Over the last year and a half, partners Tim Wickward and Rod Harman of Back Porch Brewing Inc. have taken their love for brewing beer and turned it into a money-making endeavor selling batches of craft beer by the can and keg to local restaurants and distributors.
The partners have a home-based operation in Carlisle where they concoct more than 17 types of regular and seasonal suds. Now they are taking their American dream to the next level by opening up a 6,000 sq. ft. brewery and restaurant at 133 N. Hanover St. in Carlisle.
“We’re both kind of tired of working for the man,” Wickward told What Now Philadelphia. “And when you’re doing something you love, it’s not work.”
To make their brewery dream a reality, Wickward and Harman raised over $21,000 with the help of their community on investing platform Mainvest after having trouble getting funding from banks during the pandemic.
They are currently waiting on their building plans and permits to be approved. Once those are issued, they’ll start renovating the leased building, which used to be a bookstore. With more than 25 plus years of maintenance and repair experience under both of their belts, Wickward and Harman will be the ones to build their brewery.
“We have also spent the last two years visiting other craft breweries in preparation of building our own, keeping tabs on local trends for what people want and know how to accommodate those trends,” the partners said.
Back Porch Brewing is shooting for an opening date of January or February of 2022.
The brewery’s decor will have a rustic back porch feel to pay homage to where they first started brewing beer. Back Porch Brewing will serve dishes you’d cook on the barbecue on your own back porch like burgers and brats, as well as other popular American fare. The brewery will also host live entertainment during the week and weekends.
“Carlisle PA has a lot of local talent and we plan to bring local talent to our brewery,” the partners said. “We want to join the amazing craft beer industry and bring more life and attraction to downtown Carlisle, PA. We want to be a part of Carlisle downtown becoming one of the greatest tourist attractions in Pennsylvania.”
Until the brewery officially opens, you can try some of Back Porch Brewing’s delectable brews like their Peanut Butter Chocolate Porter or Creekwater IPA at Carlisle joints like Market Cross Pub & Brewery or Hook and Flask Still Works.
“We continue to develop new recipes and refuse to make anything but great tasting beer.”
Learn more about Back Porch Brewing at www.backporchbrewinginc.com.
