Where all the Pennsylvania BA's at?

Always stop at Zenos. Really liked Federal Taphouse, even if it was a little corporate looking. Excellent taplist and good menu. Was pretty disappointed with Liberty, though. Might have just been a weird night, but the wife and I just weren't digging it. Food, beer, service, atmosphere, just everything fell flat. Also stopped at The Field. Great burgers and a serviceable tap and bottle list.

 

Agreed about Liberty, but most of the time their taplist is pretty impressive for the area.
And I love the Field! Always great food and, as a you said, a solid beer list. My My Chicken also has great eats, and is one of our few BYOB spots if you're ever back in town. The taplists at Champs (the North Atheron and Downtown ones) and Local Whiskey are also worth checking out in the future.

 

One of the biggest turnoffs for me about the place was the lack of beer menus at the tables. Other than that, I was VERY excited to see that they had cask ale available, only to get a glass full of vinegar. That made me sad.

Was wanting to check out Local Whiskey, just didn't have enough time to make it happen. Will make a note of the others, as well, for next time.

 

Keith, they anticipate(d) their new 10-barrel system should be up and running this month, if it is not already. I haven't been in for a few weeks to speak with Doug, though. However, they do plan on using a mobile canning company after it's up and running:

 

late this month maybe.

Stopping by tonight, will ask.

 

That's great news, thanks much for the info @ShanePB!

 

Tom, will they still be utilizing their 3 barrel system or will they solely be brewing on the new 10 barrel system?

Cheers!

 

Pardon my failing memory, I asked Doug about the 3 barrel system a while back, he told me, and I can't remember. My brain cells are babbling inconsistent messages. Perhaps next time I will write it down, but probably not. Last night he said they are hoping to be on the new system the week of Christmas.

A fine gift indeed, fingers crossed.

 

Newtown Square for me but I work up in Trappe so hence my love for Hidden River. I think 2019 is going to be a reexamining of classic Pa brews and calming down on the hype train. That Hop Wallop, get my Nugget Nectar on again etc. Also find it amusing that I can't remember the last time I had HopHands and SaisonHands but meanwhile have had most of the hype cans. Also rep La Cabra hard as their food is some of the best in the area brewery or no.

 

I don't get to La Cabra as often as I like, but I'm not cutting back on my visits to Hidden River and Tuned Up.

 

Tom, you a big fan of Tuned Up obviously? I’ve been there a few times and their beer was solid, but it didn’t inspire me to have to come back. Am I missing something?

I’m a big fan of Hidden River and the stuff I’ve had from LaCabra was really good.

 

I like Tuned Up for a lot of reasons. I've known those guys since before they homebrewed. I don't consider it a brewpub so much as a neighborhood bar that brews it's own beer and hosts music acts good and bad. Some of the beers do miss, but the ones that hit, the bourbon porter, tripel, two step bend dubbel, are all great imo. I also appreciate no televisions. It's three miles from my house so it's become my nightcap spot. I've referred to it as the anti-brewpub. It's set up as an old man bar, long and dark, and I love it. They don't much care what's hot, and they brew a wide range of styles, though they do make a NE style, but there are 11 other beers on tap. I usually can find a beer that appeals to me, but I'm also there to socialize and hear some music, good and bad.

 

I really like South County a lot. I've only been there once (it's about an hour away from me), but I drink their beer pretty often. It's fairly easy to find here in Lancaster.

Collusion is really good too. I haven't been too impressed with anything else in York though.




Voodoo just opened a permanent spot here in Lancaster, which I'm really happy about. They had a mobile taproom set up in a park in Lancaster City this past summer, which was really nice.

 

Is voodoo doing releases out of their too?

 

Jack, the three barrel system has been sold "to a guy opening a brewery in Roxborough". Spoke with Kevin at the Bizarre Beerzaar yesterday.

 

We frequented the mobile taproom thing for Voodoo in Lancaster a bunch last summer/fall. I could do some investigating on my own, but in the spirit of conversation with like minded people....

..where is the new permanent location?

Also, Collusion is the crown jewel of York, which in a way is both praise for them and somewhat of an indictment for York as a brewery scene. Glad that place is far enough away from me.

 

Maybe Jim (@NeroFiddled) knows where the 3 barrel system is going?

Cheers!

 

It's supposedly right on Ridge Avenue where the Roxborough Development Corporation used to have their offices, between Leverington and Green Lane. THAT pisses me off because I wanted that spot and they turned around and told me that I couldn't have it because they had another buyer lined up, only to find out that they took it for themselves!!! Of course that was a long time ago and I would have been fought by the civic council back then, and to be honest it wasn't the best layout anyway. I wish them luck.

OR, there is another brewery in the works that a ginger haired guy (forget his name, but he works for a brewery tour company) was working on further east near Roxborough Ave. south of the Ridge. I thought that was shut down by the neighborhood council though because they were still upset that the location used to be a nuisance bar. In my mind that doesn't even matter, it's a really shitty location.

 

What's good east of Lancaster/south of Reading?

 

Hidden River.