This central PA brewery’s tour was named nation’s best. See how to visit, sample beer
A beloved Pennsylvania brewery is once again earning national recognition.
Tröegs Independent Brewing received the top spot among the best brewery tours in the U.S., according to USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Nominees in each category are selected by 10Best editors and topic experts before they are presented to the public for four weeks of online voting.
Here’s what you need to know about Tröegs and the best places for craft beer in Pennsylvania.
Tröegs Independent Brewing claims top brewery tour honor
Located in Hershey, just east of Harrisburg, Tröegs Independent Brewing launched in 1996 with a name that plays on co-founders John and Chris Trogner’s last name and the Dutch word “kroeg,” meaning “pub.”
Tröegs operates as a craft brewery with an emphasis on producing specialty and seasonal beers. The brewery was founded in Harrisburg and moved to Hershey in 2011 following the construction of a new facility.
The brewery’s award-winning tour offers behind-the-scenes access to Tröegs’ mill room, hop cooler, brewhouse deck, fermentation cellars and packaging lines, among other locations. Guests can also peruse an “Art of Tröegs” gallery and receive a free beer of their choice, three samples of Tröegs selections and an exclusive souvenir glass.
“Our tours meander through our working production brewery so you can see how our beer is actually made and the people to make it happen,” Tröegs wrote on its website. “If you’re uncomfortable climbing and descending multiple stairs, standing for extended periods or spending time in extreme heat or cold, we would encourage you to check out our self-guided tour.”
Each 10-person tour takes roughly one hour to complete and costs $15 per person, Tröegs says online. Minors and children are not allowed to join tours, and of-age guests must make sure to bring along a valid ID and wear closed-toed shoes.
According to Tröegs’ online booking system, tours are offered Thursday through Sunday each week from late morning through the evening. You can book a tour online by visiting troegs.com/brewery-tours.
Tröegs is known for some of its staple beers like Perpetual IPA and and Troegenator Double Bock. Some popular seasonal flavors include Nugget Nectar, Mad Elf Ale, Oktoberfest Lager and Double Blizzard.
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Tröegs’ production tour claimed the top spot among USA Today 10Best’s “Best Brewery Tour” honors in early March. This year’s honorees from across the country were nominated by a panel of beer experts, the outlet said.
Here’s a full look at the top 10 brewery tours in the country, according to the 10Best survey:
Tröegs Independent Brewing in Hershey, Pa.
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. in Chippewa Falls, Wis.
Burial Beer Co. Forestry Camp in Asheville, N.C.
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Del.
Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas
Bell’s Brewery in Comstock, Mich.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico, Calif., and Mills River, N.C.
New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colo., and Asheville, N.C.
Stone Brewing in Escondido, Calif., and Richmond, Va.
Samuel Adams in Boston, Mass.
You can read more about these top brewery tours by visiting 10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-brewery-tour-2024.
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Pennsylvania beer in USA Today’s 10Best
The following cities, breweries, festivals and more represented Pennsylvania in this year’s beer-related 10Best lists:
Best Beer Bar — Monk’s Cafe in Philadelphia (No. 9)
Best Beer City — Philadelphia (No. 9)
Best Beer Festivals — Barrel & Flow Fest in Pittsburgh (No. 1)
Best Brewery Tour — Tröegs Independent Brewing in Hershey (No. 1)
Best New Brewery — El Diablo Brewing Co. in Greensburg (No. 8)
To read up on USA Today’s 10Best beer-related honorees, visit 10best.usatoday.com/interests/drinks/best-beer-gardens-new-breweries-2024.
