News

January 17, 2025

Punxsutawney Brewing Company teamed up with Dough Daddy Brewery of Gibsonia, PA, to bring craft beer enthusiasts a special treat this Groundhog Day: "The Awakening." This brown ale, brewed with local honey from Ouch Farm for a smooth and slightly sweet finish, will make its highly anticipated debut during the iconic Punxsutawney celebrations.

The beer will be available on draft and in cans at local bars and restaurants, as well as at Dough Daddy Brewery, ensuring beer lovers near and far have a chance to sample this unique collaboration. Visitors to Punxsutawney can also enjoy "The Awakening" at the annual Groundhog Days in the Park, running January 31 through February 2, 2025 in Barclay Square. 

A Collaboration Rooted in Passion

The idea for "The Awakening" was born out of a shared passion for craft brewing and a mutual love for community events. "We were introduced to the owner of Dough Daddy Brewery last spring," co-owner Austin stated. "After a brewery tour and lunch, before we knew it, we were planning a collaboration beer!"

The name "The Awakening" perfectly captures the essence of the project. "We were looking for a name that said ‘middle of winter, but looking forward to spring,’" they explained. "It reminds us that even though there still may be snow on the ground, soon it will be melting and the awakening of spring will be happening."

Crafting the Perfect Brew

"The Awakening" is a longtime favorite recipe of co-owner Carl, perfected over years of homebrewing. The addition of local honey adds a unique touch, enhancing the beer’s maltiness with a subtle sweetness. "The honey really makes this brew special."

Working with Dough Daddy Brewery brought additional expertise to the table. "Getting to see a large-scale brewery in action was incredible," co-owner Nathan added. "The crew was very welcoming and made me feel like part of the team during brew day."

The Awakening: Details About the Beer

"The Awakening" is a brown ale, dark in color and rich in maltiness, making it a quintessential wintertime beer. However, its easy-drinking nature and touch of springtime sweetness from the honey make it a perfect fit for Groundhog Day. "It’s a beer that reminds us of winter but gives a hint of spring."

For now, "The Awakening" is a limited release, but they hinted that it could be added to the rotation if it goes over well.

Groundhog Day Celebrations

The Groundhog Day festivities provide the perfect backdrop for the beer’s launch. Last year, PBC offered limited-release ‘the great debate’ beers—a Kolsch named ‘Early Spring’ and a Coffee Stout called ‘Six More Weeks.’ People loved trying both and voting for their favorite while discussing Phil’s prediction, the owners recalled. This year, they wanted to do something different but still stick to the spirit of Groundhog Day.

Punxsutawney Brewing Company will be set up in Barclay Square on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Groundhog weekend, serving drafts, selling four-packs and various brewery merchandise items. Local businesses will also carry four-packs for those wanting to avoid the crowds. 

Community and Collaboration Impact

The community’s enthusiasm has been instrumental. "The local businesses have embraced us with open arms, selling our beer and inviting us to do collaborative events," the owners noted. "The people we’ve met at festivals and events are so excited about the growth of craft beer in Punxsutawney. It’s been great to see."

While there are no immediate plans for another collaboration with Dough Daddy, the door remains open. "We love working with Dough Daddy and would welcome another collaboration with them!" 

Looking Ahead

Punxsutawney Brewing Company is already planning something special for summer 2025, and encourages everyone to keep an eye on their social media pages for more information!

As for the craft beer scene in Punxsutawney, the outlook is bright. "The craft beer scene has really taken off in our area," they stated. "Punxsutawney went from not having any breweries to having two breweries and a cidery in the course of a year. Breweries bring people together for a good time and a shared interest, and we’re excited to be part of that growth."

"The Awakening" will be available at Groundhog Days in the Park and select local establishments. Don’t miss your chance to raise a glass to Punxsutawney Phil and this exciting new brew! 

For a complete list of locations carrying PBC beers, check their Facebook or Instagram pages, or punxsybrewco.com. 

Dec. 2, 2024

Officially launching in September 2023, this distribution-only brewing company has made a splash in the local beer scene, proving that you don’t need a large taproom to make an impact. For PBC, 2024 was a year of learning, growth, and refinement. As a young business, the team dedicated themselves to perfecting their craft by fine-tuning recipes, experimenting with new flavors, and upgrading equipment to triple their brewing capacity. This allowed them to keep pace with the high demand for their signature brews. 

But, their journey didn’t just begin in 2023. Back in 2010, Punxsutawney resident Carl Martin received a homebrew kit as a gift, unknowingly planting the seed for what would become Punxsutawney Brewing Company. Three years later, Martin met Nathan Croyle, another homebrewer with a passion for crafting beer. In 2015, they registered the name Punxsutawney Brewing Company, dreaming of one day opening a brewery. While the dream brewed in the background, the duo stayed active in the local beer scene, home brewing and hosting events at Punxsy Pizza. In 2021, Austin Wolfe joined the crew, reigniting plans for the brewery. Finally, on September 7, 2023, the dream became reality as Punxsutawney Brewing Company was officially licensed​. 

As a distribution-only brewing company, PBC takes a unique approach. Their beers, meticulously brewed in a small garage outside of town, are distributed to an ever-growing list of local establishments. “PBC is an ‘all hands on deck’ kind of business. Our wives play a big role.” Whether it’s canning and labeling each brew by hand, designing artwork for their products, offering valuable input during tasting sessions, or serving customers at events, wives Tara Martin, Deena Croyle and Delaney Wolfe are intricately involved in the inner-workings of the brewery. 

Their first Groundhog Day celebration was nothing short of extraordinary. Centered in Barclay Square with their own vendor stand, PBC embraced the town’s festive spirit and showcased their beers to enthusiastic crowds. The weekend turned into a massive success, with fans flocking to taste the newly-released brews. “The Burrow sold out of five kegs of Mostly Cloudy with a Chance of Hops,” and customers couldn’t get enough of the other aptly weather-named creations like “Downdraft” and “Early Spring.” By the afternoon of the final day, PBC had completely sold out of beer both in cans and on tap. For the PBC crew, the event was an opportunity to meet people, share their story, and introduce the community to their craft​. 

Beyond Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Brewing Company poured joy into other local events like the Festival in the Park over the Fourth of July, Music in the Park concerts throughout summer, and the Blues and Brews Fest. They also ventured outside of town for events like the Colonel Drake Crawl in Venango County, and several events in neighboring Clarion County.

PBC brews are on tap at several locations throughout Jefferson, Indiana, and Clearfield Counties, including Punxsy Pizza, The Burrow, Punxsutawney Country Club, Rossiter American Legion, The Winery at Wilcox and The Toasted Monkey. They also offer a limited supply of 4-pack cans. These hand-canned brews have become highly sought after, often selling out as quickly as they’re stocked.

Looking ahead, Punxsutawney Brewing Company is excited to continue growing, with plans to expand to new locations and increase their canned product line. For now, they’re enjoying the ride and sharing their passion for craft beer with their community and beyond.

Discover their brews and find out where to grab a pint or a 4-pack at: punxsybrewco.com -> Where To Find Us, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. 

Raise a glass with Punxsutawney Brewing Company! 

Here’s to one incredible year—and many more to come!