Celebrate Beer and Pizza at the Lehigh Valley Taproom

Silvio Vitiello left Italy in 1984 and opened a pizzeria in the Poconos in 1998. Then in 2017, his sons took their Italian roots and pizza knowledge and created Pocono Brewery Company. “It has been a long road, but pizza is in our blood,” says marketing and events manager GraceAnn Horstman. “His sons grew up in that pizza place and have always been a big part of the family business.” Lehigh Valley Taproom—their second location—opened last year. Incorporating beer into the mix was a smooth transition, and it made sense to pair it with pizza. “They have a very similar life cycle,” says Horstman. “Yeast is a huge part of the pizza and beer making process. Together, they accent each other perfectly.” One of their recommended pizza and beer pairings is the seasonal basil saison and the margherita or pesto pizza. The saison's subtle pepper finish is supposed to add a flavor that the pizza alone does not offer. In addition to their pizza, they host a wing night every Thursday and have prime rib night every Friday. “Dark beer and meat are as good of friends as pizza and beer,” says Horstman. Their one-year celebration of the taproom is next month and they have expansion plans for their Pocono location in 2020.