Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks

Elk Creek Cafe + AleworksElk Creek Cafe + Aleworks
Elk Creek Cafe + AleworksElk Creek Cafe + Aleworks
Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

100 W. Main St.
Millheim, Pennsylvania, 16854
United States

(814) 349-8850 | map
elkcreekcafe.net
BEER STATS
Average:
3.89
Beers:
27
Ratings:
368
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.13
Reviews:
26
Ratings:
39
pDev:
9.93%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by NeroFiddled:
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Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
Elk Creek is about 40 minutes northeast of State College, PA on Rt. 45. It's become a destination and central meeting point to a certain extent not just because of their music nights, food, and great beers but because it's in the middle of nowhere. The only other place on their little strip of town is Original Italian Pizza across the street, and at night the warm light emanating from their almost floor to ceiling windows is like a beacon in the darkness.

Inside it's comfortable and cozy with plank wood floors, yellow walls, a small stage, and colorful art on the walls. The bar seats about 12 and there are plenty of tables for dining. There are 6 regular beers and usually 2 specialties, and 22 oz. bottles are available for take out. For food they offer a limited menu but it's good, including a burger, ham & cheese sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich, fish & chips, steak frites, and some more interesting items like Chana Masala and a falafel/pita.

You should note, they're closed on Mondays and they're only open for dinner on Tuesday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday you can get lunch starting at 11:30 and then they're open until 11 pm. On Sundays they do brunch and close early.

If you're in the area I definitely recommend you check it out. It's got so much more charm and character than any other place around, and the staff is great. And if they've got it definitely try some Hairy John IPA.
Dec 01, 2017
More User Ratings:
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Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.63/5  rDev -12.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.5
Nice place on the corner of the main intersection in town. Street parking available. Seems like this is where all the locals go to hang out.Vibe is a mixture of a little bit new and a little bit old but it all comes out comfy and cozy. Fairly large bar as well as plenty of seating throughout. Decent tap list with a nice variety. Beers were average, with my favorite being the Porter. Did not eat, but they do have a food menu. Nice neighborhood type place.
Oct 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.9 by heddar33 from Pennsylvania

May 24, 2017
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Reviewed by JohnWesolowski from Connecticut

4.79/5  rDev +16%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4
9 of us stopped by after a Penn State game (faster getting food here than waiting in State College). About a dozen beers on tap. Half were very good, the other half were OK. Nice menu choices.
Nov 16, 2016
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Reviewed by rmf5 from Pennsylvania

2.23/5  rDev -46%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 1.5 | service: 3 | selection: 2.5 | food: 1.5
The Elk Creek Café revitalized a rural town and now appears to have become complacent. My Vegan Tagine was cold, poorly presented and weighed in at about 3 ounces--not even sufficient for a side dish. They charged $12 for something that came across as an afterthought, maybe they've become indifferent and greedy.
On a positive note, the beer remains good
Oct 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by TimoP from Pennsylvania

Jan 19, 2016
 
Rated: 4.28 by TedStrosser from Pennsylvania

Dec 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.31 by Uniobrew31 from Pennsylvania

Jun 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.14 by MKrauss from Pennsylvania

May 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.85 by slasich from Pennsylvania

Apr 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by whojim from Pennsylvania

Aug 31, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Gravesnyper from Pennsylvania

Aug 20, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Anyportinastorm from Oregon

Jun 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by JKWBMH from Pennsylvania

Feb 22, 2014
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Reviewed by b_packer from Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev +1.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
A great brewpub in the mountains of central pa. Brews are primarily english style ales. Six main beers always on tap with two rotating handles they use for seasonal/speciality brews. Best offering would have to be the Poe Valley Porter or Double Rainbow . When in season spring/summer elk creek takes advantage of their location and uses local ingredients from nearby farms and purveyors in their beer and food. What I enjoy the most about Elk Creek is that they keep things simple. There is no extreme or outlandish beers, just easy drinking ales that they do well. Only drawback about this place is no TV so don't plan on having a beer and watching the game. Its prolly a good thing they don't have a tv because you would never leave. If you want to experience a local friendly place with a sociable atmosphere then this the place. Well done Elk Creek.
Feb 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by JMB71 from Pennsylvania

Jan 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Pothagerous from Pennsylvania

Jan 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by jdaddy from Pennsylvania

Oct 27, 2013
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Reviewed by orangesol from Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
Stopped in here yesterday for brunch after leaving Campground Brewdown. My first time visiting but I have always heard great things.

The space is very nice, lots of tables and a decent sized bar. It was packed with lots of happy people eating and drinking the entire time we where there. Quality seemed to be high. My food was top notch, as were the beers. Our service left a lot to be desired. Our server was great...when she was around. We had to flag her down multiple times and she forgot a few beers had been ordered, twice.

Selection was pretty good. They had eight of their regular beers on with three extra ones, including the ESB on cask. I got a DIPA and it was decent. Food was definitely the star of the show. We where there for brunch so I went with the blue cornmeal blueberry pancakes and they were great. I checked the rest of the menu and I saw quite a few things I would love to try.

Overall a great little place that I will definitely return to when I am in the area.
Aug 20, 2012
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Reviewed by tgbljb from Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +12.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Arrived for lunch a little after noon on a rainy Saturday. We were promptly seated, and our waitress soon arrived to take our drink order. I selected the beer on cask and was very pleased with my selection. My wife and I selected a sandwich from the menu which was served in a timely fashion. The food was delicious and the portions were adequate without being overly filling. I wanted to purchase a growler and our waitress gave me several samples before I made my selection. An excellent place to stop if you are in the area. Good people, good beer, good food. The perfect combination.
Oct 24, 2011
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Reviewed by OneDropSoup from Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Decided to trek up here for Father's Day. It was a beautiful day, & the drive up through Central PA was a great prelude for the visit.

On finding the place, I was charmed by the quaint, small isolated town vibe of Millheim. Also impressed that the place had enough of a reputation to support itself in a fairly removed environment, though I guess Lewisburg & State College are close enough to send some of its citizens. The place was fairly busy on this pretty Sunday afternoon, but we were seated right away on the stage.

The front room is nice, open, & naturally lit by the two big front windows, with a nice long at the opposite side of the stage. I can see it making a cool music venue in the evening, & there were plenty of posters for upcoming acts hanging around.

It took a little bit for a server to come check us out, but that gave us a chance to pore over the menu & beer list. Some good-looking menu items - this was brunch, so I went with a salmon, caper, & cream cheese frittata that looked great. Too bad for my dad that they were out of the walleye, so he opted for a burger.

I wasn't really blown away by the selection: pretty typical brewpub offerings - copper/amber, brown, porter, pale, IPA - & at first was a little disappointed that they didn't seem to have any real adventurous brews on tap. Nonetheless, I got a sample of each, & after discovering how good they were, realized that they don't need any "big" beers. The pilsner & copper ale were great! And who gets excited about a copper ale? The pale ale was also very good. The dark beers seemed to be a little off, maybe slightly oxidized, but still not bad. For "little" beers, they definitely satisfied.

After a bit, the owner came by, introducing himself by commenting on my Sharp Edge T-shirt ("That's a dangerous place."). We chatted about beer & Pittsburgh for a few minutes, really friendly guy. I love seeing a proprietor that really engages the customer like that. Our server was also happy to talk about the beer - she was also a fan of the pils.

The food was great, too, & I was happy to see some veggie options on the menu. Pretty decent price for everything.

I'd read up on Elk Creek in a few books before checking it out (Pennsylvania Breweries, Going Local), & they all mentioned the sustainability & quality of the food & the outgoing, warm nature of Tim, the owner, as well as being struck that a small town could support such a quality place. It was a great feeling having those expectations met. Great place, great experience, I'd love to make it back.
Jun 19, 2011
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Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Transcribed from notes dated Su, 28 Nov 2010.

Located right on the northwest corner of W Main and Penn Streets, the east wall had a mural detailing the borough. The front, running along Main Street, had two recessed doorways, but the east doorway was the one that opened onto the long, "L"-shaped blonde and brown wood bar to the immediate right. I really liked the intermingling of blonde and light-brown wood, especially pertaining to the back bar which incorporated shelves for glassware and wine as well as mirrors. The interior west wall was adorned with Nancy Cleaver artwork, all themed around the concept of "Peace". Amen, sister. A raised table for six was just inside the door, overlooking the corner. I'd bring Lew Bryson, Mark Haynie and three other heavily-bearded guys to really wow the looky-loos. Or better yet, bring our wives/girlfriends to offset the testosterone. My Old Lady would dig it.

The space was obviously two separate buildings whose wall was partially removed at one point to allow for a sea of blonde wood tables and dark wood chairs interspersed with high tables and chairs. I was seated in one of the sturdy wrought-iron and wood Captain's chairs at the bar. I would be utterly remiss if I did not mention the blackboards throughout, all written on with colored chalk. Note to self: upgrade to sidewalk chalk as well as Prismacolor Nupastels. I also want to point out the (relatively) small, slightly rasied stage against the center/west wall for live music on weekends. The soft shades of yellow throughout the interior make this a good place to hang out on a warm, sunny day. They also had a separate dining facility for private functions.

Food: I was in for their Sunday brunch and I opted for the salmon, caper and Fontina cheese frittata. When McDonald's begins to serve anything involving salmon, I will begin to entertain them as a breakfast option.

Beer: Winkleblink Ale; Great Blue Heron PA; Elk Creek Copper; Brookie Brown; Poe Paddy Porter; Double Rainbow IPA and Willy's Wee Heavy (a 90-shilling Scotch Ale on N2). Hoo hoo!
There was one cask engine, but nothing was going during my visit as they had just kicked an East India Pale ale, made with locally grown fresh hops. My loss. The bar used six different wooden tap handles for each of their flagship beers. They also sold growlers for those that have to have some for takeaway.
Jun 12, 2011
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Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Visited this small town on a Saturday afternoon in late August. A very open, friendly-looking place with lots of open space, wood-based furniture, and bright sunlight streaming through the windows. Everything looked very new, except for the floor, I believe. There were ~8 beers on tap. Between me and my boyfriend, we tried the IPA, IIPA, Pale ale, Porter, and Pilsener, and all were quite good. The food menu has lots of vegan and local/organic options and whatever I tried (I think it was a turkey sandwich, can't quite remember) was very good. While we were there a band was setting up to play although we left before they actually played. Overall, it was a great chill place to relax and enjoy a brew and I wish I'd stayed longer. It looks like their tap list has a bit of rotation, so I'm sure I'll be back.
Dec 23, 2010
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Reviewed by PhilfromPA from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4
A small group of us stopped in mid afternoon on a weekend, apparently they were setting up for an acoustic band to play and as we entered we were told we had 45 minutes before we had to vacate our table. We promptly ordered our food and chose among a nice selection of beers. I got the Poe Paddy porter, and an IPA, both I enjoyed very much. The food was also good and overall the prices were reasonable. The service was the only thing that I wasn't impressed with but maybe it was an off day for our waitress.
Dec 22, 2010
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Reviewed by PittBeerGirl from Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
If you are looking for directions to this place-the website reads "On PA 45 at THE traffic light in Millhiem"- That should give you an idea of where this place is. Its situated in a small town the middle of the Appalachian ridges in PA and really isn't far from State College PA-plus the drive is magnificant. Geographically- not far from I-80 and between State College and 2 of the most note-worthy brewpubs in PA (Bullfrog and Selinsgrove). This is also a must stop.

Its a small brewpub with a dining area an bar as well as an area for live bands to play. We were there around lunch time-so it was prettty quiet. The menu is small-but the food is excellent.

The beer is also VERY good and noteworthy. They have a regular selection plus 1-2 special beers. I had the Poe Paddy porter-fantastic and always available and on of their IPAs-which was also excellent. We were very happy we stopped here and it will be worth your time if you do too!
Oct 05, 2010
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Reviewed by blackie from Oregon

4/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
The drive from State College to Millheim runs about 30 minutes through rolling valley farmland. The town itself is reason for a visit, a one-stoplight deal with a creek running around the periphery and one of the coolest Victorian houses I've seen.

Elk Creek has an open and airy vibe - big storefront windows look out onto the intersection, and golden yellow walls create a sunny feeling even at night. Equally vibrant paintings and a couple chalkboards with current beers and specials hang from the walls.

Plenty here to choose from - two seasonals, a bitter and an oatmeal stout on nitro, and I believe six regulars - mostly standard styles and nothing higher than 7.5 percent. The Poe Paddy Porter was very good. The Double Rainbow IPA has a name that may mislead some - far from a dipa, it's more a stronger, balanced English version - and actually named after a meteorological phenomenon spotted on the brew day of this beer.

The menu has some pretty enticing selections, and it appears they make use of local meats where possible. Unfortunately the rotating vegan entree was very disappointing - a handful of soba noodles atop a pretty bland lettuce blend, a few slices of radish, and soy dressing; that's not an entree - that's a salad. Kinda expected a better attempt at a vegan/veg option from a place that puts out such an earthy vibe, but this is rural PA. I'll definitely return once this dietary phase of mine is over - the burger and fries looked awesome.

No real problems with service - the bartender a little slow to recognize me at the bar, but was pretty timely afterward. Not particularly warm or friendly, but they got the job done, and it was an atypical night so they deserve some slack.

Not the best night to visit - a literal busload of people (the "Magic Schoolbus"), presumably from State College, poured in just after me. Got a bit loud and it was somewhat annoying dealing with a flow of orders over my shoulder, but nothing to get upset about. The featured bands weren't anything special - pretty benign at least.
Apr 24, 2010
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Reviewed by slander from New York

4.2/5  rDev +1.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
2 hours late out of Maryland put me in the rain for hours up I-99 and rush hour in State College, but then it dropped off to quiet quickly out the other side, fields of way out nowhere and then I started seeing these yellow signs depicting a little horse & buggy. Figured it's an Amish alert but then thought, perhaps it warns of the child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Here we are children, come and get your lollipops, treacle tarts, ice-cream... all freee today!) And then a single traffic light, Millheim; a pin drop quiet rainy lovely Autumn smelling town...

And they are open, which doesn't sound like much to you but I hoofed it out here once before on a Sunday, and, well anyway, they're open. It's a cool cool cool little place in 2 store fronts attached, brick with large glass front windows and blue trim. Inside, an "L" shaped wood bar; light paneled, dark trim base & laminate top with a lip and seating 13 off to the right. The barback counter space holds some stacked glassware to both sides of a stainless steel tower of 8, and matching cupboards below. A mirror with a framed b/w drawing of a pint glass on center of the unit, bottles of wine to each side, and framed box racks of glassware on the ends. Expanding out some, a tiered staircase piece with glassware & growlers to one side, and a wall rack to the other, split with more shelved glassware on one side, and vertical shorty shelves with rows & rows of wine on its side. A horizontal blackboard above lists tap selections in chalk colored. T shirts for sales up there and some slight artwork. A larger blackboard forward the bar listing the food specials, with Crick Fest tankards lining the top.

Settled in off the corner of the bar and took in a sampler, which gets you everything; 6 regular offerings (Winkleblink Ale, malted barley flavor, strangely unexplainable; Great Blue Heron Pale Ale, good hoppiness, blonde in color, nicely balanced; Brookie Brown Ale, chocolatey enough and quaffable, yes; Double Rainbow IPA, 7.5%, Fuggles, assertively hopped; Elk Creek Copper Ale, a deep rust color, caramel flavors & a good hoppiness; Poe Daddy Porter, just chocolatey licorice love), and a pair of seasonals (Crick Fest Beer, pleasant Marzen maltiness, nice copper color; Penn Valley Pils, good clean pils, nice malt flavors). Great Blue Heron Pale Ale, Brookie Brown Ale, Poe Paddy Porter & Crick Fest Beer were the bestest. And very modestly priced, no less; shortys for $2.25, pints for $3.50, samplers for $8 and pitchers for $12. A single handpump sits sunken off the corner, nothing up just now as it's only live in the Winter months and it ain't then now.

Bowls of soy nuts on the bar for all to enjoy. Do you see the spoons accompanying? Try using them, you filthy animal. And yes, I too was wondering what the Salmon feature is; sadly it's some sort of salad, so I opted for the shrimp & pork gumbo, which was excellent and would be perfect with the porter in January.

The sampler holding my space barside, I am free to take a beer or two from and stray to take in the room some. It's a spacious place, this old hardware store gone brewpub reborn; wide open save a single brick pillar on the center between the rooms. Yellow painted walls with wood trim all around, done up with a big logo piece on the back wall, and some absolutely great artwork throughout otherwise, many of them of the twin mask variety. That one there looking amazingly Piccasoesque, some single verticals with doves of peace, fish with a single eye, the sun, a cross, I'm sure it's for sale and probably pretty pricey. Old vintage slat wood floorings, drop cylinder lamps over the bar, sunken spots behind over the tap board, Chinese paper lanterns up front in the big windows blinded, and track spots throughout.

A good amount of seating, the tables nicely candlelit. In this room, 3 hightop roundies adjacent to the bar bunched and nearly a half dozen 2 seaters beyond. Up front, a single table in a raised space in the windows to one side of the door and a leather on wood slat bench with a coffeetable combo in the other. In the next room, 15 tables, mostly small little ones but a few longer play to both sides of the vestibule door in the big big windows, and a few on a slight raised stage area on the far wall; easily removed when the bands come blues. To the rear, a small room done burgundy walls with some paintings, and a ½ dozen+ tables scattered about.

They play good market ways; from sustainable and local farms & pastures, right down to the recycs & overall waste output. Food was good and well, now I know where Tim's been holding up, we like his beers. Comfortable artsy house, warm & inviting. Lots of work done by the Amish; iron chairs and other local made stuff. Super nice regulars, I'm hanging with the community teacher folks. Good tunes, great vibe, Earthy excellence. I very much so do like this place. At the crossroads of Millheim so absurdly out of the way. I will revisit.
Nov 27, 2009
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Reviewed by sholland119 from Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
The last new stop on our tour, Elk Creek is located on the main drag in Millheim. There is a moderate-sized bar straight ahead as you walk in and a big open dining room on the left. The dining room was comfortable despite the size.

Nine beers were on tap for our visit. The brews had a decidedly English style except for the "Dunkelbock" offering. Too many miles ahead of us to do a sampler but I enjoyed the Double Rainbow IPA and the Poe Paddy Porter. Other selections included the Winkleblink Ale, Elk Creek Copper Ale and Brookie Brown Ale. As with Otto's, the beer naming motto seems to be, "Better knowledge of PA geography through drinking", which I can certainly get behind.

Food was, as is common in this part of PA, fresh and local and delicious. My burger and garlic fries were excellent. Service was very nice all around. We enjoyed this stop and would stop in more often if not for the 150 mile distance.

HV
Jan 15, 2009
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Reviewed by bosco7 from Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Decided to check this place out after getting some good reviews from my friends.

The ambiance is spartan yet pleasant. The building looks very old and full of character. My date and I were by far the youngest (25 and 23) people there. There was a blues band playing that was entertaining.

The quality of beer was well made and there were plenty to choose from. I think I counted 12 or so on tap. I started with the Double Rainbow IPA, a very nice beer, but I found the name a little misleading (though they had detail descriptions of all the beer). It was a big, floral and highly quaffable English IPA. I think my next beer, the Blue Heron Pale Ale, was my favorite. Very balanced and beautiful hop character. The Duckwalk Dunklebock was very good as well. Very good beer, just don't expect anything to hit you over the head with outrageous amounts of flavor. Their beers are all about balance and subtlety.

I had a burger and I had no complaints, it was perfectly seasoned and cooked. My date had the portabella sandwich and was a little underwhelmed (but I can't recall ever being blown away by a portabella sandwich). Our meal and drinks were quite reasonable, but they did have some classier fare and the prices reflected.

We enjoyed ourselves and were impressed with the beers and food. I imagine we will return soon and will recommend this place to anyone wanting a good and honest ale.
Jan 04, 2009
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Reviewed by grtboozup from Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +6.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Stopped in for lunch the day after the State College Brew expo as well. As others have said the town is quaint and very small, and the interior of the pub well appointed. The quality of the beer is very good, the copper and kolsch were some of the best out there. Though portions were on the small side, the food was delicious, and included local fare. The owner, Tim, was extremely friendly and accommodating. The only problem was we forgot our growler. I would--and have--recommend this place to anyone. It makes for a lovely day trip.
Sep 05, 2008
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Reviewed by beerguzzlerxyz from New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Stopped at Elk Creek on the way home from the SC Brew Expo based on the strong referrals from Mike over at Bavarian Barbarian and some fellow festival-goers.

As the other reviewer put it, it literally is a one stop-light town. The town "center" is made up of very old buildings and storefronts and provides a very comfortable environment. Elk Creek is literally on the NW corner of the main intersection in town, is very easy to find and parking is plentiful.

Inside, it is furnished using a minimalist approach but it is done tastefully with an emphasis on quality.

I visited EC with my wife and we started by sharing a sampler. The sampler contained 8 brews, all of which were really good at a minimum. I was quite surprised by the Winkleblink Ale which is an extremely light toned brew but packs terrific flavor and is quite refreshing. When it came time to order a pint, I had a hard time deciding on which one. I finally settled on the Double Rainbow IPA with the Elk Creek Copper Ale being a close second.

The food menu is short and sweet but everything looked tempting. I finally settled on a breakfast offering of bacon & eggs while my wife selected the Apple salad. One strong suggestion to anyone who visits, if you have the opportunity to order a dish that comes with the potato crumbles, get it. This is the best thing I've ever tasted made with a potato.

I found this a very comfortable place to hang out and kick back. While we were sitting, we had a great view of the intersection which provided us views of the Amish driving by in their buggies as well as the many motorcyclists that were cruising the countryside.

EC makes a special effort of supporting local businesses such as farms for providing required ingredients. This is evident in the quality of the beer and the food.

-Cheers
Aug 22, 2008
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Reviewed by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +4.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
We had the pleasure of checking out this new brewpub a few weeks ago. Located right in the heart of Milheim (at the only traffic light in town) there is plenty of parking available on the streets around it. As you enter, the atmosphere is very warm and inviting and definitely gives off the feel of a café. Lots of natural light from the front windows, soft interior colors, and tons of local art hang on the walls that helps add to the warm feel. And did I mention no smoking and free wi-fi? They also have music stage set up on the far left wall, where a number of local music acts play each week. A medium sized bar sits against right side from which the magic of this place is served. Beer! And a very nice selection to boot, with at least 3 dark beers, and a number of Ales on tap as well, this place has their bases covered. Add in both nitro and cask options as well and it's great to see such a young establishment come out guns blazing with such good beer options. The quality was fantastic as well. Their Po Paddy Porter was one of the best locally made Porters that I've ever had with a robust flavor and easy drinkibility.

Their evening food menu is on the smaller side but that's OK when you offer quality choices and that is exactly what they do here. They shy away from typical "pub grub" and instead offer more healthy/organic fare that is made with fresh, honest, local ingredients. Service here was great as well and it we felt very invited, even though we weren't local. The owner, Tim Bower, came over and spoke to us a few times and made us feel very welcomed. Wow! This place screams local, local, local, and I loved it. From what we saw, they have a firm grasp on what it takes to succeed as a brewpub and I for one am anticipating many more visits here in the future. It's a bit out of the way but enjoy the scenic drive on the way in and definitely check out this latest addition to the central PA beer scene.
Jun 30, 2008
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Reviewed by davide169 from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
So what do you do when you are heading home from State College??? Well stop here of course for brunch. And what a wonderful brunch it was. The food was great.

The beer was solid. Nothing really jumped out at me but nothing was bad. They had a lineup of beers that ran the gamut of styles so you could find something that suited your tastes for the day/home/minute.

Elk Creek is situated right on the main drag of Millheim. Not the first place you would think to find such a nice looking brewpub but it did seem to be a oasis in the middle of a lot of "local bars". The interior is nicely decorated and the whole place is very bright. There is a good size bar to the right as you walk in with a few high top just behind it. Then the rest of the seating is situated behind that.

If you happen to be driving through this area, stop by for a bite to eat and some decent beer.
Jun 27, 2008
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Reviewed by akorsak from Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Heading home from Blue White Weekend at Penn State, we detoured through Millheim to visit Elk Creek.

Atmosphere: The main dining room is large and spacious with a bar straight ahead from the entrance, huge glass windows and local artists' work adorning the walls. Past the bar is a smaller, more intimate dinning area. Even on a rainy day, those large windows bring a great deal of light into the restaurant.

Quality: Food was enjoyable and the beers were of the highest quality. The restroom has a fancy waterless stall and they fill any growler that you can bring in.

Service: We were promptly greeted and seated. Drink and food service were both fast. Even the proprietor stopped by to say that he was having some trouble filling our growler and it would take a few minutes. Gotta love that kind of attention.

Selection: 8 beers were on tap, one of them on nitro. The dark beers were, in my opinion, the shining stars with the Poe Paddy Porter taking the blue ribbon.

Food: Sunday means brunch and the menu did not disappoint. I went with a ham and swiss frittata that was light and fluffy and very good. The burger and turkey that the rest of the fam went with was good as well.

If you are in the Selinsgrove-State College area, take the 45 minute detour to Millheim. It's really good.
Apr 21, 2008
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Reviewed by QXSTER1 from Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Twenty miles from bustling State College the small town of Millheim boasts a fine new brewpub. Elk Creek Cafe impresses in many ways. The owner seems intent on running a sustainable business using local ingredients as much as possible even listing the growers of his meat and vegetables. Local art decorates the walls providing an inviting atmosphere.
The menu seems upscale eclectic with veggie options included in the mix. We weren't there for the Noveau Dutch treat night which sounds tasty.
The beers were spot on with the Poe Paddy Porter being the favorite. Although the IPA and Copper were enjoyed as well.
Overall I'd rate Elk Creek as a destination brewpub due to it's quality and the quaintness of it's setting. We stayed overnight in a nearby B&B and heard Amish buggies through the night and early morning plodding past our room. The surrounding countryside is very appealing.
Apr 08, 2008
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Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
A-Nice, neat, clean wide-open space. A 12 seat bar off on right side of main room. Bright cheery paint scheme making for a bright interior. All simple but very attractive.

Q-Everything was spot on and fresh. Nothing to complain about.

S-Genny, our server, was very efficient and attentive, but not in a hovering way. She was very pleasant. Plus, as an added bonus, we got some personal treatment from Tim Bower the owner...even remembered my in-laws love for the porter...and they have only been there once before!

S-5 regulars and 1 seasonal on tap--6 total. Would like to see a few more to round out the list...like 8-9. Certainly something with a nice hop kick would be nice.

4/24/08 Edit note....they have bumped up selection now to usually 8 beers or so and have added an English style IPA. Just what I had hoped for. I guess the place needed to get it's legs under it a bit more.

F-Went for the Sunday brunch. I had the beef and bean chili. I got plenty of filling food that was very good. The rest of the family enjoyed their dishes too. All in all it was very nice. The crispy "home fried" potatoes were outstanding.

V-4 of us ate and had multiple beers for about $50...how can you complain about that? Growler fill of Poe Paddy Porter was a fair $10. They have a happy hour W-F from 4PM - 6PM with $3 pints....regular is $3.75.
Jan 29, 2008
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Reviewed by ffejherb from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Visited on Saturday 1/19/08. Got there right when they opened at 4pm, and there were two other people waiting to get in as well. I always enjoyed passing through Millheim on my trek from State College to Shamokin during my days at PSU, so I'm glad a nice place like Elk Creek popped up on the scene.

Walking into the place, it definitely has the feel of an artsy cafe, but with a brewpub atmosphere. Lots of local artwork graces the walls, which is all for sale. The main room boasts a pretty large floor plan with plenty of comfortable seating, including an L-shaped bar with about twelve heavy wooden and iron seats. There is also additional seating in the back of the establishment for the dinner crowd. By the time we left at 6pm, the place was pretty packed, with the bar completely full and most tables occupied.

The bartender on duty was also the assistant brewer, so he was obviously very knowledgeable about the beers, and beer in general. We also met the owner, who was very sociable and enjoyed answering questions about Elk Creek.

The selection was fairly modest, but they only recently opened, so I'm sure they will beef up their line-up soon. I know they have an IPA that will be on tap very soon. All in all, they had the Winkleblink ale, pale ale, copper ale, brown ale, porter and strong ale on tap. My wife and I shared the sampler, which consisted of nice 5-oz. sampler glasses of each offering. All were above average, with the exception of the pale ale, which I thought was a bit off track. I particularly enjoyed the Winkleblink ale, copper ale, brown ale and strong ale. I opted for a pint of the copper ale (see my review for more info). Beer menus were available right at the bar, and offered pricing and info for each of their brews.

As for the food, we didn't have dinner there, but we did order the hummus appetizer, which was tasty. The pita bread was warm and toasty.

Overall, Elk Creek is an excellent addition to the community of Millheim. They also offer a selection of Presque Isle wine, and it was cool to see beer geeks mingling with wine aficionados at the bar. This is also a great stop between Otto's in State College and Selin's Grove Brewing, so make sure you plan on checking out Elk Creek if you are in the area.
Jan 20, 2008
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Reviewed by slvrmon82 from Delaware

4/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I love what they have done to this place. It looks great and they just got their license to sell beer with food about a month ago. I was blown away but what they did to the floor and the walls and everything.

It is really open with great local art on the walls that gives it that really home away from home kind of feeling. Servers were polite but kind of slow...45 min for appetizer. But I let it slide because they are so new.

The food was great. Portions a little small for the wait but delicious. I had the wild salmon w/ a potato cake.

The beer was good. Not amazing but really good for the initial run. Way to go guys. They had on the light WINKLEBLINK ALE , a really nice but not too hoppy GREAT BLUE HERON PALE ALE, a delicious mid level ale ELK CREEK COPPER ALE,
the delicious BROOKIE BROWN ALE and my favorite this Organic Baltic POE PADDY PORTER.

Since then they have added a seasonal strong ale which I am looking forward to tasting in a couple of weeks when I get back up to Pennsyltucky!
Jan 17, 2008
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Reviewed by SierraGS from Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +4.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
Located in the former Equinox Cafe location – at the intersection of routes PA-45 and PA-445 (the only stoplight in town.) The street view is full floor-to-ceiling windows and the brightness of the interior lights up the square. Spacious and open; covered in local artwork. Smokefree.

Handmade cherry and iron barstools line the bar. Brewer Tim Yarrington had six beers currently on tap: Winkleblink Ale - a light, perhaps kolsch-style, ale named for a nearby Winklebleck Mountain; Great Blue Heron Pale Ale - an American Pale Ale; Elk Creek Copper Ale - stronger hop profile and the darker with toffee sweetness and floral aroma; Brookie Brown Ale- dark ale with chocolate and caramel malts; Poe Paddy Porter - dark, smooth and roasty with an extra hint of hops in the aroma and the finish; Seasonal – Strong Ale.

Menu features fresh, local products and focuses on organic and vegan. Chef Mark Johnson describes the his preparation style as Nouveau Dutchie Cuisine. Menu changes often.
Jan 15, 2008
Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks in Millheim, PA
Brewery rating: 3.89 out of 5 with 368 ratings