Bar food takes a step up: What you’ll find at the new restaurant inside Axemann Brewery

When Spring Township’s Axemann Brewery found itself in need of a new on-site restaurant after The Blonde Bistro vacated the brewery’s space, it was just luck that brewery owner Rod Stahl had already connected with Justin Leiter, chef and prior owner of Red Horse Tavern, which closed its doors earlier this year.

“It really was just a coincidence, the timing. When we were going to make the change from (The Blonde Bistro), it happened that Justin was leaving the Red Horse Tavern. We hadn’t even been talking at that point, so he was closing regardless, but I reached out to him,” Stahl said.

During the conversation, he learned that Leiter was hoping to stay in the food industry, but was looking for something different, something more similar to a food truck. The restaurant space within Axemann Brewery — which is rented by the restaurant and acts as a separate business from the brewery, providing counter service-only to patrons — seemed like a perfect fit.

“The kitchen there is basically a food truck without wheels,” said Stahl.

Now, The Smokey Axe Grille, which opened in July, offers “craft food for craft beer,” giving traditional bar foods an upgrade with unique touches that Stahl said are going over well with diners.

“(Leiter) makes a burger that’s topped with some of his brisket. He’s fairly well known for his brisket sandwich and then he started making a burger with brisket on top of the burger, and onions. That’s one of my favorites,” Stahl said. In addition to brisket, the christened Dutton burger is also topped with an onion jam, pepper jack cheese and adobe mayo.

Other favorites Stahl said to watch for include the Mexican street corn dip, made with grilled corn, cream cheese, queso fresco and chili oil, and served with tortilla chips, and a buffalo chicken BLT, which incorporates pulled buffalo chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and a ranch slaw. In addition to appetizers, burgers and sandwiches, the Smokey Axe Grille menu also includes a small selection of salads and children’s meals.

Beyond the new restaurant, visitors to Axemann Brewery will also find other new offerings on tap, including new beer options. Stahl mentioned a new variety pack of beers available for purchase, as well as a new beer that’s a collaboration with Big Spring Spirits, also in Bellefonte.

“The (Big Spring Spirits) distiller actually came up and brewed with us, because he is also a brewer, and we brewed a specialty beer, a Baltic porter, which we aged in some of their bourbon barrels. We’re putting that out as a premium product that’s going to be in large, 750-milliliter bottles with corks and cages,” Stahl said. He expects the new Baltic porter to be available by October.

The brewery also plans to start holding tailgate-themed events during Penn State game days.

For more information about Axemann Brewery and upcoming events, visit www.axemannbrewery.com. To see the full Smokey Axe Grille menu, visit www.smokeyaxegrille.com.

Both businesses are located at 2042 Axemann Road in Bellefonte. Axemann Brewery is open Wednesday and Thursday, 4-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. The Smokey Axe Grille is open 4-9 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.

This story was originally published September 17, 2022 at 6:00 AM.