Pour tours and more: 5 craft beverage trails in PA

Photo courtesy of Master1305 via Shutterstock

By Kalena Thomhave

February 28, 2024

In late winter in Pennsylvania, many warm-weather attractions are still closed, and the sky is a dismal gray. Good thing Pennsylvania has perfected a much-loved cold-weather activity: Drinking!

Pennsylvania produces the second-most barrels of craft beer in the country, and also has the second-most craft breweries — 531 as of 2022. Commonwealth breweries, wineries, and distilleries have worked to take advantage of all this alcohol by promoting self-guided craft beverage trails — collaborations between neighboring breweries that encourage people to visit several or all of them — which allow visitors to experience the craft culture of a specific region while supporting local businesses and possibly winning prizes.

We’ve put together a list of five craft beverage trails in Pa. that you can enjoy. Many of these trails offer prizes for completing your “passport” — check with the individual operator before setting out to get full details on prizes. Or, you know, you can realize that the real prize is the booze you drink along the way.

Be sure to bring a designated driver along with you or book a cab. Cheers!

Laurel Highlands Pour Tour

The Laurel Highlands Pour Tour, spread across Somerset, Westmoreland, and Fayette Counties, is easy to access — the passport is available via an app. All you have to do is get to the beautiful Laurel Highlands of the Allegheny Mountains, the birthplace of rye whiskey.

The 52 participating businesses offer a bevy of libations: Wine and beer, of course, but also cider, liquor, and even mead. You’ll collect digital stamps (or physical stickers) at each location of the pour tour you visit. You can then redeem your stamps for Laurel Highlands Pour Tour swag! Personally, we’re aiming for the branded koozie chair with the added can cooler.

The current iteration of the pour tour runs through Dec. 23.

Adams County Pour Tour

The Adams County Pour Tour brings together the breweries, wineries, and distilleries of Gettysburg’s Adams County, offering prizes to those who check in at various local establishments.

The pour tour website includes helpful suggested itineraries to help you plan your Adams County vacation, whether you favor cider or you prefer a night out on the town to a day in the countryside. And you should probably soak up some Gettysburg history before embarking on the pour tour.

What’s that? Many pour tour participants allow you to drink in history as well as local libations? We’re sold.

The current pour tour runs through Jan. 17, 2025.

Pocono Beverage Trail

The Pocono Mountains are an ideal vacation destination for the stunning views and cozy resorts, but there are also numerous breweries, wineries, and distilleries to enjoy.

The Pocono Beverage Trail includes 27 places serving up local drinks and spanning a wide range across the region, from Radical Wine Company in Lehighton to Second District Brew Farm just north of Honesdale. Those two businesses are roughly an hour and a half from each other, but don’t worry — completing the Pocono Beverage Trail passport requires visiting just six participating locations! Your prize is a Pocono Beverage Trail trucker hat.

Susquehanna River Cabin Fever Wine Trail

The Cabin Fever Wine Trail, located within the Susquehanna River Valley, was created with the understanding that winter in Pennsylvania is usually rough, but it doesn’t have to be. A wine trail passport is $35 and includes free tastings and discounts at each of the 13 participating wineries (and two participating distilleries). Considering winery tastings aren’t typically free, this is a deal!

Once purchased, the passport is available via a link on your phone, and you’ll be able to “check-in” to participating wineries and gain points. You can then use your points to win stickers and chances to enter drawings for gift cards.

The wine trail promotion is active through March 17.

Lancaster County Ale Trail

Lancaster County is home to 27 craft breweries, and you can visit all of them on the Lancaster County Ale Trail, coordinated by the Lancaster County Brewers Guild. A passport is $5, and different prizes are available depending on how many breweries you visit and get to stamp your passport — think stickers, glasses, koozies, and hats.

Pick up a passport at a participating brewery, but know that the program is popular: Last year breweries quickly ran out of passports!