Elk Creek Cafe + Ale Works

With fresh,  home-brewed beers consisting of names such as Big Trout Oat Stout, WinkleBlink Ale, and Hairy John's IPA, you know from the get-go that this place has got some personality! Elk Creek Cafe + Ale Works is a hidden gem located off of the main street in Millheim, Pa.  About a 20-25 minute drive from State College, this refreshing brew pub is worth the visit.


Elk Creek is committed to the community by supporting local and sustainable farms.


A bit about the beers:

• Eight beers on tap (two being seasonal); all brewed in-house.
• Reasonably priced; $3 a pint; $8 to sample each of the eight beers on tap.
• They are delicious.

Moving on to the food:

• Specializing in Nouveau Dutchie Cuisine, which means their is a focus on local, Central Pennsylvania ingredients and from-scratch preparation.
• The menu includes tapas, sandwiches, salads, and entrees (The Elk Creek Burger was my choice).
• The food is fresh (The burger contained local pasture-raised beef on a Gemelli bun with hand-cut fries and Stone Meadow cheese -Yum!)
• The service is extremely friendly (Mimi had extensive knowledge about the menu as well as a great sense of humor).

A piece on the entertainment:

• Local art decorates the walls.
• On Saturday nights, the cafe turns into a music hall with performances by local authentic Roots, Jazz, and Blues bands (Frog Holler was the band of choice last night).
• Thursday nights are Pub Jam hosted by local musicians.

Everything about Elk Creek Cafe + Ale Works makes you feel comfortably at home. The town of Millheim is very quaint, and a horse and buggy drive-by may even take place as you are on your way to or from dinner. If my blog has not convinced you yet, check out Elk Creek's website: http://www.elkcreekcafe.net/ . And if that does not persuade you to check out this hidden hotspot, you are missing out. 

Rating: 4.5/5 (Solid)

The 411:
Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks
100 West Main Street
PO Box 432
Millheim, PA 16854
(814) 349-8850

The Hours:

Wednesday + Thursday 4 pm - 10 pm

Friday + Satuday        12 pm - 11 pm

Sunday Brunch            11 am - 2 pm