EWR -> Poconos: breweries or bottle shops?

Discussion in 'Mid-Atlantic' started by Quilentro, Aug 13, 2023.

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  1. Quilentro

    Quilentro Maven (1,398) May 12, 2017 Illinois
    Trader

    It’s been a long time since I’ve been back to my mid-Atlantic ancestral homeland. I may be spending a weekend in the Poconos in two weekends with some childhood friends.

    If I fly into Newark, and head up to the Poconos, are there any bottles shops or breweries worth a stop on the way up?

    cheers!
     
  2. tinoynk

    tinoynk Pundit (800) Sep 25, 2010 New York
    Trader

    My sister lives in the area, and there's really not much in terms of notable breweries. Magnify in NJ is solid and shouldn't be too bad a detour since you’ll probably end up on 80 anyway. I see Brix City may be en route, have had a few decent NEIPA from them but not sure what their taproom/can availability is like.

    If you’ll be around Stroudsburg, Penn Stroud Beverage isn’t bad, picked up some Other Half there on a past visit.

    When I want to find a bottle shop in a random area I usually use the Untappd map, even if the places don’t subscribe you can check all the close liquor stores and see what people are picking up.
     
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  3. stairway2heavn

    stairway2heavn Zealot (746) Aug 17, 2017 New Jersey

    Garys in Madison is mildly off the route I presume you'll take, but they usually have a good selection and they actually have an accurate online inventory, so you're not guessing. Brix city is pretty meh, magnify is solid enough for a good NEIPA as it goes but likely won't WOW you.
    Going to garys would make hitting twin elephant easier which I think beats magnify.
     
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  4. DrederickTatum

    DrederickTatum Pundit (868) Dec 13, 2016 New Jersey
    Trader

    I’m about to suffer a weekend in the Poconos for a bachelor party next month. It’s pretty much a black hole for beer. I’m just bringing some good tequila and hoping it goes by fast.
     
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  5. Quilentro

    Quilentro Maven (1,398) May 12, 2017 Illinois
    Trader

    Awesome. Thanks for the tips, all! I also think I know some people who know the owners at some of the places mentioned, so I’ll need to stop by one of those to get (at least) one degree of separation closer to Kevin Bacon
     
  6. MikeWard

    MikeWard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,023) Sep 14, 2011 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Depending on where in the poconos you are heading, Sabatinis Bottle Shop & Bar in Exeter Township outside Wilkes-Barre may be worth a stop.
     
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  7. ericwo

    ericwo Zealot (624) Aug 21, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Although I agree the Poconos may not be the greatest place for drinking craft beer, I have enjoyed several stop at Barley Creek (Tannersville) and Pocono Brewing Company (Swiftwater) over the years.
     
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  8. Quilentro

    Quilentro Maven (1,398) May 12, 2017 Illinois
    Trader

    Curveball - should I fly into Philly instead and check out Tired Hands, OH Philly, Fermentery Form, or other spots?
     
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  9. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Besides Human Robot (either in Philly or Jenkintown), the two suburban breweries I would hit on the way north would be to take Route 309 and hit Forest & Main in Ambler, and Free Will in Perkasie.

    Where exactly in the Pocono area are you headed?

    What styles of beer you looking for? Human Robot excels in Czech / German lagers, Forest & Main has great low abv English beers, Saisons, IPAs. Free Will is pretty well rounded, and has a few barrel aged sours again now (their sour cellar was wiped out by a flood a couple years ago)
     
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  10. Quilentro

    Quilentro Maven (1,398) May 12, 2017 Illinois
    Trader

    Thanks! Heading up near Blakeslee. I’ll add those spots to my list!
     
  11. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Then those places along 309 aren't a crazy detour, you can just get on the Turnpike at the Quakertown exit to finish the journey north.
     
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  12. pinyin

    pinyin Savant (1,119) Sep 19, 2013 New York

    Philly, Human Robot, Other Half. Bring coolers, buy ice.

    Poconos is an overpriced tourist trap for NYer’s and NJ’ers who don’t know any better or don’t properly prepare.

    Been here since 98’ and I buy all of my beer in NYC, or at Human Robot or Lehigh Valley (Shangy’s is an exclusive Tired Hands distributor).

    The main issue with The Poconos is distribution footprint. A few shop owners try their best, but it is, always has been, and always will be a macro dominated beer wasteland.

    If you have a spare day maybe make the trek on on I84 to Equilibrium and Drowned Lands. Actually a very nice scenic drive.

    It all just depends on what styles you prefer.
     
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  13. ClockworkOrange

    ClockworkOrange Pooh-Bah (2,190) Feb 19, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Bright Path Brewing in Jim Thorpe. Very easy if you are coming up 309, make a right onto 209 then a left onto 903 (this will get you to Blakeslee as well). Specialize in lagers and session ales, mostly 5% and under. Food trucks and sometimes a cask on the hand pump on weekends.
     
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  14. benetoh

    benetoh Zealot (536) Feb 2, 2008 New Jersey

    It may be a little bit off your route but Wallenpaupack Brewing has a wide range of beer and you can pick up a mixed case for $75. I have never had something offensive from them but some a certainly better than others.

    https://order.toasttab.com/online/wallenpaupack-brewing-company

    In terms of what they have right now, the Cream Ale and Great outdoors (black and tan) were pretty decent. You could do a lot worse than $75 for 6 x 4 packs right now.
     
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  15. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Did you end up hitting any spots other than Human Robot?
     
  16. Quilentro

    Quilentro Maven (1,398) May 12, 2017 Illinois
    Trader

    yeah! Philly Friday traffic + work commitments got the better of me, so I had to skip a bunch of spots on my ideal route, and definitely didn’t have time to add spots off the route that I wanted to see (like Forest and Main).

    so, I went to Beer Cellars for a bottle shop (and didn’t buy anything. The store was neat, but the layout was confusing, and I spent a while browsing without seeing any standouts.). I spent the most time at Human Robot, allowing me to eat a pretty good sandwich (but very big! I probably should have just had half). Then I swung by Other Half, parking creatively, just to run in and grab a case I had preordered.

    I wish I had checked out Stones or Shangys for a bottle shop, but I realized I had already bought too much stuff.
     
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