When Governor Wolf signed ACT 39 into law, Pennsylvanians knew to expect gas stations to be selling six packs of beer, Grocery Stores to sell wine and Liquor stores to be open on holidays. One aspect of the law that might have flown under the radar was the new ability of breweries to sell beer directly to customers at weekly farmers’ markets. One such market, the Ambler Farmers’ Market, will debut this facet of the law this coming Saturday, August 13th!
Ambler’s own Forest and Main Brewing Company will be at market with two beers in 32oz “Crowlers” for sale at $12 dollars each and samples of both beers to try! Yes, samples of beer at a farmers’ market, who knew? And listen, don’t worry that it’s from 9 am to 1 pm – it’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right? The first “Crowler”, Banjo, is a Saison brewed with cucumber and cantaloupe. The other, Manubrium, is a pale ale, dry hopped and conditioned on blueberries. And of course…both are locally brewed just steps away from the Market!
Brewers Dan Endicott and Gerard Olsen of Forest & Main have been trying to offer their beers at farmers’ markets for a while and are thrilled that the idea is finally coming to fruition. “We are beyond excited to be able to sell our beer at Ambler’s farmers market. It’s something we’ve wanted to do for a long time”, said Endicott. “Locally brewed beer at a Market that prides itself on locally sourced food and artisan goods is a perfect fit”.
Market manager, Ben Bergman, agrees: “Forest & Main is a venerated Brewery and an Ambler institution. Obviously, when the law changed and allowed breweries to sell at Farmers’ Markets, we jumped at the chance to have them. We think it’s a game-changer”.
The Ambler Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays, from 9 am to 1 pm in the parking lot of Trax Restaurant and Cafe on Butler Ave. This Saturday, due to the Ambler Bike Race, Butler Ave. will be closed. Here are alternate directions to the market –
From points North and East of the market (Lower Gwynedd, Upper Dublin, Route 309): Follow Bethlehem Pike to Mt. Pleasant Ave, follow Mt. Pleasant Ave to LEFT on Maple Ave (3rd stop sign, just past rail road tracks). Maple Avenue dead ends at Butler Ave, Market will be on your immediate left (you may park on Maple).
From points South of the market (Flourtown, Fort Washington): Follow Bethlehem Pike to Morris Road to RIGHT on Butler Pike.
From points West of the market (Blue Bell, Whitemarsh): proceed as usual.
There will be detour signs to follow.