As we ventured into the dense Pocono Mountains on the Southern Reach section of the DiscoverNEPA Brewer’s Loop, we rolled into green, hilly Lehighton and found ourselves at Half Barrel Brewing Company

We opted for the long road on this breezy, overcast Wednesday in late September. Autumn had begun to show. Leaves, mostly yellow, had fallen and were scattering across the dew damp highways. NEPA’s familiar sirens of fall – Downtown Jim Thorpe and Lehighton, the Lehigh River and the rocky Lehigh Gorge just dawning their early cloaks of red and orange – called to us. Nothing short of a strong resolve and a determination to try a few new beers could save us. For we always have a trunk full of cameras and a soft spot in our hearts for capturing “vibes.”

Nonetheless, cooler heads did prevail. And on we went into the rolling outer reaches of Lehighton. The road climbed and dipped into creek valleys and over short ridges. Civilization waned into shrinking roof peaks in the rearview. The forested roadside seemed to hug us a little closer. And, after a zig and a zag or two, we came upon a small pole barn in a delightfully, quiet grove of mostly maple trees. They call this dreamy, little cottage-like escape Half Barrel Brewing Company.

Let’s go wrangle a liter or three.

The Brewery

Here, a beer travels about six feet from raw ingredients to glass

The brew house at Half Barrel Brewing leaves little to the imagination. It’s small – fits barely a worker or two. Daylight from the open overhead door dances between polished tanks and kettles. Hoses and tools hang at the ready on hooks and shelves. Our brew master, wielding his mash paddle, moves form one task to the next with a dialed-in precision over the painted concrete floor. We were fortunate to visit on a brew day. The wort boiled away adding a tangy, bready flavor to the air. A symphony of clinking tools, closing steel lids and various grunts and groans played in the background.

Typically, some sort of divide exists between the brewhouse and the bar stool. You know the work goes on somewhere, perhaps behind a closed door or in a room on the other side of the wall. It’s always close. We’ve come to appreciate that proximity in craft beer. But here at Half Barrel Brewing, you’re steps away from the process – essentially close enough to be a part of it. And maybe your role is just to sit back and enjoy the beer and the good company. You just better be ready if you hear, “Hey can you hand me that wrench?”

The Taproom

Say “nestled” one more time, I swear…

Half Barrel Brewing Company’s taproom, for the most part, is outside. Sure, you can belly up to the 8-seater bar, or grab one of the high tops in the corner. But with the quiet, wooded setting, Edison bulbs strung from the gazebo, a handful of rocking chairs and the warmth of fire pits and gas heat lamps, the cozy, outdoor taproom is where you want to be. The feel is communal. Wi-Fi is spotty (maybe purposely). The garage door is wide open. Conversations flow between the inside and outside. They swirl up into the thick quiet above like fingers of smoke from the fire.

Nothing about this place screams “Welcome to Half Barrel Brewing!” Instead, it’s more like a simple nod — a quiet invitation to take part in a conversation fueled by a love for good beer and better company. There’s a refreshing honesty lurking here that spills over from the brewer and his intentions with his craft to the beer itself and the unadorned setting.

The Beer

It’s simple and straight to the point

The tap list at Half Barrel Brewing, even in its stripped-down, keep it simple ethos, offers just about everything you need. It’s all there – light, heavy, dark, hazy. The lagers range from pilsner to Vienna to Marzen. You’ve got stouts, wheats and even NEIPAs. They introduce a little fruit here and there. The menu, while we visited, even offered a Gose. And, of course, we made the rounds.

We started our tour with the lagers. The Pilsner, at 4.8%, drank clean and crisp with perfectly-balanced floral, bready notes. Up next was the Vienna Lager at just over 6%. It showed up with a copper hue and delicate hints of caramel and a slightly malty finish. Then, of course, it was time for the Oktoberfest. This true-to-form Marzen style lager offered a deep amber hue and weighed in at 5.8%. And it delivered on toasty, malty notes and an intricate balance between sweet and dry.

On to the ales. First up was the refreshingly tart Gose. Despite its light taste and feel, this one was punched up to 4.7% ABV. We found it delicate and effervescent with fruit and spice notes. We moved into hazier territory with their New England IPA. It came through at a fitful 6.5% with those signature mellow tropical notes and a piney, hoppy backbone – a splendidly balanced IPA.

Finally, we finished up with the gorgeously black Oatmeal Stout. Couldn’t help it — the gloomy approaching fall weather essentially required us to try it. It’s a heavy puncher at 9.1%, but you would hardly know it. The rich roasted coffee and tangy dark chocolate aroma leans into a welcome hop character muted gently with a soft bready nuttiness. It’s a cozy blanket of a beer. And it also left us dreaming about the stout currently resting in an old Elijah Craig barrel. Rumor is we’ll see it in the springtime.

We paid a visit to Half Barrel Brewing Company on a cloudy Wednesday in September

Fall had just begun to show in the distant mountains. We shared a bit in the brewer’s labor and sweated just enough to appear thirsty. And the good man repaid us tenfold with stories and jokes and honesty and maybe a few cold beers. And for it all, we couldn’t have been made to feel more at home.

Next time you find yourself in the hills of Lehighton and suffering a bout of thirst, go check out Half Barrel Brewing Company.

Must Try:

Pilsner – German Pilsner – Light and beautifully balanced with soft floral notes — 4.8% ABV

Oatmeal Stout – Stout – Perfectly black with light tan head with strong roasted coffee and  chocolate notes — 9.2% ABV

Oktoberfest – Marzen – Dark amber color with gentle sweetness and notes of caramel — 5.8% ABV