Breweries and Distilleries

Breweries and Distilleries in Erie

The history of breweries in the greater Erie region is deep and rich. The first local brewery , the Eagle Brewery, opened its doors more than 200 years ago—36 years before the city of Erie was even incorporated. The Eagle Brewery was purchased by Jackson Koehler in 1883, which became the Jackson Koehler branch of The Erie Brewing Company in 1899. Although the brewery has long since closed, more than 90 breweries would open from that time up until 1920 when Prohibition came into effect. Today, Erie is a popular destination for microbreweries, each offering their own distinct take on craft beer with creative brewing techniques, flavors and names.

Lake Erie Ale Trail

The Erie and PA Great Lakes region is home to 13 breweries that make up the Lake Erie Ale Trail. Each member brewery refines its beer from simple ingredients, mixing in a passion for the craft with a personable twist that gives uniqueness to an ever-expanding assortment of flavors, styles and funky names such as Erie Ale Works’ Keyboard Warrior and Lavery Brewing’s Neverending Hopstopper. Grab a growler, crowler, or a pint today!

Download the Lake Erie Ale Trail Brochure

Craft Distilleries

Let the spirits move you at Erie’s craft distilleries. Erie is home to two great distilleries: Altered State Distillery and Erie Distillery. Altered State Distillery is a local craft distillery and music venue with a spacious outdoor patio, perfect for sipping one of their seasonal crafted cocktails like a Summer Breeze or a Smoked Old Fashioned, all while enjoying live local music. Altered State manufactures award-winning blended whiskey, rye whiskey, bourbon, barrel aged rum, gin, vodka, and double oaked whiskey with craft syrups made from local fresh ingredients. Erie Distillery is a post-prohibition, craft distillery and cocktail bar that specializes in specialty distilled spirits such as apple pie or hot pepper moonshine, in-house premium cocktails and a local selection of craft drinks from the area’s finest breweries, distilleries and wineries. Stop by and explore new tastes as well as dive into the exciting history of liquor making and distribution inside a casual, friendly atmosphere.