From Garage Brewing to a Pennsylvania Landmark | The Story of South County Brewing with JR Heaps

In this episode of Ready To Drink Podcast, host Nate Fochtman sits down with JR Heaps, founder of South County Brewing, to unpack the 15-year journey from a 300-square-foot homebrew setup in Fawn Grove to a 30,000-square-foot destination brewery in York, Pennsylvania.

JR shares how the 2008 housing crash pushed him to chase his brewing dream, the early days of welding tanks and hand-filling bombers, and how South County became a cornerstone of Central PA’s craft scene. From the hazy IPA boom to the rise of small-scale canning, this conversation dives deep into what it takes to survive and grow in one of the most competitive markets in America.

Watch to hear JR’s take on craftsmanship, family, evolution, and what it really means to build something that lasts.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
02:10 – The birth of South County Brewing
06:45 – Brewing through the 2008 crash
12:30 – The shift from bombers to cans
18:15 – The haze craze and changing beer culture
24:40 – Building a community hub in York, PA
31:00 – Lessons from 15 years in the brewing industry

Subscribe to the Ready To Drink Podcast for authentic founder stories from the frontlines of beverage and hospitality innovation.