Best Beer Bars

Golden Crust Pizza is a cool little place for great pizza and beer located in the rural town of Red Lion, PA...just a little southeast of York.
One enters the venue into the take-out area; to the left is a restaurant, and straight back lies the taproom.
Naturally, we chose the latter.
The taproom seats about 10 patrons at the bar, and maybe another 18 or so at tables.
Golden Crust offers over 40 taps, most of which are rotating craft beers, about a dozen of which were new to this Questor.
Many of the drafts were locals.
The bottle list consists of about a dozen macros.
Not only does Golden Crust deliver pizza and other food, they also deliver beer!
See their website for details.
Aside from delicious food and beer, one of Golden Crust's best assets was Kaitlyn, our bartender.
She proved to be hospitable, professional, and knowledgeable.
Golden Crust also fills growlers, and offers a carry-out section of hundreds more craft beers to choose from.
You won't accidentally pass through Red Lion...you have to want to go there.
Now, I want to go there again.

Voodoo Brewing - Homestead
205 E 9th Ave
Homestead, PA 15120
(412) 368-8973

This outlet for Voodoo Brewing is in Homestead, PA, just upstream from Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River.
It is an outlet to the brewery located in Meadville, PA, where all the beer is brewed.
The building, in an older, run down area, had been a fire house. Thus, roll up doors make one wall of the fairly spacious room.
Voodoo has about 8 of their beers on tap, as well as in bottles.
No food is offered, but a food truck schedule is posted.
At 5:00 on a Sunday of a holiday weekend, this Questor was the only customer.
Maybe it was the neighborhood.

Fat Head's Saloon
1805 E Carson St Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(412) 431-7433

Fat Head's Saloon is a famous bar in the Southern Flats entertainment district near downtown Pittsburgh.
The saloon is three storefronts wide, with the weight-bearing walls separating the rooms.
The area to the far right is kitchen with a small patio out front.
The center section is dining area, and the front half of the left side is bar, with more dining in the rear.
Fat Head's offers 11 of their own beers, produced near their other location in Ohio, as well as 30 guest taps.
The pub grub seems kind of pricey, but the portions are huge. Burgers and sandwiches are about 8 inches across, heaped with fries or chips.
By 1:00 Saturday afternoon, there was a line at the door.

Liberty Street Ale House
1411 Liberty Street
Franklin, PA 16323
855-334-8115

Franklin is a small town in Northwest PA. As in any American small town, one can find a place or two to watch the game and have a cold beverage.
Alas, these beverages are usually B or M/C. That said, the Liberty Street Ale House, the lobby bar of the Quality Inn, is a true oasis. The white board has a bottle list of over 40 craft beers.
The manager showed me a prototype of the new beer menu soon to be introduced, with over 60 craft beers.
I did have one complaint - there was no listing for the 3 draft beers in the corner.
I did ask, although I expected B M/C.
I was surprised that the current beers were Arcadia Jaw Jacker Pumpkin, Thirsty Dog Octoberfest, and Hoppin Frog Rye IPA.
A true oasis !!

Bulls Head Public House
14 E Main St
Lititz , PA 17543
717 626-2115

The Bull's Head Public House is Lititz's premier drinking establishment.
The bar seats about 12, with a number of tables and booths. Beers and food are ordered right from the bar, U.K.-style.
The barmen were friendly and extremely professional.
Bull's Head has 16 taps, with two additional hand engines dispensing cask conditioned ales.
If a bottled beverage is more to your liking, Bull's Head offers about 85 kinds.
There are no TVs, so there is much conversation transpiring.
On a whimsical note, visitors to the men's room are greeted by a naked woman in a bubble bath tub.
Bulls Head was voted "Best Beer Bar in Pennsylvania" for both 2016 and 2017 by CraftBeer.com.
No trip to Lititz (voted "America's Coolest Small Town) would be complete without a visit to the Bull's Head.

Bully's
647 Union St
Columbia, PA 17512
(717) 684-2854

Bully's is a restaurant and beer bar located in Columbia, PA...a town just south of Route 30 on the banks of the Susquehanna River.
Bully's, named in honor of President Teddy Roosevelt (of "bully pulpit" fame), dates from 1903, when it was called the Uniln Hotel.
The long bar, also an original fixture from 1903, seats about a dozen, with 5 two-person tables right behind it.
There is also a dining area with approximately 20 tables.
The taps number 11, five of which rotate, and they offer everything from Lite to barley wine.
Duly noted was the fact that they had a number of different glasses for different styles.
Bully's prides themselves on their bottle selection, which runs to about 250.
The barkeep was very knowledgeable and seemed to enjoy relating the history of the building and the bar.
Bully's is a worthy stop when you're on the road between York and Lancaster.

Mike's Tavern
135 Exeter Street
Reading, PA 19601
(610) 374-3857

This is a dark and welcoming place.
Mike's Tavern is pure Reading PA.
with board games and a deer head.
Four well-selected taps - all good craft beer, one Stella.
Cheap good beer is readily available and a laid back atmosphere and clientele predominate.
Mike's is owned by Pete Cammarano, who used to own the Northeast Tap Room.
The way I heard it, Pete had a lot to do with introducing Reading to good craft beer.
Mike's also has a selection of about 80 bottles.
Don't go to Mike's for the food...they offer free pretzles and sell bags of chips.
As one patron said, "...this is about as close as you are going to get to Cheers in this area."
Mike's is a really nice old school bar...try it.

The Liberty Taproom
237 Prospect St
Reading, Pennsylvania 19606
610-743-3228

The Liberty Taproom is a spacious beer bar and restaurant located on the outskirts of Reading.
The stone building and wooden beams in the ceiling create a cozy atmosphere that invites you in from the cold.
Opening in July of 2011, the Liberty Tap room sports 32 taps, has a sizeable bar seating 30-plus, and a patio for those who wish to eat outdoors.
There is plenty of parking and enough tables to limit the wait time for a seat. If a great beer bar wasn't enough, they also have a bottle shop that sells hundreds of single bottles and bombers.
This place, which is owned by the proprietors of the Tavern on Liberty, should be around for a while.

Northeast Tap Room
1101 North 12th St
Reading PA, 19604
610-372-5284

Tucked away in a slightly seedy part of Reading, the Northeast Taproom is truly a diamond in the rough.
12 rotating taps and plenty of additional bottles to choose from make this a place that any beer lover should visit.
As one patron said, "once inside, you'll find an old dive filled with nothing but heart."
Any out-of-towners should be aware that this is definitely a Phillies bar and houses much Phillies paraphernalia throughout.
Sign reads, "Non-Phillies fans please use 13th street entrance" on the door.
There isn't one.

Ugly Oyster
21 South Fifth Street
Reading , PA 19602
(610) 373-6791

In the heart of downtown Reading , Ugly Oyster is a true English Pub.
Constructed in England, it was dismantled, transported to Reading and then reassembled. The bar has a Celtic atmosphere and knowledgeable bartenders to help you make your beer selection.
With about 10 beers on tap and 100+ bottles the Ugly Oyster is a great place to visit.

Bert & The Elephant
29 E King St.
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 517-7673

You can search the Belgian Beer Bars in Philadelphia and D.C., but you won't find one better than Bert & The Elephant.
B & E has 20 taps of Belgian beer, about 75% of which rotate.
If bottled beer is more to your liking, Bert's has about 45-50 on hand.
Bert is the proprietor of this establishment, and the curator of the Belgian beers.
He has been to Belgium on research trips, and is in close contact with Belgian breweries...this allows him to score some rare kegs that other Belgian bars are trying to get.
Glassware is a key aspect of serving Belgian beer.
Bert has glasses for all the Belgians that he carries, and more for the beers he would like to procure in the future.
Bert has been favored with rare Belgian beers, because he had the proper glassware!
For example, Bert recently got his hands on two kegs of a rare beer called Artevelde Blonde. Only five kegs were shipped to the United States...Bert got two of them because he had already invested in the glassware!
The bar seats about 14 patrons, and there are about 45 more seats inside, and 20 outside.
At the time of this writing, Bert was working on a side patio that would seat many more.
Some events would include Trivia Night, Music Bingo, and Brewers' Tastings.
Bert & The Elephant is a fun place, and THE place in Lancaster to get authentic and unusual Belgian beers.

And the food is great too!

Columbia Kettle Works 2nd Gear
112 N Water Street
Lancaster, PA 17603
717-553-5091

Set back in a nook off Water Street, you will find 2nd Gear taproom, on offshoot of Columbia Kettle Works in Columbia, PA.
2nd Gear is accompanied by two other venues...Zoetropolis, a bar, eatery, and movie theater, and Cocina Mexicana, a restaurant.

2nd Gear offers 16 well-chosen taps, mostly brewed by Columbia Kettle Works.
These included a lager, Kolsch, Dunkelweizen, Maibock, IPA's and others.

The crowd was of all ages, from youthful hipsters, to the not-so-youthful like me.
The bar is animal-friendly.

The long bar seats about 15 patrons, and there are six 4-person tables as well as a shelf with seats in the front window.

The 16-beer tap list was diverse, and included lagers, a Kolsch, dunkelweizen, Maibock, IPA's, and others.

Beer can be taken home in crowlers.

Trivia night was in the works during my visit.
2nd Gear, and its accompanying venues, look like a fun place to hang out.

Isaac's Downtown
Craft Kitchen & Brewery
25 N Queen St
Lancaster, PA 17603

Siturated in Queen Street, in Lancaster's vibrant yet managable downtown, is
Isaac's Downtown Craft Kitchen & Brewery .
You may know it by its old moniker, The Pickle Bar, or Isaac's Downtown Bar & Grill.
Upon entering one can view the workings of the bright, clean kitchen and deli on the right. Most of the seating, consisting of many tables and booths, is on the left, and the bar is in the back of the restaurant.
Isaac's decor is sort of downtown-tropical, and appeared to us a well-lighted oasis on a dark and cold November's eve.
Isaac's wouldn't appear to be a craft beer venue, but the small bar has 8 well-chosen drafts of microbrew.
All of the taps rotate.
There is also a bottle/can menu that numbers about 20.
I had a Bell's Christmas Ale to accompany my sandwich, known as a Rainbow Parrot.
Sandwiches are what Isaac's is famous for, and I was not disappointed, as this one had some of the best corned beef I have ever tasted.
Shannon, the bar manager and our bartender was super, answering all of our questions about Isaac's and Lancaster in general.
Isaac's Downtown Bar & Grille will be a new stop for us on our journeys to Lancaster.

Taproom
25 W King Street
Lancaster, PA 17603
phone: (717) 399-4009

Taproom sits in downtown Lancaster and is a dispensary for the Spring House Brewery close by on Hazel Street.
It is totally beer-dedicated, featuring no other liquors. They do offer a nice food menu, though.
It was a mixed crowd on the evening of our visit, running from business suits to grunge. The taps included seven Spring House beers with 2 wits, a porter and stout, and several high and lower octane IPA's. My Hoppy Wit was unique and very good...at $4.00 for an imperial pint it was a deal! Growlers were also being filled, but to my chagrin I had left mine in the truck.
The bar seats 16 patrons, and the 7 tables seat about 30 more. Approximately 8 drinkers can sit at the long table facing King Street. The large windows provide a panorama of historic Lancaster.
There are several non-intrusive TV's, shuffleboard, and for those who wish to see into the future, Zoltar.
My fortune indicated that I would be drinking more Spring House beers.

The Fridge
534 N. Mulberry St.,
Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone: 717-490-6825

The Fridge is a beer bar, bottle shop, and fresh pizza emporium located near the Franklin & Marshall campus in Lancaster.
The Fridge is one of those hybrid bottle shops in which Lancaster seems to be rich; a place to choose from quality draft beers, get some food, drink with folk from the 'hood, and take some beer home.
There is seating for about 40 patrons inside, and also outdoor seating at the sidewalk counter.
Draft beer is sold by the pint, in its correct glassware, and also may be purchased by the growler.
Of course the customer may also choose from the more than 400 bottled and canned craft beers, either taking his or her purchase home, or consuming it right there in the friendly neighborhood atmosphere.
Kevin, the proprietor, was helpful and informative in talking about The Fridge, beer, and Lancaster's burgeoning brew scene.
He informed us that The Fridge is the only spot in Lancaster County with a dedicated tap line for Tired Hands...the award-winning brewery in Ardmore, PA.
Regardless of how many beer venues you are able to visit while you are enjoying Lancaster, stop at The Fridge to take some of the quaffable goodness home with you.

Hunger & Thirst
Craft Beer and Provisions
920 Landis Ave
Lancaster , PA 17603
phone: (717) 208-3808

Hunger & Thirst is a delightful combination of beer bar, gastropub, bottle shop and marketplace located on the northeast side of Lancaster not far from F & M University.
The bar in the pub seats about 20 patrons.
In addition, there are about 15 tables in the bright and tastefully decorated dining area.
The gastropub has a draft beer menu numbering 24...all carefully selected.
There are also about 30 bottled beers in the cooler.
In addition to this, any of the more than 200 beers from the bottle shop may be served to a thirsty customer at the bar.
After the Questor has been served his beer at the bar, he may browse through the bottle shop to see what may be taken out for consumption elsewhere.
At the time of our visit, the gastropub was offering food and beer specials on certain nights of the week, such as Gourmet Taco Night, Oyster Night, and Burger & Brew Night.
And in the marketplace one may find an assortment of provisions and gifts for the home. Hunger & Thirst would be a welcome addition to any neighborhood; I wish there was one in mine.

As of January, 2024, Hunger & Thirst was temporarily closed, scheduled to reopen May, 2024. Be advised.

551 West
551 W King St
Lancaster , PA 17603
phone: (717) 208-3658

551 West is a great neighboorhood bar dedicated to providing fine craft beers to the populace of Lancaster and any other Questors who happen to be in the region.
The U-shaped bar seats about 20 patrons.
There are a few tables in the barroom, and there is ample seating in the dining area.
Craig, the proprietor, offers 24 taps, well-chosen, with a few macros thrown in.
551 West also provides a bottle list averaging around 50.
Craig was very helpful in explaining the philosophy of 551 West, as well as informing us about other beer venues in Lancaster.
551 offers many interesting themes, such as a "Walk Across America" menu and "Flights & Bites", which pairs craft beers with dipping sauces for chicken tenders.
551 West is an apt resting spot for any beer Questor surveying Lancaster's rich brew tapestry.

Quip's Pub
457 New Holland Ave.
Lancaster, PA 17602
phone: (717) 397-3903

Quip's is a pub on New Holland Avenue, very near Lancaster Brewing Company, Friendly Greek bottle shop, and Cork and Cap Hotel, Restaurant & Bar.
Quip's is a British-style pub where the prices are in £ , sandwiches are sarnies, and darts are flying on three boards.
The bar is the focal point and seats about 30, with tables around the perimeter of the room.
The taps number 16, mostly leaning toward macros and beers of the British Isles. But Quip's beer-strength lies in their bottle list. They offer about 50 different bottles, some very unusual, and once again, leaning toward the British.
Quip's is not just a great beer bar, it's a darn good bar in which to have a few beers.

Victor's 554 S Ogontz St York, PA 17403 Phone: (717) 854-7958 Victor's is located in a former church on a residential street in York, PA. The building itself dates from 1923, and in previous incarnations has served as a general store, a soda shop, and a tavern. It became Victor's Italian Restaurant in 1984, and now serves up modern Mediterranean cuisine. On the right of the entrance is an elegant dining room. We went to the left...into the bar. Victor's bar was quiet on a Tuesday afternoon, cozily illuminated with natural light. The L-shaped bar seats about 20, and 8 small tables seat many more. Victor's offers 8 taps and 1 hand engine. The selections cover most of the styles; it was a creative list, quite diverse, including beers from all over the U.S., some unusual. There was nothing run-of-the-mill. If a Questor is not in the mood for one of the drafts, he can ask for the Beer Bible...a pamphlet listing the current bottle selection, numbering about 100 organized by style. Our bartender was quite friendly and helpful during our stay. Great food and excellent beer are more than enough to make Victor's a stop on York's beer-friendly map.

Stone Grille & Taphouse
204 Saint Charles Way
York , PA 17402-4645
(717) 741-1159

Stone Grille and Taphouse sits just off the S. Queen St. exit of Route 83.
The long, circuitious bar seats maybe 30 patrons, with numerous tables and booths rounding out the seating.
A covered, heated deck also adjoins the barroom.
All this adds up to what the proprietors refer to as "polished casual."
The many TV's mounted around the room could give one the impression of a sports bar, but the beer list indicates otherwise.
Stone Grille offers 30 drafts, the vast majority of which are craft beers, and most rotate.
The brews seem to be well chosen and well cared for.
The bottle list numbers about 16, and is mostly for the macro drinkers, although there were a few specialty bombers listed.
Stone Grille's menu is of the now popular farm-to-table variety. All I can speak for is the pastrami reuben that I had...it was awesome.
They also have a bottle shop, Brew-Ta-Go, stocking a large selection of microbrews.
Stone Grille & Taphouse is a rewarding stop for any Questor in the York area.

The Cove
1500 S. George St.
York, PA
717-793-3771

If you're tired of parallel parking in downtown York, try heading about 2 miles south to The Cove.
The Cove is bigger inside than its roadhouse exterior would let on.
The large bar seats about 24, and 12 or so tables could handle another 50 patrons. There is another whole separate Whiskey Bar featuring pool, Foosball, live music, and smoking.
Customers can drink and dine outside in nice weather on a deck which seats 80.
And the beer? The Cove has 24 well-selected taps, about 50 bottles, and fills growlers. Patrons who are real thirsty can order an 80-oz beer tower, or groups can corner one of the two beer tables and pour their own drafts.
The Cove always has one craft beer that is a $3 special, and runs a Happy Hour from 9-11 PM.
For food or beer or both, for large groups or parties of one, you can't go wrong at The Cove.

Holy Hound Taproom
57 W Market St
York , PA 17401
(717) 855-2410

Holy Hound Taproom is located in the restored National House building in downtown York.
Holy Hound is long, not too narrow, and features a lot of wood. The lengthy, staple-shaped bar seats about 25, and 5 tables could seat a couple dozen more. There are also window-leaners for when things get crowded.
There is outdoor seating in warmer weather.
Let's get to the beer...that's why you're here.
Holy Hound has 30 very carefully chosen taps. They are well-cared for, and rotate quickly. Two things caught my trained eye right away; the beautifully kept chalkboard which is the focal point behind the bar, and the fact that both ABV and $price are listed for each brew.
Samples were cheerfully offered.
If you can't find a draft selection to suit you, Holy Hound has a bottle list of about 70, which they plan to expand.
Growlers are also filled.
Holy Hound also offers wine, and a limited but apparently tasty food menu. The fare is all locally prepared.
Holy Hound is an absolute must-stop for Questors while in York. It is an establishment by beer lovers for beer lovers.
I wish it were in my neighborhood.

The Tavern on Liberty
2246 W Liberty St
Allentown, PA 18104-4358
(484) 221-8765

This great corner bar, which alternately seems to be called the Liberty Street Tavern, does not appear to be much from the outside, but one step inside the doors will change your opinion immediately. With 17 taps and over 400 bottles (large and small) you are sure to find something you'll enjoy. With a very knowledgeable owner and bartenders even the beer novice will find a brew for them. They offer a mug club for locals and mix and match 6 packs to go. A definite must when in the Allentown area.

Ron's Original Bar & Grille
74 E Uwchlan Ave (Route 113)
Route 113 just north of Route 100
Exton, PA 19341
610-594-9900

Ron's is located just south of the Turnpike in that beer-friendly region west of Philadelphia.
The bar seats about 20, with several tables, and was bustling on an afternoon in mid-winter.
The 5 draft towers featured 20 well-chosen taps and maybe 150 bottles.
Flights could be ordered.
Our bartender was helpful, albeit very busy, and gladly provided samples.
Ron's, which used to be called Ron's Schoolhouse Grille, also included several dining rooms separate from the bar. A trip to this beery area is a must for any Questor within range, and a visit to Ron's will be rewarded.

Union Jack's Inn on the Manatawny
546 Manatawny Rd
Oley, PA 19512
610-689-0189

Nestled in a quaint Pennsylvania valley a little ways east of Reading,, this hidden treasure boasts about 15 rotating beers on tap and at least 200 bottles to choose from.
Enjoy a summer evening on the 3-level patio or a night in the English- style bar.
During summer months at Union Jack's, an additional patio bar is open that offers 6 beers on tap that are different from the inside bar.
Great beer selection and atmosphere...only downside is they do not accept credit cards.

Capone's
224 W Germantown Pike
Norristown, PA 19401
(610) 279-4748

Located in an extremely beer-friendly region, Capone's is a beer Mecca by any standard. The tavern's long bar offers about 28 taps..a really nice selection.. Clients who are unsure may order a sampler, and if you are enamored of one particular brew, you can fill your growler. The restaurant scores five stars, but that's not the best part for a Questor...adjoining the restaurant is a small beer store stocking over 650 hard-to-find brews; you can carry them out or order them from the bar. Proprietor Matt Capone was accomodating and glad to offer samples from the taps for those unsure of what to order. Any trip to the West Philly suburbs should include a stop at Capone's.

The Flying Pig Saloon
121 E. King Street
Malvern, PA 19149
(610) 578-9208

The Flying Pig lies in quaint little Malvern, a few minutes south of Lancaster Pike.
Flying Pig has small town atmosphere with a big beer selection.; 23 taps are offered, along with about 250 bottles. This array is augmented with about 15 different bottle-conditioned brews. The bar is horseshoe-shaped and copper-topped and contains about 15 stools. The place also provides about 15-20 tables.
Staff were amiable, helpful, and generous, and the place was hopping on a Saturday night. The Flying Pig is a can't-miss attraction in this beer-friendly region.

T. J.'s Restaurant & Drinkery
35 Paoli Plaza,
Paoli, PA 19301

...or T. J.'s Everyday as it seems to be affectionately called is a friendly, neighborhood beer bar in a region that knows how to frequent such establishments. Located in a strip center just off of Lancaster Avenue, T. J.'s offers 25 taps of well-selected rotating beers and about 200 bottles. The drafts are clearly presented on a chalk board along with the prices. The staff was friendly and knew their products, and were quick to provide samples. The bar patrons were welcoming to strangers, and were eager to tell of other beer bars in the region. There were many bottles, large and small, that were offered for sale to go. T. J.'s seems to always have something going on, as a trip to their website will illustrate.

Federal Tap House
(Harrisburg)
234 N 2nd St
Harrisburg, PA 17101
phone: (717) 525-8077

Federal Tap House is a beer bar in Harrisburg's bar district on Second Street.
It is the sister bar of the Federal Tap House in Lancaster.
The long bar seats about 25 patrons and there is a large dining area of tables and high-seats.
The place was jumping and the bar staff seemed harried on a Thursday evening at about 7:30.
The numerous TVs and loud thumping music didn't help matters any.
But that's just me...most seemed to be having a great time.
But we were not here for ambience, we were here for the beer.
Federal Tap House offers 100 taps...all craft brews.
The drafts were listed on a large chalk board along with the ABV.
Individual lists were also presented to us.
There was a list of about 15 large bottles of the corked and caged variety.
Both my beer and my bison burger were delicious; I would have just preferred it a little quieter.

The Sturges Speakeasy
400 Forster Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
717-412-0931

The Sturges Speakeasy is located a few blocks off Harrisburg's well-traveled 2nd Street strip.
The place had just opened previous to our visit, but was jumping with a bar and dinner crowd on a Thursday night.
Proprietor Adam Sturges, previously of McGrath's, was eager to explain his commitment to quality in his renovation of the previous bar, his choice of food, and of course...the beer.
The taps number 16, and of course are well-chosen and cared for. The Speakeasy also offers about 50 bottles to choose from.
The granite-topped bar seats about 20, and 2-person window seats handle another dozen or so. There are a few more tables in the bar area, and a secluded alcove in the back could seat about 20 additional patrons.
The entire ambience was one of coziness and conviviality.
Adam also hosts firkin events and thus attracts even more enthusiasts of fine beer.
The Sturges Speakeasy was not on our original itinerary for this trip to the Capital City. We were tipped of to it's existance by a patron in another bar.
It was good information.

T. Brendan O'Reilly
800 E Park Drive
Harrisburg , PA 17111
phone: (717) 564-2700

O'Reilly's is the restaurant/bar inside the Best Western Premier Central Hotel and Conference Center located about 12 minutes east of downtown Harrisburg, PA.
It is a well-hidden gem whose management should probably spend a little more on advertising.
T. Brendan O'Reilly offered 24 taps and one hand engine. The vast majority of these were micros indiginous to the local region.
There was also a large bottle menu.
The place is spacious and the generous octagonal bar must seat about 30 patrons. There are also numerous booths and tables on several different levels.
O'Reilly's has the traditional Irish bar decor, including lots of wood, old photos, bookcases, and a sign telling us there are only 233 days 'till St. Patrick's Day.
There are some large TVs that can be attended to if necessary, but do not detract from the conversation or general ambience.
I had the feeling that such a well-selected tap rotation was somewhat wasted on a crowd consisting mostly of hotel guests. Our bartender tended to agree.
For now, T. Brendan O'Reilly's remains one of Harrisburg's well-kept secrets; one that you may thank me for letting you in on.

Shady McGrady's
204 Verbeke Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 234-4070

Shady McGrady's is located just off 2nd Street in the Capital City of Harrisburg, PA.
Shady's has a U-shaped bar that seats about 20, and 10 tables provide the rest of the seating. There were also TV's, pinball, a pool table, and several other electronic games.

McGrady's is the real thing; don't look for frills. No ferns, no exposed brick, no nod toward the popular upgrades that represent gentrification. Just an old neighborhood bar that just happens to serve great beers, and plenty of them.
The taps number 48, all micros... coolers display possibly 100 others in cans, bottles, and bombers for on- or off-premise consumption.

As stated, this is a neighborhood bar.
At 6:45 (alas, we had just missed Happy Hour) the predominantly male crowd was eschewing the several TV's and pretty much just drinking, smoking, and talking. They soon warmed to a couple of outlanders who were also there for the beer.

If you're hitting the bars of 2nd Street, a Questor would be well-advised to travel the several blocks northwest necessary to visit this genuine Harrisburg watering hole, and partake of their outstanding selection of draft beer.

McGrath's Pub
202 Locust St.
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-232-9914

Located near Restaurant Row, McGrath's is much more than an Irish Bar...it is no doubt Harrisburg's best beer bar and a must stop for any Questor in the Keystone State's Capital City. It boasts 20 carefully selected, well-chosen taps. Many rotate, and included hard-to-find Stone IPA and an ale from Middle Ages. They also offer a selection of 80 bottles to a friendly, eclectic crowd. Beer Manager Adam was happy to talk about the trade, and cheerfully proffered samples.

Brewhouse Grille
2050 State Rd.
Camp Hill, PA 17011
717-737-0030

If you set out to find this place, be prepared to stop for directions...especially if you use MapQuest. It helps if you know it used to be called "The Iron Kettle."
The Brewhouse Grille is worth the search; it's a beer bar done right. They have 25 taps - a diverse selection that should please everyone. Then there's the 180 or so bottles rounding out an impressive inventory. The barkeep and the customers were extremely friendly, and ready to talk beer as well as consume it. Brewhouse is about 5 minutes off I-83 and a short drive across the lovely Susquehanna from Harrisburg.

Zeno's Pub
100 W. College Avenue
State College, PA
814-237-4350

Zeno's bills themselves as "State College's Best Pub" and this is no idle boast. With 29 taps, and nigh on to 200 bottles, Zeno's offers a beer selection that is well-planned and well-managed. Drafts include Germans, Belgians, Canadians, micros, and 1 hand engine. The bartender knew his beer. In a college town it must be a temptation to pump out the Miller Lites and Silver Bullets, but Zeno's crowd knows where to go for good beer and a comfortable atmosphere. Regulars can gain fame in the Beer Club, and if you don't feel like sitting, there's darts and pool. Yes, I'm thinking of going back to college. There's so much to learn.

Cooper's Seafood House
701 North Washington Ave
Scranton, PA 18509

(570) 346-6883

Cooper's is an upscale seafood restaurant in Scranton with excellent taste in beer. Cooper's offers 36 taps and maybe 175 bottles...our sources say even more. Any of the bottles shown above can be consumed on or off premises. They offer a Passport beer Club, tastings, and other special events. Their website also features a very useful beer guide. So if you're ever in Scranton, or on your way to Syracuse...