WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — A mock dinner service at the brand new Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant on Thursday showcased menu items you’d definitely expect to chase with a cold beer.
There were jumbo Bavarian pretzels and Philly cheesesteak egg rolls, along with cheeseburgers and fajita chicken tacos.
But as with the brand’s other locations scattered throughout southeast Pennsylvania (and far beyond, including Georgia and South Carolina), there’s something a bit different about what you’ll find at this one.
At least if you’re expecting traditional bar fare.
When Iron Hill opens up Friday, July 12, at the former site of Bravo! Cucina Italiana at Lehigh Valley Mall, the public will have the opportunity to check out a menu that showcases serious collaboration between brewers and chefs.
Beer-inspired items as diverse as ale and onion soup au gratin (with Swiss, provolone, pecorino romano and croutons), dot the menu, along with pork carnitas al pastor (crispy beer-braised pork, pineapple salsa, cilantro, red cabbage slaw and salsa verde) and a fried chicken sandwich served up with a sriracha IPA ranch.
That’s before you even get to the entrees.
From a beer-brined pork chop (porterhouse cut, porter-maple brine, roasted fingerling potatoes, fresh vegetables and a tart cherry chutney) to sesame crusted ahi tuna (cucumber salad, rice, sriracha aioli, sesame soy, scallions), the dining experience is elevated well beyond a taproom menu.
Diners also have additional options, including char-grilled ribeye, baby back ribs, Moroccan salmon, Chesapeake crab cakes, shrimp bucatini and Idaho catfish.
A big focus on beer
Iron Hill poured its first beer nearly 30 years ago (Nov. 14, 1996) in Newark, Delaware, well before the Lehigh Valley’s now well-established brewery culture exploded.
But now, it will join a growing list of breweries in an area where pints and flights are serious business for customers.
Senior head brewer Matt Gundrum said there’s a big focus on the beer, with about 15 on tap for the grand opening. They include Iron Hill’s signature beers, rotating seasonals and one that will be exclusive to the Lehigh Valley as the “Hometown Tap.”
In this case, that’s a brew dubbed the “Steel Works IPA,” described as having a zesty citrus and good balance. It comes in at a 5.7% ABV and 50 IBU — a number that reflects the drink’s bitterness and is derived from the hops.
Every beer that’s offered is brewed on location, Gundrum said, pointing to a glass wall allowing customers an unfiltered (pardon the pun) look at the action.
The equipment includes a mash tun, heating exchange, fermentation tanks, serving tanks and a grain mill, letting Iron Hill bring their beer directly from the tanks to the tables.
Touting the brand's decades of “award-winning recognition at some big competitions,” Gundrum said there will be something for everyone, from IPAs and Belgians to German lagers and American styles.
Looking for something non-alcoholic? Iron Hill also has leaned into a trend with its house-crafted, hop-infused water.
Gundrum said it’s crafted with a blend of hops, providing the flavor profile of beer and the hydration benefits of water, calling it "the best of both worlds."
“It’s really refreshing,” he said.
He said hop water and mocktails will be permanent menu items, with items like the hop-jito (simple syrup, lime and mint) and raspberry limeade (raspberry syrup, fresh lime juice) available.
Ribbon-cutting, first pour ahead
While the new restaurant is the former site of Bravo!, everything about it now says Iron Hill.
The space has been brightened and opened up, with expanded outdoor seating.
Inside, a mural that stretches across the dining room has a local flair, showcasing the Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces.
The only thing missing Thursday on the restaurant's televisions was Phillies baseball — a talking point among customers as the red-hot, first-place Phillies headed for a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"We've got to figure out how to get the Phillies, because people keep asking," one of the servers said, jokingly.
Baseball aside, the focus was on maximizing the soft opening with plenty of samples, room for customer feedback and polishing the service before the grand opening.
It was evident that few tweaks will need to be made. The staff was polished and prepared, and food and drinks came with just the right cushion between appetizers and entrees.
The lone hiccup occurred when the restaurant ran out of its Triple Chocolate Hill dessert, a double fudge brownie smothered in vanilla ice cream, peanut butter caramel sauce, crushed peanuts and whipped cream.
For each one sold, 75 cents is donated to the nonprofit CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, servers explained.
Iron Hill officially will open following a ribbon cutting and first pour ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday, July 12. It’s at 950 Lehigh Lifestyle Center at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall.
Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with happy hour weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
