Erie Brewing Company - Mad Anthony's American Pale Ale

Pouring a copper-amber color with a long-lasting cap of foam, Mad Anthony's is a good looking pale ale as it rests in our glass. The beer is named in honor of an American brigadier general from the Revolutionary War named Anthony Wayne, who was purported to have gone mad due to lead poisoning after being shot multiple times. We're not sure how legit that explanation for his madness is, but it sure makes for a good story. And we think he'd be pleased with his namesake beer! On the nose, look for a luscious array of fruity and floral hop notes, boasting candied orange and tangerine, hints of tropical fruits, some melon and stone fruits, and a prominent caramelized malt undertone. On the palate, we loved how deliciously balanced this pale ale comes across. The malt core presents plenty of caramel and light toast complemented by those aforementioned hop notes and a moderately firm bitterness that plays foil to a hint of residual sweetness. Erie recommends pairing this brew with poultry, fish, shellfish, burgers, roast beef, and well-spiced Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, Cajun, and Jamaican dishes. Peppery, sharp, and pungent cheeses will work nicely, as well. Cheers!

Erie Brewing Company got its start as Hoppers Brewpub inside Erie, PA's historic Union Station, an art deco-styled railroad station build in 1927. The brewpub, which was founded in 1993, produced a miniscule amount of beer in its first year—just over 1000 barrels—but that grew over the course of the next few years, more than doubling by 1996. In 1999, the company made the leap from brewpub to full-blooded microbrewery, and the enterprise left Union Station for a new production facility where production ramped up to 6000 barrels per year.

Through the first decade of this century, there were some ups and downs in terms of ownership and management changes, but despite this the company still managed to grow its production and distribution. Their hard work paid off in 2009 with a gold medal win for Erie's flagship Railbender Ale at the Great American Beer Festival. 2010 saw a number of upgrades and additions to the brewing equipment, and then in 2012 the company welcomed a new management and ownership team led by Rob Lowther which was, and is, dedicated to improving operations and expanding distribution relationships and opportunities. In June of 2017, Erie opened a brand new brewing facility at 6008 Knowledge Parkway, which also features John's Wildwood Pizzeria for a combined "Pub & Pie" restaurant where visitors can enjoy award-winning pizza and brews. To learn more, visit them at www.eriebrewingco.com or call 814-459-7741.