Being that it is the county seat, you could say that Bellefonte is the heart of Centre County. But it wasn’t that long ago when that heart seemed to be beating a little low. When I lived in the town 15 or so years ago (has it been that long?), there was not a lot going on, especially for someone who loves a good craft beverage.
Back then, you could walk the streets of the Victorian town and feel the history, but there was not a lot of new life to be found. But, in the town that was home to so many governors and named after an excellent water source (the Big Spring), there was potential, especially for craft beverage makers. After all, one of the main ingredients of most craft beverages is water, and Bellefonte’s water is top notch.
Over the course of the last decade and a half, that potential has been realized by an array of brewers and distillers who have helped to revitalize the town and make it a destination for those of us who like a craft beverage or two.
You could say that Robin Hood Brewing Co. kicked things off back in 2013. That was when the team at what was once Home D Pizza out at 1796 Zion Road decided to turn what was a little-used game room into a brewery.
Since then they have been brewing up some of the most interesting beers in Centre County. I was even lucky enough to have the chance to spend a day in the brew house, churning the wort and learning about the brewing process with Robin Hood’s first head brewer, Chris Schell, back in 2019.
Robin Hood has remained a vital part of Bellefonte’s craft beverage scene ever since, and their home location is a great place to catch a game or catch up with some friends and family while enjoying good food and great beer.
Their growth has taken a new step as they partnered with Brother’s New York Style Pizzeria to open the Courthouse Pub at the corner of North Allegheny and East High streets. The name fits, because the pub sits directly across the street from the historic Centre County Courthouse in downtown Bellefonte.
The site was formerly the home of Confer’s Jewelers and is connected to the Brother’s New York Style Pizzeria restaurant that has been a Bellefonte mainstay since the ’90s. So now diners can choose from one of four Robin Hood beers to pair with their pizza or other yummy Italian dishes from Brothers. Not looking for beer? Pennsylvania-made spirits and wines are also available.
The open pub has a great view of the courthouse and the streets of Bellefonte out the large windows. There are plenty of tables to dine with friends and people watch, and a bar in the back for those looking to strike up a conversation.
The Robin Hood and Brother’s partnership brings a new, but familiar, craft beer experience to the heart of Bellefonte. It is similar to the situation at Hofbrau Pizza down the street, which is a taproom for State College’s Otto’s Pub and Brewery.
These types of craft beer taprooms and pub partnerships are a cool way for our local producers to expand while providing an opportunity for other establishments to add another layer of service for their customers, all while keeping things local.
You can see another example of this kind of partnership in action with another Bellefonte craft beverage producer, Big Spring Spirits. The distiller recently partnered with the Scholar Hotel in State College to bring Bellefonte produced spirits to downtown State College.
Fifteen years ago, I would never have imagined that happening. But here we are, halfway through the 2020s, and Bellefonte is a craft beverage destination, with some of its best-known producers branching out to other places. I am sure there will be more to come.
Now when I visit old Victorian Bellefonte, I have a plethora of destinations to choose from if I am looking to wet my whistle. I sometimes think that perhaps I moved away too soon. After all, the area is now home to two cideries, three breweries, and a distillery, along with the two aforementioned taprooms.
Besides that, Bellefonte has plenty of restaurants and pubs where you can find a craft-made cocktail or local beverage on tap. To top it off, every June, Talleyrand Park hosts the Central PA Tasting Trail Craft Beverage Expo, bringing makers from around the region to the heart of Centre County for a fun event that is not to be missed.
Yes, Bellefonte has changed. When you walk down the street you can still feel the history, but now there are a lot more flavors to try. The Courthouse Pub certainly pumps up the beating pulse of the heart of Centre County. T&G
Vincent Corso enjoys drinking local and meeting new people at central Pennsylvania’s many interesting establishments.
