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Fair Play Distillers serves up unique drinks in Old Lycoming Township

By Matthew Courter 5 min read

A new distillery is serving up unique concoctions as the culmination of 10 years of discussions between brothers Drew and Damon Lomison on opening a business together.

"We had brewed beer at home for probably 20 to 30 years and always thought we would open a brewery when we got done with our regular jobs," co-owner Damon Lomison said. "Then about six years ago, we got into distilling, too, and with all the breweries popping up in town, we got to thinking we might be the first distillery in Williamsport."

Listening to the brothers speak, it is clear that this venture is about more than just making money, as their passion is palpable.

"You can taste a beer and enjoy it, but once you start learning how it's made, it's very complex," Damon said. "It varies around the world. England, Europe, even South Africa and Mexico all have things they do differently to make their beers."

"We love the fermentation process and creating spirits, so to take it to distillation was just the next step," he added.

While both were still working as accountants, a building on Lycoming Creek Road went up for sale that was perfect for their planned distillery.

It took roughly two and a half years from conception to opening of the distillery, including the negotiation and sale of the building, COVID-related delays and working with Old Lycoming Township, which is essentially a dry township.

"We're the only place in Old Lycoming where you can come and have a drink," Damon said. "You can buy liquor, but there are no bars in the township. We're not a bar, but with our distillers license, we can serve tastings of our products as well as mixed drinks. And we serve some Pennsylvania beers and wines."

While setting up a business regulated as tightly as alcohol is in the state, the brothers said that it was smooth sailing, for the most part.

"The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has been fantastic and very supportive," they said.

The Lomisons also offered a special shout out to a couple of local businesses who alleviated a lot of stress from the process.

"Steam Specialist LLC installed our boiler and HVAC, and they've been here anytime we had any issues at all. And Kilburn Electric. He's an independent guy, and he did all the electric work in our building," Damon said.

The Lomisons also wanted to tie into local history and, after finding out that their building was within the Fair Play territory, they settled on the name Fair Play Distillers.

"In the mid-1700s, there wasn't a formal government in Pennsylvania, and this group called the Fair Play Men moved into our area and essentially set up their own government, even regulating distilling to some degree," Damon said. "On July 4, 1776, not knowing that the Continental Congress was doing the same thing, they signed their own declaration of independence from England, and sent two men on horses to deliver it."

Historical ties to the area are not the only ones the brothers cherish, as they source their barrels from M&D Staves in Middleburg, made from Pennsylvania oak, and have a single malt whiskey made out of Pennsylvania malt.

Despite being open only a few weeks, Fair Play Distillers has seen widespread word-of-mouth publicity, resulting in a steady stream of customers and some favorites quickly being chosen.

"Our bourbons are some of our best products," Drew said. "We have a single barrel release that we bottled at 111 proof that's called 111, and we already have a group of weekend regulars that come in and order their drink with 111."

"But we also make some vodkas that most people don't, such as our Japanese plum vodka and our boysenberry vodka," he said. "We're trying to do more flavors that are not standard, but that work very well in mixed drinks."

"People that have tasted our vodka have said it was comparable to other high-end vodkas they've had," Drew continued. "We're working on some dark rum that's still aging in some of our used bourbon barrels."

For the Lomisons, the aesthetic of Fair Play Distillers is as integral an ingredient as what goes into their drinks.

"We've also gotten really good feedback on our tasting room," Damon said. "It's what you would almost call a speakeasy -- there's no windows, lots of wood, very comfortable and we have a map of the original Fair Play territory in there."

"We wanted it to be a place where Sinatra and the Rat Pack would come by for a martini," he said. "And that's the environment we set up. No TVs, no gambling machines -- we're here to highlight our product and for people to come and chat with their friends."

The reputation of Fair Play Distillers hasn't only reached patrons, as several local businesses have forged partnerships with the fledgling company.

"The Crippled Bear was the first to come and say, 'Hey, you guys are local, we want to have your product here.' The Bullfrog Brewery also has our stuff and we have theirs," Damon said. "We're also working with Bald Birds Brewery and some other businesses right now, but we're really just starting the outreach."

Although new to the game, depending on the volume of their clientele, the Lomisons are already considering adding a separate tasting room in downtown Williamsport or the Muncy area.

To check out all that Fair Play Distillers has to offer, visit their Facebook page or their physical location at 2314 Lycoming Creek Road.

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