Spirits of Happy Valley

As a certified sommelier (wine steward) with a master’s degree in wine tourism and sustainability, Jessi Blanarik knows what she is talking about when it comes to vino, that is for sure. What drew me into her weekly column in The Centre County Gazette called “Sips With A Sommelier” was the way she makes her…

A little more than ten years ago, Big Spring Spirits opened its distillery and tasting room in Bellefonte, bringing craft cocktails and house-made spirits to a town that was about to experience what many have called a renaissance. Nestled into the historic Match Factory building, Big Spring Spirits’ cozy tasting room balances the history of…

The first time I heard about Jackass Brewing Company, a few things came to my mind. First and foremost, I thought to myself (with a chuckle) that whoever decided to name that place is probably a lot of fun. My second thought was, I bet that fun transfers over to the food, beer, and atmosphere…

I think everyone in Pennsylvania has probably seen the following situation unfold while in line at the six-pack shop or grocery store. Someone from out of state grabs a couple of twelve-packs (twenty-four beers times twelve ounces each equals 288 ounces), only to be told by the cashier that they have to put one back…

Don’t worry, you don’t need to know a codeword to enter the new speakeasy area at Old Pop’s Corny Village Emporium. Nope, if you are interested in sampling some moonshine from Triple Nickel Distillery, all you have to do is drive on up to Philipsburg and make your way to the new store on Troy…

I remember being at a music festival in western Minnesota back in the mid-aughts (showing my age here) while wearing one of my favorite shirts from Otto’s Pub and Brewery, our only local brewery at the time. While waiting in line to get a beverage (naturally), another beer lover noticed the back of my t-shirt,…

Located on the main intersection of downtown State College, Chumley’s Cocktail Bar wears its pride well, with a rainbow flag on its signage and many wonderful tributes to the bar’s past and the gay rights movement that were incorporated during its renovation back in 2021. This year, Chumley’s is celebrating forty years of being a…

It is amazing how a good local brewery can reinvigorate a sleepy town. After all, a brew pub can be a place for locals to gather and get together for a fun time. It can be a home away from home for good friends, and a place to go on special occasions for families.  And…

Guests at Beaver Stadium on May 11 can be the toast of the town when they experience the first Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest, an event designed for people to taste and then tout craft beers from around Pennsylvania and beyond. The stadium’s 107,000 seats in the fall are filled with football fans cheering; patrons at…

Years ago, I remember my old beer drinking buddy Ryan telling me that I needed to check out Marzoni’s Brick Oven and Brewing Co. in Duncansville. He raved about the food, the atmosphere, and, most importantly, the beer.  It took a few years of him telling me, but eventually I made it out to the…