An artisan Philadelphia brewery is taking its craft beer beyond city limits with a new expansion.
Punch Buggy Brewing Co., co-owned by Patrick Coyne, Rob Clark, John Riley and Matt Rowland, will open a second taproom this spring at 77 Main St. in Spring City. The brewery’s flagship location is at 1445 N. American St. in Olde Kensington.
“Two of the other owners still live in the city–that’s Rob and John. I live out here. It’s [the new taproom] actually next to my wife’s flower shop. We saw some opportunity out here and we’re trying to build upon Spring City,” Coyne told What Now Philadelphia.
Coyne’s journey began in college, where he homebrewed beer and became known around campus for his old, distinctive car.
“My dad, when I turned 16, gave me a punch buggy Volkswagen 1971 Super Beetle. It was in the family since ’71; my aunt bought it brand new in California. I took it to college and kind of became known because the thing was so loud going around campus. People started to say, ‘If you ever open anything, you should definitely name it after the car.’ So, it’s named after the car, but the car is really a symbol of my family,” Coyne said.
The Spring City taproom will have an old-style pub feel and feature local artwork on the walls, similar to the flagship location. The bartops, tables and floors, currently being sanded, are sourced from Bimber’s Timbers, a Spring City business and friend of Coyne.
Punch Buggy will also serve its staple brews at the new location, including Beetlejuice, hazy IPAs and 1445 Lager, while introducing location-specific and more creative offerings.
“We’ll be moving through beer a lot faster, so we’ll be able to get back to our roots and try some different stuff–more creative artisanal type beers with exotic fruits and spices,” he said.
Punch Buggy just released a new brew, chai Hefeweizen, created in collaboration with Luna Cafe.
“They make their own chai blend, so we took that chai blend and we added it into the fermenter. We were adding a little bit at a time and taste testing to get it right where we like it. Then, we had it locked in,” Coyne said. “Hefeweizen itself is a great style and throws a lot of flavor just from the yeast, but adding the chai really enhances the whole experience of that beer.”
Guests can also enjoy Deezy’s Famous Cheesesteaks in the taproom.
“They’re going to be opening a kitchen here in our spot. We’re going to pair up–beer and food. I have little ones now, so being able to bring them in and grab something to eat is exciting,” he said.
Coyne is eager to connect with customers and hear their feedback once the taproom opens. While an official opening date hasn’t been set, he hopes to welcome guests in time for St. Patrick’s Day.
Stay up to date on the opening by visiting the Punch Buggy Brewing Co. website and following along Instagram and Facebook.
