Written By Breweries In PA Contributor Gary Cook (12VoltBeers on Instagram)

It’s early evening on a Friday in early March at Breaker Brewing Company. Guests are shuffling in after a day’s work to sample some brews and for some small talk.

What was once a former catholic schoolhouse, this location has been transformed into one of the areas top breweries while still keeping the historic charm. The inside is rustic, lined with pictures of the areas proud coal mining past and has an aura of bygone day’s. Warm and inviting. A chalkboard which was once used for teachers sits behind the bar with today’s offerings… Lunch Pail Ale, Jalepeno Minefire Ale, Old King Coal Stout and Carbon Triple IPA among many others

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I’m told by a worker that Chris and Mark, the owners, are in the church. So out the back and across the patio I go to another building which is (or was) an actual church. On entering, I’m immediately met not with pews or an altar but with fermenters and brew kettles. Empty tables also line both ends of the place which will be filled by nights end.

See the brewery and taproom for yourself:

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I’m then greeted by Chris Miller and Mark Lehman who are just finishing up canning duty on a new creation called Lime Life, a sour lime New England Style IPA.

Chris and Mark started homebrewing in 2005 brewing on a five gallon system. After years of refining their recipes and process they put together a 1.5 barrel system and began selling their flagship beer, Lunch Pail Ale, to local bars and restaurants. Demand slowly grew and which meant more space and equipment was needed. The current location, a 2.5 acre property, that was formerly St Johns Monastry and School in Wilkes Barre Pa was purchased in 2011. Breaker Brewings new location opened in 2013 after renovations and zoning issues. This current location serves food as well as what’s on tap from the brewery.

Coal breakers were an integral part of the Wyoming Valleys’ past. Anthracite coal was discovered in the region and hard working immigrants flocked there to there to work in the mines with the hope to create a better life for their families. The breakers are now gone but Chris and Mark decided it would ideal to pay homage to the regions past in the name of their brewery.

Breaker has a good mix of beer on tap, and there’s something here for everyone. From traditional ales like their Lunch Pail Ale to more adventurous like the Minefire Jalepeno, there’s a good amount to choose from. They also make and can many New England Style IPAs like Smooph and the Dreamcycle series which rotates different fruit ingredients.

I was lucky to get a sip of the Lime Life IPA before its release when I was there. It’s a milkshake style IPA that’s also got a little hint of tartness to it. It’s different and drier than most of the other IPA’s I’ve had that are in this category. Their can releases are beginning to attract more attention and releases like this one tend to sell out quickly.

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The owners of Breaker Brewing played it smart by taking their time to perfect every detail before moving on to the next step. From the beer to the dinner menu, there’s an attention to detail and quality.

Make sure to follow them on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Also check out their website for all future events, releases, etc. And next time your in the Wilkes Barre area be sure to check them out at their location on E Northampton Street. You won’t be disappointed.