How to Go Beer Tasting in Lancaster County, PA

Sampler of Lancaster County Brews

Visitors to Lancaster County, PA are often in search of Amish Country delights like shoofly pie, pickled eggs and smorgasbords. Tourists descend on the Lancaster County countryside all year long to visit Amish country. Aside from all the standard tourist attractions, PA Dutch Country offers a wide variety of breweries to fulfill the thirsty desires of those looking for quality beer. Lancaster County is home to seven wonderful breweries that either allow tastings or offer and affordable variety of craft beers. Follow this Lancaster County Brew Path to find your favorite brewery or brew pub.

Things You'll Need

• Designated driver

Instructions

Lancaster County Brew Path

1. Visit Stoudt's Brewing Company (see Resources below). Stout's bills itself as an attraction rather than a mere brewpub, and rightly so. Stoudt's in Adamstown offers a fine dining restaurant, a quaint pub and an antiques mall. Stoudt's offers four flagship beers and a variety of specialty and seasonal brews.

2. 

   Visit Union Barrel Works (see Resources below). Owners Tom and Amy Rupp like malty brews, and visitors to the small town of Reamstown can enjoy a beer sampler in the Rupp's converted department store turned restaurant and brewery. UBW offers six brews ranging from a kolsch to a dopple bock.

3. Visit Swashbuckler Brewing Company. Located in the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire on the grounds of Mt. Hope Estate and Winery in Manheim, the brewery serves samplers of their fine beers at the Swashbuckler Brew Pub. The Swashbuckler offers four regular and several seasonal brews.

4. Stop by Bube's Brewery (see Resources below). This historic "lager era" brewery in Mount Joy boasts a history greater than any other Lancaster County brewery and offers a variety of attractions including the catacombs, a biergarten and an art gallery. Bube's offers several constants on tap that mix with a variety of seasonal beers.

5. Visit Lancaster Brewing Company (see Resources below). Known for their milky stout and friendly atmosphere, LBC is as much of a hot spot in Lancaster city as it is a brew house. LBC has four flagship brews and produces upwards of twelve seasonal and specialty beers throughout the year.

6. 

   Visit Iron Hill Brewery.This chain brewpub has locations all over PA and Delaware---the Lancaster location is in the heart of the college scene---but do not let that tag fool you. All of their beer is professionally handcrafted. Iron Hill offers six house beers alongside a monthly specialty and a variety of seasonal brews.

7. 

   Visit Spring House Brewing Company (see Resources below). Lancaster County's youngest brewery offers a completely unique setting inside a converted barn in Conestoga, south of Lancaster city. Spring House offers tastings and is open for case, growler and barrel purchases. Spring House's flagship beer is the Seven Gates Pale Ale that is offered with a specialty beer for tasting.

Tips & Warnings

• Spring House Brewing Company has irregular hours, check their website for details.

Resources

• Stoudt's Brewing Company
• Union Barrel Works
• Bube's Brewery
• Lancaster Brewing Company
• Spring House Brewing Company