Like a churning mash mixer, the Philly craft beer scene keeps rolling along and increasing in flavor.
Over the pandemic, Philadelphia craft beer brewers found new ways to get their products to their patrons, while plans for new breweries formed and hatched. And last year, the Philly brewery industry began to boom again as more than a dozen new breweries, taprooms and locations sprung to life.
Some of Philly’s most iconic brands, including Victory Brewing Company and Dock Street Brewing Company have opened (or will soon open) doors to additional locations to bring their brews to new neighborhoods and suburbs. And several of the city’s hottest brewmakers only on the scene a couple of years, like Warwick Farm Brewing and Human Robot, have quickly expanded into new spaces in the last several months. Montco’s Forest & Main Brewing is moving into two new sites. Even one of New York’s most esteemed craft breweries, Other Half Brewing, spread to a new space in W.C. Fields’ “great town of breweries,” taking over for Goose Island near The Fillmore Philadelphia.
And there is plenty more to come in 2022. Some of the hottest projected new breweries opening soon or later in the year include Lost Planet Brewing in Royersford, Dublin Brewing in Downingtown, as well as Mystic Ways Brewing and Van LIeus Brewing (opening down the street from each other) in Perkasie. And the most interesting development on the horizon is the Mutual Respect Brewers Co-Op in Bensalem, as Broken Goblet Brewing, Trauger Brewing and Lucky Cat Beer join forces to prep the nation’s first brewery/distillery collective for opening.
Remember, too, that Greater Philadelphia is overflowing with things to do both before and after a brewery visit, making craft beer just one facet of a great day or weekend with family and friends in the Philadelphia region. Below, we’ve namechecked can’t-miss museums and attractions, excellent trails and parks or acclaimed eats nearby each new brewery.
Here’s a guide to some of the top brewery openings since October 2021 — and some of those coming soon, all contributing to a 100-plus stop craft beer trail that’s longer and livelier than ever.
In 2019, Michael Crosson entered Bitchin’ Kitten, a homebrew named after his wife’s cat, into a competition and came away with the silver medal, giving the couple the push to make their brewery dreams a reality. That’s exactly what they did in October 2022 when they opened Bitchin’ Kitten Brewery in Morrisville in Bucks County. In keeping with the cat theme, the tap list gets cheeky with beer names such as Dewclaw, Twisted Whiskers and Chief Mouser: #10 Downing Street.
Nearby:
Where: Bitchin' Kitten Brewery, 58-B E. Bridge Street, Morrisville
Since opening in 2016, South Philly’s Brewery ARS has become a city favorite. This past March, founders and brothers Andy and Sean Arsenault opened a long-awaited second ARS location, in brewery hub Fishtown along popular Frankford Avenue. You can grab Brewery ARS’ signature brews at the new spot, including Sweet Trepidation imperial stout brewed with local maple syrup, as well as the citrusy Wayne’s Pale Ale. While the original ARS is known for its regular lineup of food trucks, the new location offers its own pub hot dogs prepped to order from the kitchen.
Where: Brewery ARS, 2223 Frankford Avenue
Back in 2019, brewer Evan Roth, formerly of Victory Brewing, launched a Kickstarter with the goal of opening a local-origin brewery that used Philly-sourced flavors, artisans and producers. His campaign raised over $20,000, enough to lease an old auto shop and dance studio. After pandemic delays, Cartesian Brewing opened last October in East Passyunk near iconic cheesesteak shops Pat’s and Geno’s. Utilizing that local-origin philosophy, some of its beers include Pride of Passyunk, brewed with local malt and grain, and Wide Eyes to Acknowledge, named for an obscure local band. Those who play one of the brewery’s board games are rewarded with a 10% discount.
Where: Cartesian Brewing, 1326 E. Passyunk Avenue
Ambler’s Forest & Main Brewing got so popular it outgrew its location at, well, Forest & Main. The owners decided to relocate — not to a singular larger location, but to two. While the brewery itself will be moving to a new locale a couple blocks away (see below), the first new spot — a standalone pub — opened in November in downtown Ambler. Inside a former skate shop, the new spot seats 50 people in three large rooms, and features 12 taps, including three side pulls, plus three cask-beer hand pumps. Regulars on tap include their Solare Saison and Kinch IPA.
Where: Forest & Main Brewing Company, 33 E. Butler Avenue, Ambler
In June of 2020, Hares Hill Brewing teamed up with Tony Joe’s House of Great Eats in Pottstown to serve its craft brews in the local pizza and cheesesteak shop. The venture was such a success that Hares Hill decided to take over the entire space. Tony Joe’s closed up in February of this year and the location opened back up a month later under the Hares Hill banner with a new look, new menu and a small collection of five permanent flagship taps – including the Gnarly Rabbit West Coast IPA and Space Boy double IPA – and two rotating taps.
Where: Hares Hill Brewing Co., 1161 Ridge Road, Pottstown
Kensington’s two-year-old Human Robot has expanded into the ‘burbs with a second location in Jenkintown. Opened in March 2022, “The Haus” as it’s known is a 140-seat brewpub (in the former location of Neshaminy Creek’s Borough Brewhouse) serving Human Robot’s clean, European-inspired IPAs, stouts and fruited kettle sour Splash series brews.
Where: Human Robot's “The Haus”, 208 York Road, Jenkintown
Located in a former 1920s textile mill, Humble Parlor Brewing opened in Kensington in May 2022. Founded by 28-year-old certified public accountant Alex Howell, the nanobrewery and cozy 21-seat taproom specializes in dark beers like stouts and porters and their signature hazy IPAs. In true speakeasy-style, prospective visitors have to text Alex for the secret code for entry into the building. Thankfully, his number is right on the website.
Where: Humble Parlor Brewing Company, 3237 Amber Street
A new nano-brewery comes to the Globe Dye Works design and artist incubator space in Frankford. My Local Brew Works, from two award-winning local home brewers, sets up inside the former factory, specializing in contract brewing for special events, but still offering plenty of small-batch craft beer to the public.
Where: My Local Brew Works, 4500 Worth Street
Despite being a Brooklyn-based brewery, Other Half Brewing Company’s new location in Fishtown feels very Philadelphia. The brewery’s well-regarded IPAs, sours and stouts are served in the shadow of The Fillmore Philadelphia, Brooklyn Bowl and Punch Line Philly, having taken over the former Goose Island space last winter. In addition to 20 drafts on tap, it also features Philly-specific creations and tap takeovers from other local brewers. Inside is a busy 150-seat taproom with a spacious beer garden outside.
Where: Other Half Brewing, 1002 Canal Street
If lifting a few pints and tossing a few axes sounds like a grand night out, Punch Buggy Brewing has the place for you. The three-year-old Kensington brewery has opened its second location inside South Philly’s Bury The Hatchet Axe Throwing. Opened in March 2022, the new 7,500-square-foot taproom is a great spot for beers after a night of axe marksmanship.
Where: Punch Buggy Brewing Company - South, 1719 Washington Avenue
Barrel-aged beer, in barrels of everything from red wine to bourbon to tequila, is one of the hottest trends in brewing. Enter Ship Bottom Brewery. The Jersey Shore fave just launched its new Blendery and Barrel House on the Main Line this past February. Helmed by brewer Hannah Gohde (a Pennsylvania native), the Swarthmore blendery (where beer is blended as opposed to brewed) features Ship Bottom’s staple beers, Koelschip spontaneous fermentation (a natural, uncontrolled inoculation process) brands, seasonals and new releases, heavy on the barrel-aged concepts.
Where: Ship Bottom Brewery - Blendery & Barrel House, 5 Park Avenue, Swarthmore
Houston, we have no problem. The Fuge is the site of the U.S. Navy’s human centrifuge where space race-era astronauts like Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin once trained to experience gravitational forces. Today, the Johnsville Centrifuge is surrounded by a catering and event space, and, as of April, is also home to one of Bucks County’s newest breweries. The space-themed Tranquility Brewing Company serves its own line of beer available on a dozen taps. The brewery sits inside a 70-capacity dining area, and offers weekly quizzo and live music.
Where: Tranquility Brewing Company, 780 Falcon Circle, Warminster
Downingtown’s Victory Brewing has become one of the most impactful breweries in the region, with two brewhouse/restaurants in the Philadelphia region, a presence at South Philly’s XFINITY Live! and beers sold in nearly every state. The Victory team’s latest venture: a Center City taproom located on the Ben Franklin Parkway. The 14,000-square-foot location features two indoor bars, a pet-friendly outdoor bar, a beer garden, sidewalk dining and a rooftop patio with magnificent views of City Hall and Parkway attractions. The massive facility offers 28 taps, including a five-tap rotation of location-exclusive “Philly Brew’d” beers. There’s also a scratch-made kitchen on-site with beer-inspired entrées, competition-worthy cheesesteaks and a signature pistachio cannoli with a chocolate dip.
Where: Victory Brewing Company, 1776 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
The rolling hills of Bucks County are the perfect spot for Warwick Farm Brewing’s 22-acre facility, where the team grows many of its beers’ own ingredients. Having only been open for two years, the brewery has already gained a reputation for quality beer from its can and crowler production and was named Breweries in PA’s “Best Beer Garden in Pennsylvania.” But last February, Warwick Farm finally opened its 5,000-square-foot tasting and taproom with 24 draft lines and a fireside seating area. That’s in addition to a refurbished 1,500-square-foot wraparound beer deck overlooking the farm and the Little Neshaminy Valley.
Where: Warwick Farm Brewing, 800 Almshouse Road, Jamison
Already a hit in its hometown of Lansdale, Well Crafted Brewing has doubled its size with the acquisition of the former Ambler Brewing Company’s location and equipment eight miles to the south. The new spot at Ambler Yards features 13 craft brews on tap, including their signature Hop Monger IPA, Mother of Perle Kolsch, Blonde Americano coffee ale and Wolf Pajamas imperial stout, along with a regular rotation of food trucks.
Where: Well Crafted Ambler, 300 Brookside Avenue, Ambler
This past winter, the Mangan family closed up its Berwyn location of McKenzie Brew House, transformed it into a more casual neighborhood brewpub and reopened in January as Will’s + Bill’s Brewery. The laidback hangout has a throwback ski-lodge vibe with seating for 200, two fireplaces and walls covered with portraits of famous Williams. Will’s + Bill’s offers a dozen house beers on tap, live piano music and a diverse menu from chef Antonio Bedoya.
Where: Will's + Bill's Brewery and Restaurant, 324 Swedesford Road, Berwyn
In 2016, Dan Hershberg, founder of popular T-shirt shop Philly Phaithful, opened Workhorse Brewing in King of Prussia, to quick and universal acclaim. Just three years later, the brewery expanded into Center City Philadelphia, with a temporary pop-up taproom opening on Walnut Street in 2019. After a year-long pandemic hiatus, a now-permanent offshoot, called Workhorse Brewing SRT, opened up in that same spot, with a large indoor taproom and a spacious patio overlooking the Schuylkill River Trail. Workhorse SRT shares space with not one, but two eateries: Spread Bagelry by day and Cozette Pizza by night.
Where: Workhorse Brewing Company SRT, 2401 Walnut Street
A notable brewery opening a new location, and a new brewery opening in a notable location:
Bucks County’s brew scene also continues to expand this year:
Chester County has another great spot in the works:
Montco’s craft beer scene welcomes the following this year:
The Visit Philly Overnight Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia), overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks.
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