20 | theburg | 03.16
W
alk in the door at Midstate
Distillery, and the sweet smell
hits you first.
It's molasses, says Dan Healy.
He guides you to the line of 250-gallon tubs in
frosted plastic lining the wall. All are filled with a
dark liquid. Some are warm from the addition of
hot water.
"is one's been fermenting—Saturday, Sunday,
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday—five days, so it's
almost done," says Healy. "Truly, I could probably
start distilling this. It's maybe 8 percent alcohol at
the moment. I may let it go a little bit higher."
Craft distilling has come to Dauphin County
in the appropriately named Midstate Distillery.
Established in a former paint manufacturing
building near the Farm Show Complex, the venture
aims to educate a public that increasingly craves
authentic tastes—not mass produced by faceless
corporations but crafted by neighbors.
Just why does a world saturated with craft breweries
and family wineries now need craft distilleries?
"Need?" says Healy. "Does anyone need more
alcohol?"
I would say yes, but he continues. It's like rooting
for the home team and showing the world what the
hometown can do.
"ere's always an interest for something new,
something handmade, something handcrafted,
something made locally," he says. "People really
want to see what somebody in their neighborhood
can produce."
in Good sPiriTs
Midstate Distillery brings local,
handcrafted to Harrisburg.
by M. DIANe MCCorMICk
buSINeSS
