Eastern PA Walking Towns/Beer Spots

Lititz. Either take 222 to 322 or 78 to 501
Bulls Head, Appalachian, even the sports bar at Penn Cinema has a decent enough list

Could go to Lancaster for central market / spring house / dispensing co etc etc too

 

There's that big city in the south east corner of the state. Very walkable downtown area with tons of good beer spots.

 

I'd suggest West Chester- nice walkable main area with a good variety of shops and restaurants, Iron Hill Brewery and some nice beer spots like Side Bar...

 

On a serious note, Ardmore!

 

If OP does happen to go to West Chester, be sure to avoid the college student hot spots like the plague, as their selection is lacking and their patrons are horrible.
-Barnaby's
-Doc Magrogan's
-Mas
-Ryan's
-Jake's (unless you want to smell like smoke and drink Fosters, avoid this place [$1 drafts though])

There are a few student spots that have a decent selection, and, depending on when you go, aren't too swamped.
- Side Bar
- Social Lounge
- Landmark
- Ram's Head
- Kildare's

My utmost recommendation is Iron Hill Brewery (at the intersection of High Street and Gay street) if you want quality, selection, and general attitude of its patrons; it is a very good craft beer experience.

Source: WCU student for 5 years, bar-hopper for 3.


Edit: Also, Victory Brewing Company is a short 20 minute drive away in Downingtown.

 

@SpaceEurope all good, valid points! I simply suggested the town on a high level... thanks for delving into details. I agree with Victory of course as well, and live nearby, so there are plenty of good suggestions around that I'd be happy to provide if you end up out this way @jscottku21 !

 

Apparently I didn't go to Ram's Head enough...

http://www.ramsheadbarandgrill.com/menu-drinks.php#ipa

That's a damn fine selection as far as West Chester goes.

 

Yeah, Ram's Head has gotten much better with their selections- I had Bell's Quinannan Falls there not too long ago!

OP- for western NJ, I'm not sure how the town is, but I've wanted to visit Carton Brewing for a while now... appears to be a sub 2 hour drive for you... could be an option, but I don't know anything about the town or it's walkability...

 

Carton is on the other end of Jersey in Atlantic Highlands, not exactly "western" New Jersey. Kane is also a long way away from where you're looking at.

 

Right on the Delaware is the combo of New Hope, PA/Lambertville, NJ. Lots of shops, galleries and eateries, a couple with decent beer selections. Triumph Brewing has a brewpub on the New Hope side.

About 20 minutes south in Yardley PA is Vault Brewing, a place that I like very much, but there's plenty just in the 2 towns to keep you busy on a day trip.

 

For some reason I was thinking "northern" and not "western"... sigh... it's been a long day!

 

You can't really go wrong if you're willing to drive to Lancaster. Spring House Brewing Co, Lancaster Brewing Co, and Iron Hill are all in the city. Plus you have Federal Taphouse with 100 beers on tap, and The Fridge and Hunger-N-Thirst with good bottle and tap selections. There are a bunch of other bars of varying quality within walking distance of each other.

Now, going from LBC to, say, Hunger-N-Thirst or Iron Hill is a bit of a hike if you plan on walking.

 

All good points from @TheNightwatchman as well! I live pretty close by and have a few of those places still on my list, but am a big fan of Spring House and have been there numerous times

 

Lancaster and Lititz; as above.