The Beer Lover's Guide to Lancaster

To help you make plans for your trip to Lancaster, we've asked Karen Lewis from the University of Maryland, College Park for her take on the local fare.

As the self-appointed craft beer aficionado of Region 2, I was happy to be asked to write a blog about Lancaster from the beer lover’s point of view. As luck would have it, there are three brewing companies within a mile and a half of the conference hotel, the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square.

Taproom by Spring House Brewery
25 West King Street
Lancaster, PA 17603
717-399-4009
Hours: Mon 4-midnight, Tue-Sat 11-midnight, Sun noon-11
Google Maps states this is 400 feet from the conference hotel, and a 2 minute walk.

The Spring House Taproom is a very large room with both bar and table seating. It is informal, and everything must be ordered from the bar. Therefore, if you need to grab a quick meal or ask for separate checks for the table, this is not a place I would recommend. However, if you are looking for a relaxed atmosphere to unwind at the end of the day, you will enjoy the vibe of this taproom.

Food: The menu consists of standard pub grub, salads, sandwiches, and pizza, with a few vegetarian options.

Beer: If you can appreciate creativity both in names and beer flavors, do not miss Spring House when you are in Lancaster. Current brews include a chocolate peanut butter stout named Big Gruesome, a mango IPA called The Astounding She Monster, and Atomic Raygun imperial red ale.

Lancaster Brewing Company
302 North Plum Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
717-391-6258
Bar Hours: Sun-Thu 11:30-midnight and Fri-Sat 11:30- 2 a.m.
Restaurant Hours: Daily from 11:30- 10:00
Brewery Tours available Monday-Friday on request from 1-2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 3-4 p.m.
Free Wi-Fi in restaurant.
Google Maps states this is a .8 mile, 3 minute drive or 17 minute walk.

Lancaster Brewing Company is spacious and has a warm and welcoming feel. It is an excellent location to have lunch or dinner.

Food: Their menu includes small plates, large plates, salads, sandwiches, and pizza, with several vegetarian options.

Beer: Personal Bias: Lancaster Brewing Company is one of my top 5 favorite breweries. I don’t think you can go wrong with anything you try here. Their Strawberry Wheat, Milk Stout, and Hop Hog IPA are all excellent representations of the styles, and their seasonal selections are always on point. That said, I’d recommend getting a sampler, where you will be given small pours of everything on tap. However, plan to share, because they have at least 10 different beers on tap at any given time!


Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant - Lancaster
781 Harrisburg Pike
Lancaster, PA 17603
717-291-9800
Restaurant Hours: Sun-Mon 11-11; Tu-Th 11-midnight; Fri-Sat 11 a.m.- 1 a.m.
Kitchen Hours: Sun-Wed 11-10, Th-Sat 11-12
Google Maps states this is a 1.3 mile, 5 minute drive or a 27 minute walk.

While I have not been to this particular Iron Hill, I have been to others. Here you will find a large restaurant that should be able to handle larger groups easily. In fact, their website states that reservations and call-aheads are accepted for both lunch and dinner.

Food: This restaurant by far has the widest menu if you are someone with special dietary needs. They offer soups, small plates, appetizers, salads, tacos, shared plates, large plates, pizzas, sandwiches, burgers, and a small assortment of items under 600 calories.

Beer: Personal Bias: Iron Hill beer has never wowed me, but that doesn’t mean it won’t wow you. In terms of strength, the beers at Iron Hill are similar to those at Gordon Biersch. They all have an alcohol by volume of 5.4% or less, so if you normally drink beers made by Budweiser, Blue Moon, Magic Hat, Miller, or Sam Adams, Iron Hill will be just right for your palate.

Finally, the state of Pennsylvania is home to many amazing craft breweries, not all of whom distribute their beer in the other states in our region. Should you find yourself near a liquor store, I would highly recommend purchasing beer from any of the following outstanding PA breweries: Appalachian Brewing Company (ABC), Fegley’s Brew Works, Saucony Creek, Stoudt’s, Troegs, Victory, and Yards.
Thanks Karen! We'll see you in Lancaster!