Known in Erie for tying its beer to the city’s history, Erie Brewing Company is a local craft brewery whose flagship Railbender Ale honors the laborers who laid the city’s railroad tracks. The brewery serves its beers at two Erie brewpub locations and produces fresh releases alongside established recipes for local customers and wholesale accounts.
Erie Ale WorksStarted by homebrewers Steve Anthony and Jeff McCullor in one garage and moved into a second, Erie Ale Works brews beer in an open-concept Erie taproom where guests sit beside the production equipment. The co-founders still shape the operation—Steve as brewing director and Jeff as marketing director and self-described floor sweeper—while the shop builds community through local events, charity fundraisers and donations of spent grain to a nearby farmer.ERIE, PA
Allegheny City BrewingSince opening in Pittsburgh’s historic Deutschtown neighborhood in 2016, Allegheny City Brewing has brewed its beer onsite at a seven-barrel brewery. The neighborhood-based brewery pairs traditional styles with experimental concepts and now serves them through taprooms in Deutschtown, East Ohio Street, and Brighton Heights—the neighborhood where its owners were born and raised. Its East Ohio location adds a beer garden and space for local food trucks, live entertainment, and fundraisers.PITTSBURGH, PA
Railhead Brewing CompanyIn Hornell, New York, Railhead Brewing Company brews its beer in house on a three-barrel brewhouse and pours it in a laid-back pub setting. The brewery pairs its local beer with hand-made wood-fired pizza, creating a relaxed stop for families, friends, and visitors exploring the Southern Finger Lakes.HORNELL, NY
Lavery Brewing CompanyFounded in 2009 by Pennsylvania residents Jason and Nicole Lavery, Lavery Brewing Company grew from a homebrewing experiment into a downtown Erie brewery and restaurant. Its team pairs a beer program known for hazy IPAs and crisp lagers with a food menu shaped by Chef Zach Pesch, while keeping community events central to the taproom’s identity.ERIE, PA