This review is long overdue... I realized I never actually left one after my visit. The distillery is a bit off the beaten path, but that's part of the charm. I really liked the décor and overall vibe, both inside and outside. It's a great setting and well worth seeking out. A friend and I spent an afternoon checking out a few local distilleries and breweries, and Big Spring Spirits really stood out. We did a spirits flight, and while everything was well done, the straight rye whiskey was easily my favorite. It was surprisingly busy for a weekday afternoon, but the staff never missed a beat. Everyone was moving, clearly enjoying what they do, and they were happy to answer questions and talk through the spirits without making it feel rushed. I ended up buying a bottle of the rye to bring back home to California. I also just found out they've opened a tasting room in State College, which means it's officially on my list for the next time I'm back in PA. read more

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Always love the vibes and the drinks are amazing. It's a great place to go if you like a fancy drink and a chat. read more

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I was walking my pup at Talleyrand Park when the sound of live music drew me to this distillery. They have a huge outdoor space with picnic tables, so we stopped by over. All the employees here are huge dog lovers, so my pup really enjoyed it here too. The live music was also amazing and created such a fun, summer vibe while sipping on some drinks. We grabbed a picnic table and ordered multiple drinks. I had the Strawberry Old Fashioned ($12), which was strong and refreshing. Our table also shared a Charcuterie Board for 4 ($36). Such a great spot to hang with a group or solo. We ended up staying until closing. read more

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Continue to love this place! Friendly bartenders who know their craft, beautiful setting both inside and out, and noshes are always on point. Grab a friend and head out to enjoy the afternoon at this amazing distillery. They also have many events in the evening that I would always be at if it just weren't a little far for me. read more

Big Spring Spirits - Tuscan white bean dip - Distilleries Near Me - Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

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The restaurant is a bit hard to find if you are not familiar with the area. But once you do, you are in for a treat. Inside they have shelves of different liquors, cocktails, and mixes that they make. The inside seating is nice, several tables, however we opted for outside seating. The back patio was very clean, comfortable, and scenic. It overlooks railroad tracks and what appears to be a playground on the other side of them. The big menu you are handed is not for food, but drinks. The second, smaller menu, has some shareable items on the front and some handheld items on the back. We opted for the shareable side. The food itself was packed full of flavor, seasoned perfectly, and portioned to be just the right size as well. Especially for sharing. When we were greeted, the server brought us water and a sample of one of the cocktails on the menu. If you wanted to try something, they would bring out samples. I really liked this. Overall, it was a great evening out, with fun company that I hadn't seen in a long time, and the location was perfect. read more

Big Spring Spirits - Blueberry Gin Mojito - Distilleries Near Me - Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

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I've been to Big Springs a few times now, various times of year, but also had their spirits at other local restaurants and bars. As someone who can't really drink much beer anymore, I have grown to LOVE cocktails and really appreciate when a place gets creative. They make a few types of spirits and they're all pretty average on their own/for sipping, so for me the biggest draw to this location is their wonderful cocktail menu. It's both extensive and impressive! They have some more typical cocktail flavors, as well as local/seasonal cocktails that mix things up a bit. Their menu changes pretty frequently but the special cocktail of the day last time I went was a passion fruit mai tai and, wow, it was good. I still haven't made it through their entire cocktail menu but I will say that none of the drinks I've tried so far were disappointing! In addition to the creative menu, they are also pretty fairly priced ($6-12) and that's nice for craft cocktails. Personally, I'd expect most places to range from $10-16 for cocktails like this so it does seem like a great deal and a good way to support local restaurants and distilleries! A few cons- this location is a 20-min drive from State College but it's definitely worth it every now and then. They have lots of events (weekly trivia, pub/informational events) so it's probably worth checking their calendar on Facebook just in case. A friend and I made the drive out on a Tuesday for happy hour, forgetting about that event and of course they had zero tables open and we were turned away. They DO take reservations on nights like that (when there is an event), but typically they don't do reservations, so just take that into account before you make the trek. Food-wise, they have a little kitchen setup with another local chef called Nomad Kitchen. I think they serve food every day and it's usually Nomad, but it may vary some (can't remember). We've had their Mediterranean platter and hummus, both delicious. Their other food options look good but are quite pricy, so I haven't worked up the courage for that yet. But good to know it's there in case you need a little more sustenance. Their newly reinstated happy hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so I'm looking forward to heading back out for those. This is a great place to drink and hang out in Centre County, so if you are new to the area or just passing through, I highly recommend you make the trip and get a drink! read more

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Absolutely delicious spirits and cocktails. Really cool setup and a great place for a day trip. Had an amazing mojito (among other cocktails). Nestled in the country, such a great place!! read more

Always delicious. Their house cocktails are a bit sweet for me, but they've always made me a great "old-fashioned" old fashioned. And the food is quite good. It runs a little expensive for the region, but it tends to be of a quality that leaves me happy to pay the price read more

I visited this site yesterday when my boyfriend and I were visiting his Alma Mater. We decided to take the tour which shows you around and gives you a little history regarding the distillery. The tour lasted about 30mins. Once the tour was over, you were able to try three of their spirits and you also get one cocktail included in the total. I tried the Gin, Peach Whiskey, and coconut rum; all which were delicious. My favorite was the coconut rum. My boyfriend tried the spiced rum and that one was great as well. The coconut mango monito was what I selected for my cocktail and I 100% will definitely recommend. It was so delicious! They also sell some of their cocktails in a bottle which I would recommend as well. It's super delicious. As far as the tour and staff goes, Phil the distiller was very knowledgeable and passionate about his job which made it fun and engaging. All of the staff were super pleasant. Overall, we had a great experience. read more

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Vibes were immaculate around Christmas. Would go again and recommend to a friend if you are in the area.

We discovered BSS before we moved to Bellefonte from New York. From the first visit, we realized we had found THE PLACE for the best uniquely-crafted drinks! Since moving to the area, we have been regulars there, trying each drink of the month, partaking in Trivia Night and enjoying the indoor and outdoor atmosphere. The service is always wonderful and the staff friendly and welcoming. We do miss some of the menu items that were offered by Nomad Kitchen (especially the hummus). read more

Big Spring Spirits - Distilleries Near Me - Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

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We stopped at Big Spring late on a Friday to check it out. Extensive offerings and good quality spirits and cocktails. We sat on the patio outside on a beautiful night. We were greeted with a sample of their special cocktail. I got a tasting flight of cocktails. This was a really great way to try something new and figure out what I liked best. I then got a Coaly: The Milesburg Mule. Delicious. We snacked on the honey sriracha mixed nuts, which were tasty. Service was attentive, friendly, and helpful. We also purchased a bottle of gin that we tasted to take home. Lots of parking. Highly recommend. read more

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Can't say enough good things about Big Spring Spirits. The food, the drinks, the ambience, the service, everything. Their Tuesday Wednesday happy hour is a great deal. Nomad kitchen does the food and it truly won me over. The menu changes monthly. We tried the French picnic for two, the Mediterranean trio, the sesame noodles, the blueberry toast, and the chocolate dessert board. Loved every bite! The grassy area outside is dog friendly too! Their flights are $7 for a tasting of any 6 of their several cocktail options. Fun and affordable way to try many different drinks! I will definitely be back! Loved bringing friends for a relaxing and delicious evening on their patio. read more

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Great light food and drinks, a good place to meet up with friends. Fantastic selection of drinks.

Big springs is a little tricky to review because they really focus hard on their cocktails-which makes perfect sense! But just a heads up that the four stars is really for their cocktails alone-which are fantastic! Super creative and always presented in a beautiful way. I like that they have different "categories" that you can choose from, from the cheapest $5 things you'd usually get at a bar, all the way up to some extravagant and really excellent creations. They also give you a little cocktail sample once you arrive which is so neat. Their beer and food selection could use help, which i almost feel guilty writing about since it really is a cocktail venue and i should probably be happy with just that. One issue it bugs me is even though they have beer listed, i have yet to encounter a server who even knows what's on tap, so they always have to go check. The service in general is slow, so this makes things even slower. In classic central pa fashion, they use external people for food, which can be good but can also he bad and it's hard to know what to expect. They usually get crazy busy on weekend nights, especially if it's cold and no seating outside. Make sure you show up early or be prepared to wait!! read more

Great place. Hidden gem. Great vibe. Can't wait to visit you on the Pittsburgh Highline!

This is probably one of the best distilleries I've been to! Had a flight of mixed cocktails that were all fabulous and then had a mixed drink also fabulous I would go back again and again and everything was delicious. read more

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The world needs more restaurants like Big Spring Spirits. My parents had gone the night prior and were so pleased that we returned for lunch the next day. The staff was even kind enough to remember them! The menu was small but curated with care. I could tell the ingredients were locally sourced and fresh. We enjoyed sitting outside and soaking up the vibes in the sunshine. While we didn't get any drinks, the sample we were provided of their faux margarita was delicious and I would definitely return to get a drink from their extensive drink menu. read more

Big Spring Spirits - Mediterranean Platter - Distilleries Near Me - Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

The absolute best place for cocktails in all of state college. They always have some fun themed cocktails for whatever occasion. I went around Halloween and they had an entire menu of Halloween themed cocktails to choose from and they're always delicious. I also really like their gin and purchase it frequently at the store though it can be pricey. read more

This place is a great spot for drinks and snacks in Centre County! I've stopped in twice now-- once for trivia and another time for drinks. The trivia night was a lot of fun, and they score teams of four for prizes. Both times our server offered a free sample of the cocktail on draft, which was a nice way to begin the evening. Big Spring has a spacious indoor bar area with lovely decor, and a large outdoor patio for when the weather is good. The drinks are interesting and flavorful, and the mock tails are good too! I tried a fig-vinegar soda that absolutely knocked my socks off. The slight kick from the vinegar made it taste like a cocktail, even though it was zero-proof. If you go with a group, I cannot recommend the french picnic board enough; it has all the perfect flavors, textures and tastes for your group. read more

Big Spring Spirits - French Picnic Plate and Seasoned Popcorn - Distilleries Near Me - Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

A perfect place to hang out chat with friends in a backyard garden feel :) I love the outdoor area they have ~ minus the mosquitoes ~ would be so much better if there is some kind of repellent or bug zapper to help with the mosquitoes.. especially when the sun is going down. The food they have is all from the Nomad. But like I said really a cute spot. Would definitely be coming back with friends in the summer time. read more

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Big Spring is the happiest place on earth (or at least, in the State College area). There is nowhere else like it. The ambiance and service are amazing, the drinks and food are delicious, and it's a more grown-up vibe compared to most of the bars in downtown State College. I could (and have) spent hours in this place. I highly recommend the spicy rainbow sherbet (photo below, pre-COVID) and the Pink Lloyd. Delicious! read more

Big Spring Spirits - Spicy rainbow sherbet - Distilleries Near Me - Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

Stop the Tequila! Loved their bourbons and gins. Great food and service. Very comfortable setting. But the tequila is the worst I've ever had, and that's my favorite spirit. Leave that to our neighbors to the south. You don't have to be good at every liquor there is. I would well rather have a "margarita" made with a quality bourbon than a poor tequila. It has a sharp chlorine finish to it, nasty for anyone. Besides, you could ruin the pallet of a novice tequila drinker. Maybe call it something else, like cactus liquor. But it's not Tequila, that's for sure. read more

Big Spring Spirits - Wonderful decor - Distilleries Near Me - Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

Favorite place for THE BEST cocktails! Enjoy either an expertly crafted classic cocktail or explore one of the unique creations. Fantastic local spot read more

Their hours start at noon on Sundays. Came in with wifey, has a Spiced Cinder (hot) and she had their Centrepolitan. Also ordered their tapas board. It was the perfect amount of food and everything on the boarf was delicious. She really enjoyed her cocktail and although I am generally not a gin drinker, the Spiced Cinder wad literally warm mulled apple cider and was delicious. Decor and vibe were fantastic and the staff is very knowledgeable. Thank you for a great experience! 5/7, perfect score! Will definitely come back when next in Centre county. read more

We stopped here along the way of our road trip so wasn't sure what to expect. We sat outside which was great because we were traveling with two small kids so they got to run around in the grass for a few minutes. We got samples of their tap cocktail right away. Was super tasty. Our drinks were yummy! The interior was very eclectic. Loved how it was decorated! We ordered a few apps. Everything was great! Highly recommend getting the deviled eggs and goat cheese toast read more

everything i've tried here has been good, from drinks to food. i love this place. service is generally attentive. the ambiance is great too. has a nice outdoor seating area as well read more

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This is a wonderful place to get amazing mixed drinks And food. They distill their own alcohol and their drinks or like artwork. All the food is made from scratch. You can watch them make your food and drinks if you wish. The manager at this facility was knowledgeable, friendly, and kind. To get the full enjoyment from this place I recommend you Uber or Lyft there. read more

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Great atmosphere and very extensive craft cocktail menu. Pleasant staff. We visit regularly and always have a great time. Highly recommended this place. read more

Drinks were great. Food was great. Staff was great. We were visiting from out of town and did the distillery tour for $15 per person(30 mins). It comes with a mixed drink to take on the tour and a 3 liquor tasting after, so it basically paid for itself plus was educational(thanks Phil). I tried the whiskeys and rums and wound up leaving with 3 bottles and a tshirt. They had some interesting liquor concoctions on tap. Bartender made an excellent old fashioned. We were originally planning on just doing the tour, grabbing a drink, and then going elsewhere for dinner but instead we wound up trying the pretzels, charcuterie, and fondue while bellied up to the bar, no regrets. Live music from some locals doing an Irish jam session was a very nice surprise. This was an unexpected treat for such a small middle of the state town. Great work to the whole team there and thank you. read more

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Simply amazing! My husband and I went on a Saturday evening during COVID. There is ample seating outside and the indoors is open. The staff a wearing mask. This is definitely a Bellefonte gem. There is a food truck at the entrance selling food and the drinks are amazing and unique. They have some for everyone from traditional to seasonal drinks. I literally don't have anything bad to say. They sell the liquor by the bottle-again lots of options. I will definitely be back. read more

Big Spring Spirits - Menu - Distilleries Near Me - Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

Our drinks and food were artfully presented! We stopped by to purchase a couple bottles of their rum and gin for gifts (and ourselves), and decided to stay for early afternoon drinks and small bites. We tried the strawberry basil cosmo, " Our Tai " and a passion fruit " Collins ". Well made fresh tasting cocktails that went well with our Mediterranean variety plate and warm spinach dips. Again, everything tasted fresh with flavors that were unusual but comfortable. Everyone who works there seems happy to be there! My friends live in that area so they'll become regulars- I'm planning to return when visiting again next month! read more

The spirits, craft cocktails and food are always spot on!

I look forward to coming here every Thanksgiving, when I'm in State College with family. My goal is to try every drink on their menu. So far, my top 2 favorite drinks are the I Wish Coffee and the Pickled Governor. Their Irish Coffee is the best I've had. Better than the famous Buena Vista Irish Coffee in San Francisco. Their pickled martini is also the best I've had. The Barrel 1 pickle brine really makes it pop. If you're in the area or not, it's totally worth the trip! read more

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I love coming here! The atmosphere, drinks and staff are all incredible. The outdoor seating is great with a view of the park. There are drinks for every taste. If you're unsure of what to order the servers are full of suggestions. Almost every drink I've had has been delicious. Just be aware that they really pack a punch with the alcohol content. Definitely a Centre County staple. read more

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Great place, fantastic atmosphere. Very nice inside, very spacious outside. Nice to be able to bring your dogs and sit outside. Very good service. Great drinks, can't wait to go back. read more

One of my favorite places to go when I'm home. Amazing ambiance and the most perfect place to grab drinks with friends. They have a nice patio to use in the summer and a really beautiful indoor space. Everyone there is so kind and the drinks are fantastic. My only wish is that they had a bigger space! Because it's so good, it fills up really quick so on a weekend, it may be easy to be turned away. read more

An easy 5 out of 5 stars. I am from State College, but moved to NJ 7 years ago. I came back to PA to visit my childhood best friends recently and they took me to Big Spring. I am so glad they did! Not only does Big Spring just LOOK cool (they have mismatched chairs, which I think is too cool), the food and cocktails were outstanding. I ordered the blueberry gin mojito, which was as tasty as it was pretty, and the BLT. I also love that the establishment had a very science-centric vibe (for example, they have regular "Science Pubs" where you drink and talk science ... so cool). I hope to be back when I'm back in Bellefonte/State College! read more

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Highly recommend this place. We went during the winter and was able to enjoy ourselves outside by the fire. So many greats options I think I had an ole fashioned and my wife had a seasonal drink. read more

Great place to hang out! They have trivia and other event/theme nights, an expansive craft cocktail list, and an interesting rotating menu of foods. They also have mocktails and house-made sodas. As for food, we tried the pretzel and the truffle popcorn and both were good snacks; we would like to go back and try some larger dishes when we're hungrier. The staff is friendly, and the ambiance is hip but unassuming. read more