The corner of Prince and Walnut Street has a bright and bold new look that illuminates the scenery heading into the heart of Lancaster City. Our Town Brewery now occupies the nearly 100-year-old historical space that originally housed Chamber’s General Tire Company. The craft brewery’s name is proudly displayed in stark black print on the all-white facade, serving as a sort of unofficial downtown welcome to visitors and residents alike.
Our Town Brewery co-founders, Rob Tarves and Rob Patz, otherwise known as “The Robs,” first got into brewing while attending Penn State University. Tarves’ brother gifted him a home-brewing kit and, a decade later, they’re pouring delicious and affordable pints for the public Wednesday through Sunday each week.
“The name Our Town really stems from our interest in celebrating and creating community, something we both experienced while living in State College, a town with a lot of local pride,” Patz explains. He further describes how their name keeps them focused on this mission, which weaves its way seamlessly throughout their operations, such as locally sourcing their ingredients.
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Tarves has called Lancaster home for the last ten years. Due to the city’s welcoming nature, especially in regards to the food and beverage scene, they knew it would be the perfect place for their community centered business. Despite officially opening their doors in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions this past September, they swiftly became the talk of the town, meeting their capacity each day. Patz describes their opening this past fall as an exciting time, “We would often have a wait, and in the nicer months people were just happy to spend that time outside, going for a walk around the city until we got them seated and poured them a pint.”
During the time “the Robs” spent working at Otto’s Pub & Brewery near State College, they witnessed the loyalty and community of the brewery’s regulars. “This is one of the reasons we got into brewing and what led to the Townie Club,” says Tavres. The Townie Club is an on-brand spin on the standard brewery mug club. For a one-time fee of $250 you can become a Townie for life, providing regular discounts, a free birthday meal, and invites to “Townie Only” events to help cultivate that feeling of community amongst regulars.
The interior design of Our Town Brewery is just as inviting as the staff. It is bright and clean with a blue and silver palette that adds just enough color. The facade of the building and its hallways are lined with historical photographs that act as an ode to what once stood in its place, while the high ceilings and exposed brew-tanks give it a modern industrial feel.
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The beer is certainly the main attraction that Tarves and Patz intended it to be, with a diverse selection from IPA’s to sours and stouts. Tarves explains, “We continue to monitor what’s trending, but we never want to get boxed in. We get creative while also honoring the long history and tradition of brewing good beer, which is why we will always keep something like our Proper Pils on tap.” One of their most popular beers, “Nice Bright Colors”
is a deliciously crisp New England IPA, while “I Wish you Were Here” is a rich, roasty oatmeal stout with notes of chocolate and coffee. The names of the beers are meant to either accurately reflect the taste of the beer, such as the “Something Tropical” Pina Colada IPA, or to evoke a feeling such as the snow day nostalgia inducing, “Early Dismissal” winter lager, adding a layer of complexity to these well-crafted beverages. If beer is not your brew of choice, there are other local options to fill your glass, including Levengood’s ciders and Grandview Vineyard wines. For a non-alcoholic pick me up, customers can even order a Nitro Cold Brew Coffee or Kombucha from Purple Butterfly in Lititz.
Beer goes best with a bite to eat, and Our Town Brewery has crafted a simple yet satisfying menu that pairs well with their beer while not competing with its intricate flavors. The pizza menu includes classic cheese and pepperoni, while venturing into ingredients such as wild mushrooms and ricotta, or smoked ham, apple, and onion. They even have vegan cheese pizzas. The “Dutch Platter” is an ode to the region, pairing York City Soft Pretzels with muenster cheese, ring bologna, and house made pickles and mustard.
Weekly events will continue to fill the calendar to keep things fresh and interesting for their regulars or provide a new customer with an even more engaging evening. Walk in on a Wednesday night, and find yourself immersed in their 1950’s themed event, featuring 50’s music, smash burgers, and a rotating milkshake stout. Additionally, visit for Sunday brunch, and your meal will be accompanied by live music from 10am-12pm. As Our Town Brewery continues to grow and evolve, their mission will remain the same. Tarves and Patz have achieved what they set out to do over a decade ago by providing a space for everyone; whether you’re an out-of-towner driving in for a quick visit, a Townie, or somewhere in between.
Our Town Brewery
252 N Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 | ourtownbrewery.com
