If the picture above means anything to you, chances are you've lived in the Northeast - and certainly if you've called Northeast Pennsylvania home, this stuff is as common as a Pepsi in New Bern. Birch Beer, a soft drink made with birch that tastes a bit like cherry root beer, reminds me of visiting my Grandparents in Wilkes-Barre, PA in the summer, ordering pitchers of the treat at Joe's Grotto Pizza overlooking Harvey's Lake. It reminds Alli of summers at the beach in New Jersey.
The thing about Birch Beer is that it's nearly impossible to find in North Carolina. It's amazing how many delicacies from my various stops along the road are now available here (like Dinosaur BBQ Sauce from the legendary Syracuse, NY haunt, now available at The Meat House in Raleigh and Tastykakes, now available all over the place) - but Birch Beer?
It is a delightful day when you happen upon a cheesesteak shop in your town that an actual Philly transplant has opened. Chances are it's going to be good. Finding Birch Beer in the shop is unheard of, because they simply don't distribute the stuff this far south.
So kudos to Anvil of Anvil's Cheesesteaks for regularly having cases of Pennsylvania Dutch Birch Beer FedExed to his shop on Jones Franklin Rd. at the border of Raleigh and Cary. You might as well be at the border of Wilkes-Barre and Kingston..the Birch Beer is delicious as ever and the steaks are great. I'd keep going just because it's run by a guy named Anvil. - Foster
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