HomeDPizzeria Sprouts Robin Hood Brewing

Home Delivery Pizza Pub, an Italian staple for decades in State College, Pennsylvania, has gone through a transformation, starting with a name change. Now called HomeDPizzeria, the local favorite has a newly renovated and larger kitchen, an outdoor patio and fireplace, and 12 new big-screen televisions. Other additions include a second bar, a gelato machine, a new wood-fired pizza oven, a 700-bottle wine cabaret, and additional seating.

Oh yeah, and a brewery! That’s right, the Bellefonte location of HomeD is now brewing beer under the name Robin Hood Brewing Company. Robin Hood brews are also sold at the State College location.

We visited the HomeD location in Bellefonte for the first time this summer. It may seem like a typical sports pub upon entry, but the view of the brewing area from the L-shaped wooden bar and line of Robin Hood Brewing Company tap handles changes everything.

The restaurant may have a sports bar feel with the big screen televisions, assuring you won’t miss your favorite sporting event, but as soon as the beer list is placed in front of you, the priority changes.

Head Brewer Chris Schell began his brewing career in upstate New York in Ostego County, America’s former largest hop growing region. He brings his hand-made brews to Centre County, Pennsylvania’s burgeoning craft beer community, focusing on drinkability. He strives to ensure there’s a Robin Hood beer for everyone from the domestic beer drinker to the craft beer lover.

HomeDPizzeria has been serving Robin Hood brews since October 2013, and for a new brewery, the beer line-up is quite impressive. There are 15 Robin Hood taps, including 3 on Nitro. The six house beers are…

• L.J. Lager – 4.5% ABV smooth, refreshing American lager.
• Nobility Blonde – 4.5% ABV wheat beer brewed with Noble hops.
• Peasant Pale Ale – 5.2% ABV English-style pale ale.
• Bulls IPA – 6.5% ABV American IPA with pine and citrus notes.
• King Richard Red Ale – 5.7% ABV malty ale with tropical fruit aroma.
• F. Tuck Porter – 6% ABV rich, roasty porter.

The current specialties include…

• Long Bow Imperial IPA – 10% massively resinous and piney IPA.
• Maiden Milk Stout – 5% ABV sweet milk stout on Nitro.
• Broomhilde Hefeweizen – 5% ABV unfiltered German-style wheat.
• Loxsley Lime Lager – 4.5% ABV session lager with lime juice and zest.
• Gungdo Saison – 5.5% ABV interpretation of a traditional Belgian-style summer ale.
• Blunt Sword Breakfast Stout – 7.5% ABV stout with rolled oats, lactose sugar, and coffee beans.
• Target Tripel Ale – 9% ABV golden Belgian-style tripel.
• Blueboary Wheat – 4.5% ABV summer wheat ale with blueberry.
• Robin Rocket – served through whole leaf hops using their Hop Rocket infuser (changes often).

I enjoyed a sample of several Robin Hood beers, and my favorite was Blunt Sword Breakfast Stout. The stout was creamy and rich and full of roasted coffee goodness. (Dare I say this is becoming one of my favorite beer styles?) The most surprising sample was the Loxsley Lime Lager. Our bartender, Becky, zested, peeled, and juiced the limes herself, and the hard work paid off! The fresh lime flavor was refreshing and tasty.

Two beer flight options are available – three 5-ounce pours for $5 and five 5-ounce pours for $7. There is an upcharge of $1 for certain brews. Some Robin Hood Brewing beers to look for in the near future include Achoo Chili Pale Ale, Robber Rye IPA, and Major Oak Wee Heavy (aged in Jack Daniels barrels).

Chris is currently brewing on a 7-barrel system, but the ultimate goal is to expand. Robin Hood is looking to grow with a separate building used for brewing and packaging beers. That’s right, they are hoping to start canning beer in the future.

There are an additional 12 taps for guest beers including Elk Creek Copper Ale, Otto’s Keewaydin Hard Cider, and Tröegs Dreamweaver, among others. There are also bottles available to go. Wines are available by the glass or bottle. Beer can be purchased to go in 64-ounce glass growlers or 32-ounce stainless steel growlers. Price varies depending on the beer.

And the food! The massive Italian-themed menu including every variation of pizza, stromboli, and calzone you can imagine. They also offer soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees, and pasta (including gluten free options). Be sure to check out some Robin Hood favorites including Sloppy Fries, Mac n Cheeses, and unique Footlong sandwiches.

Frequent visitors can join the Bow and Arrow Brew Club. There is a one time $50 membership fee instead of a yearly fee. For every $100 spent on food and merchandise, diners receive $10 to spend. Members receive choice of free logo glassware or a 64-ounce amber growler, 15% off all merchandise, a free birthday dinner, and invitations to special club events including beer dinners, product launches, and anniversary parties.

One upcoming event is Breakfast, Brews, and Bloodys. Both locations will open at 8:00 AM on August 30, 2014, just in time for the 8:30 AM kickoff of the PSU vs. UCF game in Ireland. A special “top o’ the morning” menu will be served with breakfast entrees including an omelette, breakfast pizza, french toast, pot roast hash, and of course the RHBC Breakfast of Champions and RHBC Bulls IPA Sausage Gravy Stack. Reservations are recommended.

If you find yourself in Centre County, perhaps craving a delicious piece of pizza, why not stop by HomeDPizzeria?  You won’t regret trying Chris’s latest Robin Hood Brewing Company creation on tap.

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