The Top Three Microbrews in PA

You may be asking what exactly is a microbrewery, especially if you're not a beer drinker. Microbreweries started by people who wanted a change from the norm. Most people have a brand of beer they like and stick with it, but overall, most beer has the same type of taste to it. Beer that comes from a microbrewery has very distinct flavor and many different flavors and undertones.

Many large beer producers started as microbreweries, but came to be so popular and the demand so great, they could no longer be considered a microbrewery. In order to be a microbrewery, production must be kept at *fewer than 15,000 barrels of beer annually*.

The Top Three Microbreweries In PA-John Harvard House-Brew Pub

To this day there are still many places called brew pubs. These are pubs that produce their own beer on premises. A good example of this would be the John Harvard House. This is a microbrewery yet attached to where they serve their food and beer, this is what is called a Brew Pub. John Harvard House is a very enjoyable place to visit. You can see the large vats where they are producing the beer also, which is very interesting.

The John Harvard House is great place to have dinner, their food is excellent. You are presented with their large list of beers that they brew and are available to you. Since most are probably unfamiliar with the different tastes and styles of beer produced there, the waitress will bring you their "sampler" in which there are about ten or more small cups containing different brews. There are many different tastes to the beer thy serve and I think it is impossible to put it down to one description. From the lighter beers that dance on the taste buds to the heavier darker beers that is for the serious beer drinker, there's something for everyone. In my experience, the wait staff is very patient and knowledgeable.

The location I had visited was:
1001 Baltimore Pike
Springfield Square South
Springfield PA 19064
Ph 610-544-4440

However, this location no longer exists. The other PA location listed is:
3466 William Penn Highway
Pittsburgh PA 15235
Ph 412-824-9440

The Top Three Microbreweries In PA-Victory Brewing Company

Victory Brewing Company technically can no longer be considered a "microbrewery" in terms of the definition since they have to produce less than 15,000 barrels. They have the feel and taste still of a microbrewery, offering varied tastes and styles. They now produce 42,000 barrels annually. I still included this, because it is still listed as a microbrewery, and as I mentioned, Victory still offers that microbrewery style, not the cookie cutter beer of national brands.

The proprietor's of this brewery are very careful about their ingredients and realize that the base ingredients are the most important part, and what gives their beer the distinct flavor it has. One unique ingredient they utilize is whole flower hops for their beers. Typically whole hops are not used. The taste of Victory's beer is definitely unique. I have only tasted their Golden Monkey beer. It wasn't really my style, but many find it very tasty. It was definitely a unique flavor, which is why microbreweries are so great. The tastes are so unique. Unique enough to gain much popularity, as when Victory Brewing began in 1996, they were brewing 1700 barrels of beer. As I mentioned above, they are now brewing and selling 42,000 barrels a year now.

Victory offers tours at their brewery Fridays at 4:00 PM and Saturday at 12:00 PM. The address and phone are as follows:
420 Acorn Lane
Downingtown, PA 19335
610-873-0881

The Top Three Microbreweries In PA-Yard's Brewing Company

Yard's Brewing Company is still actually technically considered a microbrewery by definition as they produce 12,000 barrels of beer annually. The unique thing about this microbrewery is that it is actually a "green" company. When buying this beer, not only are you supporting a local Philadelphia small business, but you are supporting a company that believes in keeping our environment clean.

Here are the Green facts as stated on Yard's Brewing Company's website:
• Pennsylvania's first 100% wind-powered brewery.
• Current production capacity of 12,000 barrels a year.
• Hot water collected and recycled whenever possible.
• All glass and cardboard recycled through the Pedal Co-Op.
• Grains and dregs donated to local farms as feed.
• Earthen clay walls in the Tasting Room.
• Floors made from recycled concrete and coated in SoyCrete sustainable compound.

I find this pretty impressive. There are not a whole lot of companies so in tune to the environment. Their Philadelphia Pale Ale is brewed with pilsner malt and is very distinctive. So distinctive in fact, that the New York Times named it one of the best Pale Ales in the country, quite an honor! Their other beers are Extra Special, Ale India Pale Ale, Brawler, Seasonal Ales, Saison and Ales of the Revolution. This beer brewed in the "city of brotherly love" gains more and more popularity. This in turn pushed the owners to find a larger brewery which is where they are currently located. Address and phone for this microbrewery are as follows:

901 N. Delaware Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19123
215-634.2600

If you would like to sample beers from over fifty microbreweries from PA, there is the
The 13th Annual Kennett Brewfest
Saturday, October 2, 2010, 2-6 PM
Connoisseur tasting, noon to 1:30 p.m.
in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

You must be a ticket holder to attend whether or not you are tasting the beer. Tickets go on sale June 1, 2010. There is also transportation available for pick up and drop off so there's no need for driving. For further information on this event, please click the above link. Information on what microbreweries participating can be found here. Contact information for this event are as follows:

Mary Hutchins
Historic Kennett Square
106 West State St.
Kennett Square,PA 19348
610-444-8188

*The Brewers Association

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbrewery
http://www.yardsbrewing.com/home.asp
http://www.johnharvards.com/index.shtml
http://www.victorybeer.com/home.aspx