Situated in what was once a former car dealership in Reading, PA you will find Schaylor Brewing, a 3,000 square feet four barrel brewery. We recently visited this location with co-owners and longtime friends Josh Taylor (Head Brewer) and Lucan Schmidt. Which is how the brewery got its name Schmidt/ Taylor = Schaylor.
Schaylor officially opened their doors in early 2018, and while they take brewing beer seriously, as they told us they really “just like to have fun”. Which is the feeling we took away from our visit with Lucan and Josh. After a conversation with each of them you can sense that passion for a hand crafted dining experience is the foundation of Schaylor Brewing while also not taking themselves too seriously.
Dining experience, because beer isn’t the only hand crafted item being produced at the brewery. We will get to the beer shortly, but it is important to note that Schaylor is offering much more than liquid gold. The brewery offers a full menu of over 30 items including starters, entrees, flatbread’s, dessert and a kids menu. They even offer five different varieties of gourmet popcorn! You can also order wine, non-alcoholic drinks, cider and cocktails for those in your party looking for more than beer.
There really is so much to offer, that we cannot do it all justice. Check out their menu for yourself to see it all. Our visit took place before the kitchen opened. Check out some of their offerings from their website:
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But we know why you’re here….the beer of course! And Schaylor does not disappoint when it comes to looking for a hand crafted beer packed full of flavor. During our visit we enjoyed a wide variety of flavors. Our flight consisted of (pictured left to right below):
Paradisity – 6.4% Pale Ale
Pineapple Express – 8.5% Double IPA (Made with fresh Pineapple, and that was very noticeable!)
Psychological Thrill – 6% Sour
S’moreo Speedwagon – 5.4% Sweet Stout
In total Schaylor offers 10 rotating beers on tap. At the time of our visit they had Kambucha to offer as well. We experienced a wide variety of flavors. Beer can be extremely subjective. Some consumers tend to be more IPA focused while others love their sours. The beauty of Schaylor is that no matter what your preference you will find it here. And the flavor from each beer proved that this brewery truly understands what it takes to brew beer at a commercial level.
The beer is constantly changing, so we recommend you check out the list on their website to stay up to date.
Beyond the food and beer there is plenty more to take in. As we mentioned earlier, this is a 3,000 square foot location. With that much room they have the ability to host events such as yoga, interactive painting demonstrations, and more. With the brewing system sitting right behind the side bar, you can get so close you’d think you’re one of the brewers!
Josh and Lucan were kind enough to let us visit before the brewery opened for the day. Check out our private tour and see inside for yourself:
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However all that space inside isn’t where Schaylor ends. In fact, it’s just the beginning! The brewery also boasts an incredible outdoor location to keep the fun going with an outdoor bar, private seating areas and a very large game area for KanJam, cornhole and other outdoor fun.
We visited in the winter, so unfortunately couldn’t take advantage of this space. But we will definitely be back when this space is open to enjoy firsthand.
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It’s important to note that this brewery is both dog and kid friendly. Dogs are more than welcome in their outdoor space. And with the food menu they offer and non-alcoholic drinks, it’s the ideal location for families. They offer high chairs, kids menu, games and more.
Schaylor really does have a lot to offer. After our time with them, it is obvious to us why they have such a great local reputation for only being open less than a year. So we suggest you follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on their latest beer releases, specials, events, and all other brewery news! And of course, make sure to visit the brewery for yourself at their location on Lancaster Pike and tell them we said hi!
