SELINSGROVE, PENNSYLVANIA
Retreating from Williamsport going east to Jersey, stopped by Selinsgrove to visit AXEMANN TAVERN, opened February 1, 2024, An extension of Bellefonte’s Axemann Brewery (a 27,000 square-foot former Cerro Metal factory run by Penn State grads since 2020), this red-bricked green-windowed tavern features a lacquered wood L-shaped bar with wood paneled wall, twelve draught handles, large TV and refrigerator. Tiffany lights hang from the black art ceiling at the high top-seated main dining room.
Across the street from long-time fixture, Selinsgrove Brewing, Axemann Tavern has the relaxed feel of a cozy British pub. There are wines, spirits plus food from Smokehouse Fixx and Sunday Brunch to go along with well-balanced standard brew fare.
My wife and I grab seats at the end of the bar November ’25 to down five Axemann originals (and take home a few reviewed in Beer Index).
Smoothly clean flagship offering, Blue Stripe Kolsch, dropped tangy lemon spicing and herbal hops atop French breaded corn-chipped Tortilla crisping.
Tartly understated Black Razz Wheat sidled salty raspberry-blackberry rasp with spritzy lemony fizz over dry pale wheat malting.
An IPA-related pale ale, Mean Duck, let piney floral-hopped perfuming enhance lightly embittered lemony orange and grapefruit sunshine.
Piney grapefruit bittering ushered in New England IPA, Hazy Daisy, picking up salted mango zesting above creamy vanilla oats.
Dry Irish Stout, Titan, advanced bittersweet dark chocolate and frothy espresso coffee to dark roast hop charred nuttiness in smooth, clean-watered stylistic fashion.
