Recon Brewing is on a mission to bring craft beer to Cranberry Township. So far, the operation’s been a success.
On April 14, the Butler-based company opened its long-awaited satellite location at 301 Tillary Lane in the Crossroads at Meeder, a new Charter Homes & Neighborhoods community.
The 3,000-square-foot restaurant and taproom, which overlooks a three-acre green space, has indoor and outdoor seating for 200. Twelve draft beers are available, including the Karma Tap; sales of the rotating brew benefit a different local charity each quarter.
Guests can also get a pint of the brewery’s flagship offering, BRC. The brew is an IPA named after the Bantam Reconnaissance Car, the first Jeep prototype, which was manufactured in Butler. The site also serves KingView cider, mead and wine, specialty cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. Four-packs of beer are available to go. Recon recently ranked highly on a national blog’s best beer labels list.
The food menu includes appetizers, salads, baked or cold grinders and flatbreads.
Co-owners Toby Wehr, Dave Bestwick and Nate Bacher opened Recon Brewing in 2016, adding to Butler County’s craft beer boom. Planning for the Cranberry site started three years ago.
Recon sources nearly all of the brewery’s materials, supplies and equipment locally. The taproom will support area musicians by hosting live performances from 7 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday.
“Like Recon, Charter started as a small business that has grown over time to deliver quality neighborhoods to Pennsylvania communities where homeowners can walk to it all,” said Rob Bowman, president of Charter Homes & Neighborhoods. “We are proud to have Recon join the Crossroads at Meeder and are excited to deliver even more quality local small businesses in the future for our neighbors at Meeder and the greater Cranberry community.”