On tap at Midland Brew House, dry corn-husked oats graining guides mildly spiced citric-herbal Saaz hop pep of adequate Helles Lager. Crisp, clean and just a tad bolder than similarly styled Bavarian fare.
All posts by John Fortunato
LIBERTY CRAFT HOUSE
STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA
A humble neighborhood joint “inspired by passion for knowledge, skill and small-batch artisan goods,” LIBERTY CRAFT HOUSE is the crown jewel of Penn State’s campus. Tucked into College Avenue across from the main campus in a red brick building, its small front deck with community tables and chairs welcomes patrons to the bustling pub.
Liberty’s 20-seat bar contains over forty draughts, three cask handles and countless bottled-canned craft beers (some of which are one-of-a-kind hard-to-finds) as well as terrific handmade cocktails. Multiple TV’s attract sports fans to the beer-centric bar.
Dining tables crowd the front and left side while the rear open kitchen serves upscale fare. On my June ’17 sojourn with wife and youngest son, the busy Chefs Salad, juicy Crab Cake Sandwich and goat-cheesed Fig and Bruschetta Pizza kept us happy. These dishes went well with a few previously untried beverages (two proprietary cocktails, one hefe, one witbier, one tripel, one strong ale, one coffee ale and a neutral nitro coffee drink).
In a frozen copper goblet, Liberty’s Kentucky Mule bettered a whiskey sour with its lime-juiced ginger spicing, peppery heat and sweet bourbon over tiny ice cubes. Even better, their Moscow Mule brought clean vodka watering to lime-juiced ginger spicing, mild peppery heat, sweet lemonade sugaring and evergreen freshness.
Though Liberty’s collaborative Rothrock Nitro Coffee seemed flat and watery, its light-roast coffee beaning will please softer thirsts.
Reviewed in the Beer Index are Sly Fox Doppelbock Hefeweizen, Bell’s Poolside Ale (a witbier with tart Montmorency cherries), Yards Brewbik’s Cube Tripel, Southern Tier Pittsburgh Left Blonde Coffee and Weyerbacher 22 Anniversary Ale (with vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange peel).
Part of the Dante’s Restaurant chain, Liberty Craft House is a natural destination location while perusing PSU.
BARRIER/ AMBULANCE BREW HOUSE LISTEN FOR THE SOUND SIREN 3.0 DOUBLE IPA
On tap at Ambulance, fantastic 3rd Anniversary celebrator sounds off with zesty lemony grapefruit resonance and mildly spiced orange-peach-mango briskness above creamy cotton-candied sugared malts. Dry floral-citric Mosaic hop bittering soothingly contrasts raspy fruit-juiced luster.
THREES THE DIVIDED LINE SMALL IPA
On tap at Ambulance, sessionable India Pale Ale proves ‘buoyant’ as tart lemon-dropped grapefruit pith souring gains sweet orange-peeled tangerine tang and minty snip by dry citric finish.
CRUX CAST OUT INDIA PALE ALE
On tap at Ambulance, aggressive Galaxy hops provide intense lemony grapefruit bitterness, dank piney remnant and mild passionfruit-lychee-papaya-pineapple tropicalia. Musky herbal nuances and wispy floral accents increase subtle complexities.
KENT FALLS GETAWAY TROPICAL BRETT IPA
On tap at Ambulance, mildly acidic brettanomyces yeast brings dry lemon-limed tartness and briny limestone salting to moderate piney hop bitterness of easygoing sour IPA. Wispy tropical-fruited peach, passionfruit, pineapple, papaya and guava illusions lurk below slightly sour citric tangent.
CONCLAVE BIGGER SPACE DOUBLE IPA
On tap at Poor Henry’s, easy drinkin’ citrus-honeyed moderate-to-medium body picks up light floral-pined hop oiling. Relaxing grapefruit, orange and pineapple tang lingers softly.
LAGUNITAS BORN AGAIN YESTERDAY PALE ALE
On tap at Ambulance, amped-up pale ale fortifies lemony yellow grapefruit and orange peel bittering with dank hop resin and floral-tinged tropical fruiting. In the recess, tangerine, pineapple, papaya, mango and guava tang contrasts mildly acidic hop-oiled astringency.
COMMON ROOTS HALF CUP PETITE COFFEE
On tap at Ambulance, ‘delicate’ version of brewers’ Coffee Cup dispenses dry cold-brewed coffee roast upon black chocolate malts and mild wood-charred hop bittering. A splendidly easygoing coffee ale.
NIGHT SHIFT BENNINGTON OATMEAL STOUT
On tap at Ambulance, maple syrup-aged full body boasts bittersweet cocoa powdered resilience, oats-dried black chocolate malting and Graham Cracker honeying. Tarry dark-roasted hop bittering and wood-burnt chicory coffee tease contrast sweet chocolate-caked vanilla dalliance below the surface, spiking its molasses-rich mocha propensity.
LIC BEER PROJECT HELL WITHIN IMPERIAL STOUT
On tap at Ambulance, busy full body soaks Madagascar vanilla beans, birch coffee and Vietnam cinnamon in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels. Sticky oats-sugared maple molasses syruping and sweet brown chocolate-y cocoa malting increase cinnamon-spiced vanilla and coffee adjuncts, gaining mild burgundy, bruised cherry and black grape illusions over time. Bourbon influence fades at finish.
AUSTIN STREET SUCCINCT SCHWARZBIER
On tap at Ambulance, vague dark-roasted mocha malting, mild peat musk and lightly spiced dried fruiting lack resilience. But understated chocolate-cocoa passage gains traction.
