A Haunting Ale Emerges from the Shadows

Something is brewing in NEPA that is not just beer  that embraces the next level horror and immersive experience that  goes beyond the norms of conventional fears (and enjoyment!) A collaboration, a special “Reaper’s ritual” of October, unleashed on October 2! On the surface, it is simple: a seasonal ale from Susquehanna Brewing Company, released at their tasting room on Thursday, October 2. However, beneath that surface, there is a darker current — the kind you only find when Reaper’s Revenge, Maiolatesi Wine Cellars, and SBC collide.

This is not pumpkin spice. This is not your cozy, crackling-fire seasonal release. This is blood orange and pomegranate brought to life in a can that feels like dare. It’s bold, juicy, and unapologetically tied to the shadows. Moreover, once you taste it, you realize it is more than beer; it is a SEASONAL tradition brewed by a first-class brewery that represents the level of excellence defined by Reaper’s Revenge!

Brewing The Reaper’s Fear into Flavor

Beer has always told stories, but rarely do those stories walk hand in hand with fear. In this case, blood orange provides the first chapter: bright, biting, almost glowing with a sinister red edge. The second chapter arrives with pomegranate, tart and layered, its sweetness balanced with a whisper of something darker. Together, they create an ale that feels both playful and unnerving — something you sip with a grin but finish with goosebumps. At 4.2% ABV and 10 IBU, it’s deceptively smooth, crafted for long nights and repeated pours. However, the flavor profile lingers in the mind. It is not just citrus and sweetness; it is theater, it’s storytelling, it’s the kind of drink that feels like it could only exist in October.

And then there’s the artwork itself…something craft fear/beer fans enjoy:  the Reaper iconography, fruit turned to fire. It does not whisper “seasonal,” it screams “spectacle.” It’s a beer that does not want to blend into the shelf. It wants to grab you by the wrist and pull you into the Reaper’s forest.. This is branding on the next level!

The Setting

The Susquehanna Beer Garden at Maiolatesi is already one of NEPA’s most welcoming spaces — wood, glass, and steel blending with warm light and a hum of conversation. But on October 2, that atmosphere transforms as home of the REAPER!  And when the supplies run out — when the last can is cracked open — it will be gone. Just like a scare on the trail: here, gone, leaving only adrenaline and memory behind.

Collaboration Emerging from the Shadows

What makes this release extraordinary isn’t just the beer, but the union of three institutions that define autumn in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

• Reaper’s Revenge: the master of fear, the conductor of glorious adrenaline, the attraction that turns October into theater. Its DNA is in every sip of this ale. The EMPIRE of immersive horror entertainment comes together to give you an unforgettable taste.
• Susquehanna Brewing Company: the craftspeople, innovators, and guardians of NEPA’s brewing tradition. They don’t just make beer; they make drinkable storytelling.
• Maiolatesi Wine Cellars & Susquehanna Beer Garden: the stage for it all

It’s a collaboration where each partner brings something essential — fear, flavor, and setting. The result is more than a drink; it’s an experience that couldn’t happen anywhere else.

The Perfect Collaboration

Reaper’s Revenge is more than a haunted hayride. SBC is more than a brewery. Maiolatesi is more than a winery. Together, they become something that embodies the season, the innovation and  the quality respective of both powerhouse brands! These limited releases aren’t just about seasonal hype. They’re about pride of place ;  showing that NEPA can produce experiences that rival and EXCEED any haunted attractions in the country! They’re about giving fans of beer, wine, and horror a reason to come together to toast to the season and to share in something fleeting but unforgettable.

The Release Event

 Release Date: Thursday, October 2 | 5-9 p.m.
 Where: Susquehanna Beer Garden at Maiolatesi

Expect the best beer and don’t forget…. most of all, expect the Reaper — because even here,  his shadow falls across every glass.

A Toast to October

In the end, this release isn’t just about beer. It’s about stepping fully into the season — leaning into the shadows, daring to sip the unknown, and toasting to everything that makes October in NEPA what it is.

So on October 2, join the crowd. Hold the can. Taste the fear. And when the Reaper comes calling, don’t run — raise your glass…in this case do “NOT” fear  the Reaper….