What's hot in SE PA?

Tonewood, for one in south Jersey. They do a bunch of non-hazy stuff well (and their haze is very good also.) Separatist always seemed like a haze/sour factory - they do have a spot in Philly though, definitely SEPA. And is Victory too obvious? They still do some German styles despite their recent focus on monkeys.

You might want to make a trip to Brauhais Schmitz in Philly. You'll see German stuff on tap there that you won't see anywhere else.

 

Stolen Sun up past the mall.
Station Taproom and East Branch in Downingtown.
Flying Pig in Malvern.
Sly Fox has a newish place in the Malvern Area
Stickman has a place in Chester Springs.
East on Rt 30 will get you to lots of places.

 

I would recommend moving a visit to Von C from "radar" to actually drinking their beers. They have only been open a few months but I was there for the official opening night and their beers are of high quality 'right out of the gate'.

A bonus is that just a week+ ago they installed two Lukr side-pull taps which for me is a big plus - I really enjoy beer served that way.

Cheers!

 

A bit further north on 100 is an Iron Hill. One of my favorite porters.

 

A little further from you in Collegeville, is Troubles End. They are my favorite local brewery right now.

If you haven't read some of the previous posts in the SEPA thread, they are a fairly new brewpub and they have focused on brewing a wide variety of styles, I think they have yet to brew an IPA. They also have a couple of beers on cask, and their food is very good, upscale pub food.
https://www.troublesendbrewing.com/house-beers

 

If you're willing to drive a half hour, Hidden River has some outstanding offerings in a variety of styles.. Plus the brew pub is supposedly haunted, which is kinda cool.
I never saw anything out of the ordinary there myself, but then my focus wasn't necessarily on the ambience. They make good beer. Really good beer.

 

Shangy's

 

A lot of IPAs but Rebel Hill opened a place in Mont Clare called Lock 29. Nicely redone inside and plenty of outdoor seating next to the canal for boat and bike watching. Very good bar food.

 

I would hope so, because the Canal Bar was, to put it mildly, a shithole. Nice to see it reopened after all these years. Haven't been, but I've heard complaints about the IPA-centric beer menu.

 

Several decades ago often bought quarts of Schmidt’s or Schaefer there. When I was rich I’d get a whole six pack. I do vaguely remember drinking there and a band playing. I think...

 

we would go there to see the Manatees.

 

Tom, there are a series of photos in the below link. Loch 29 looks really nice!

https://www.breweriesinpa.com/grand-opening-rebel-hills-lock-29-to-open-thursday-7-29-mont-clare/

Cheers!

@RC51Mike

 

Conshohocken Brewing Company, specifically the Bridgeport location, is nice. Their beers are nothing special but you do get a few interesting ones e.g. their Black IPA and the food is decent and there is an outside beer garden along the river, a good spot on a nice weather day:

https://www.conshohockenbrewing.com/puddlerskitchen

 

Jack, I've driven by it several times, the canal side deck looks great.

 

Not sure how Philly weighs on the PITA scale vs. Stateline for you but there are various shops that have a wide selection of Belgians, e.g. Bella Vista Beer and the Fooderies.

 

There's a Foodery in Phoenixville, and there's a bottle shop next door to Station Taproom. Also the Beeryard in Wayne.