Pennsylvania has no shortage of breweries. That’s great for beer drinkers, but it also creates a problem: keeping track of all of them.
Lost Tavern Brewing is one that’s worth remembering.
Based in Hellertown, just outside Bethlehem in the Lehigh Valley, Lost Tavern has been making beer since 2016. Over that time, the brewery has built a reputation for fresh IPAs, heavily fruited sours, and a willingness to move between styles instead of getting stuck making one thing over and over.
And now, we’ve started carrying Lost Tavern here at Beermill. If you’ve never had their beer before, here’s why you should give it a shot.
The Story Behind Lost Tavern Brewing
The name is actually tied to the history of Hellertown.
The town dates back to the 1700s, and one of its earliest businesses was a tavern. A tavern license was issued to Christopher Wagner in 1746, and, like many taverns of the period, the establishment likely brewed its own beer. Eventually, the tavern disappeared, and its exact location was lost along with it.
That’s where Lost Tavern gets its name.
The brewery says its goal is to honor that history while continuing to experiment with modern brewing. Their motto sums it up pretty well: “Honor the Past. Craft the Future.”
They opened in Hellertown on July 1, 2016 wirth a second taproom that followed in Bethlehem in 2019, and Lost Tavern now has a presence at St. Luke’s SportsPlex in Allentown as well.
That’s a pretty good amount of growth for a brewery that started in a Lehigh Valley town with a population most people outside the area probably couldn’t find on a map, very much including myself.
What Kind of Beer Does Lost Tavern Make?
This is where Lost Tavern gets interesting.
They aren’t a brewery I’d describe as having one defining style. Instead, their lineup covers a lot of ground, although IPAs and fruited sours have become particularly recognizable parts of what they do.
Their beer catalog shows everything from American IPAs and hazy doubles to heavily fruited sour ales.
There’s Randevoo, a 7.8% Double IPA brewed with Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy, and Citra. Lost Tavern describes it as having a big, fluffy body with white grape, peach, tropical, and citrus notes.
That’s part of what makes the brewery fun to follow.
You don’t necessarily know what direction they’re going to take the next beer.
Lost Tavern’s IPA Game
If you like hops, Lost Tavern is a brewery worth keeping an eye on.
The brewery has made plenty of hazy and double IPAs over the years, and beers like Randevoo show the kind of approach they take with the style: big body, expressive hops, and plenty of fruit character.
They aren’t just throwing a bunch of hops into a beer and calling it a day, either.
Hop selection matters. Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy, Citra, Cascade, and Centennial all bring something different to the table. That’s why two IPAs can have completely different personalities even when they’re brewed by the same brewery.
For anyone who enjoys the modern IPA landscape, Lost Tavern is a brewery worth watching.
Don’t Sleep on the Sours
If you’re not a huge IPA person, Lost Tavern has another reason to pay attention.
Their fruited sour program gets pretty wild.
Onomatopoeia is probably one of the clearest examples. Lost Tavern has brewed versions of the beer as a fruited sour with combinations including mango, pineapple, peach, and vanilla. Later iterations have pushed even further into smoothie-style territory, including versions with dairy-free fruit soft serve.
I personally love trying different sours. While I thought it definetly leaned more into the fruit beer character, it definetly did not dissapoint. Different fruit combinations can always be a shock so give it a chance and try a few sips before judging the new flavor. My mom always taught me “three bites of anything to know if you like it”.
If your normal beer order is a lager or IPA, something like this might be a pretty dramatic change of pace. That’s exactly why I like breweries that aren’t afraid to experiment.
Why Lost Tavern Stands Out
There’s a lot of good beer coming out of Pennsylvania.
Lost Tavern’s advantage isn’t that they’re the only brewery making hazy IPAs or fruited sours. They’re obviously not.
They can make a classic Hazy IPA like Road to Victory, turn around and make a huge Double IPA like Phightin Words, and then go completely in another direction with an intensely fruited sour. Their beer list has grown into hundreds of different releases over the years, which says a lot about how willing the brewery is to keep trying new things.
That’s also part of why we were excited to start carrying them.
Pennsylvania beer doesn’t stop at Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or Hershey. The Lehigh Valley has developed a serious brewing scene of its own, and Lost Tavern has been part of that story for a decade now.
If you haven’t tried their beer yet, this is a good time to change that.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lost Tavern Brewing
Where is Lost Tavern Brewing located?
Lost Tavern Brewing’s original brewery and taproom is in Hellertown, Pennsylvania. The brewery also operates a taproom in Bethlehem and a location at St. Luke’s SportsPlex in Allentown.
When did Lost Tavern Brewing open?
Lost Tavern opened its Hellertown brewery and taproom on July 1, 2016.
What beers is Lost Tavern Brewing known for?
Lost Tavern has developed a reputation for IPAs and fruited sour ales, while producing a much wider variety of styles. Seeker is an American IPA, while beers such as Randevoo showcase their hazy Double IPA side.
What does the name Lost Tavern mean?
The name references a historic tavern in Hellertown that dates back to the 1700s. The tavern’s exact location was eventually lost to history, inspiring the brewery’s name.
Is Lost Tavern Brewing a Pennsylvania brewery?
Yes. Lost Tavern Brewing is based in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley.
Final Thoughts
Pennsylvania’s brewery scene is crowded, but that’s a pretty good problem to have.
Lost Tavern Brewing has managed to carve out its own space by making a little bit of everything and doing it with plenty of personality. Their IPAs can satisfy the hop crowd, while their fruited sours give people looking for something completely different a reason to pay attention.
Most importantly, the brewery has spent the last decade building something that feels connected to its hometown while still pushing forward.
Honor the Past. Craft the Future.
That’s a pretty good way to make beer.
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