BERWICK, PENNSYLVANIA
Family owned and operated ANOMALY CRAFT BREWING came into existence in 2022 at a former boutique coffeehouse on Berwick’s main drag (not far removed from recently closed Berwick Brewing). Tucked into a narrow window-fronted shop, Anomaly has the feel of a standard bistro with its wood benches, tables and bar top accentuated by a slat wood floor.
Anomaly’s black art studio ceiling adds to the simple light industrial-bound cafe setting of the white walled barroom. Nostalgic pix and macrame art line the walls leading to the back bar. There are two central TV’s and a refrigerator. Behind the bar wall lie the steel fermenters and brew tanks.
A family friendly atmosphere consumes the one-room pub that owner Nicholas Oliver promises a ‘fusion of fire and flavor.’ Smoked meats lead a menu consisting of wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches and apps. Each beer is stylishly perfected to fit the food. Just try the excellent Streets Of Bamberg Rauch bock with any customized smoked meat.
My wife and I sat at the bar to down five durable Anomaly’s (and three nearby Conyngham Brewery draughts) before heading to Williamsport/ State College on a Friday afternoon, mid-November ’25.
Crisply clean clear-strawed German lager, Helles, splashed spritzy lemon onto light Noble hop herbage, mild floral spicing and bready pilsner malts.
Equally spritzy and soft-toned, Willow Tree White, a delicate witbier, placed curacao orange-peeled coriander spicing alongside citric lemongrass herbage, gaining a slight candy coating for the vanilla-daubed white wheat base.
Autumnal pumpkin delight, Squash Patch, countered brown-sugared cinnamon and nutmeg spicing with earthen gourd and herbal ginger.
Infused with roasted cocoa nibs and Madagascar vanilla, robust Criollo Porter let chalky dark chocolate soak into its Cafe Fresco cold brew coffee midst.
Rising above all other Anomaly selections, stylistically perfected rauchbier bock, Streets Of Bamberg, retained campfire-seared cured meat luster, musky Band-aid wafted beechwood smoke and peaty mossing of a Bavarian rauch given the sweet caramel malt creaming of a German bock.
As for the trio of Conyngham beers, summery light lager, Somewhere On A Beach, let spritzy lemon lime fizz tickle musky citric hop acidity over white bread base for a crisp Seltzer-like refresher.
Brief cinnamon-nutmeg seasoning and light ginger herbage placated medium-bodied Pumpkin Ale, leaving salty pumpkin-seeded gourd earthiness on its caramel malt bottom.
Flagship chocolate stout, Into Darkness, slapped dark roasted cocoa nibs bittering upon semi-sweet milk chocolate, dry anise and sugary vanilla.