Most breweries heat their kettle with gas or steam. Ours runs on wood, the same fuel that has been feeding our smokers since 2012. It is a slower, less forgiving way to brew, and it is the reason we are the only wood-fired brewery in the state.
Detwiler Brewing and Stampede Barbecue share the same owners and the same building. The brewery makes traditional, sessionable ales that go well with brisket and ribs, along with a wild-fermented cider.
The tap list changes throughout the year. If you are coming for a specific beer, call the restaurant ahead of time to check that it is pouring.
Detwiler ales start with malted barley that is grown and malted in Pennsylvania, much of it organic, and water drawn from a deep well on the property. The mash rests for ninety minutes before the wort goes back to the wood-fired kettle for the boil.
Fermentation follows an old method called drop fermentation. The beer starts in open fermenters, and after about forty hours it is dropped into seasoned oak vats, which gives the ales their butterscotch and toffee notes. After two more days in oak, the beer is casked to condition and is poured by hand pump at the bar.
The brewery keeps to traditional styles, so you will not find IPAs or sours on the list. Read more about the brewery on the Detwiler Brewing website.
The wood. Firewood is stacked outside the brewhouse, the same fuel that feeds our smokers.
The fire. A wood fire burns in the firebox under the brick kettle.
The mash. Pennsylvania malted barley goes into the mash and rests for ninety minutes.
The boil. The wort goes back to the wood-fired kettle to boil.
Open fermentation. The beer starts fermenting in open fermenters.
Oak vats. After about forty hours it drops into seasoned oak vats, then goes to cask.
Alongside the ales we ferment cider with wild yeast instead of a packaged culture. Because of that, each batch tastes a little different. Ask at the bar which cider is pouring when you visit.
Detwiler Brewing is inside Stampede Barbecue at 4372 Morgantown Road in Mohnton, in Berks County, about 20 minutes from Reading. Ales and cider are poured at the bar during restaurant hours, Wednesday through Saturday, alongside the full barbecue menu.
Detwiler Brewing has its own website with the full brewing story and the current beer menu.
Visit DetwilerBrewing.com
Still have a question? Call (610) 401-0900
Detwiler Brewing is inside Stampede Barbecue at 4372 Morgantown Road in Mohnton, PA, in Berks County. It is about 20 minutes from Reading.
Yes. Detwiler heats its brew kettle with a wood fire instead of gas or steam, and it is the only wood-fired brewery in Pennsylvania. It has been brewing since 2022.
Cask ale is beer that finishes conditioning in the cask and is served without added carbonation. Detwiler ales spend two days in oak vats, then go into casks and are poured by hand pump at the bar.
No. The brewery keeps to traditional styles. The list includes a golden ale, a porter, a nut brown ale, a seasonal summer ale and a wild-fermented cider.
Yes. Detwiler ales and cider are poured at the bar inside Stampede Barbecue, so you can order from the full barbecue menu while you drink.
The bar is open during restaurant hours. Wednesday and Thursday 11 AM to 8 PM, and Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM. It is closed Sunday to Tuesday.
We host folk, bluegrass and square dances in Mohnton, usually on a Friday or Saturday evening, and there is no cover charge.
