This story originally appeared in the December 2025 issue of Town&Gown magazine.
For three years now, The Dead Canary Brewing Company has sat on its Front Street perch as a place for the community to gather over a pint or two of craft beer up in Philipsburg.
Through some ups and downs, the small brewery and tap room has proved to be an indicator, in my mind at least, of the efforts to breathe new life into the old coal town.
It is safe to say that with lengthening hours, an upcoming expansion and a civic-minded outdoor stage project in the works, this canary in the coal mine (town) is alive and well. And the team over at The Dead Canary Brewing Company is working to help the community continue to fly strong right along with it.
That is the goal, co-owner Eric Kelmenson told me while we shared a pint with new head brewer and co-owner Ed Shaw (Eric was quick to credit his new partner and the rest of their team for their success).
“Key to our ethos and our mission is being a community-driven brewery,” Eric says. “So, we do fundraisers for nonprofits; if anyone wants to use this space, we are open. This is a space for the community.”
Beyond that community involvement, Eric hopes the brewery can be an inspiration for others who want to invest in the town and help make it even stronger.
“We want to be an example, or lightning in the bottle, if you will, for small businesses, to demonstrate what is possible and create a little bit of a halo effect that can revitalize downtown,” Eric says. “That is what we want to be, an inspiration for downtown.”
Well, that inspiration continues to grow even bigger, as The Dead Canary is taking over additional space right next door. The extra room will allow for more private events and community gatherings while also keeping the main bar room open with expanded hours.
The expansion will also open more room for live music, plus a small kitchen station that will permit food service, most likely from an outside vendor. The goal is for this new space to be open by the end of the year.
Just as exciting, in the open area across the street, Eric and his team are working with a grant from The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau to build a stage that will serve as a community gathering spot, including for events such as Heritage Days and the annual Mid-Century Christmas celebration.
“There has been a community need for a permanent stage, and we plan to use it as well with our connections with musicians who play here weekly. So, it will jibe well with what we do at the brewery and fill a bit of a void in the community,” Eric says.
It made me smile to hear all that has been going on since I last chatted with Eric before The Dead Canary opened its doors to the public. Since then, I have been up to enjoy a beer here and there over the last few years. Every time, I have been impressed with the atmosphere they have created in the old building.
Do you ever go somewhere and feel instantly at ease? Well, that is the vibe I get at The Dead Canary, with its long bar, historical feel, and large front windows that let in just the right amount of light. I mean, maybe it’s the beer talking, but every time I make my way up there, I tell myself that I need to make the effort more often.
Speaking of beer, since he came on board about a year ago, Ed has taken the reins from the previous brewer and continued to plow ahead. While keeping with the brewery’s established styles, he also hopes to provide an opportunity for people new to the craft beer game to learn more about the process and find styles that appeal to them.
“I want to keep some of the creativity that was established here and also, for those who are new to it, provide a beer education,” says Ed, a long-time home brewer. This means crafting beers for new aficionados and serving up craft cocktails that will appeal to the more sophisticated crowd, all with Pennsylvania-made spirits, naturally. Non-alcoholic beers are also on tap for those not wishing to imbibe.
I was impressed with the Gosht Shift, an English ruby ale that I had on a hand pull while there, and the pilsner that I took home in a can. Each drank smooth and had a pleasant aroma. Ed seems to know what he is doing and is happy to be doing it.
He grew up in the area and remembers when there was not a lot going on downtown. Now, after traveling near and far, he is excited to see fun, cool things happening in his hometown.
“Even on days when I am not coming in, and I am driving up Front Street and I see that this end of the block is packed, it is pretty cool to see that there is activity downtown,” Ed says. “And on Friday or Saturday nights when there is something happening at the Rowland [Theatre] and you see this whole part of town is packed, it is pretty cool. It will be great if someday we get the whole town packed.”
Now, I know a brewery and tap room is not the answer to all the world’s problems (but then again, maybe it is), but it surely is a step toward something good.
“Beer is a great way to bring people together. And although this has been a lot of hard work, we have a great team. We just celebrated our three-year anniversary. I think we have another three in us, hopefully more,” Eric says with a laugh. Looking toward the future, he wonders, “How can we be the spark that encourages people to stick around this area and [learn] that you can do cool stuff in this town?”
Cheers to that! The Dead Canary is alive and well, and that bodes well for Philipsburg and Centre County in general. T&G
Vincent Corso enjoys drinking local and meeting new people at Central Pennsylvania’s many interesting establishments.
