NEPA’s craft brewery map recently extended into historic Jim Thorpe with the late spring opening of Bright Path Brewing. After over a year of renovation, the spacious brewery kicked open its doors on North Street, just down the road from the iconic Jim Thorpe monument and about a mile north of everyone’s favorite, historic downtown.

Bright Path Brewing is the brainchild of Jim Thorpe natives, Alex Franko and Dillon Smith. The tandem brew masters trace a lineage that spans a collective 15 years of experience in the industry. Clean, simple, drinkable beers occupy the tap list. On their approach, Franko says, “We brew what we like to drink.” And that consists of mostly traditional European style ales and lagers, lighter session beers and very few offerings over 4.5%. And, in keeping with that “Old World” aesthetic, they serve their beautiful drafts in chunky, dimpled half or full liter mugs.

The meticulously renovated space combines a rustic, converted barn feel with an approachable modern simplicity that shuns TVs and jukeboxes. The lengthy, cherry bar stretches across the room and, through two massive interior windows, offers a peek behind the brewhouse curtain. Plenty of non-bar seating scatters throughout the room – as does a flood of natural light. Overall, the mingling of outside/inside, natural wood/rusted steel, easy-drinkin’ beers/big glasses and a pretty eclectic playlist delivers quite the southern Poconos craft beer experience. And, if nothing else, please take a moment to appreciate the elegant, European side pull tap system.

We stopped by this afternoon just to see what all those Jim Thorpe locals have been fussin’ about. And after a gorgeous amber-hued and malty Vienna Lager, a delicate and smooth McGowan’s Cream Ale, and a damn-near-perfect Keller Pils (and maybe a few others), we get it. Get to Jim Thorpe and check out Bright Path Brewing.

And be sure to look out for more from this brewery on the DiscoverNEPA Brewer’s Loop.