Just off the Bayfront Parkway between Presque Isle and the Bicentennial Tower lies the city of Erie’s first craft distillery since prohibition. Newly opened in 2019, Altered State Distillery boasts award-winning small-batch vodka, rums, gin and aged-whiskeys. Customers are welcome to taste the spirits before they buy. If you’re lucky enough to visit when one of the owners is around, you may be offered a tour as well, or you can contact the distillery in advance to schedule one.

Altered State Distillery is open every evening M-F beginning at 3 p.m., Saturday at noon, and hosts the area’s best local and regional bands every Friday and Saturday night from 7-10 p.m. While there is no formal lunch or dinner menu, their small food-pairing menu is available from open to close, and in the evening hours they are often host to some of the city’s favorite local food trucks. For more information visit their website www.alteredstatedistillery.com or find them on Facebook.