The team starting up The Dead Canary Brewing Company hopes to fill a void that has been missing in Philipsburg for roughly 80 years when the microbrewery opens this fall. According to them, that is the last time a brewery operated in the old mountain town.
During those 80 years, Philipsburg has seen its share of ups and downs, but these young men hope their new venture adds to the growth that has been reshaping the community over the past few years, providing a gathering place for the area’s adults and a draw for visitors.
Head brewer Brent Baskin says he saw first-hand what a brew pub can mean to a small town in his hometown of Perkasie in Bucks County.
“I fell in love with beer because a craft brewery opened up there. It took me a while to realize what this feeling was, because there was never anything in this town that I was proud of or something that I just had to tell my friends about before—but that brewery made me want to do that. It made me excited to bring people there and show them this thing in the town I grew up in,” says Baskin. “So, part of it is hoping that the same sort of thing happens here. That people get excited, and they have something to be proud of. They can bring family and friends and be like, oh yeah, I live three blocks from here and that rules.”
The plan got rolling, like a barrel of beer, a few years back, when brewery partner Eric Kelmenson was in town visiting family. He noticed the building at 5 North Front Street that was once the home of a diner.
“I saw a lot of promise. You know it is a great community with a lot of gorgeous, historic, and largely abandoned property that was affordable. So, you could really do something. … And then you are like a stone’s throw from cool outdoorsy recreational stuff. So, I saw a lot of potential. I bought the building like a year later, and I started thinking what it would take to get a brewery in Philipsburg again,” says Kelmenson.
He then connected with Baskin, who has been brewing ever since he was inspired by the craft brewers in his hometown.
“That’s when things really clicked,“ says Kelmenson. “Brent is modest, so I’ll tell you the truth about him. On the one hand, he is a smart brewer’s brewer, who knows the obscure and nerdy beer sh*t. … But he also is just like a chill and humble dude who realizes that this isn’t like Denver or San Diego. It’s not a crazy craft beer market, so it [the beer] has to be tailored to the market. So, Brent’s a perfect fit. Once I started talking to Brent, I realized we were on to something that could be really special.”
Baskin says he plans to serve some historic-style brews, with nods to Philipsburg in both the styles and the names of the ales they make. The brewery will likely start off with a five-tap system, keeping a rotating stable of fresh beer on hand. Expect a mix of traditional beer styles along with some progressive flavors to satisfy many different palates. Baskin isn’t afraid to try new things, often with great results.
“I swear, brewing with him, he’s somewhere in between a sous chief and a mad scientist. It is crazy the kind of stuff that goes into this—it’s cool,” says Elliott Lauder, who will be handling marketing.
The name of the brewery represents the town’s coal mining past, when miners carried caged canaries that were sensitive to deadly gases. If the canary died, the miners knew to leave quickly.
“So, just like the coal business, for better or for worse, isn’t what it used to be, we’re looking toward a new future and new enterprises in the community,” says Lauder. “So, by being part of that, we know, we are that dead canary that is coming back to life, hopefully, and showing the community that there is more to it than that was already here. That there is a cool future.”
Kelmenson, who also works in construction, has been busy turning the old historic building into an interesting and inviting space.
Much of the interior is furnished with upcycled and repurposed material such as the top of the bar, which is made of old doors.
“You find something, like these old doors for the bar top, and you find these awesome, cool items and you don’t know exactly what their role is or what their future purpose will be, but you know there is something in store for them,” says Kelmenson.
The team plans to offer some small food options and hopes to partner with food trucks nearby. For those who want to support the brewery, Mug Club memberships will be available on an annual and lifetime basis.
When the Dead Canary guys are ready to pour their first pints for the public, they hope the space will provide a place for community members to come together and enjoy each other’s company over a craft beverage or two. After all, that is something they find appealing themselves.
“So, I mean, part of it is a little selfish, like I work here all day, every day, and at the end of the day, I want to quench my thirst with craft beer,” says Kelmenson. “So, this is very much a community focus for a place where people can come and congregate and connect. Town was really missing that.” T&G
Staff writer Vincent Corso enjoys drinking local and meeting new people at central Pennsylvania’s many interesting establishments.
