Axemann Brewery has found a new in-house food partner in The Smokey Axe Grille, and according to brewery owner Rod Stahl, it makes for the “perfect pairing.”
“The new slogan for the partnership is ‘Craft food for craft beer,’ and it really fits because the food he (chef Justin Leiter) makes are things you would see at a regular bar or restaurant, but he seems to put a little craft flair on whatever that is,” said Stahl.
He said, since the restaurant had a soft opening on Aug. 3, it has already received positive feedback from the public.
Leiter is a familiar name in Centre County. The headman at The Smokey Axe Grille is the former long-time owner of Red Horse Tavern in Pleasant Gap. Leiter decided to move after 10 years at the Red Horse to pursue his next step, but at the time, he said he was unsure what that next step was going to be.
Around the same time, it was announced that the initial in-house food partner at Axemann Brewery, The Blonde Bistro, was leaving to open a standalone restaurant and brewery in Bellefonte.
It was after Leiter and Stahl connected through mutual friends that Leiter found the location for his next food journey.
“I was ready for a change. You know with this set-up, it is just the kitchen and the food, so I can put more focus into that,” said Leiter.
He added, “You know, 10 years of running the whole restaurant just kind of took its toll, especially after COVID. I just wanted to get back to just having fun with food. …These guys do a great job here and the atmosphere here is great.”
Leiter said he appreciates the way the brewery draws a wide variety of people, from students to families and everyone in between. Now, he said, a broader clientele will be able to come out and try his food.
Since opening, he said he has been happy to see some familiar faces he previously served at Red Horse stop by to try the new venture. He has brought some old customer favorite dishes over from the Red Horse menu, along with some new flavors he is excited for people to try.
As the name suggests, smoked foods are a large part of the menu, and Leiter said he works to keep everything as fresh as possible.
“Everything that we can make is in-house from scratch. I have always felt that that stands out, versus something that is premade. Something that is made from hand, from scratch, there is a world of difference,” said Leiter.
Open 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, The Smokey Axe Grille features a menu of starters, salads, sandwiches and burgers. Appetizers include rosemary parmesan truffle fries, jumbo pretzels with beer cheese sauce, smoked chicken nachos, loaded tater tots with dry rubbed pork belly, Mexican street corn dip and ham and cheddar chowder. Salads feature smoked salmon, marinated flank steak and southwest chicken.
Customers can choose from a variety of burgers, a fried chicken BLT, brisket and pulled pork sandwiches and cheesesteaks.
Food trucks will still be offered at the brewery during peak times, giving patrons a nice variety of offerings, said Stahl.
Axemann Brewery has been operating for two years in the revitalized industrial space at Titan Energy Park that was formerly home to the Cerro Metal plant. Leiter said he was happy to open The Smokey Axe Grille before the busy football season, which is on the horizon. The brewery holds special watch parties during Penn State games with the popular Blue Stripe beer, which is served in a can without a lid to simulate the tailgate experience.
The brewery will hold its third annual Oktoberfest celebration on Sept. 19.
“Justin is going to be a big part of that. It has been a very popular event,” said Stahl.
This story appears in the Aug. 11-17 edition of The Centre County Gazette.
