Decor/service: nice small brewery. Parking seems to be pretty rough as we had to park on side street couple blocks away. The service was pretty bad. The food came out in a reasonable manner but our server couldn't have been any slower. 10-15 minutes before she came to take our order. Forgot to bring a drink, then spilled the drink. When we were done eating we sat there for a good 15-20 minutes until we grabbed another waitress to get our bill and to go while our server stood chatting with other guests the majority of the time we were there. Really a shame because the food was good. Plenty of allergy friendly options. Burger was cooked well and flavorful. Bacon could have been a little more crisp but not bad. Everyone else enjoyed their meals as well but the service really brought it down read more

What a gem! Ate at the bar and split the brussel sprouts appetizer (huge portion for two!) +split the Brie/apple/fig Jam burger that was a MESS in the BEST way!!! Also got a side of the mac and cheese which was good but just needed a lil extra salt :). Fries were awesome and waitresses behind the bar were so attentive! Would go back if we are in Ephrata again read more

Black Forest Brewery - Brie and apple burger with mac and cheese - Breweries Near Me - Ephrata, Pennsylvania

Quaint little brewery situated in downtown Ephrata with both indoor and outdoor (seasonal) seating. I stopped by for lunch on a Friday afternoon and was able to get a seat at a high top table for 4. Bar seating was completely full and the few other open tables they had available were 6-tops. The bartender was also my waitress and she was friendly, but also very busy. It took a little while for her to take my food order and I asked for a water with my meal, but the water never came. Nevertheless, the chipotle chicken salad I had was delicious. The grilled chicken thigh tasted very freshly grilled, the dressing was creamy and packed some heat, and the greens and rest of the vegetables were fresh as well. I had one of their beers, the kolsch, and I thought it was pretty crisp and refreshing. I did think the prices were a little high here for the size of the salad I received. I paid just under $30 before tip for the salad and one beer. They have two single stall bathrooms. The women's was clean. They have a small parking lot on the side of the building. read more

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Food was delicious. The small brewery atmosphere was nice. Service was great! I can't comment on the beer because O didn't have any. read more

Pleasantly surprised with the varied menu choices and beer selection...don't hesitate to try the shrimp and grits! and fish and chips!

We tried to have lunch here on Father's Day with our four kids but the server made one excuse after another as to why we couldn't sit. First she said we couldn't combine two tables despite many being empty, then she said we couldn't have four kids at one table, then she said we couldn't split up the parents. Finally we almost got her to let us sit but her eye rolling and terrible attitude was too much, we left. read more

My husband and I decided to bop around the Ephrata area last evening. This place was first up and it didn't disappoint! Such a cool place, which isn't huge, but they have a lot to offer. I definitely would love to come back when it's nicer to sit outdoors. The staff was super friendly and made some great suggestions whether it was on food or drink. They were quick to grab refills and food orders. The drinks were awesome and I love the fact that they use local spirits. I enjoyed the margarita and my husband enjoyed his beer and old fashioned. The food was phenom! For a small place they have quite the menu with a variety. If you can't find something, you're super picky! Also... I loved the fact that there were GF options, which can be a bit tricky to find at places. The chicken nachos were awesome and a healthy portion. We also shared the shrimp and they were lightly coated. Lastly, the Nashville hot Chicken bites were AMAZING! Seriously loved the fact that it had some zing to it and was a generous portion. Prices were totally fair. Overall, highly recommend!! read more

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While traveling we love to support small businesses or non chain restaurants. We arrived with 3 families with 11 people in total. We were told we could not be seated together so we even said we would be seated as 3 different groups. We were told we would be up talking to each other! While the place only had 8 total people inside. read more

Bad service. Black Forest Brewery might have the greatest beers in the world, but I wouldnt know as the service was so lacking that I couldn't place an order. I went inside and while waiting for my party, I used the bathroom. After I finished, I went back outside to wait on my party, and a server followed me and told me that bathrooms are for customers and I should leave. Five minutes later, I come back with my party, and receive no service. None of the servers come near us. I made contact with the server who shooed me out before, but he wouldn't accept our patronage. They get a star because the food and drink might be good, but whether it's because I'm not a local, or some other arbitrary reason, I wasn't allowed to eat there. read more

First visit to this little brewery with huge taste! Not only on the brews but the food! Reese and Eric were great, even gave us tips and tricks to enjoy our brews more. The onion petals were great and satisfied the food urge while drinking great brews. Definitely stop in. read more

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Stop by on the way to EPAC to see a show. Nice atmosphere, friendly service, and good food and beverages. Throughly enjoyed! read more

Black Forest Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Ephrata, Pennsylvania

This review is based solely on the beer and the service. I had their Altbier and the Kölsch. Both beers were done very well. The Alt was my favorite, as that is a hard beer to come by these days, especially done correctly. My only complaint would be that I will they had more German style beers and not IPA's on tap, but I guess that's par for the course these days unfortunately. I'll have to return when they have Dopplebock on tap and try the food. The bartenders were polite and attentive. It's good to see a German style brewery in the area since Stoudt's closed. read more

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Tiny little brewery located not far from Main Street. Small town feel when you walk-in, no more than ten craft beers on tap, and I believe it's attached or part of a B&B. The bartenders were very friendly, conversational and provided prompt service. They were actually the best part about the brewery. The menu sounded appetizing (your traditional American bar food) and we had every intention of eating dinner, but then we saw the food that nearby patrons ordered and we quickly changed our minds. The patron order the "special," which was fish (I can't remember what kind) and you could immediately see the dissatisfaction on their face. Once they cut through the fish, you could see that it was grey and mushy and not looking fresh. read more

Lovely little brewery ! The bartenders are really friendly. The beers are tasty. I really loved the creative cocktails. We just sent topped in for a drink so we didn't have any food because we just had eaten but it smelled amazing and the food looked awesome! When we're in the area next time we'll be stopping in and grab a bite to eat. The rosemary Collins was lovely and refreshing. So glad we came here! read more

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In town for an overnight trip and staying in an AirBnB not far and the person recommended it. The place itself is charming and very welcoming. The staff is fabulous - Jared is ahhhh-mazing! Super attentive, gave excellent recommendations, and took time for conversation. He seriously made me want to move here to be his friend. Everyone enjoyed their food - from appetizers to main courses - everything was popping with flavor. I would definitely come back here if I am in the area. My rose was yummy and my friends enjoyed their margaritas. Overall, an excellent choice! read more

Very nice intimate craft brewery with a dozen or so brews on tap. Looks like it is expanding the space very soon. Food is available but we didn't have any. The news we had were very good read more

Black Forest Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Ephrata, Pennsylvania

Great food and service. Beer is very good and food comes out fast and hot. This was our third time there as and will be back again.

So happy to have found this place! We're from Lititz and don't know how we've missed it until now. The building is great- the outside seating and also open air indoors was perfect for the weather that day. My husband loves Hefeweizen so he was very happy with their selection. He took some home in a crowler. (They will fill growlers if you bring your own) I tried the summer spritzer with raspberry and also plain. It was very good! The street corn arancini was delicious!! We also had the fish/chips and shrimp tacos. The staff were very friendly and attentive. We'll definitely be back! read more

Black Forest Brewery - Inside - Breweries Near Me - Ephrata, Pennsylvania

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Great quality and service! My wife loved the chili, I loved the fish and chips all our son loved his hot dog. :-) read more

Black Forest Brewery - Main room with tables, bar to the left. - Breweries Near Me - Ephrata, Pennsylvania

I went to Black Forest Brewery last week for indoor dining. While the decor and vibe is cozy, I'm giving this place 3 out of 5 stars this time because of the subpar entre. I had ordered crab cakes and risotto, but it wasn't very good. Lacking seasoning and aesthetics. However, the brewery fries were surprisingly amazing. Fluffy fries with toppings.. It was good! I tried a couple of different beers, but none were to my liking. There was a cocktail with a purple flower in it that I really enjoyed. The waitress who served me didn't have her mask on properly, and that made me uncomfortable as she was serving my food. Overall, this was a mixed bag experience, and some improvements could be made. read more

WOW!! Really good food and awesome local beer. Win-win! Nice bartenders to make you feel welcome and hang out at a local establishment! The shrimp and grits were awesome! read more

This is a charming little place just outside the main downtown strip in Ephrata. It features indoor and outdoor seating and a menu that clearly meets the idea of "bar food". Service was friendly and efficient and the food was impressive - I tried at least a bite of everything and it was all something I'd order again next time. read more

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Tasty beers and tasty food. Service is always good and a real quaint atmosphere. Never a disappointment.

Great ambiance, service, food, and beer! Wish they had more lighter/wheat beers on their menu, but I still enjoyed this place and would love to come back. Our server was so friendly and helpful! Highly recommend! read more

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Love this place! We enjoy making the drive over from Annville to Black Forest every couple of months. The food is outstanding (highly recommend brunch!) and the beer is also delicious. Not only is the beer & food good, but the place itself is also worth checking out. The exposed wood walls are beautiful! read more

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They didn't have coffee but their cider was warm and their beer cheese Mac and cheese was so divine literally the best Mac and cheese I've had in a long tome. read more

Black Forest Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Ephrata, Pennsylvania

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Great cozy atmosphere and fun attentive service. Conflicted about food because while it was really good and many great options, everything we had was extremelllly salty. We were downing water during and after. I enjoyed my cocktails and my friends liked their beers. If the salt can be dialed down quite a bit this place would be 100%. read more

We've been here a few times over the past few weeks and we can not complain. The food is phenomenal (highly recommend the cheesesteak), the atmosphere is great, great music, and a great couple of bartenders, and a lot of locals. It's like a little small brew pub disguised as a cabin in the middle of Ephrata. If you're in the area please check it out read more

Black Forest Brewery - Chicken and waffles special - Breweries Near Me - Ephrata, Pennsylvania

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Super cute spot for a beer or two or three and some grub. Food is fresh and delicious. The service is wonderful Thanks for having us! I had the chicken quesadilla below! read more

Black Forest Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Ephrata, Pennsylvania

Staggeringly good, hidden gem in Ephrata. The " microbrewery pub" designation is deceiving... the food is gourmet Truly incredible. We will be back again and again! read more

My girlfriend and I visited Black Forest Brewery when staying at the 1777 Americana Inn on site. We couldn't have had a better experience. The owners were both friendly and gave us a great history of the property, and the servers were quick and knowledgeable of their beer. We sampled most of the beers, and they were great representations of beers made to the German purity laws. The food was delicious and loved the outside seating. We can't wait to come back, and will definitely tell our friends to stop by. read more

Black Forest does not accept large parties. We did not know this when we arrived. Five of us went inside to ask for a table not knowing if the other 7 were arriving and said we would split up. We were told no! They do not serve large groups. Keep in mind we were there at opening time so not crowded. After we were told no we asked if the five of us could just sit because we didn't know if the rest were coming and he said No, I don't believe you!!! Keep in mind this was in front of other customers!!!! Just totally unreal!!! Keep in mind the one star was because it wouldn't let us post without! Better costumer service is needed. Easily explain to us they did not have staff to accommodate us. I'm still dumbfounded by this!!! read more

Who doesn't love to drink great craft beer with their dog?! What a great spot to accommodate our furry friends while offering a fresh craft beer. We don't live in the area but will make the drive to come back! All the staff was super friendly and even made a point to make sure our dog was happy. Happy dog. Happy life. read more

Black Forest Brewery - Our good boy, Winston enjoying his favorite brewery! - Breweries Near Me - Ephrata, Pennsylvania

Me and my wife went on Friday 11/17/23 at around 7:15. All I can say is I was blown away with how great our service was. The number one thing I always look at is how good the service is and I was not disappointed. Reese, our server, did amazing! He's super friendly, very personable, and checked up on us often to make sure we were doing alright. The beer is cold, refreshing, and very tasty. I had a Mooty with the cinnamon sugar rim and their 42nd Mile IPA while my wife stuck with the Mooty. THE FOOD IS FANTASTIC!! My wife had a burger with a habanero bbq sauce and she loved it. I had the meatloaf and mash and lemme tell ya, it's out of this world. They put garlic and cheese in it and the pull from the cheese surprised me and the first bite had me hooked! Highly, HIGHLY recommend stopping by and giving them a try. read more

Amazing food! The beer is fantastic and only overshadowed by the food. The shrimp and grits was by far my favorite. The burgers are great and the Shepard's pie was very good (I really appreciated that the peas were not mushy!). The tater top appetizer was a must, I could just order the dipping sauce! We will definitely be back. read more

Black Forest Brewery - Shepard's pie - Breweries Near Me - Ephrata, Pennsylvania

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The brewery was a big part of the reason we stayed at the 1777 Americana Inn B&B for a lovely, chilly Valentine's day night, and we were certainly not disappointed. After checking in and spending some time, we walked over to the brewery at around 5:30pm. We grabbed a table in the intimate bar, and were immediately greeted with a smile. The brewery featured six original offerings, all brewed using traditional purity laws. a host of PA wines and original cocktails were also featured. We started with the meatballs appetizer as well as the nachos, both of which were delicious. I was a fan of all of the beers, with the Lil Pal Joey Australian Pale being my personal fave. The fact that a portion of the proceeds went to relief efforts for the Australia wildfires is certainly not a bad thing, either! The winter warmer with the cinnamon sugar rimmed glass was also lovely. We sat and snacked and drank and laughed and tables around us came and went - couples and families, regulars and newbies. We ordered dinner as well, the pasta bolognese and the steak burrito, and each was really good. Took our last round of drinks to go, as well as a growler fill for home and took a few pics to commemorate the occasion as well. Really a great spot, enjoyed it and thankful for a wonderful time together. read more

Black Forest Brewery - Proceeds from the Lil Pal Joey Aussie Pale Ale go to help those suffering with the wildfires - drink for a great cause! - Breweries Near Me - Ephrata, Pennsylvania

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I have visited this establishment several times and I'm still waiting for that positive dining experience. Menu has a lot to be desired. As does the food. Many other places to be enjoyed in Ephrata with great food and friendly staff. This is not one of them. The beer also leaves a lot to be desired. read more

Super nice staff with great service and food!! Definitely worth the drive. Cute place as well Great beer and mix drinks read more

The following is not based on one visit but rather many visits over 4+ years. I only live 2 blocks from this brewery...which means I truly want to love this place. Let's face it, you can never underestimate the convenience factor! I have made the effort over the years to try and make this place work but every time I go I am reminded why I haven't been there for a while. Just so you know, this isn't after one bad experience but many. The main man, Eric, is a fantastic bartender and this place would cease to exist if not for him. He remembers your name, the style beer you enjoy, and is always friendly. He is definitely the lone bright spot of BFB. The food is made from cheap, inexpensive ingredients, so of course nothing you get there is very good. My wife loves soup...how do you ruin soup? Ask these guys! Crunchy veggies in the minestrone, using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth in a tortellini soup, and always missing one or two inexpensive ingredients that every other version of the soup has (like stewed tomatoes). If that wasn't enough...they charge $8.00 for half a bowl...they don't even fill the bowl! This didn't happen once, but multiple times. They used to have an "Italian" sandwich and instead of using thinly sliced Italian ham (like the other thin sliced pseudo Italian meats in the sandwich) they would put a huge thick slice of cooked ham so you couldn't even taste the other meats. It was so bad and made no sense. During the pandemic we wanted to support as many local businesses as possible. In early May 2020 they offered the Diablo Chicken sandwich. It looked amazing in the pics posted on Facebook so we decided this would be the day we went back. I walked up, ordered 2 sandwiches with fries and my bill was $39.00 before tip and NO BEER! I looked at Eric like he had to be joking and quickly contemplated canceling the order. I still purchased because it wasn't about the price, it was about helping struggling businesses and their employees. Plus in the spring of 2020 everywhere you went was a little pricier than normal for obvious reasons. I don't mind spending more to get a quality meal. The sandwich was made of fatty, grizzly dark meat. More than half of my bites were just fat. My wife couldn't even eat half of hers because it was so bad. I choked it down because of how much it cost. $39.00 for 2 chicken sandwiches w/ fries was insane and it wasn't even as good as Wendy's...WENDY'S...I'm not setting a very high bar here. The Beer is sub par at best. Now I know I'm a beer snob and will wear this badge with honor. I don't need the beer to be as good as Heady Topper or Pliny the Elder in order to enjoy it...just be decent! Especially if you are going to charge craft brew prices. Their 42nd Mile IPA doesn't even taste like an IPA. Their flagship beers: Amber, Pale Ale, and IPA all taste exactly the same on the back end. If you look at the color on each they almost look like the exact same beer. They must have a crazy loyal fan base that has never had anything but Miller Lite their entire lives to have just been voted "Best Brewery" in the LNP. EVERYONE I know that has gone there has the same thing to say after their first visit, "I don't need to go there again." When BFB first opened the food wasn't very good but it was cheap. The beer wasn't great but you let it slide because it wasn't far for a happy hour meet up after work. When I left BFB in 2016 I didn't feel like I was just ripped off. They are still using the same terrible ingredients and serving the same below average micro brews, but now they're charging upwards of 400% - 500% more than they use to for some food items. This isn't a random figure...their prices literally increased that much on some food items (pork tacos and the hot dog which was actually only $1.00 in 2016). My last trip was on 10/24/20. My wife and I didn't feel like traveling to Lititz or Lancaster so we just took a quick walk to have a beer and a snack. Our order was a soft pretzel, a half filled bowl of tasteless soup, and 2 beers...my bill was $32.00 before tip. That's more than if I go to a professional sporting event (comparing to Phillies games at Citizens Bank Park) and it's about the same quality you get at the ballpark (which isn't very good). I know if I'm going to a ballgame I'll be paying exorbitant price for food that would/should normally cost a fraction elsewhere...not if I go to the corner micro brewery in Ephrata, PA!?! Again, I want to love this place. I love local bars that I can walk to. I love supporting local businesses. My standards really aren't that high. I enjoy St Boniface, The Pressed Plate, and The Dutchmaid when it isn't the deck. I really don't enjoy bashing small businesses...but this place just isn't good. read more

An amazing place! Great food and beer! We had the shrimp tacos and the incredible burger. Both were very good. The tacos were tasty. The incredible burger was large. Double patty of tasty beef with an onion ring in the middle. Very good. The beer awesome. My husband had the stout which had a smooth taste even for a non stout lover like me. I had the Whistle stop an amber ale with had an rich flavor and a winter warmer which was rimmed in cinnamon sugar. It had a nice deep taste. I loved them both. This place has a nice homey feel even when you are not from the area. Everyone inside side was friendly. The service was to notch. We will definitely be back! read more