PHOTOS COURTESY OF SQUATCH BREWING

I’ve been thinking a lot about Bigfoot.

During a late-night bout of nostalgia, I rewatched “Harry and the Hendersons,” a 1987 comedy about a family that takes in a Sasquatch. When I was a kid, this was not only my fantasy living arrangement, but one of my favorite films. Seeing it again after so many years reignited my childhood love for the cryptid.

I can relate to Sasquatch in that I want to disappear into the forest, but since I’m not outdoorsy, a Bigfoot-themed brewery is more my speed.

Squatch Brewing isn’t nestled in the deep, dark woods, but rather Monroeville’s Moya Industrial Park, which is off the beaten path enough for me to classify it as a “wildlife excursion.” To complete the illusion, I wore hiking boots and a flannel.

In a testament to their love for Bigfoot and beer, Bill and Barbara Campbell opened the business on Valentine’s Day 2024.

At 6-foot-4-inches tall, Bill is similar in stature to the elusive creature. He also has a background in water chemistry and started home brewing as a hobby during the pandemic. As friends and family sampled his beer, the legend grew.

Squatch soon went from tall tale to reality.

The 50-seat taproom has a rustic vibe with foot-shaped beer flight trays. Open mouth, insert foot, indeed.

On warm days, the garage doors go up and folks knock back pints on the patio. There’s a steady rotation of food trucks, as well as weekly events such as workshops, trivia and live music. I hope the Campbells book Saxsquatch, a saxophone-blowin’ Bigfoot, since I missed February’s sold-out performance at Thunderbird Cafe and Music Hall. (The Lawrenceville venue, named after a mythological avion spirit, is celebrating 25 years on Butler Street this Friday.)

Need a gift for the cryptozoologist in your life? Grab a 4-pack to go or peruse Squatch swag while you sip a Big Hazy Bastard or a Boss Lady Blonde. The Fun Fraulein German Pilsner looks tasty, too. I can’t believe I haven’t tried it yeti!

Thankfully, I have a token good for one free draft. Crafted by a loyal brewery customer, the wooden circle features a silhouette of Squatch holding a bottle of suds.

I believe it’s only a matter of time before the hairy humanoid comes out of hiding to have a Bigfoot flight at his namesake brewery.