Just moved to PA...need beer drinkers to play with!

[s00z]

Hey ya'll...

I'm transplanted here in PA for at least the next year or so from Texas and am finding it difficult to be home on Saturday nights due to the lack of beer afficionados around here!! Need some friends! Or at least links to places where I can go to geek out on good brew...

Beergal2000

[batkins]

While I'm not in PA and have never been there....I might be able to point you toward a little info.

http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/FindCitiesByState.asp?StateID=38

[Steve16823]

Welcome to the Keystone State! There are tons of excellent small micros and larger regional brewers throughout Pennsylvania.

Where in PA are you?

[sallad]

There are tons of excellent small micros and larger regional brewers throughout Pennsylvania.

i agree!!

yards, stoudts, weyerbacher, victory just to name a few of the good micros in the eastern part of PA. and PA is a large state..

i think philly is a really great beer town! lots of excellent beer bars!

where about it PA are we talkin?

[chazwicke]

If you are in the eastern part of the state some of the bordering states have good brews as well.

[s00z]

I'm based in Harrisburg for now. Can you believe I moved out here to buy beer and wine for the Giant chain of grocery stores (and yes, PA can't sell beer in their stores, but I have 4 other states we're in under another name) and can't even buy product fom my own company!!? I've found ABC and Troegs...but I'm all OVER the Weyerbacher (Raspberry Imperial Stout) I had a few years ago on a visit out here....where are they?

I've found Kclingers in Etters (somewhat close) but can't find anyone who'll go with me. The folks from work are all married with kids and go home straight after work!

I get to travel to Cleveland and Buffalo at least once a month, but I'm always with beer salesmen then, so I can't run off on my own :( Do we have any tasting clubs around here? I'm originally from Austin, TX so I'm used to people sitting around on a deck at a bar expounding on the wonders of beer....but here? I can't even find a patio!
-Beergal

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by s00z

I get to travel to Cleveland and Buffalo at least once a month, but I'm always with beer salesmen then, so I can't run off on my own. You could always run off with a beer salesman.... :D

Welcome to the boards!

[hops99]

Cleveland is a GREAT beer town - Great Lakes (one of the 5 best micros in the country IMO), Rocky River, Buckeye Brewing, Willoughby Brewing, Brew Kettle, Chop House, and more. Definitely try and make it out in "The Mistake by the Lake" when you get a chance....

Also, I agree with the other guys - I think Eastern PA may have more great craft breweries per capita than any other location in the country.

[threecb]

Originally posted by s00z
I...but I'm all OVER the Weyerbacher (Raspberry Imperial Stout) I had a few years ago on a visit out here....where are they?

They're in Easton, 81 north to 78 east to right before the NJ border. They don't have a pub anymore, but are open for tastings and tours on Saturdays from 12-3, I think. You can purchase mixed cases during that time.

And five minutes from there is an excellent beer bar/restaurant called Which Brew. It's owned by the manager of the old Weyerbacher brewpub, which closed a couple of years ago when they switched to an all-production facility. Great place!

[Steve16823]

Originally posted by s00z
I'm based in Harrisburg for now. Can you believe I moved out here to buy beer and wine for the Giant chain of grocery stores (and yes, PA can't sell beer in their stores, but I have 4 other states we're in under another name) and can't even buy product fom my own company!!?

Yeah, PA liquor laws are some of the worst in the country! Does anyone know a worse state?

I shop at Giant occasionally but have been drawn to the new Wegman's here in State College recently. When I lived in NY State I shopped at Tops, which I'm guessing is the other name you're talking about. And in NY they can sell beer (but not wine or liquor) in grocery stores.

I'm originally from Austin, TX so I'm used to people sitting around on a deck at a bar expounding on the wonders of beer....but here? I can't even find a patio!


Well, in Texas you can use an outdoor seating area for a much longer portion of the year than you can in Harrisburg, PA. ;)

[chazwicke]

My wife shops at Giant. I hate grocery shopping. We have two new Wegmans here too. I like Whole foods because the beer section and gourmet cheese section are right next to each other. And the Olive bar is right there too.

[Beaver]

Originally posted by Steve16823
Yeah, PA liquor laws are some of the worst in the country! Does anyone know a worse state?


How bout Utah?

[Steve16823]

Originally posted by Beaver
How bout Utah?

From a quick google search on Utah Liquor laws, they seem about the same as Pennsylvania. At least in Utah you can buy "3.2%" beer in grocery and convenience stores. Not that I ever buy 3.2% beer.

In Pa, finally some of the State-Owned Liquor Stores (the only place to get wine and spirits in PA) are open on Sunday.

In Utah, all wine, spirits, and beer above 3.2% are sold in state-owned stores.

In Pennsylvania, you have to buy beer by the case or keg at a state-licensed beer distributor, and there are there are only a few licenses per county. If you want to buy a six pack you have to go to a bar or "six-pack shop" where you may only buy up to 192 ounces of beer in any one purchase. You can come back 2 seconds later, but you can only carry out 192 ounces at a time.

Most restaurants DO NOT serve alcohol because state issued liquor licenses are limited to a set ratio based on population, but the licenses may be bought and sold seperate from the real estate so people who close their establishments often hold their liquor license ransom for several hundred thousand dollars.

You can get around this mess if you open up a hotel, because in PA hotels have special licenses -- many places rent out a few rooms as a front so they can obtain a liquor license. I know a guy who owns an italian restaurant and movie theatre and has been planning to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to add hotel rooms so he can get a license because his italian restaurant is taking a huge hit because it can't sell wine and beer. He purchased the building but the owners kept the license and offered it to the highest bidder -- it probably went to an Applebees or someplace. So much for small business in Pennsylvania.

As you can tell, PA Liquor laws really bug the hell out of me...

[Beaver]

I thin kthe 3.2 law in Utah applies to bars and brewpubs as well. No draft beer > 3.2%.

[sallad]

i think nj is similar to pa on the hotel thing and the liqour license being separate from the property.

i also heard that pa relaxed some of its laws recently, because they were losing so much in tax revenues from ppl driving over state lines. although, maybe that was just in the philly area, where there is close access to nj and deleware liquor stores.

[Steve16823]

Sallad --

I think the "relaxing" you're talking about it the opening of some liquor stores on Sunday. Most of the stores they allow to be open on Sunday are near the border, although one of them is also the State College store which is smack in the middle of the state.

Beaver -- Overall I think Utah is worse than PA, but PA's laws still STINK.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by Steve16823


Not that I ever buy 3.2% beer.

As you can tell, PA Liquor laws really bug the hell out of me...



Hey! Some of the best cask ales are milds and are 3.5 or 3.8%


PA does have silly laws. I'll bet Lew Bryson can give us a real in depth scoop on them. I heard the same about NJ licences too.

[threecb]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Hey! Some of the best cask ales are milds and are 3.5 or 3.8%

And they would be over the limit in Utah!

I heard the same about NJ licences too.

That's correct about NJ liquor licenses.

[chazwicke]

I once ate at a restraunt near Cape May. They allowed me to bring beer I purchased next door and have it with my dinner. It was then I heard about the NJ licence problems.

[hops99]

Count Ohio on the list for liquor license highway robbery. The off-premise licenses (retail) are fairly easy to obtain - they only cost about $650 annually. The on-premise ones (bars) are crazy. Like PA, most liquor licenses in Ohio are distributed by population (I think on-premise are available for every 2,000 people).

So, while on-premise licenses cost about $1200 annually, the license holders can sell/transfer them on the open market. I looked into buying one for sale in my town this summer - the owner wanted $50,000 for it. Sheesh.

[s00z]

Thanks for all the info! I'll do my best to respond to everyone in this one post instead of tons of them....ok here goes....

You could always run off with a beer salesman.... fret

yes...but the AB guys don't so much care for the Great Lakes Brewery!!!

Cleveland is a GREAT beer town - Great Lakes (one of the 5 best micros in the country IMO), hops99

Yes! They are some of the nicest guys around as well! I've made them do the tour for me twice just because I geek out on all the history. And I dig that they have pipes underground from the brewery across the street to the restaurant!

And five minutes from there is an excellent beer bar/restaurant called Which Brew. It's owned by the manager of the old Weyerbacher brewpub, threecb

Thanks for the info! I'm going to have to check them out!

I shop at Giant occasionally but have been drawn to the new Wegman's here Steve16823

Boo - hiss :) Don't put me out of a job already!

And all about the liquor laws......I'm so into bringing beer into the Giant stores here...working on it...give me time...

Thanks for everyone's help! Can't wait to get out there and sample som...-Beergal