12/29/2023 0 Comments Black forest brewery paIn 2017, the Harters hired former student Eric Sears as the current bar manager, one of the greatest student-and-mentor successes. Then she started to reconnect with some of her former students who are now musicians for the brewery’s entertainment, joined with students who are now business owners for promotions, and partnered with a former student to host special events and showcase the beauty of the property. “For the first year it was the ‘Bob and me’ show,” said Denise. The couple moved into the 1777 house on March 1, 2014, and the Black Forest Brewery opened nine months later. It was always a combination, a bed-and-breakfast and a brewery,” said Bob. “We put a lot of time into putting a business plan together and getting finances. Their ironclad business plan needed a special exception from the borough zoning board and met with some pushback from community members, who worried about a brewpub in a residential area. The borough was super easy to work with,” said Denise. We walked in the door, and everything was restored and in great shape. Mugs mounted ready for use by the “mug club” members.Īfter considering locations in Jim Thorpe, East Tamaqua, and Marietta, the couple found the 1777 Americana Inn. “Our friends thought we were nuts,” said Denise. Soon, his reluctance faded, and the couple spent two years looking for a property that could house guests and a brewery. He had only been a homebrewer for 10 years, and both had comfortable careers. The combo B&B brewery was Denise’s idea she proposed it, and Bob was slightly hesitant. “We always knew we wanted a room with a brew,” said Denise. A family affair amongst Bob Harter and his sons, the idea for Black Forest Brewery began beside a campfire on the Black Forest Trail, a 42-mile loop through Tiadaghton State Forest in Washington Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.īut, before there could be a brewery, there needed to be a B&B. His passion grew, and he transitioned to all-grain brewing and turned his garage into a makeshift brewery. He started brewing beer as a hobby in 2002 with a starter kit. “I taught the entire freshman class, so I got the kids when they came in to the high school, and I got to put on their cap and gowns when they graduated.”īob spent 30 years in information technology as a network engineer for small companies and eventually moved on to project management and contracting work. “I pretty much did everything they asked me to do,” said Denise. She began her career in the admissions department at Alvernia College, and then took a teaching position at Governor Mifflin Middle School until she left to raise the couple’s three boys.Īfter an 11-year hiatus, she returned to teaching and immersed herself in the student classes as adviser and cheerleading coach. Denise and Bob Harter outside the Black Forest Brewery.ĭenise graduated with a degree in home economics education (now known as family and consumer sciences) in 1983 from Misericordia University.
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