other distributors I've been in around Central PA. Not much cheaper, though; maybe $1 or $2 less than standard. I picked up a variety case of Yards for $27.99, which included their Pale Ale, IPA, ESB and Saison. The bottles had some dust and cobwebs when I opened it. Not sure how long it was sitting, but it wasn't listed at a "special" price. I will definitely stop in fron time to time when I'm in the area.

EDIT 12/9/06 - I am upgrading the "service" score to a perfect 5, due to the fact that I received correspondence from the owner about a day after I posted my initial review. He was concerned about the dust and cobwebs on my bottles and offered a full refund if I wasn't completely satisfied. I found this to be excellent customer service, and applaud Brass Rail Beverage for going above and beyond my expectations. Please also note that I wasn't really upset about the dust; I was just noting to be as specific as possible. Thanks again!
Dec 07, 2006
Photo of HugoGrim
Reviewed by HugoGrim from Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +8%
I heard about this place through word of mouth, so when I was looking for a perticular beer (Victory's Mad King) I decided to give them a call to find out if they had it before making the trip. I called at around 9pm on a Thursday night, and spoke to a nice woman who took my name, phone number, and said she would have to ask her husband (apparently the owner) if they have the beer. Not fifteen minutes later I get a phone call from him. Turns out they did not have the beer as Victory does not currently bottle Mad King, so not only had he called Victory to see if they could ship him a case, but he also had visited this site to read about it so he could suggest some similar beers for me. Needless to say I was impressed with his knowledge and devotion, I told him I'd be in the next day.

Upon entering I was immediatly impressed. The craft beer, mostly American micros were right in the front and excellently displayed, while the macro was pushed into the back of the store. Stone, Dogfish Head, Victory, Sierra Nevada, Stoudts, Yards, Rogue, Tröegs, and ABC were all available, just to name a few. Almost every beer was taged with it's current BA rating and it's rank in the top 100.

When I told him his use of this site was one of the reasons I made the trip to see him he proudly went through his disply and showed me the highest ranking beers he had, making special notes to the hefes and wheat beers, as he remembered I had asked him about Mad King (a hefe). I can without reservation say this is the best service I have ever recieved.

If you have any chance to patrionize this establishment I urge you to do so. Not only for your own sake, but to support a business which is taking great strides to promote quality beer.
Sep 12, 2006
Photo of ggaughan
Reviewed by ggaughan from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -2.8%
I planned on heading to this place on the way to a concert in Hershey and after seeing a few reviews before mine. Although I thought I was heading to a place a friend had recommended, it turned out he had never been to this place but should have gone. The selection of both domestic craft beer and imports mainly from Belgium, Germany and England was impressive, especially for its location. I spent about 1/2 an hour roaming through the craft section trying to decide between cases from Dogfish Head, ABC, Troeg's, Weyerbacher, Flying Fish, Lancaster and the list goes on and on. We ended up getting a DFH Boom Box case for the concert tailgating but could not have gone wrong with any of the choices that were there. They also had some large format bottles and gift sets including a 3 L of Troeg's Mad Elf and a 3L of Stone Arrogand Bastard. In addition to the DFH case, we also picked up a gift pack of 2 La Chouffe bottles and a cool glass. The prices at the Brass Rail are also very reasonable. I think the case of DFH was about $5 cheaper here than at another beer store closer to Hershey that my friend had suggested.

This place is definitely a stop if you are in the Hershey area and in search of good beer.
Jul 07, 2006
Photo of waldo567
Reviewed by waldo567 from Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +0.4%
I decided to check this place out after reading the beerfly review of it here on BA. Wow, what a little find. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found inside.

Once you walk in the craft brew section is right up front while the macro selection is pushed to the back. They have some displays of new beers that have come in right up front. This time it was Toegs Nugget Nectar and some brews from Sly Fox.

On the right is a great selection of local brews such as Victory, Troegs, ABC, Weyerbacher, DogFish Head, Stoudts, as well as other craft breweries such as Rogue, Stone, Brooklyn, and others. I can't remeber them all. They had a few case of Belgians (Duval and a couple of trappist breweries) although I didn't see much else in the way of imports. I even spotten two 3 liter bottles of Double Bastard and a couple gift packs of Chimay. You don't see that at to many PA distributors.


The gentleman who checked me out (not sure if he was the owner or not) was very pleasant and we talked for a couple of minutes. I only gave the service a 4 because I didn't talk to the gentleman for long. He did greet me when I walked in and asked if I needed any help.

Another feature I really thought was great was that they had a booklet with information sheets on the various beers near the craft brew sections. They looked like they were taken off of BA. What a great way to check out some beers before you buy them if you forgot to check them out on BA before you went shopping.

Overall, I'm glad I decided to check this place out. I will definitely be returning again.

Update 8/29/07: I'm upgrading the service to a 5. I recently made a trip with sulldaddy and the service was exceptional. Cisco was extremely helpful to us and showed us around and pointed out various beers. I also like the use of the BA information at the store. There's nothing worse than wanting to check out a particular beer and have no information about it. Definitely a place to go to.
Mar 03, 2006
Photo of beermanbrian
Reviewed by beermanbrian from Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev -3.9%
First, let me say that my review is probably biased. I live less than a mile from this place and therefore have a vested interest in it staying open and increasing the variety. So please, if you heading down 322 to Hershey stop in and give the place a try.

The owners are great people who love to talk beer. They are really trying to get a large selection of micros but it is a little difficult due to the wholesaling laws and such that you have to deal with in PA. Despite the hassel, they do have a nice selection to choose from. Every Thursday is micro tasting night so stop by to get a sample of something new.

Do check for freshness dates if you can. It seems that maybe their wholesalers are trying to dump some old stuff on them. I've had one or two cases that were past their prime, but if you take the time to check the cases for dates it shouldn't be a problem and i'm sure if you got something that was bad they would take it back.

Weyerbacher, Victory, Stoudts, Troegs, Penn Brewing, Appalachian and Lancaster are amoung the local brews that are represented. From out of state, you can find Dogfish, Stone, Rogue, Harpoon, Brooklyn and Magic Hat to name a few. They also have a nice selection of imports. The selection is ever changing and expanding. For the Palmyra/Hershey area they definately have the best selection without driving across the river to Westy's. Prices are very reasonable.

edit 2/6/06 I just upped the selection from 4.0 to 4.5. They continue to bring in more and more excellent beers. Nice selection of Belgian beers to go with an increasing variety of American craft brews. Keep up the good work guys.
Oct 10, 2005
Brass Rail Beverage in Campbelltown, PA
Place rating: 4.63 out of 5 with 37 ratings