Meet theRed Lion Ale Smiths, learn about the beer and brewery

In our previous article, we visited the then under-construction Broadway Ale House and met with the owners of Shadesville, an antique, vintage and unique item boutique in Red Lion. In that article, we discovered the history and explored Shadesville. Since our last visit construction on the “Broadway Ale House” is complete.

Located at 157 E Broadway, Red Lion, PA. The new bar features eight draft beer taps a beautiful bar and tables.

Look for them to be open around Labor Day Weekend. Itwill likely be a soft opening, so stay tuned to their facebook for moredetails.

Meet the Red Lion Ale Smiths

The Red Lion Ale Smiths, in no particular order, areRich, Chris, and Ed. Red Lion class of ‘84 graduates and dear friends; theyhave been micro-brewing beer for years and are still working their ordinary dayjobs and bring their years of professional experience to the table.

Rich is a Sales Rep in Baltimore, his charisma andpersonality support the Ale Smiths with media relations, marketing, and vendorrelations. He has been swamped working with the complicated licensing andinspections requirements in PA.

Ed is the electronics and Mechanical Wizard. Ed hascustom built digital controls, heaters, etc for their precise and custombrewing style

Chris Calibrating a Temperature Controller

Chris is a little bit like Walter White, you know, thefictional chemistry teacher in the show Breaking Bad. Chris is a Chemistryteacher in Harrisburg and brings his precise scientific training to make theAle Smiths beer truly something epic!

Their unique talents and passion for beer kept themtogether all this time, and now they want to share that passion with Red Lion.

What Were the Challenges?

Starting a business is a challenge, especially when youare still working a day job and do all the work yourselves. From Renovations,installations, concrete. The Ale Smiths and The Owners of Shadesville workednight after night to realize their dream.

The Pennsylvania Building Codes, LCB, FDA, and HealthInspection rules and regulations were stringent. It was not something they everthought they would have to know. To pass the inspections, they had to study therules. There are no shortcuts on the road to success.

They are excited to open, and once they receive LCBapproval, they will be able to brew their first commercial batch!

About the Beer.

The one word they said when asked to describe theirbeer was “Drinkable” they will have a flavor “similar toYuengling” as well as other delicious flavors.

Ed Looking over Precise Temperature controlled Fermenting Tanks

Some batches planned for opening :

  • Imperial Stout
  • …Strong Butternut Pumpkin
  • Amber IPA
  • Milkshake IPA Apricot Wheat
  • Hazelnut Brown IPA
  • Ginger Cream Ale
  • Extra Pale Ale
  • Orange Blonde
  • Amber
  • Colonial Porter
  • Pine Apple Pale Ale
  • Apricot Wheat IPA

The brewing taking place in Red Lion is an actual MicroBrewing Operation. Beers will be sized based on the %Alcohol, and this is craftbeer. You’ll get your monies worth, and enjoy every sip.

Broadway Ale House

The New Alehouse will be open from 5-10PM with extendedhours Thursday Friday and Saturday. The Ale House has a full menu and willincorporate the beer into unique and home-cooked recipes, not to mention Foodand Beer pairings.

After speaking with the owner of York County Ale Trail, Glenn; The Red Lion Brewery will be on one of their bus tours of the many unique micro-brewing operations in York, PA.

When you visit the new Ale House and Brewery, you cansee the passion in the freshly painted walls, the hand-built Roughcut lumberwalls, and the custom-designed electronics that control the brewing operations.