EMMAUS, Pa. — A community with many avid beer heads just got another option in a shake-up to the town's brewery scene.
Easton-area favorite Weyerbacher Brewing opened its Emmaus taproom on the first day of the month at 518 Bank St., the former location of the popular Funk Brewing.
While the Easton Weyerbacher has a different draft list than its Easton taproom, it still features many rich brews, some with a trademark high-alcohol content.
The new location has scheduled live music events and community fundraisers, with plans to use an attached entertainment room for more events in the future.
"It's been great because we just have more people in town. So we've seen a whole new clientele that wasn't normally Funk people that I've got to know for last three years."Flavor Nation owner Chris Arranz
Despite Funk Brewing leaving the location, Flavor Nation food truck still is there, partnering with Weyerbacher for some of its events and updating its suggestion-taking menu week to week.
"It's been great because we just have more people in town," Flavor Nation owner Chris Arranz said.
"So we've seen a whole new clientele that wasn't normally Funk people that I've got to know for last three years."
Arranz described the offerings as a middle ground between the IPAs of Funk and the more Belgian-style brews such as those nearby Yergeys Brewing has.
The stop seeks to be a sports stop as well as a taproom for local brews, with a projected view for Phillies games and other events. Arranz said it hopes to lean into it more in the future.
"It's a $20 billion industry," Arranz said.
"They're doing something right. So why can't we just have a little bit of it? And people love the Phillies. I mean, we've been here three days, and we have four or five tables come just to kind of sit and watch the Phillies. So not a bad thing."
'They really know their stuff'
Weyerbacher was acquired in 2022 by the former chief executive officer of Pittsburgh Brewing following a bankruptcy filing that year.
The pair of Diane Cameron and Will Frank have been regulars at the location for more than two years, and say they now are excited.
"They came down with all their heavy hitters."Customer Will Frank
"They came down with all their heavy hitters," Frank said. But he said he wished for an expanded draft offering.
Cameron said, "They really know their stuff. And so we're so happy they're here."
Emmaus is a popular town for drinkers, with Yergey Brewing and Funk Brewing taprooms, along with Red Balloon Cider, Triple Sun Spirits and other bars nearby.
What happened to Funk Brewing then? Don't worry, it's still around right nearby.
The new Funk Brewing taproom sits at 19 S. 6th St., Emmaus, and is open Thursday through Sunday right across from the oft-maligned empty Turkey Hill lot.
During Thursday last week, the new Funk was a well-attended spot, with many locals and beer lovers taking in the new location.
