If there’s one thing Pennsylvanians know how to do, it’s craft a great beer. With over 400 breweries across the state—from major cities to tiny boroughs—Pennsylvania has firmly planted itself as one of the top craft beer destinations in the U.S. But why settle for just one brewery tour when you can turn it into a road trip?
Whether you’re a longtime resident or a traveler chasing your next great pint, this guide to Pennsylvania’s best brewery towns will have you packing your weekend bag, loading up the cooler, and hitting the road.
Philadelphia: Big City, Bigger Beer Scene
You can’t talk beer in Pennsylvania without starting with Philly. These classic and trendy institutions coexist in the city with brewing institutes in the city that include Yards Brewing and Human Robot, and Wissahickon Brewing Company emerging as a recent trend. Just as you can find a place to hang out near Fishtown or a post-Phillies beer, Philly is where you get to go all-in-one to see history, beer, hops, and goods.
Road Trip Suggestion: When you are looking to visit several of the breweries in the area, be sure to take rooms that are in close proximity to Center City, either on foot or via public transportation. Or you can get a beer bus tour (so you can do guided beer drinking) and not have to drive home at all.
Lehigh Valley: Where Rustic Charm Meets Craft Culture
The Lehigh Valley, located only a short distance outside of Philly, is also assuming its position within the craft beer community. Bethlehem, Easton, and Allentown offer urban breweries, the villages merged with the countryside taprooms. One of Easton’s favorites is Weyerbacher, which has been popular since time immemorial, and Funk Brewing in Emmaus could go extinct with its rotating IPAs and sours.
Pair it with: Picturesque fall leaves, weekend Musikfest, and even some of PA’s finest farmer markets.
The Poconos: Sips with a Side of Adventure
In case you prefer to down your beer in the mountains, go ahead. The Pocono region offers activities of outdoor fun, together with relaxing breweries, such as Wallenpaupack Brewing Company and ShawneeCraft. Either on a hike, at the ski resort, or sitting on the edge of the lake, there is nothing more satisfying than finishing off a day with a lager brewed down the road.
Local Hack: Most breweries within this area can accommodate dogs and children, and that makes this a perfect family outing.
Lancaster & York: Amish Country Ale Trails
Most people know these south-central cities as either farm country and Amish territory, or as nothing much at all, but surprisingly, these cities have quite a strong brewing scene. Visit Spring House Brewing in Lancaster to get experimental, bold flavors, or Liquid Hero in York to get drinkable, solid styles that are brewed in small quantities.
Don’t miss: Lancaster downtown beer garden action during the nice times. It is an ideal place where one can taste some pints with sparkling lamps.
Pittsburgh: Steel City, Golden Ales
The beer renaissance in Pittsburgh is going on strong on the western side of the state. The city has breweries such as Dancing Gnome, Hitchhiker Brewing, and Grist House that have changed it into a hype of hop-forward beers. As a blue-collar city with a thriving innovative food scene, Pittsburgh is among the top destinations to enjoy pints with pierogies.
Bonus: The number of walkable neighborhoods with several breweries closely packed together is in the dozens, and this is perfect for the DIY crawl.
Making the Most of Your Beer-Fueled Road Trip
The trips between those famous towns involve moving along wavy roadways, hilly, high-speed, and possibly obstruction of the backcountry. And, especially if you are going on a serious tour of state-one in which you actually might invite the prospect of carting yourself (or the growler collection) to another, the transportation of this cargo is going to be a significant consideration.
There, a reputable Pennsylvania-based moving company comes into a huge advantage. You could be leaving a small homebrew run or be moving into a whole new city that loves bees; either way, Three Movers offers dependable moving services throughout Pennsylvania. They make for an excellent name to have in the back pocket when you move your love of craft beer to the next zip code.
Final Thoughts: Brew, Travel, Repeat
Pennsylvania is not merely a state; it is a state of mind to beer lovers. Whether one is visiting the bustling brewery industry in Philly or the serene tasting rooms in the Poconos, every area has its tastes, culture, and people to offer. Whether you just want to take an easy three-day tour or you want to settle and live somewhere closer to a local brewery, you just can not go wrong with hops and hearts in the Keystone State.
Get your road map, fill up the car, and drink to the road beneath. But just a reminder, drink responsibly- and remember to reserve space in your trunk to be able to store the next case of hazy IPAs.