The 2020 Breweries In PA Readers’ Choice Winners

We have come a long way. It started with a two week nomination period. Then came a two week voting period. And now, over 30,000 votes have been cast by our readers to chose their favorites in Pennsylvania craft beer for 2020.

Below is a full list of the winners of each category.

Best IPA

Winner – DDH Alien Church by Tired Hands Brewing

Photo courtesy Untappd

From Untappd:

DDH Alien Church is the intensely amplified & totally fuzzed out iteration of our Reptoid Alien with Photosynthesizing Tongue Oat IPA. Brewed with the same fluffy malted oats as always, and hopped, again as always! super aggressively with Cascade and Columbus. Dry hopped first with the same huge dose of the choicest Citra, Mosaic, and Chinook we’ve come to love and then blasted over the skull with the heaviest of hands with a mountain of even more Citra and additional tropical & punchy & hyper fresh Galaxy for the secondary dry hopping. We hope you enjoy this one as much as you’ve come to enjoy Alien Church over the last several years

2nd Place – Animal Chin by Broken Goblet

3rd Place – Flannel Weather by New Trail


Best Sour

Winner – It’s Cobblerin’ Time by Second Sin Brewing

From Untappd:

It’s Cobblerin’ Time is our cobbler-inspired sour ale brewed with a bready grain bill reminiscent of crust as well as cinnamon, vanilla, lactose, and a rotating variety of fruits. Close your eyes, take a sip, and you’ll forget that you’re drinking beer for dessert.

2nd Place – Cherry Pie Baked Whip by Cellar Works Brewing

3rd Place – Raspberry Sour – Winding Path Brewing


Best Beer Garden

Winner – Levante Stables by Levante Brewing

The Levante Stables by Levante Brewing is the blueprint for what a great beer garden should be. The Stables, which are located within a 19th-century historic farmhouse, offer a year-round indoor/outdoor taproom and beer garden unique space situated on a 40,000 sq/ft property in Chester Springs, PA.

Photo courtesy Levante Brewing

2nd Place – Broken Goblet

3rd Place – Grist House


Best Stout

Winner – Carle The Great by Broken Goblet Brewing

From Boken Goblet on Facebook:

Big, silky smooth, and unbelievably well-balanced…..those are few terms we have heard from some independent taste testers. Carle the Great Russian Imperial Stout, aged in Wild Turkey Barrels and clocking in just over 11% (2020 version)

Photo courtesy Broken Goblet on Facebook

2nd Place – Ralphius by Free Will Brewing

3rd Place – Milk Stout by Lancaster Brewing


Best Food

Winner – Union Brothers Brewing

Located in Harmony, PA, Union Brothers Brewing just opened in June of 2020, but has clearly made their mark on the Pennsylvania craft beer scene. The brewery boasts a rotating menu of  locally sourced, fresh made food. The menu includes shareables, starters, burgers, wings and so much more.

Photo courtesy Union Brothers Brewing on Facebook

2nd Place – Tröegs Independent Brewing

3rd Place – Iron Hill Brewing


Best Beer Name

Winner – Has Anyone Tried Turning 2020 Off And Back On Again? by Evil Genius Beer Co

No surprise here. Evil Genius hit the 2020 nail on the head with this beer. But do not let the name fool you. With a 3.5+ rating on Untappd many throughout the keystone state may have bought the beer for the chuckle, but clearly stayed for the taste.

2nd Place – F#@cking Pilsner by Broken Goblet Brewing

3rd Place – I Suck At Life and Make Bad Decisions by Moo-Duck Brewing


Best Beer Can

Winner – No One Likes Us, We Don’t Care by Broken Goblet Brewing

When the Philadelphia Eagles won the SuperBowl in 2017, the city of brotherly love had quite the party. Probably no one left their mark more on the celebration than Eagles center Jason Kelce. Broken Goblet took that now famous speach and embodied it on a can that Eagles fans have been passionate about getting their hands on since that day.

2nd Place – Mad Elf by Tröegs Independent Brewing

3rd Place – Goggles by New Trail Brewing


Best Taproom

Winner – Tröegs Independent Brewing

The Hershey, PA brewery takes the top spot with their larger than life taproom that looks out on just a small portion of their brewing operations. The taproom is joined by the general store that offers guests a wide array of souveniers to remember your visit by. 2020 may have reduced how many folks can take advantage of the space, but it is only a matter of time until every inch of this taproom is packed once again.

2nd Place – Broken Goblet Brewing

3rd Place – Ever Grain Brewing


Best Collab

Winner – Pointing North by New Trail Brewing/ Levante Brewing

From Untappd:

Pointing North is a Hazy Double IPA, brewed in collaboration with our dear friends at Levante Brewing Co. Brewed with a mixture of Oat Malts and Franco Belge Wheat. Directionally hopped with Citra, Strata, Centennial, & Chinook. Expect huge citrus notes backed with light tropicals and pine. Orient yourself and enjoy the direction.

2nd Place – How Do You Like Them Apples? by Naked Brewing/ Broken Goblet

3rd Place – PA Pride by 40+ breweries across Pennsylvania


Best Social Media

Winner – Broken Goblet Brewing

If you appreciate a brewery who isn’t afraid to walk up to the line, and come pretty close to crossing it, then Broken Goblet is a must follow on social media. Whether it is from their beers who aren’t afraid to tell you how they feel or the famous Lager King series, the Bucks County brewery will keep you plenty entertained on social media.

2nd Place – Tröegs Independent Brewing

3rd Place – Bonn Place Brewing


Best Beer Series

Winner – Lake Haze by Wallenpaupack Brewing

If you have tasted any beer from this Hawley, PA brewery you have undoubtedly got your hands on one of their Lake Haze beers. (After all they are already in the double digits within the series). If not, our readers highly recommend you give them a try. As brewery owner Becky Ryman is quoted as saying; “Our Lake Haze series is definitely a customer favorite and is a series we do that showcases our exploration into hazy beers.”

Photo courtesy Wallenpaupack Brewing

2nd Place – Scratch Series by Tröegs Independent Brewing

3rd Place – Glitter Parts by Levante Brewing


Best Music Venue

Winner – Broken Goblet Brewing

This really shouldn’t come as a surprise. Why? Because we aren’t quite sure how many businesses can boast that they have the former touring stage of David Bowie. Yes the David Bowie. That’s it. That’s all that needs to be said.

Photo courtesy Broken Goblet on Facebook

2nd Place – Union Brothers Brewing

3rd Place – Wyndridge Farms/ Winding Path Brewing


Best New Brewery

Winner – Pineknotter Brewing

Located in Northumberland, PA Pineknotter opened in March of 2020. As a recent profile of the brewery shared Pineknotter is lead by the Fisher family; Tread, 51, Derek, 32, Brandon, 27, and their wives, Beate, Jenna, and Ashley Fisher.  “We are all from Northumberland born and raised,” Derek Fisher said. “We wanted to stay here and have a place for people to go” the profile goes on to say. A rustic, cabin like setting welcomes guests to a historic look into Northumberlands past while offering one of the premier dining locations in the area.

2nd Place – McCall Collective Brewing

3rd Place – Union Brothers Brewing


Best Overall Brewery

Winner – Tröegs Independent Brewing

If you are following along, this makes a clean sweep in 2020 top Breweries In PA awards for Tröegs as the brewery also took the top spot in our PA Beer Bracket. And for good reasons. Whether it is through their Scratch Series, staple beers like Mad Elf or newer releases such as Lollihop, the brewery does not rest on its laurels and is continuing to create new offerings every day.

Photo courtesy Troegs Brewing on Facebook

2nd Place – Broken Goblet Brewing

3rd Place – New Trail Brewing


 

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