Tröegs Independent Brewing: A Pennsylvania Craft Beer Story
Few breweries capture the spirit of Pennsylvania craft beer quite like Tröegs. Founded in 1996 by brothers Chris and John Trogner — who grew up in Mechanicsburg, PA — Tröegs has grown from a scrappy Harrisburg startup into one of the Mid-Atlantic’s most beloved independent breweries.
The name itself tells the story: a mashup of their childhood nickname “Trogs” and kroeg, the Dutch word for pub. Chris caught the craft beer bug out in Colorado during the early brewing renaissance, while John was cutting his teeth at a Philadelphia brewpub. They brought that combined energy back home, opening their first location on Paxton Street in Harrisburg in 1997.
Built on Curiosity
Tröegs has stayed family-owned from day one, and their philosophy centers on what they call “perpetual exploration” — always asking why at the intersection of ingredients and technique. That curiosity shows up most visibly in their Scratch Series, a rotating lineup of small-batch experimental beers used to test new flavors and methods. By late 2020, they’d brewed over 425 unique Scratch beers, with several eventually earning a permanent spot in the lineup.
The Hershey Experience
In 2011, Tröegs relocated to a 90,000-square-foot facility in Hershey, PA — built from the ground up as both a serious production brewery and a destination worth the drive.
The Splinter Cellar is a standout: a dedicated wood-aging space featuring three 20-foot tall foedersimported from Italy. Tours range from self-guided walks to full guided production tours, and the brewery has earned recognition as one of the best brewery tour experiences in the country.
The taproom leans into the full experience too. The snack bar goes well beyond typical bar food — house-made sourdough, giant pretzels, pork belly, and pizzas fired in their signature “blue room” oven. Art installations and murals throughout the facility pull from fan creativity and beer label artwork, giving the whole place a distinct character.
Rooted in Central PA
Tröegs sources more than 225,000 pounds of local grain, honey, and fruit annually, drawing from Pennsylvania’s Fruit Belt and farms like Strites Orchard for seasonal releases. Their ALEtruismprogram channels support toward local environmental and community nonprofits — a nod to how deeply tied the brewery is to its region.
The Beers Worth Knowing
Perpetual IPA — the best-selling IPA in Pennsylvania
Tröegenator Double Bock — a multi-award-winning dark lager that built the brewery’s early reputation
Mad Elf Ale — the honey-and-cherry holiday release that hits shelves every October and sells out fast
Nugget Nectar — a cult-favorite Imperial Amber Ale that drops every January and disappears just as quickly
Tour Highlights
When we arrived for the tour, we entered through a separate entrance from the tasting room — a space used for barrel-aged beers that also features a small welcome bar. Upon arrival, we were each given a welcome beer (we went with the Sunshine Pilsner, because a Lukr pour is always hard to pass up). While waiting for the tour to begin, we had the chance to browse the Tröegs art gallery, which highlights submissions from their annual art competition.
The tour kicks off with a rundown of Tröegs’ history and how the brewery has grown into what it is today. From there, you’re taken to their hop storage, where you get the chance to smell and taste samples of various malts and hops before heading down to the brewhouse floor. We were lucky enough to taste a beer straight off the tank — Lolihop Double IPA.
Next up is the packaging department, where you walk through the keg line, bottling line, and canning line. The tour wraps up in a private event space, where you’re given the chance to sample two more beers — in our case, Troegenator and Field Studies.
Overall, it was a fantastic behind-the-scenes look at what goes into running a brewery of this scale. The experience felt similar to tours we’ve done at the Dogfish Head facility in Milton and the former Flying Fish facility in Somerdale, NJ — well worth the visit for any craft beer fan.
