family owned and (H)operated
roots. bines. beer.
thirsty farmer brew works
opeN
thursday 4-9 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday 12-6 p.m.
now open for dine-in services indoor and outdoor on our heated deck.
additional outdoor seating in our yard area is available, so customers are welcome to bring their own chairs, picnic blankets, etc.
ABOUT
Situated in the rolling hillsides and farmlands of Adams County, Pennsylvania, the Thirsty Farmer Brew Works brings a modern revival of farming to the craft beer market. All of our beers are brewed on site, most of which feature at least one of our home-grown hops. Our goal at Thirsty Farmer is to combine our passion for local agriculture, beer and community to create a unique “Adams County” experience. Chances are, you’ll meet at least one family member if you stop in—and we look forwarding to joining you!
owners & brewers
Brian Knouse, Owner: Brian manages farms in Adams and Cumberland Counties for Knouse Fruitlands Inc., as well as cider production for Thirsty Farmer along with his son, Kyle. In addition, Brian also smokes & pulls all of the meats on our Thirsty Farmer menu, including pulled pork, beef, ham and chicken.
Kevin Knouse, Owner: Kevin manages business operations at Knouse Fruitlands, Inc., Round Barn Market and Thirsty Farmer Brew Works. Kevin manages general operations exclusively at the Thirsty Farmer.
Kyle Knouse, Owner: Kyle manages the Round Barn Farm and orchard for Knouse Fruitlands Inc. He also grows specialty veggies and fruits for our market. Kyle brews cider for Thirsty Farmer along with his dad, Brian.
Milton Knouse II, Owner: Milton manages farms in Franklin County for Knouse Fruitlands Inc. Milton grows sweet corn and a wide variety of pumpkins that are for sale at the Round Barn annually.
Milton Knouse III, Owner: Milty was our previous brewer who constructed our beloved brewery. Everything we are able to do here, production-wise is all thanks to him.
Tonya White, Owner: Tonya manages general operations for Knouse Fruitlands, Inc.,.
Eric Waite, Brewer: Eric is our new Head Brewer who runs the brewing operations. He also coordinates outside sales with our Business Manager, Kevin
HISTORY
The Knouse family has been brewing beer and making hard cider for over 20 years. While the homebrewing scene is much different than a large-scale brewing apparatus, our brewers are well-versed in the chemistry of making good beer and hard cider.
In 2015, the Knouse family decided to renovate one of its storage sheds at the Round Barn Farm orchard into a small-scale brewing facility. Over the course of 3 years, we were able to produce nine original beer recipes and several cider styles that are regularly featured on-tap. Finally, our dream came true in March of 2018 when we opened our brewery to the public.
We are a 100% family-owned business which boasts a legacy of four generations of farmers, including three Pennsylvania Master Farmers (M.E. Knouse—Knouse Foods; Janet T. Knouse—Knouse Fruitlands, Inc.; Brian Knouse—Knouse Fruitlands, Inc.). Our family business includes the Historical Round Barn Farm Market, Round Barn Weddings and Events, and Knouse Fruitlands, Inc. which consists of 7 orchards across Adams, Franklin and Cumberland Counties.
Our Hops
We grow up to 7 varieties of hops on-site, including Cascade, Chinook, Crystal, Galena, Nugget, Spalter Select and Zeus. If you are a brewery and would like to inquire about purchasing hops, please feel free to contact us at thirstyfarmersales@gmail.com.
Press
Destination Gettysburg Feature
“Thirsty Farmer Brew Works combines family's passion for farming with love of beer” by the Hanover Evening Sun
Customer Review by Sara Bozich, “guide to Harrisburg, PA”
our staff
Alex Von Drach, BREWPUB manager
kevin knouse, business manager
Eric waite, Brewmaster (Beer)
brian knouse, brewmaster (cider)
Kyle Knouse, brewmaster (cider)
aPRIL SHAFFER, KITCHEN MANAGER
TF merchandise
our merchandise is available on-site for purchase
Long Sleeve T-shirts (Adult)
Long sleeve t-shirts (Ladies)
Ladies t-shirts
Adult t-shirts
ADULT HOODIES
Knit Hat
bottle opener key chain
Burlap key chain
etched wood magnet
outdoor stickers
tractor logo sticker
pint glass
growler (no fill, growler only)
trucker hat
custom thirsty farmer dog collar
our local community
We value the feeling of community that Adams County is known for. Because we’re a family business we believe in maintaining close ties to our community, to friends and to family. We have worked with the following non-profit organizations and fundraisers to promote community wellness and the spirit of togetherness. If your organization would like to ask about partnering with us for an event or program, please contact Kevin Knouse at fruitlands@embarqmail.com.
JEwelry Designs by angels (JDA Jewlery)
Sweet grace ministries
South central community action programs (SCCAP)
Adams County ASPCA
Leukemia & Lymphoma society (LLS)
Pour Tour #getpoured
JOIN the Adams County Pour Tour! featuring twenty-two (22) locations
Discover the unique tastes of Adams County, Pennsylvania's craft beverages with a self-guided journey along the Adams County Pour Tour. CLICK HERE for more information about the Pour Tour, special events are more!
destination gettysburg: find out more about local events at www.destinationgettysburg.com
