October brings special drinks for fall, new food trucks, trails of treats, more

Jennie Geisler, Erie Times-News
·5 min read

Restaurants and bars in Erie are holding onto fall with both hands, going all in on new drinks, menus and celebrations as Summer 2022 recedes into memory. I couldn't fit in even half of what I found going on around town, so be sure to tune in next week for more. For now, let's just get to it:

Ippa Pizza Napoletana, 2614 Glenwood Park Ave., is a pizza food truck parked in the parking lot at the old George's restaurant. They serve a Neapolitan-style pizza that requires a special oven now only located inside the truck, according to manager Bobby Holmes. They plan to work from the truck until winter sets in, when they'll move it inside the brick-and-mortar restaurant on site, and serve a different "more New York style," of pizza in the short term, Holmes said. To see the menu and to order, visit ippapizza.com or call 814-844-2746. Delivery is available at their website.

Altered State Distillery, 1535 W. Eighth St., is hosting brunch this Saturday with the help of the new food truck E Dogg's Bistro., featuring paninis and gourmet hot dogs. Brunch features include an omelet station and Croque Monsieur, a hot sandwich made with ham and cheese. 814-790-9822

Altered State is one of two indoor locations for E Dogg's over the winter, according to Altered State's Facebook page. E Dogg's will be there on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; and at Erie Ale Works, 416 W. 12th St., on Thursdays and Fridays, according to E Dogg's Facebook page.

Bottoms up:Autumn ales: Seasonal craft beers to taste this fall at Erie-area breweries

Fall drink menus from around town

Facebook is brimming with local watering holes' fall cocktail menus. Here's what I know of so far:

Sloppy Duck, 726 W. Bayfront Parkway, 814-452-6699:

  • Ginger Apple Sangria: Pinot Grigio base with notes of ginger and apple.

  • Fireball Cider: Served over ice with that signature Fireball cinnamon flavor.

  • Apple Cider Mimosa: A fall twist on a classic.

  • Salted Caramel Martini: The perfect mix of caramel and apple to finish your meal.

Room 33 Speakeasy, 1033 State St., 814-636-5062:

  • Drunken Pumpkin

  • Gingerly Pear

  • Hot Toddy

  • Grape Rosemary Gin Crush

  • Rum Cider

  • Pecan Old Fashioned

Riverside Brewing Co., 1 Fountain St., Cambridge Springs, 814-813-5005:

  • Vanilla Vodka Chai Tea

  • Cranberry Bourbon Sour

  • Cranberry Apple Mule

  • White Girl Russian

  • Apple Cider Mojito

  • PB&J Coffee

Luminary Distilling, 8270 Peach St., Summit Township, 814-790-4044: Back left, Campfire Mule; in front, Sweater Weather; and Cider with Apple Pie Moonshine vodka.

On the trail

Harvest Weekend Food & Wine Pairings will take place at 20 Lake Erie Wine Country locations Nov. 4-6 and 11-13, according to lakeeriewineountry.org. Get tickets soon, as they usually sell out. The hours are Fridays, noon to 5 p.m., Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors are invited to try wine and food sample pairings. Tickets are $40 plus tax for a three-day ticket, $30 plus tax Friday and Sunday only, and free for designated drivers.Tickets include a food and wine sample pairing at each winery, additional wine tasting, online access to all of the recipes for the foods you'll be tasting and two $5 vouchers to use at any winery or at certain restaurants designated on the back of the voucher.

Visit Erie and the Lake Erie Ale Trail are sponsoring a Brew Crew Challenge in which participants stop at eight breweries on the trail between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30, and receive a Lake Erie Ale Trail beanie and bottle opener. Download the free "Hello Erie" Trip Planner App from the App Store or Google Play. When you visit one of the participating breweries, click on "Challenges" on the "Hello Erie" trip planner app and follow the steps.

After checking in to the eight breweries, you'll receive a completion badge. Stop into VisitErie's office (Intermodal Transportation Center 208 E. Bayfront Parkway, Suite 103) and show your badge to get your gear! If you can't pick up the gear in person, call 814-454-1000 and it will be mailed to you.

In other news

Thai Eatery, 5641 Peach St., 814-616-8258 has launched online ordering using a QR code. To see the menu and order, focus a smartphone camera on the code found at bit.ly/3rXIBMU.

Six Pack House of Beer, 847 Pittsburgh Ave., is serving a monthly Wing of the Month, designed to bring attention to members of the Lake Erie Ale Trail breweries, according to their Facebook page. For October, the wing of the month is Sweet Baby Lavs, tossed with a housemade sauce featuring Lavery Brewing Co.'s Oktoberfest beer. The wing of the month is $1 off the regular price of both traditional and boneless wings. 814-866-7467

Presque Isle Wine Cellars, 9440 W. Main Road, North East, recently received three gold medals in the International Women's Wine Competition, judged by women wine professionals, according to their Facebook page. The goal of the competition is to recognize women winemakers and market wines to women wine buyers. P.I.'s winning wines included Pink Catawba, Eskimo Kisses and Cabernet Franc. 814-725-1314

Blind Tiger Cocktail mixer recently won second place in a contest designed to find the 10 best craft mixer brands by USA Today. A panel of experts worked with "10Best" editors to pick the 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote, according to the USA Today's 10Best website, bit.ly/3CAjS5h. The full top 10 included:

  • Strongwater

  • Blind Tiger Spirit-Free Cocktails

  • Fresh Victor

  • Simple Times Mixers

  • FloraLuna Apothecary & Trading Co.

  • Bitter Girl Bitters

  • Absinthia’s Bottled Spirits

  • 1888 Hand-Pressed Olive Juice

  • Yes Cocktail Co.

  • Alley Twenty Six

If you have regional restaurant news or questions, please send an email to jgeisler@timesnews.com, or call 814-870-1885.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Ippa Pizza at George's, Altered State brunch, fall drinks, celebrations