If you love craft beer, you’re in luck because there are several great breweries near State College, PA.
Over the last few years, there has been an explosion of Pennsylvania breweries that seeped into every corner of the state, so it’s no surprise that Cente County would have its share of great locally-made craft beer.
So, the next time you are looking to visit a brewery, State College is sure you to delight you with these great picks.
Otto’s Pub and Brewery
Otto’s Pub and Brewery is located just a few miles west of downtown State College and is one of the oldest craft breweries in Pennsylvania, opening to the public in 2002.
Their large taproom is a great spot to try their wide variety of beers and some delicious food. Otto’s also offers hard seltzers and craft sodas, as well as spirits from their sister company, Barrel 21 Distillery, which has a separate facility next door to the pub.
When I visited, my favorite beer was their Slab Cabin IPA, which is a great version of this popular style, but I really enjoyed all of the beers I had an opportunity to try.
Otto’s Pub and Brewing can be found at the following address: 2235 N Atherton St, State College, PA 16803.
Antifragile Brewing Company
Antifragile Brewing Company is the only brewery located in downtown State College and can be found on a back street near the Penn State campus.
Their bright taproom features both indoor and outdoor seating, and is a great spot to grab a beer, though it’s worth noting that there is no food on site.
During my visit, Antifragile featured nine beers, as well as a few other options including kombucha and cocktails. The beer list is definitely heavy on the IPAs, with five of nine beers being variations of that variety during my visit. Still they do offer other types of beers for those that enjoy other styles.
Since they don’t offer flights, I was only able to try two beers during my visit, but both were quite good and full of flavor.
Antifragile Brewing Company is located at the following address: 324 E Calder Way, State College, PA 16801.
Boal City Brewing
Boal City Brewing can be found in Boalsburg between the Boalsburg Cemetery and Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion.
One of the newest breweries in the State College area, Boal City has already made a name for itself with its flavorful creations, and I really enjoyed the beers I had during my visit, especially the Marionberry Gose and the New England IPA.
Boal City has a quite beautiful taproom and a ton of outdoor seating. This is a great spot anytime of the year, but their beer garden makes it especially nice in the summer months, and even more so when there are food trucks on site.
Boal City Brewing is located at 281 Old Boalsburg Rd, Boalsburg, PA 16827.
Robin Hood Brewing Company
Located just outside of Bellefonte, Robin Hood Brewing Company is a tasty brewery near State College, PA.
This brewery is inside Home D Pizzeria, which serves some of the best pizza and wings in the area. That means that you can get incredible beer and delicious pizza in one spot.
Robin Hood Brewing features a wide range of delicious and inventive beers but is best known for their IPAs and wheat beers.
Robin Hood Brewing can be found at the following address: 1796 Zion Rd, Bellefonte, PA 16823.
Happy Valley Brewing Company
Happy Valley Brewing Company is located just northeast of downtown State College and right off of Route 322.
This brewery is located in a bright and airy converted barn that is more than 200 years old. Without a doubt, this is one of the most striking breweries in State College.
Inside, Happy Valley Brewing offers a nice array of beer and food in a slightly more upscale setting than you usually find at breweries in the state. However, it’s still a nice place to have a casual beer if that’s what you’re looking for.
During my visit, I had a chance to try their delicious Knuckleball Session IPA, which while only average, was still a solid beer. Even better, get their beer alongside their delicious food (I got the very tasty Salmon BLT).
Happy Valley Brewing Company is located at 137 Elmwood St, State College, PA 16801.
Axemann Brewery
I’ve visited close to 100 different breweries in PA, and I don’t know that I’ve come across one that is as large or has a more unique setting than Axemann Brewery in Bellefonte.
This brewery, which opened in July 2020, is located within the former Cerro Metal Factory, a 20,000-square-foot space that provides a ton of seating on two floors and a lot of room to expand their brewing capacity as they grow. Even better, the space includes two decks that overlook the stream that runs directly adjacent to the brewery.
I visited this brewery about a month after they opened and, while none of the beers struck me as standouts, they were all very solid, which is quite good for a new brewery (usually there are at least one of two clunkers as new breweries iron out their recipes).
Given the incredible space and the solid foundation they have with their beer, this is definitely a spot to check out. And, if you like hard cider, make sure to check out Titan Hollow Cidery, which is located on the opposite side of the building.
Axemann Brewing can be found at the following address: 2042 Axemann Rd Suite 125, Bellefonte, PA 16823.
Voodoo Brewing Company
Voodoo Brewing Company is one of Pennsylvania’s largest breweries and has brewpubs in four different Pennsylvania cities (plus Cleveland and several other large cities). Their brewery in State College is located just a couple of doors down from Happy Valley Brewing Company northeast of the downtown area.
Voodoo is known for its incredibly inventive and full-flavor beers and is one of my personal favorite breweries in the state. If you like creative and unique beers, this is definitely a spot to check out. However, just note that the beer list here isn’t as extensive as some of the other Voodoo Brewing locations I’ve visited in western PA.
My favorite part about this space is the incredible outdoor seating area along Slab Cabin Run. While you can hear some road noise at times, this is still a beautiful and peaceful setting to grab a beer in State College.
Voodoo Brewing Company is located at the following address: 201 Elmwood St, State College, PA 16801.
Elk Creek Aleworks
Elk Creek Aleworks is located in the small Centre County community of Millheim and serves some excellent craft beer and food.
Elk Creek Alworks can be found within Elk Creek Cafe and offers five flagship beers, as well as a rotating list of seasonal beers. During my visit, I had a chance to try several different beers, and each was quite tasty.
They also paired well with the excellent food, which makes this a great stop when exploring this part of the county and the nearby Bald Eagle State Forest.
Elk Creek Cafe and Aleworks can be found at this address: 100 W Main St, Millheim, PA 16854.
What is your favorite brewery near State College, PA? Let us know in the comments below.
Looking for more places to visit nearby? Check out the best breweries in Altoona, Rusty Rail Brewing, Shy Bear Brewing, and the best State College hikes.
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