In 2021, National Drink Beer Day is celebrated on September 28, but it's always a good time in the Cumberland Valley to try a delicious craft brew. Whether you like stouts, IPAs, sours, fruited, lagers, or porters, you'll find a favorite flavor as you tap, tour, and try a pint at 20 locations along the Cumberland Valley Beer Trail. Sign up for the free digital passport, check in at participating locations, and earn prizes. Here are some staff suggestions to help get you started. Please drink responsibly and in moderation.
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Desperate Times Brewery
I’m all about the dark and robust beers and one of my favorite places to find them is at Desperate Times Brewery in Carlisle. Their Black Forest Schwarzbier and Honest Lawbreaker are roasty, smooth, and balanced with a full-bodied flavor. In fact, the Black Forest Schwarzbier won a gold medal in the Dark Lager category at the 2020 U.S. Open Beer Championship. Each one pairs nicely with the German-inspired food menu which offers, among other items, a selection of authentic sausages, schnitzel, and homemade sauerkraut. If you don’t like dark beers, Desperate Times has plenty of other options, with 12 rotating beers on tap.
--Stacey
Molly Pitcher Brewing Co.
Up until a year ago, I was a wine drinker. I found that fruity wheat beers were a good introduction into the craft brew world, and remain one of my favorite beers to sample. Hands down, my favorite find has been the Black Currant Wheat from Molly Pitcher Brewing Co. in Carlisle. It showcases all of the delicious characteristics of a traditional wheat beer, with fruity notes and a slightly tart finish from the black currants. Plus, it has a gorgeous pink hue that makes it perfect for Instagram photos!
--Ashley
Give me a peanut butter beer and I’m probably going to like it. The Peanut Butter Porter at Molly Pitcher Brewing Company, however, is the best of these flavors. It’s a dark beer as you would expect with a porter and offers a great smell of peanut butter and some chocolate. The porter can be enjoyed as a dessert beer or the first of a few. The flavor is exactly what you want when introducing peanut butter.
--Aaron
Ever Grain Brewing Co.
I am on a constant quest for the most delicious beer in the Cumberland Valley and I found it at Ever Grain Brewing Co. Their Fluffhead Bavarian-style Hefeweizen is incredibly drinkable and perfectly balanced with notes of banana and clove. The atmosphere of this location makes you feel like you are a part of the brewing experience and includes Ever Grain’s Craft Kitchen. The Fluffhead Hefeweizen and the soft pretzel are an unbeatable combination!
--Lauren
Mellow Mink Brewing
One of my favorite spots along the Cumberland Valley Beer Trail is newcomer, Mellow Mink Brewing. Tucked along the Carlisle Pike, it would be easy to miss this brewery from the outside, but the inside is super relaxing and inviting. The décor is sophisticated but not stuffy with comfy seating and a cool bar in the middle. They specialize in sour beers with creative options. Two of my favorites are the Orange Creamsicle IPA, brewed with blood oranges, vanilla beans, and lactose, and the Superfruit 11, a golden sour beer conditioned on over 200 pounds of pink guava and blood oranges. If you don’t like sour beers, they also have house-made sparkling waters and sodas on draft and offer a selection of locally sourced wines and spirits.
--Kristen
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Even if you don't drink, you don't need to miss out on the fun. There are a number of non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy along the Beer Trail.
- Grand Illusion Hard Cider: Stop in for a non-alcoholic craft soda from Reading Soda Works.
- Appalachian Brewing Co: ABC's small-batch sodas are made using the finest ingredients. Choose from Root Beer, diet Root Beer, White Birch Beer, or Ginger Beer. All are caffeine and gluten free.
