One of the latest spots in our Brewery travels was Two Rivers Brewing Company, it was not a planned stop, but i am sure glad we did! I immediately fell in love with this place! The inside features a 1920’s “Zenith Radio” bar from the Sears Catalog, original Tin Ceiling and Terrazzo floor. Large windows perfect for people watching or catching your eye as you go by to lure you in. Very warm, cozy, and inviting.
The staff was great! They were happy to answer any and all questions and they made you feel like a local/regular despite being our first and definitely not last time there. Locals were cordial and welcoming and offered to meet us later that night after their town of Easton’s annual Peace Candle lighting; which has been said to be the largest non-wax Christmas candle in the country.
Food was all fresh and locally sourced. How can you go wrong? Great selection of menu items. We ordered gumbo, Andouille sausage, shrimp, chicken, rice, and their own cornbread Gremolata, classic but was perfectly flavored, spiced, and the right amount of heat. Duck fat fries, i may have died and gone to heaven! Hand cut fries with White Truffle Oil, Peccorino – Romano cheese, and Rosemary. Bacon chopped salad with super fresh greens and veggies, apples, cashews, Bourbon Soaked Raisins (totally elevated this to the next level), fried Brussels sprouts, & a fabulous tangy bacon dressing which was a perfect compliment; not greasy or overpowering. Braised short rib sandwich (my personal favorite); fresh roll, horseradish aioli, sharp provolone, roasted hot and mild peppers, and a fried egg! DELICIOUS!!! All the flavors melted and mingled perfectly in your mouth. Their 1/2 lb Breakaway Farms Grass fed beef and bacon cheddar burger was cooked to perfection. Ticket times were fast despite having a full bar and restaurant.
They feature all of their own beers on draft, which is a good sign to me because i know they are serious about their beers and their brand. We all sampled flights so we could experience what they have to offer. (I’m only giving descriptions from their website for the beers we actually tried and the descriptions are accurate from what i tasted). I liked that most of their beers are not filtered because i feel it leaves all the tastes to properly compliment each other and it gives it the home brew feel. I also like that all the names have something to do with the town or their process of beginning their journey and business.
Pine St. Blonde – Belgian Blonde, 5.2% ABV ( I am not a big fan of Belgian style beers, but this one was an exception)
An unfiltered Belgian easy drinker that has a hazy straw color and is brewed with European wheat malt, and lightly spiced with hints of coriander and orange peel. Medium body with moderate carbonation. Light sweetness and a dry finish. Named after the ladies who plied their trade on Pine Street, Easton’s “Red Light” District during Prohibition.
Bankers Brown – Brown Ale, 4.5% ABV
This brown ale has a light chocolate and coffee flavor with a good caramel background. Very low hopping adds to the drinkability. When we met with our banker the first time to present our business plan, we told him if we got the loan, we’d name a beer after him. Here’s to you Jim!
Getters Island Pale Ale – American Pale Ale, 5.4% ABV (This was one of my favorites because it paired well with all of our food and had a great balance of flavors and hops)
Light golden color with a mild toastiness balanced with a moderate bitterness. Citrus and floral aromas blend with the malt. Left unfiltered to preserve the hop flavor. Named after the little island North of the toll bridge between Easton and Phillipsburg named after Charles Getter, convicted of murdering his wife in 1833. Getter was hanged on the island twice for his crime, the rope broke on the first try. We named the pale ale after Getter’s Island, because old Charlie must have been pretty bitter for the thirty minutes it took for them to get another rope.
Hogan’s Law Dark Saison, 6.5% ABV
A hazy brown color with tight tan head. Toasty malt mixed with caramel, plum, and raisin. Fermented with our expressive saison yeast. A rustic version of a trappist dubbel.
The Easton Assasinator Doppelbock, 8% ABV
Tons of munich malts give this heavyweight a huge chewy malt presence. Toasty malts and dark fruit flavors dominate like Larry Holmes’ left jab. Lagered for over 10 weeks to add complexity. Brewers of modern doppelbocks often add “-ator” to their beer’s name as a signpost of the style. In recognition of all that Larry Holmes has achieved in boxing and in recognition of what he has done for the Easton community, we’ve named our doppelbock “The Easton Assassinator”, as Larry’s nickname in boxing was the Easton Assassin.
Seven Spirits Pumpkin Ale, 5.3% ABV
Brewed with European malts, 80# of in house roasted scholl orchard longneck pumpkins, and 1 gallon of sorghum syrup. Brewed with Christopher Black (kickstarter). Lightly spiced with cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, clove, and ginger. Perfect brew to have on the balcony as the leaves change color. In Fall of 2013 and Fall of 2014 ghost hunters from Makoul Paranormal stayed in the brewery over night and used their sophisticated recording equipment to identify.
Mt. Vernon Lager, 5% ABV
A Pre-prohibition style lager. All malt, very light hopping, and super clean. This beer bears the historical name of the building it’s brewed in. Prior to being the site of Two Rivers Brewing Company, the building was known as the Mount Vernon Hotel.
The Destroyer Pale Ale, 5% ABV (This was also another favorite of mine because i tend to enjoy anything that has Citra and Centennial hops)
A super citrusy and piney pale ale. Loads of Citra and Centennial hops, and fermented with the Conan yeast strain.
Traill Green Farmhouse Ale, 6.5% ABV
Botanists use a process called grafting to combine two different plants to bring out the best of both plants. Traill Greene was probably Easton’s most famous physician and also a learned botanist. We could think of no better Eastonian to name this delicious hybrid of a pale ale and saison than Dr. Green. Brewed with Shane Mcgee (kickstarter supporter and local Lehigh Valley Homebrewers member). Pilsner, unmalted wheat and 28% rye malt, Sorachi ace and falconers flight hops, and fermented with a special belgian yeast strain. Tropical, lemony, and mango flavors.
Colonel Left Eye IPA, 6.8% ABV (Another one of my favorites for Two Rivers; i enjoyed the light tangerine taste to compliment the hops)
Toasty malt with a firm bitterness. Hopped with Citra and Cascade hops for bright citrus and tangerine hop flavors. Left unfiltered to preserve the bright, aroma. Our IPA bears the moniker of another bitter Eastonian, as it was Eastonian and Lafayette College grad Colonel Charles Wikoff who lost his life leading the charge up San Juan Hill, an action generally attributed to Teddy Roosevelt.
Alewife’s Dark Heart Black IPA,, 6% ABV
Roasty, piney, danky, and totally crushable. This beer was brewed by our assistant brewer, Ameelia Keefe as celebration for earning her brewing degree. The name refers to female brewers, called alewives during the middle ages.
Dutchtown Double Pale Ale, 9.2% ABV
Kettle and dry hopped with cascade, citra, and simcoe hops. Slightly warming due to the high alcohol. Named after the area along Northampton Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets which originally was the Pennsylvania Dutch Community.
If you ever find yourself in Easton, PA, i highly recommend stopping here for some great beers and delicious food. Until next time, I’m remaining In Hop Pursuit.
~Lauren
Two Rivers Brewing Company
542 Northampton St.
Easton, PA 18042
Phone (610) 829-1131
Open daily 11am-midnight
http://www.tworiversbrewing.com
Find them on Facebook, too!
In Hop Pursuit 