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Pennsylvania Beer

Neshaminy Creek’s Rita’s Fruit Brews Return With New Variety Pack

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CROYDON, Pennsylvania— After first partnering last spring, Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company (Neshaminy Creek) is thrilled to reintroduce Rita’s Fruit Brews – a line of beers inspired by the iconic Rita’s Italian Ice (Rita’s) with a brand-new Variety Pack. This limited offering will feature the classic Mango Blonde Ale, the fan favorite Peach Ring Tart Ale, and the brand-new pack exclusive, Cherry Lemonade Tart Ale. Thirsty fans will have their first chance to pick up the Rita’s Fruit Brews Variety Pack at Neshaminy Creek’s Early Spring Fling launch party on Saturday, March 2nd starting at 12pm at their brewery and taprooms in Croydon and Dublin, PA.

This seemingly unlikely partnership was born out of local pride as both companies are based in Bucks County, PA, just north of Philadelphia. Rita’s first location opened in 1984 just 10 minutes down the road from Neshaminy Creek’s production brewery while today, the Italian Ice franchise is headquartered only a little further away from the brewery in the opposite direction. Each company has become a staple in their respective fields throughout the region and a refreshing reprieve from the spring and summertime heat.

The Rita’s Fruit Brews Variety Pack will include the beer that kicked off this partnership, a Mango Blonde Ale that takes its juicy cues from Rita’s’ most popular flavor. Also included will be two tart options – Peach Ring and Cherry Lemonade. Rita’s launched a Peach Ring ice flavor last summer which inspired Neshaminy Creek to recreate that flavor in a slightly sweet, slightly sour beer. Exclusive to this Variety Pack is the new for 2024 Cherry Lemonade – another tart ale that combines two classic Italian Ice flavors. All three beers clock in at a highly sessionable 5% ABV and hit the sweet spot for craft beer drinkers looking for something fruity this spring and summer along with category newcomers who may have a nostalgic soft spot for Rita’s and are looking for an adult version to enjoy.

“Everyone has a different favorite Rita’s flavor so putting together a Rita’s Fruit Brews Variety Pack was the obvious next step in this partnership,” said Kyle Park, Director of Sales and Marketing at Neshaminy Creek. “We started getting requests for this type of thing as soon as we announced the first beer last year and I’m so glad we’re going to be able to deliver them in time for spring. We’ve had so much fun working with Rita’s, experimenting with all of their different flavors, and bringing them to life in a new way. I grew up going to Rita’s and love seeing how quickly excited people have been to reconnect with it while enjoying these beers. Having that local connection to a national company like Rita’s is just icing on the cake.”

The Rita’s Fruit Brews Variety Pack will debut in 12oz Can 12-Packs on Saturday, March 2nd at Neshaminy Creek’s Croydon and Dublin taprooms where customers will also be able to get a pint of each flavor on draft. There will also be 12oz Can 6-Packs of the Mango Blonde Ale and Peach Ring Tart Ale available for sale. The release party will feature plenty of beer, food trucks, live music, Rita’s Italian Ice, and more family-friendly entertainment.

Following the release at the brewery, the Rita’s Fruit Brews Variety Pack and Mango Blonde Ale will be available at retailers throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware. Rita’s Fruit Brews will be sold alongside Neshaminy Creek’s wide variety of handcrafted ales and lagers that have made the brewery a regional staple for nearly 12 years. Interested customers can find their nearest retailer using Neshaminy Creek’s Beer Finder.

About Neshaminy Creek Brewery

Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company is an award-winning craft brewery and taproom located just north of Philadelphia in Croydon, PA. We try to spend as much time making and enjoying incredibly good beer and as little time as possible making up rules about beer! Founded in 2012, Neshaminy Creek has grown exponentially over the years and expanded distribution across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Neshaminy Creek opened their second location inside The Station in Dublin, PA in October 2021 and are working on opening a third taproom in Harleysville, PA that is set to open by Summer 2024. The brewery relies on their DIY ethos to make craft beer for defiant misfits like themselves! Neshaminy Creek’s goal is to make every moment someone spends with them as enjoyable as humanly possible. That’s what beer is for.

About Rita’s Italian Ice

Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard opened its doors in Bensalem, Pa. in 1984, and has been dedicated to spreading “Ice, Custard, Happiness!” ever since. Now, Rita’s is the largest Italian Ice concept in the world with over 600 shops. Guests around the world visit Rita’s to celebrate their everyday moments with freshly made cool treats in a fun-filled atmosphere. Known for its famous Italian Ice, made daily featuring real fruit, and award-winning Frozen Custard, Rita’s serves a taste of happiness with each delicious treat.

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Is It Fall Yet? Neshaminy Creek Celebrates 3 New Beers

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CROYDON, Pennsylvania — Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company (Neshaminy Creek) is gearing up for fall with three exciting beer releases on Friday, August 25, including two brewery collaborations. First up is a new Baltic Porter, Eye on the Tide, brewed with a hearty grain bill of Crystal and Chocolate malts. This complex beer, 8.4% ABV, uses Magnum and Tettnanger hops and is then fermented with a German Lager yeast. The raucous result has a robust roasted malt character with mammoth notes of baker’s chocolate, crusty bread, and dark fruits with a warming finish. This new brew will be available at all three Neshaminy Creek locations with limited distribution throughout the Philadelphia region.

In collaboration with neighbors Second Sin Brewing Company (Second Sin), Neshaminy Creek is also releasing Without Light Czech Dark Lager. “Without light, the dark encloses all…” as it did when Neshaminy Creek Head Brewer Jason Ranck and Second Sin Co-owner & Head Brewer Jake Howell used to work overnight together at Neshaminy Creek. The bond they formed over brewing and music, especially Pallbearer, led to a six-year friendship that the duo is celebrating with this long-overdue collaboration. Without Light is their take on a Czech Dark Lager, brewed with floor-malted Bohemian barley and has notes of dark bread, light chocolate, and a pleasant noble spiciness from mounds of Saaz hops. Without Light, 5.2% ABV, will be available at Second Sin and Neshaminy Creek’s Croydon and Dublin taprooms with limited cases and draft.

Finally, the team at Neshaminy Creek joined 25 local breweries on the Bucks County Ale Trail for a collaboration at Warwick Farm Brewing to create the all-new Dry-Hopped Expedition Bucks County American Pale Ale. This cross-county collaboration was spearheaded by Visit Bucks County to celebrate all the incredible breweries that you can visit on the Bucks County Ale Trail. This 4.9% ABV beer is clear, crisp, and sweet with hints of grapefruit and peach, and is available on tap at participating breweries including Neshaminy Creek’s Croydon taproom.

About Neshaminy Creek Brewery

Founded in 2012, Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company is an award-winning craft brewery with taprooms in Croydon, Dublin and New Hope, Pennsylvania. The brewery has earned a reputation for breaking the rules and making great beer. Over the last decade, Neshaminy Creek has grown exponentially with distribution throughoutPennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. In 2022, Neshaminy Creek was awarded the prestigious Gold at the World Beer Cup for Warehouse Lager. The brewers at Neshaminy Creek rely on their DIY ethos to make craft beer for defiant misfits like themselves!

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New Trail Launches State Light in Time for College Football Season

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WILLIMASPORT, Pennsylvania – New Trail Brewing Company of Williamsport, PA has a new light beer releasing to fans of football and beer alike. State Light is a new 4.2% alcohol by volume, 105 calorie, 4.6g carb Light American Lager built to go on every-down.

“State Light was super fun to create and brew.” says Mike LaRosa, Director of Brewing Operations and Co-owner of New Trail. “This one is for the fans. Fans of college sports and of beer. We have a lot of fans for our Hazy IPAs, but a lot of them are still drinking something low-abv between their elevated craft choices, or after a few rounds of IPA. Our Light Lager fits the bill there, or satisfies a full day of tailgating before a game.”

LaRosa and the brewing team have been working to perfect Light Lager for about a year, and have dialed in the perfect tailgate beer for sports fans to enjoy all day long. “I think we have found the perfect balance of ingredients to make you say ‘I just want another one’. We are using a hop variety that is unique to just New Trail, and just enough of it to balance sweetness and impart the right characteristics.” says LaRosa.

“Since even before New Trail’s creation, our Founders have had some roots in State College. Modern craft drinkers are seeking out more and more well-made low abv craft lagers, and we can bring it to them, across PA.” says Don Rieck, Marketing Director, New Trail Brewing Company. “We’re big fans of the teams in State College, and our favorite place to drink this style is at a tailgate. It wasn’t a hard choice to position our new light beer for our fellow fans. State Light is going to be your First Round Draft Pick.”

State Light will be available at all beer stands in Beaver Stadium this upcoming football season in 16oz cans. For those not going into the stadium, State Light cans will be at beer retailers across Pennsylvania. State Light draft will also be across the State, inviting you to stay and cheer on the team.

About New Trail Brewing

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Williamsport, PA, New Trail Brewing Company produces, cans, and distributes top-quality craft beers across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the western half of Maryland. New Trail employs 48 talented team members and produced over 29,000 barrels of craft beer in 2022. New Trail is the fastest growing regional craft brewery of 2021 and the sixth fastest growing regional brewery of 2022. The brewery’s Tasting Room features indoor and outdoor gathering areas, 12 beer taps, PA wine and PA spirits-based craft cocktails, and an onsite food truck. New Trail is committed to raising awareness for and supporting the expansive beauties of the Greater North Central Pennsylvania region by committing resources to the area.

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Neshaminy Creek Proudly Presents Mecha Dry with Retro Godzilla Screening

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CROYDON, Pennsylvania— Brace yourself for an epic night of movie magic and craft beer at Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company (Neshaminy Creek) as the Creek Crew proudly presents Mecha Dry, a brand-new Japanese-Style Rice Lager complemented with a cinematic adventure featuring “The Terror of Mechagodzilla” on 16mm film in partnership with Exhumed Films on Saturday, August 19.

Featuring the longer U.K. theatrical version released by Toho Company Ltd. in 1975, “The Terror of Mechagodzilla” is a mesmerizing classic Japanese kaiju film that will transport you to the awe-inspiring world of monsters, cyborgs, and unknown planets. Exhumed Films, renowned for their passion for rare and vintage cinema, will also treat attendees to a captivating reel of vintage trailers before the main feature begins.

This screening commemorates the unveiling of Neshaminy Creek’s latest creation, Mecha Dry, a 5% ABV Japanese-Style Rice Lager that’ll awaken the monster within you! With a pale-yellow hue and a lighter flavor profile, Mecha Dry perfectly balances residual sweetness with a subtle hoppy bite. Its high percentage of rice in the grist bill, reminiscent of American Style Light Lagers, brings a refreshing and dry finish, accentuated by higher carbonation. Following the event, Mecha Dry will be available at the taprooms in Croydon, Dublin, and New Hope with limited distribution throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland to follow.

Elevating the movie night to legendary status, the Electronic Eats food truck will be on-site to provide delectable delights including loaded mac and cheese, soft pretzel sandwiches and their signature tacodillas, plus guests can get an extra serving of nostalgia by playing retro video games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat on the truck’s built-in gaming system. Popcorn and other traditional snacks will also be available. Tickets for the event are $8, and are available now at EventBrite.com. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the film starting at 8 p.m.

“We’ve been talking about brewing a rice lager for years, and now it’s finally here to unleash,” said Head Brewer, Jason Ranck at Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company. “We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate this new beer than with a rare screening that showcases both our love of lagers and big monsters fighting each other!”

About Neshaminy Creek Brewery

Founded in 2012, Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company is an award-winning craft brewery with taprooms in Croydon, Dublin and New Hope, Pennsylvania. The brewery has earned a reputation for breaking the rules and making great beer. Over the last decade, Neshaminy Creek has grown exponentially with distribution throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. In 2022, Neshaminy Creek was awarded the prestigious Gold at the World Beer Cup for Warehouse Lager. The brewers at Neshaminy Creek rely on their DIY ethos to make craft beer for defiant misfits like themselves!

For Brewing fun facts, trivia, movies and more, Click Here.

Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen Opens In Tampa

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POTTSVILLE, Pennsylvania – D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc., the Oldest Brewery in America, is excited to announce the completion of a multi-year project with the June 15 opening of the new Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen.

Located in Uptown Tampa on the brewery site, the Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen is uniquely positioned within miles of popular destinations including Busch Gardens, the University of South Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and the Tampa waterfront, all of which attract millions of visitors annually. Guests can now enjoy a first-class dining experience with fresh, local cuisine paired accordingly with Yuengling beers, private dining and meeting room space, an outdoor recreation area and beer garden, as well as a gift shop and a soon-to-be opened coffee bar – all of which are inspired by the traditions of America’s Oldest Brewery.

“As a 6th generation brewing family, it is a highlight for us to evolve our business into this new, unique hospitality experience,” said Wendy Yuengling, Chief Administrative Officer and 6th generation family member. “For 194 years we have been committed to brewing great beer for every taste. Now, we are proud to have created an incredible gathering place, not just for our beers to be enjoyed, but also a destination for delicious food and family entertainment. We are excited to be invested alongside renowned local organizations that share in our commitment to the future of Uptown Tampa.”

Announced in 2019, Yuengling broke ground on the campus in 2020, and more recently, conducted a building completion ribbon-cutting ceremony with community leaders, including USF President Rhea Law and Commissioner Gwen Myers, who praised Yuengling for its commitment to Tampa over the past 20 plus years, and for the 200 jobs created with this new hospitality complex.

Key information about the Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen includes:

Location: 11109 N. 30th Street, a short 30-minute drive from Tampa International Airport. The new hospitality building is 42,000 square feet in size, located in front of the brewery, both of which sit on 3.5 acres of the overall Yuengling property.

Cuisine: Chef-inspired menu includes locally grown ingredients and combines both Pennsylvania and Florida culinary influences. Featuring a modern take on traditional cuisine, many food items showcase Yuengling’s beer portfolio as ingredients. Food offerings will appeal to a broad range of tastes and culinary preferences.

Beer: The beer lineup is led by Yuengling’s core brand portfolio: the flagship Traditional Lager, Light Lager, Golden Pilsner, Black & Tan, as well as the upscale light brand: FLIGHT by Yuengling. Other beers include Yuengling Premium Beer, the heritage brands: Dark Brewed Porter and Lord Chesterfield Ale®, the new Bongo Fizz and seasonal selections such as Oktoberfest and Yuengling Hershey’s Chocolate Porter.

Amenities: Upon opening, phased seating capacity will be as follows: Initially indoor seating for 300 and outdoor seating for 200. In the coming months, full capacity seating will be for up to 800 guests total (300 indoor and 500 outdoor) with a soon-to-be completed outdoor concession, the Yuengling Bistro Kitchen, which will include 300-person picnic seating. An area for outdoor games will also open later this summer. There will be a total of five bars (three inside and two outside) and 88 tap handles when finished. Private dining and conference rooms are available for up to 120 people for special events.

Design: The design elements of exposed brick, metal, and natural wood details are reminiscent of Yuengling’s rich industrial history as the Oldest Brewery in America, dating back to 1829. Artifacts and advertising memorabilia are on display from Yuengling’s 194-year history as an American-owned and family-operated brewery.

“We offer our special thanks to the Greater Tampa Bay community that has provided ongoing support for our company going back over the last two decades,” said Yuengling. “While our original brewery is based in Pottsville, PA, we are very proud to call Tampa our second home. We are excited to build upon our relationships in the area by welcoming guests to this new destination, which helps tell our unique story of America’s Oldest Brewery,” she said.

“There are many individuals who helped make this opening day possible but we want to especially thank Mark Sharpe, Executive Director, Tampa Innovation Alliance,” said Yuengling. “Mark’s shared vision, and collaboration were instrumental in helping us build great partnerships with the city and throughout the community – so many people came to embrace Yuengling, and we are tremendously thankful for all the support,” she said.

Many people in the region know the brewery from its local sponsorship of The Yuengling Center with its distributor partner, J. J. Taylor. The Yuengling Center is a multi-purpose, sports facility on the campus of the University of South Florida. Yuengling Brewing Company of Tampa has been a proud member of the Greater Tampa Bay community since its purchase of the Stroh’s Brewery in 1999. This is the brewery’s first venture in creating a dining and entertainment destination.

About D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc. 

D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc., America’s Oldest Brewery®, is family-owned and operated since 1829. Principal beer brands include Yuengling® Traditional Lager, Light Lager, Black & Tan, Golden Pilsner, Premium, Light, Dark Brewed Porter, Lord Chesterfield Ale®, Oktoberfest, Yuengling Hershey’s Chocolate Porter, FLIGHT by Yuengling, and Bongo Fizz.  Production is supplied by two breweries in Pottsville, PA and one in Tampa, FL. A separate joint venture called The Yuengling Company was recently established with Molson Coors Beverage Company to expand production and distribution further west.  Yuengling beer is currently available in 26 states with recent expansion into Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

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Tröegs Announces Return of Once-a-Year Perpetual Haze Hazy IPA

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HERSHEY, Pennsylvania— Tröegs Independent Brewing announces the release of Perpetual Haze, a beer combining the clean, crisp bitterness of a West Coast IPA with the softness of a hazy.

Envisioned as a companion to the popular Perpetual IPA, Perpetual Haze was one of the first beers developed through the Hershey, PA, brewery’s “Scratch Lab”. Tröegs first introduced the 3-barrel Research and Development brewhouse in January 2020 as a launch pad for its 15-barrel small-batch Scratch brewhouse.

“We took the DNA of Perpetual IPA and made some slight changes to the malt,” explains Tröegs brewmaster and co-founding brother John Trogner. “The big differences are in the timing of the hops and a change in the yeast.”

In Perpetual Haze, later kettle hop additions and vigorous dry-hopping give way to fruitier flavors and aromas. Front and center are Citra and Cashmere, a hop combination that coaxes juicy notes of orange, passionfruit, and nectarine.

Weighing in a 7.5% ABV, Perpetual Haze is smooth, hazy, and pillowy soft thanks to London 3 yeast and a grain bill featuring a blend of malted barley and raw wheat.

Perpetual Haze Hazy IPA is available on draft and in 16-ounce cans across the brewery’s entire distribution footprint.

Additionally, look for 12-ounce cans of Perpetual Haze as part of the forthcoming Summer Better variety 15-pack, slated for an early May release.

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ShawneeCraft Brewing and Wallenpaupack Brewing Launch New Collaboration Beer Series

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SHAWNEE ON DELAWARE, Pennsylvania— ShawneeCraft Brewing Company and Wallenpaupack Brewing Company launched a new collaboration beer series, Lakes & Rivers, on Thursday, April 6th, 2023. The first two beers in the series, an Imperial Pilsner and an Imperial Schwarzbier are available now in both brewery’s taprooms and through their distribution channels.

“This was all about the brewers from each brewery coming together to do something fun, and to learn from each other,” said Logan Ackerley, Head Brewer, Wallenpaupack Brewing Company. “We love brewing lagers, but we wanted to do something that was a little out of both of our comfort zones; something that would challenge us. We are super happy with the outcome; these beers are awesome.”

Speaking to how the partnership began, ShawneeCraft’s Head Brewer, Devin Vogel said, “both of our breweries recently received Silver Medals at last year’s US Open Beer Championship. Wallenpaupack medaled for their Hefeweizen and ShawneeCraft for our Belgian Wit – essentially the German and Belgian equivalents of the same classic wheat beer. That got us to thinking, we both make great beers – maybe we should do a collab.”

There are currently three beers in the Lakes & Rivers collaboration series: an Imperial Pilsner, an Imperial Schwarzbier, and a Barrel-Aged Imperial Schwarzbier. All three of these beers are “big” lagers – all with alcohol by volume (ABV) over 8.5% – something that is somewhat atypical for these two breweries who tend to focus more on session beers (lower ABV beers where multiple glasses can be enjoyed in one “session”), usually around 5% ABV or less.

“This whole process really came out of our brewing teams, who honestly just really like each other’s beers,” said ShawneeCraft Chief Operating Officer, Michael Albert. “This industry is all about collaborations. The more we work together, and strengthen each other’s work, the more people will shift away from mass-produced domestic brews towards locally brewed craft beer. It’s less about protecting proprietary info on our products, and more about creating great beer and great experiences as active and engaging members of our communities.”

“There is such a wealth of talented brewers in the Poconos, and we really subscribe to the high tides raising all ships mentality,” said Brad Beneski, Director of Business Administration and Development, Wallenpaupack Brewing Company. “So, getting to collaborate on such unique beers with another brewery that’s in our backyard was a no-brainer.”

Lakes & Rivers beers are available on tap, and in 16 oz cans in both ShawneeCraft and Wallenpaupack taprooms. The Lakes & Rivers Barrel-Aged Imperial Schwarzbier is anticipated to be available at the end of April.

Please drink responsibly!

About ShawneeCraft Brewing Company

Founded in 2009 and located on the grounds of the Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort on the banks of the Delaware River in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, ShawneeCraft has built a reputation for producing delicious handcrafted, small-batch beers. The brewery maintains a small farm on property to source many of its adjunct ingredients, from pumpkins to honey. ShawneeCraft produces unfiltered and unpasteurized beers free of preservatives and artificial ingredients. Keeping with the company’s credo – “Fidelis in Naturam, in Artem Fidelis,” Latin for “True to Nature, True to the Craft”, the brewery produces craft beer inspired by the beautiful setting in which the brewery is located.

About Wallenpaupack Brewing Company

Founded in 2017, Wallenpaupack Brewing Company has experienced considerable growth – it continues to brew exceptional beers that are esteemed by judges of international competitions, critics at leading publications and heralded by the public at large on popular rating apps such as Untapp’d. The brewpub features food crafted using regional ingredients and hosts a variety of events and activities throughout the year including music, games, trivia nights, brewery tours and more.

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