Welcome to the Pennsylvania Grain to Glass Brewery Trail! While there are tons of brewery trails outlining where and how to find amazing locally made beer, we wanted to create a special one to highlight the breweries dedicated to using local malted grains and other brewing ingredients. Breweries can source ingredients from all over the world, including from massive distributors; we celebrate the breweries that stick closer to home and purchase local ingredients to make truly local beers.
The qualifications to be part of the Grain to Glass Brewery Trail are:
- Breweries must have at least one individual brand available year-round that includes 75% or more PA grain/malt, or a single year-round tap (which could be rotating brands or styles) dedicated to beer containing 75% or more PA grain/malt.
- On a brewery level, each company must purchase more than 50,000 pounds of Pennsylvania grain/malt purchased annually, or 10% percent of total annual grain/malt consumption.
Take a look at our map and the trail, which is organized by region, and then head on out to support the breweries that are supporting local agriculture!
Southeastern PA
Urban Village Brewing: A cornerstone of the Piazza, a bustling residential/commercial hub in the Northern Liberties neighborhood, Urban Village is focused on crafting exceptional beers and food. More than just a brewpub, this spot has become a community gathering place, with live music and various events each week.
- Pennsylvania-sourced ingredients make frequent appearances in Urban Village’s beers, such as its Double Dutch Bus Lager and Money Light Pilsner.
1001 North 2nd St., Philadelphia; (267) 687-1961.
Brewery Techne: Tucked inside Bar Hygge, a bar and restaurant in Philly’s Fairmount neighborhood, Brewery Techne is a 10-barrel brewhouse committed to using primarily Pennsylvania malts and grains. The beer styles tend toward the experimental; think Nexus four-grain IPA and Physic Garden, a Gruit Ale brewed with medicinal herbs, bread yeast and sourdough bread from local bakers, Mighty Bread. You’ll also find Belgian-style ales, kettle sours, goses and more.
- Some of Brewery Techne’s best-selling beers include bright citrus flavors, like Mojo, a mojito-inspired witbier, and Lemon Meringue, an IPA with lemon zest and Citra hops. Both are made with locally malted grains.
1720 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia; (215) 765-2274.
Cartesian Brewing: A self-described “local origin brewery,” Cartesian specializes in grower-to-glass, producer-to-pint beers. This means using mostly locally sourced, local origin malts, hops and house-cultured yeasts. Its British ales tend to use locally sourced grains, as well as seasonal lagers like Oktoberfest and Maibock. Cartesian is also home to CJ&D’s Tomato Pies, which serves food three days each week.
- PA-focused beers from Cartesian include Cartesian’s House Golden Ale, an everyday drinker; Tadge, an ordinary bitter made with a grain bill from Double Eagle Malt; and Harvest Fest 2023, a dark amber and malty ale made with 100% Deer Creek Malthouse grains.
1326 E Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia.
Forest & Main Brewing Co.: Co-founded by Gerard Olson and Daniel Endicott in 2012, Forest & Main immediately gained a reputation for its farmhouse-style saisons, pub ales and lagers and experimental brews, largely made with locally grown ingredients. Some of its beers are even made with yeast cultures foraged from its location in Ambler, PA, for a deeper sense of “microbial terroir”; one example is Solaire Reserve, a Foeder Saison made with 100% Deer Creek Malt spelt and barley, hopped with Hallertau Hersbrucker and fermented in an oak foeder.
- At both Forest & Main’s locations (its Pub and Brewery Bar), find a range of drafts, including traditional Czech side pulls and hand-pumped cask pours.
33 E. Butler Ave., Ambler; no phone; 241 N. Main St.. Ambler; no phone.
Locust Lane Craft Brewery: The motto of this Malvern, PA-based brewery is “Simply Crafted,” a two-word phrase that conveys its mission to create honest, well-made beers for its community. Its welcoming taproom offers 14 taps of its flagship brands, seasonal releases and test-batch brews. Food from its in-house restaurant, Foster Ave Carvery is also available.
- Locust Lane uses Pennsylvania grains in a number of its products, like its Brown Ale, Fluffy Sunshine Pale Ale and Peach Preserves fruited sour ale.
50 Three Tun Rd., Suite #4, Malvern; (484) 324-4141.
SUCCESSION Fermentory: Tucked in a barn on the property of Stella Lou Farm in Chester County, find SUCCESSION Fermentory, a small batch brewery with a fierce dedication to local agriculture and seasonality. It sources grains from Double Eagle Malt and Deer Creek Malthouse, hops from Fawn Hill Hop Yard and other unique ingredients like locally grown Trifoliate orange and foraged sumac berries. Note: SUCCESSION’s brewery is not open to the public, though it often pops up at events and farmers markets.
- SUCCESSION’s year-round lineup includes creative options, like Sheaf & Shield, a series of malt-forward ales and lagers, each highlighting a specific malted grain from local maltsters. Its seasonal and limited availability offerings rotate frequently; some winter releases include Shadows & Unicorns, a bourbon barrel aged Brett Tripel brewed with 100% floor malted Pilsner and Picea, a Scandinavian farmhouse-style ale brewed with pale malt.
428 Leaman Rd., Cochranville.
Lehigh Valley/NEPA
Bonn Place Brewing Co.: After moving from New York to the Lehigh Valley, Bonn Place’s founder/brewer Sam Masotto knew that connecting with local purveyors and producers would be an integral part of his business model. Bonn Place now works with multiple PA-based suppliers, like Deer Creek Malthouse and Murphy’s Hop Yard to craft some of its signature beers. Regulars gather in Bonn Place’s cozy brewpub in Southside Bethlehem to enjoy them.
- Bonn Place’s Fresch & Wet, a wet-hopped pale ale, is a unique offering released in August each year to celebrate the hop harvest. It’s brewed with Cascade hops from Murphy’s Hop Yard, which are added to the kettle just 12 hours after being harvested.
310 Taylor St., Bethlehem; (610) 419-6660.
Great Barn Brewery: This Ukrainian-owned brewery in Bucks County is truly farm-to-glass; it grows its own barley (which is malted locally) and brews using water from the well on its property in Kintnersville. For other specialty ingredients, like hops, fruits and honey, it sources from local farmers. The result is fresh, flavor-forward beers; its core beers include an IPA, a hazy IPA and a dunkel, while seasonal releases and small batch releases get a little more experimental. Note: Great Barn Brewery’s farm location is only for beer pick-ups and occasional events. The Taproom in New Hope and Taphouse in Warrington are open to the public.
- Great Barn Brewery’s love of everything is on full display in its PA1 S.M.A.S.H. Pale Ale, brewed with its own farm grown pale malt and PA Cascade hops.
12 W. Mechanics St., New Hope; (215) 803-1592; 1500 N. Main St., Warrington; (215) 343-7808; 665 Kintners Rd., Kintnersville; (215) 803-1592.
Central PA
Chatty Monks Brewery: Purchased by the entrepreneurial Jagadesan family in 2021, Chatty Monks has continued to welcome guests to its spaces (its pub in West Reading, and its new brewhouse taproom and lounge in Reading) with a dynamic lineup of housemade beers and a unique Indian-fusion food menu. Chatty Monks has also developed a popular gluten-free beer, Electrify, an Imperial IPA which uses locally malted pale sorghum malt, rolled oats and PA-grown corn.
- Chatty Monks is closely involved in the local brewing community and is the main production partner on the PA Pride collaboration beer series.
610 Penn Ave., West Reading; (484) 818-0176; 101 N. Carroll St., Reading; (484) 769-5893.
Fat Bat Brewing: Founded by siblings Sandy Bialek and Kevin Smith, Fat Bat Brewing has established itself as a great place to go in Hanover for fresh beer, local art and live music. The brewery’s quirky, artsy vibe extends from the names of the beers (e.g. Night Moves IPA, Baby Got Bock German Bock beer) to the colorful paintings by Smith hanging on every wall in the space.
- One of Fat Bat’s flagship beers (and biggest sellers), Wingman Pale Ale, is made entirely with malted grains from Butler, PA-based Custom ‘N Craft Malting Company (CNC).
10 N. Railroad St., Hanover; (717) 797-3198.
Stampede Barbecue & Ale House: Stampede is the only wood-fired brewery in Pennsylvania — that means no electricity or gas are used to boil the wort during the brewing process. Just a handful of traditional-style ales come out of this brewhouse, and each one (which can only be found in Stampede’s barbecue restaurant) are served hand-pumped from casks.
- One of Stampede’s quarterly special releases, Heritage Ale, is a blend of barley, spelt, wheat and rye, and made with hops grown and harvested in PA.
4372 Morgantown Rd., Mohnton; (610) 401-0900.
Tröegs Independent Brewing: One of the most established craft breweries in PA, Tröegs was founded in 1997 by brothers John and Chris Trogner. In the decades since, it’s released dozens of beloved beers, including Perpetual IPA (the best-selling IPA in the state!), Sunshine Pilsner and Dreamweaver Wheat, and experimental, innovative brews as part of its small-batch Scratch Beer series. Its tasting room in Hershey, PA, features a full restaurant, gift shop and brewery tours.
- Every year, Tröegs purchases over 225,000 pounds of local grain, honey and fruit to use in its beer.
200 Hersheypark Dr., Hershey; (717) 534-1297.
Yorkholo Brewing Company: This artisan brewpub is located in the Pennsylvania Wilds, the area in the north central region of the state. With a focus on experimental, wild ales, a seasonally-rotating food menu and plenty of events, this small-batch brewery is a bustling hang for locals, students and tourists passing through on their way to enjoy the nearby nature.
19 N. Main St., Mansfield; (570) 662-0241.
Western PA
Cobblehaus Brewing Co.: After years of hobby homebrewing, Scott Mills founded Cobblehaus Brewing with Chuck Gerbe in 2016. Now with two locations, Cobblehaus specializes in German- and Belgian-inspired brews. Its best-sellers include its Vienna Lager, pilsner and altbier.
- Two Cobblehaus beers made with locally-sourced ingredients include C-VI, its special sixth anniversary German Bock; and Fallsview, a German pilsner. Both are crafted with malts from CNC Malting in Butler.
1021 5th Ave., Coraopolis; (412) 264-7000; 1015 Leesburg Station Rd., Mercer; (724) 748-6259.
Conny Creek Brewing: Conny Creek operates two locations: a Brew Pub in Lower Burrell and Brew Cafe in Saxonburg. At both spots, you’ll find freshly crafted beer, crowd-pleasing food menu and fun community events. Beer styles range from crisp lagers to hazy IPAs to dark, robust stouts.
- Local ingredients are often incorporated into beer recipes, like Straight From The Sap, a Belgian Strong Golden Ale made with Pennsylvania maple syrup, which is aged in Wigle Bourbon barrels and then conditioned on vanilla beans.
4323 Shearsburg Rd., New Kensington; (878) 302-3052; 270 W. Water St., Saxonburg; (724) 524-1956.
Levity Brewing Co.: This lively craft brewery opened first with a location in Indiana, PA, gaining a great reputation for stellar beers, great food and plenty of ways to socialize, like live music shows and outdoor fire pits. In December 2022, it opened a second location in downtown Altoona, a two-floor brewery, music venue and private event space. At both locations, beer styles run the gamut from barrel-aged sours to lagers to IPAs.
1380 Wayne Ave. # A, Indiana; (724) 427-5665; 1411 11th Ave., Altoona; (814) 515-1099.
Mechanistic Brewing Co.: Located in Clarion, PA, about 75 miles north of Pittsburgh, Mechanistic Brewing offers a beautiful taproom, outdoor space and science-driven beers to its community. With family-friendly games and events like trivia, open mic nights and live music, this has become a true gathering space for the surrounding community.
538 Liberty St., Clarion; (814) 297-8181.
Mondays Brewing Company: This charming neighborhood brewery, with plenty of comfy couches and a great outdoor patio, brews up a rotating selection of beers, including fruited wheat beers, Scottish ales and hop-forward pale ales and IPAs. With a tight menu of snacks and the option to bring your own food, affordable happy hour deals and events like name-that-tune trivia, it’s a fun hang out spot in Peters Township.
1055 Waterdam Plaza Dr., McMurray; no phone.
Olde Bedford Brewing Company: Informed by the rich history of the surrounding region, Olde Bedford became the first brewery to its community since the county’s inception in 1771. This veteran-owned business has introduced its neighbors to all kinds of beer styles, from Munich Dunkels to hefeweizens, while creating a community vibe.
- The owners of Olde Bedford source a number of ingredients from its nearby property, Hideaway Ranch, located in the mountains of Bedford County, including hops, berries and spring water. It also sources malted grains from CNC Malting.
109 Railroad St., Bedford; (907) 229-7942.
Recon Brewing: Founded by three friends in 2016, Recon brewing is named in honor of its hometown of Butler, PA being the birthplace of the Jeep, which was originally called the Bantam Reconnaissance Car. Now with three brick-and-mortar locations, Recon honors regional history, gives back to the community and promotes a “drink local” ethos in all it offers. Local ingredients make their way into Recon’s food and cocktail menu and house-brewed beers.
- One of Recon’s popular locally sourced beers include Pulse Czech, a Bohemian-style pilsner made with 100% Butler County grown and floor malted Pilsner malt from CNC Malting.
1747 N. Main St. Ext., Butler; (724) 256-8747; 301 Tillary Ln., Cranberry Twp., (724) 591-8053; 1401 Hastings Cres., Bridgeville; (412) 914-8262.
Velum Fermentation: At this Southside brewery, guests can hang out right next to the brewery, with picnic tables and skee-ball in industrial digs. The ever-changing draft list offers classics (piney West Coast IPAs) and experimental brews (passionfruit gose), to please every palate. It also hosts workshops, trivia nights, drag bingo, craft workshops and a pickleball league!
- The base malt for all of Velum’s beers is sourced from CNC Malting!
2120 Jane St., Pittsburgh; no phone.
This series is made possible by support from Deer Creek Malthouse through the Pennsylvania Malt and Brewed Beverage Industry Promotion Board and grant funding from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
Deer Creek Malthouse (Glen Mills, PA) produces high quality, flavorful malt ingredients made from local grain. Founded in 2012, Deer Creek is the first commercial malting operation in Pennsylvania since prohibition. The Company is dedicated to improving the regional grain supply chain for all stakeholders and leads many advocacy and value chain building initiatives, including the Philadelphia Grain & Malt Symposium. Deer Creek also produces a variety of consumer food and beverages using their grain and malt ingredients such as zero proof Barley Tea.
- Feature image: Cartesian Brewing Co.
- All other images: courtesy of the respective breweries
