Nearby Frecon Farms has been growing apples since 1944, but today puts some of the apples to their highest and best use – hard cider! This Estate Series cider uses antique varietals, balancing bitter-sharps and sharps like Crab, Winesap and York Imperial with sweets like Winter Banana. Old-school fermentation combines Brettanomyces (wild yeast) and Lactobacillus (the bacteria in your yogurt), followed by two years of aging, resulting in a complex, slightly funky-tart cider with a hint of oak
11oz$10.00
Domaine Dupont Cidre Bouché Brut de Normandie, Domaine Familial Louis Dupont, Normandy, France, Cider, ABV 5.50%
Normandy is famous for Calvados, a spirit distilled from apple cider, but the region's hard cider (cidre) itself is worthy of your palate. Domaine Dupont is arguably the most acclaimed Calvados and (Normandy) cider producer of all. Bouché Brut is Dupont's flagship cider – tart, complex, rather dry, cloudy, effervescent and unmistakably earthy and rustic. It's a million miles from Woodchuck
11oz$9.00
Off Color Troublesome - Gose, Off Color Brewing, Chicago, Illinois, Gose, ABV 4.50%
Never heard of Off Color? It's a Chicago brewery started by alumni from Goose Island and Two Brothers. Gose, a German wheat beer style, has gone from nearly extinct to big-time in no time. It's brewed with lactobacillus (bacteria that makes yogurt tart), coriander and salt. Off Color blends two separate beers for this, claiming it's quite hard to make
11oz$8.00
Schneider Tap X Marie's Rendezvous - Wheatwine, Privatbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn, Kelheim, Germany, Wheatwine, ABV 10.00%
Schneider wrote the book on Bavarian wheat beer, being the first commercial producer after buying the state brewery from the king in 1872. But Schneider isn't stuck in the past and continues to innovate even while brewing nothing beyond Bavarian Purity Law-compliant wheat beers. This golden Wheatwine, dedicated to brewery founder Georg I Schneider's wife, is 2016's big news. Intense and opulent, it's brewed with Tradition and Cascade hops, then dry hopped with an experimental German variety
11oz$10.00
Koutska 12° Dvanáctka - Czech Pilsner, Pivovar Kout Na Šumavě, Kout Na Šumavě, Czech Republic, Czech Pilsner, ABV 5.00%
You've likely tried Pilsner Urquell, which is historically significant as the original Pilsner. But like most things, it changed over time. Koutská 12° Desítka is old-school. Really old. Kout na Šumavě's town brewery was shut down in '69 by the communist government and, we must note, Pilsner Urquell! In 2003, young Jan Skala bought the brewery building and today brews traditional Czech beer using well water, local barley and hops, open fermentation and no pasteurization. Taste the difference
Once upon a time, beer malt was dried in sunlight (difficult in Europe) or over an open flame. Kilns came along, but the traditional way never completely died out in Bamberg. The Schlenkerla (the Heller-Trum brewery's nickname) beers are the iconic German Rauchbiers. The traditional wood used to smoke the malt is beech, but this newfangled high-strength annual release uses oak for a smoother and more complex smokiness
Red Tape is something one generally cuts through, not drinks. But this was the pilot brew that Jack Hendler christened his new brewery with after navigating the sea of brewery licensing and state regulations. Jack's Abby is perhaps the nation's only all-lager craft brewery, and Red Tape is a traditional Munich Dunkel, the deep amber lager style that Munich imbibers enjoyed before golden Munich Helles became a thing. This annual release celebrates a great brewery and an under-appreciated style
16oz$6.00
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale - American IPA, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, California, American IPA, ABV 6.80%
First brewed in 1981, Celebration Ale is one of the earliest examples of an American-style IPA and one of the few hop-forward holiday beers. Famous for its intense citrus and pine aromas, Celebration is bold and intense, featuring time-tested Cascade, Centennial and Chinook hop varietals. This is a FRESH-HOPPED beer, which in Sierra Nevada-speak means that the hops are the freshest (seven days) dried hops to come from the hop harvest, which runs from August 31 to October 31
16oz$6.50
Søle Rage Quit Double Dry-Hopped Oat IPA - American IPA, Søle Artisan Ales, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, American IPA, ABV 6.20%
Nomad brewer Joe Percoco of Søle Brewing has been many things – a farmhand, a cook and now, he is one of our favorite brewers in Pennsylvania. After serving as head brewer at Funk Brewing, he left to study at some legendary Belgian breweries. His talents now brings us Rage Quit, a double dry-hopped IPA brewed with oats for the hazy vibe that we Northeasterners love. This beer was brewed in a super small batch so rage with it while you can
Brothers-in law Adam Firestone and David Walker used to sit around debating what made great beer, and in 1996 decided to stop talking and start making their own great beer. This was their first Double IPA and has become a modern classic. 100 IBUs (it's bitter!) via six varieties of Pacific Northwest hops are tamed by enough malt character to give great balance
11oz$7.00
Tröegs Mad Elf - American Strong Ale, Tröegs Independent Brewing, Hershey, Pennsylvania, American Strong Ale, ABV 11.00%
Philly beer writer Don Russell (aka Joe Sixpack) rated Mad Elf #1 in his book "Christmas Beer, " the only treatise dedicated to this worthwhile subject. Indeed, Mad Elf is our region's most anticipated holiday beer. Brewed with Pennsylvania honey, sweet & sour cherries, a touch of chocolate malt and a Belgian yeast strain, this unique ruby red treat shows the adventurous side of a not-too-flashy but exceptional brewery
11oz$6.00
Great Lakes Christmas Ale - Winter Warmer, Great Lakes Brewing Co., Cleveland, Ohio, Winter Warmer, ABV 7.50%
Great Lakes Brewing Co. is one of the greatest things to come out of Cleveland. (Be nice. Or not.) If you don't think that their Christmas Ale is good 'n' tasty fun, then bah humbug to you! This warming copper-hued ale is brewed with honey and spiced with both ginger and cinnamon. The ginger is quite noticeable, but not too much so. This brew is so darn Christmasy, you may find yourself humming carols by the end of the glass
16oz$6.50
AleSmith Speedway Stout - American Imperial Stout, AleSmith Brewing Company, San Diego, California, American Imperial Stout, ABV 12.00%
San Diego is home to many stellar breweries, but only AleSmith was rated #1 top brewer in the world TWICE on ratebeer.com, both in 2006 and 2013. AleSmith, which started in 1995, is not the flavor of the month, but rather a creator of modern-day classics such as Speedway Stout. There are many creative variations on this beer, but today's "regular" Speedway is massive and intense, yet balanced and drinkable, and is enhanced with locally-roasted Ryan Bros. coffee. Not at all regular, but special
8oz$8.50
Tröegs Chocolate Stout (Nitro) - American Stout, Tröegs Brewing Company, Hershey, Pennsylvania, American Stout, ABV 7.10%
Tröegs isn't the region's flashiest brewery, but every beer that Chris and John Trogner have brewed since 1997 has been excellent. Impressively, Tröegs has quietly crept into the Top 50 Craft Brewers (by production) in the nation. Way to go, Trogner Bros! Our first Nitro beer from the brewery is this decadent, scarce American Stout brewed with six different malts. Dark chocolate, cacao nibs, lactose, oats and vanilla combine to produce a lush, velvety texture and a rich, chocolaty finish
Hoegaarden and Blue Moon are more popular, but Allagash is our favorite Witbier, the Belgian wheat ale brewed from 50% unmalted wheat and spiced with orange peel and coriander. Crazy refreshing treat from Maine's Belgian beer specialist
OEC Brewing is the insanely experimental brewery by B. United International, arguably the nation's most progressive beer importer. (And Tria's favorite.) Artamas is part of OEC's Artista Zynergia series, in which they blend one of their own beers with one of their imports, then referment the blend with wild yeasts! Artamas is an internationally blended Saison created in conjunction with Switzerland's extraordinary Brasserie BFM. It's funky and sour with a touch of oak smoke
11oz$12.00
Avec les Bons Voeux de la Brasserie Dupont - Farmhouse Ale, Brasserie Dupont, Tourpes-Leuze, Belgium, Farmhouse Ale, ABV 9.50%
Belgian-style Farmhouse Ales have exploded in popularity, but Brasserie Dupont remains the benchmark brewer of this wide-ranging style. Brewing at the Dupont site dates to the mid-19th century and the present brewery started in 1950. "With the best wishes of the brewery Dupont" is the translation of the name. Since 1970, Brasserie Dupont has brewed this complex, coppery-blond ale as a holiday gift for its best clients. As with all Dupont beers, the house yeast gives the gift of character
When originally brewed, the intention was to name this beer Good Yule in honor of the "Super Saisons" that come around this time of year. (Try this side by side with Brasserie Dupont's legendary Avec Les Bons Vœux for a real holiday treat.) A delay during the brewing process soured the Tired Hands elves' attitudes (but not the beer!) and they called it Whatever, Nevermind instead. It's brewed with Chinook hops and aged in oak foudres (casks) for a jolly Belgian farmhouse ale finish
11oz$7.00
Del Ducato / Oxbow Oud Brunello - Sour Ale, Birrificio del Ducato / Oxbow Brewing Company, Roncole Verdi di Busseto, Italy, Sour Ale, ABV 5.00%
Italian sour beer legend Del Ducato and Maine Farmhouse Ale superstar Oxbow team up to bring us this sour barrel-aged brown ale. A unique take on the Belgian Oud Bruin style, Oud Brunello starts partially in stainless steel and partially in used Chrysopolis barrels (a Wild Ale from Del Ducato) where it ferments with Del Ducato's sour bacteria and wild yeast. The beer is reunited for several months in just-emptied Brunello (!) wine barrels before a final blending process. A must-have sour. Wow
8oz$11.00
Hanssens Oudbeitje - Fruit Lambic, Hanssens Artisanaal, Dworp, Belgium, Fruit Lambic, ABV 6.00%
Hanssens Artisinaal is the oldest Lambic blender in existence. Blenders play an important role in the Lambic tradition by creating a consistent product after wild yeast fermentation has its way with the beer. Hanssens goes even further with Oudbeitje, adding Belgian strawberries to induce secondary fermentation in two-year-old Lambic. After an additional year of maturation in barrels, Oudbeitje comes to us tart and dry with a delicate strawberry flavor but only a hint of natural sweetness
8oz$14.00
Stickman The Things You Do for Love - Belgian Strong Golden Ale, Stickman Brews, Royersford, Pennsylvania, Belgian Strong Golden Ale, ABV 7.60%
Brewmaster Ethan Buckman makes rustic Belgian-influenced ales with cool names. The Things You Do for Love was inspired by an apparently emasculating trip with his GF to one of those pay-to-pick-apples-from-a-tree places. This Belgian Strong Golden Ale is enhanced by apples, honey and ginger. It starts with Belgian fruity esters and cidery undertones on the nose, then finishes with a dry mead-like flavor. Don't let this fruit-forward beer make you feel like any less of a man
11oz$7.00
St. Bernardus Christmas Ale - Belgian Quadrupel, Brouwerij St. Bernardus, Watou, Belgium, Belgian Quadrupel, ABV 10.00%
The brewery now called St. Bernardus, founded in 1946, has had a long and complex relationship with the Saint-Sixtus Abbey, producers of the legendary and elusive Westvleteren Trappist ales. Here's the deal: St. Bernardus is the closest that most of us will get to trying commercially-unavailable Westvleteren; they are roughly the same beers brewed by a secular brewery. Christmas Ale is a spicier-fruitier rendition of Abt. 12, one of the best Belgian Quads on the planet
11oz$10.00
De Dolle Oerbier - Belgian Strong Dark Ale, De Dolle Brouwers, Esen, Belgium, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, ABV 9.50%
De Dolle Brouwers ("The Mad Brewers") has been at it since 1980, brewing just 1,000 barrels a year as beer lovers clamor for more. Oerbier means "original beer" and this flagship is brewed with six malts, Belgian Poperinge Golding hops, a complexity-inducing yeast strain and lactobacillus for tartness. As Oerbier matures it tastes like it was blended with wine. The beer's tagline is "NAT en STRAF, " meaning WET and STRONG. Perhaps they are mad, but their pioneering beers are insanely good
8oz$9.00
B. Nektar Tuco-Style Freakout Mead, B. Nektar Meadery, Ferndale, Michigan, Mead, ABV 6.00%
Legendary B. Nektar Meadery liquids are finally flowing through Philly! Although B. Nektar produces cider and mead exclusively, it landed on ratebeer.com's 100 Best Breweries list. Tuco-Style Freakout is made with pure orange blossom honey and agave nectar. Mead can be sweet; it is fermented honey, after all! But Freakout is balanced by lime juice and zest and concludes with a bright, tart, semi-dry finish. This is the closest bev to a Margarita you'll find at Taproom and it'll have you buzzing
11oz$9.50
Italiano Fleurette "The Harmony" - Herbed/Spiced Beer, Birrificio Italiano, Lurago Marinone, Italy, Herbed/Spiced Beer, ABV 3.80%
From brewer extraordinaire Agostino Arioli: "Fleurette is an aria by Vivaldi. ... It is a triumph of minuscule sensations swirling as a kaleidoscopic bevy of petals; which will demand all of your attention if you focus on recognizing every nuance, or a complete light-heartedness if you'll instead choose to live the moment and lose yourself in the eye of the whirlwind." Spiced with whole roses and violets, citrus bee honey, elderberry and black pepper. We suggest recognizing every nuance
Beer and ice cream. This is what we at Tria Taproom call "dessert." Boulder Shake Chocolate Porter is made even better with the addition of Weckerly's vanilla or coffee ice creams
Baba's Bucha Rosy Apple Kombucha, Baba's Brew, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Kombucha, ABV 0.05%
Olga Sorzano brews small batches of kombucha in West Chester, but first heard the word from her Baba (great-grandmother) as a young child growing up in Siberia. Baba's homemade kombucha was part of life until she moved to the States in 2000. Today she recreates this cherished childhood memory in many delicious year-round and seasonal flavors. Rosy Apple is a winter seasonal brewed with local apples, fresh rosemary and a hint of hibiscus for an herbaceous and apple-y flavor