It’s hard to top fall in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania. As the leaves turn color on Mount Nittany, the students return to the campus (welcome back!), and we gear up for those magical football Saturdays, there is a sense of energy and adventure that is pure, unadulterated fun.

This fall, make your time in Happy Valley even better with a tasting tour, enjoying the seasonal highlights from our local breweries, cideries, wineries, and distilleries. Each location is a beloved location destination with new (or returning favorite) specials this fall. Craft your own adventure to explore Happy Valley’s best flavors. Let’s go!

Start your trip with a brand-new destination. Old Pop's Corny Village Emporium is nestled in the heart of Philipsburg. This shop features a little bit of everything, from gifts to frozen yogurt to food truck events. Their newly designed Speakeasy Room is a step into 1920s-era Prohibition, with fifteen flavors of local moonshine, bourbon, whiskey, and vodka. Tastings are available, and the space can be reserved for private parties.

Stop in and try their fall special flavors: Triple Nickel Apple Pie and Triple Nickel Salted Caramel.

1374 Troy Hawk Run Hwy, Philipsburg | facebook.com/oldpopscorny | 814-761-1299

Family-owned University Wine Company is a great place to taste and connect while you are in Happy Valley—it features tasting flights, wine by the glass or bottle, along with Pennsylvania craft beer and food options.

This fall, try their mulled sangria while you enjoy an event like trivia on Tuesdays, Flo Bros Pizza and live music every Thursday, food trucks and live music every Friday, or events like the Harvest Wine & Craft Festival on September 22 from 1-5.

Check their facebook page @universitywineco for up-to-date event information!

540 Misty Hill Drive, State College | facebook.com/universitywineco | universitywineco.com | 814-325-1527

Nestled deep in woods in the Seven Mountains, Seven Mountains Wine Cellars offers free tastings, tours, a gift shop, and frequent events like their popular campfire nights.

This fall, you can enjoy tastings of their fall flavors Spiced Apple and Cranberry (pro tip: this is a great bottle to buy as a hostess gift for holiday parties!). This year, also be sure to try Wicked Pumpkin and Fireside Cheers, a mulled red wine that is great served warm around a campfire.

Check out their facebook for events and specials throughout the fall.

324 Decker Valley Rd, Spring Mills | facebook.com/sevenmountainswinecellars | sevenmountainswinecellars.com | 814-364-1000

Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery is a family farm winery making wine from its gorgeous mountain location. This fall, it’s all about the events paired with its award-winning wines!

It has a full calendar of events this fall. Enjoy Friday Night Flight and Bites on August 30 and September 13, a twilight disc golf competition with optional b&b stay on September 7, Wine Bingo on September 20, charcuterie making on October 10, and an Oktoberfest Celebration with free brats and kraut all day on October 19!

While you are there, grab one of their signature Tailgate Red, Nittany Mountain Blush, or Autumn Nectar with concentrated aromas of honeysuckle and dried apricot.

Check out their facebook page or website for more event details.

300 Houser Rd, Centre Hall | facebook.com/mtnittanywinery | mtnittanywinery.com | 814-466-6373

Boal City Brewing Taproom and Beer Garden offers ample outdoor seating with views of Rothrock State Forest to go with a large selection of craft beers, a well-curated cocktail list, draft hard cider and wine, and plenty of nonalcoholic options like kombucha, soda, and a full espresso menu.

Open seven days a week, Boal City boasts daily food trucks on site, gourmet snacks, and a full Mezze Market menu – including dips, small bites, and charcuterie boxes provided by Super Duper Cafe in Milheim. Get crafty on Mondays from 6-9 during Crafts & Brews or test your running skills on Tuesdays at 6 PM with Trails & Ales. You can enjoy live music ‘On the Porch’ Saturday Series throughout much of the fall, weather permitting.

This fall, look for Boal City Brewing’s first flagship beer brand, along with Oktoberfest, its cold fermented lager dropping the third week of September. The brewery will host its Second Annual Oktoberfest 5K Trail Race on October 6 – you can register here.

281 Old Boalsburg Rd, Boalsburg | facebook.com/BoalCity | boalcitybrewing.com | 814-808-2519

Big Spring Spirits is a community-centric craft distillery located in Bellefonte’s historic Match Factory next to beautiful Talleyrand Park. It proudly makes spirits from Pennsylvania’s best tasting water, and sources ingredients from local farmers and artisans to create one-of-a-kind drinking experiences.

This fall, look for a new cocktail menu coming September 21. In the meantime, enjoy seasonal goodies like Peach Old Fashioneds and Strawberry Margaritas.

In Happy Valley on a weekday? Add in one of their weekly events: Tuesdays are for Tacos + Tequila, Wednesdays are Happy Hour, Thursdays are Trivia Night, and there’s a cocktail lab held once a month.

198 Match Factory Pl, Bellefonte | facebook.com/BigSpringSpirits | bigspringspirits.com/bellefonte | 814-353-4478

Get ready for an exciting autumn at Otto's Pub and Brewery! Mark your calendars for October 1st, as it unveils its new fall-inspired food menu and much-anticipated fall cocktail menu. Here's a sneak peek at some of the delectable drinks you'll find:

• Spiced Apple Cider Margarita: Crafted with B21 Agave Spirit, Orange Liqueur, Spiced Cider, and a touch of cinnamon sugar.

• To Peach Their Own: A delightful blend of B21 White-Tail Bourbon, Peach Liqueur, Raspberry Iced Tea, and Pink Lemonade.

Don't forget, its fan-favorite Oktoberfest Lager will be back on tap by the beginning of September. This 5.2% ABV lager is a true celebration of the season, featuring a brilliant red color and a juicy, malty body from Belgian Munich malts and German pils malts. Hopped with German Tradition, Perie, and Hallertau, this lager offers a nicely balanced flavor and a super clean finish. It's the perfect beer to toast the changing of the seasons and the bounty of harvest time.

2235 N Atherton St, State College | facebook.com/OttosPubandBrewery | ottospubandbrewery.com | 814-867-6886

Barrel 21 is also gearing up for an unforgettable fall season with new menus launching on October 1st. Both its fall dinner menu and fall cocktail menu will feature returning favorites and exciting new additions. Here are a couple of the cocktails to get excited about: Autumn Negroni made with B21 apple & pear-infused gin, aperol, sweet vermouth, and a hint of cinnamon sugar, and Pumpkin Spice Martini, which is cozy blend of B21 pumpkin-infused vodka, honey, cream, and pumpkin pie spices.

Don’t miss Barrel 21’s newest spirit, Nittany Vodka. This clean and smooth neutral spirit is perfect for any cocktail and showcases your Penn State pride with every sip. Nittany Vodka is characterized by its neutral smell and taste, clear color, and a remarkably low number of impurities, making it a versatile base for a wide range of cocktails.

2255 N Atherton St, State College | facebook.com/Barrel21Distillery | barrel21distillery.com | 814-308-9522

Located in Millheim, Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks encapsulates ‘authentic, flavorful, and local.’ With brilliantly designed beers, short-menu food specials, and live music, it is a great place to gather this fall—especially with one of their seasonal brews.

This fall, try their Solhunde Hazy IPA, an easy-drinking IPA that commemorates the Norse “Sun Dog” halo around the sun, or Hairy John IPA named for the infamous Hairy John Vonada of local legend, an ‘aggressively hopped big American IPA’ with fruity flavor and aroma.

Elk Creek regularly features live music, but keep your eye out for their popular Oktoberfest that typically happens at the very end of September. It features authentic German food, biers, and music, and benefits the Millheim Fire Company.

100 W Main St, Millheim | facebook.com/ElkCreekCafeAleworks | elkcreekcafe.com | 814-349-8850