Alan Spoll, a Philadelphia area native, has always had a passion for beer. His love for quality brews began during his time as a student at Penn State, where he first discovered the intricacies of different beers. Despite transferring to Drexel University after his freshman year, Spoll’s love for beer and the Nittany Lions remained unwavering.
In December 2023, Spoll’s daughter convinced him to share his passion for beer with the world by creating videos reviewing different brews and posting them on social media. Initially skeptical, Spoll’s videos didn’t gain much traction until he changed his approach, leading to a viral video that garnered 16.2 million views and kickstarted his online presence.
With over 200,000 followers to date, Spoll has built a community of beer enthusiasts who appreciate his insights and recommendations. Breweries have even reached out to him for sponsorship deals, a testament to his growing influence in the beer community. Spoll’s children, who also have large social media followings, have been surpassed by their father’s beer-related content.
Spoll uses the Untapped app to track the over 2,500 beers he has tried since 2014. Each video he creates starts with an estimate of the total number of beers sampled, a detail that has intrigued his followers and sparked curiosity about when he would reach the milestone of 2,500 beers.
When Spoll finally reached beer number 2,500, he celebrated by going live on Instagram and tasting a $75 Double Oaked Black Barleywine from Anchorage Brewing Company. The live video reached over 150,000 views, showcasing the sense of community and shared joy of beer that Spoll has fostered through his platform.
While Spoll has sampled beers from all over the world, he also enjoys exploring local breweries and trying new beers when traveling. He actively seeks recommendations from his followers for breweries to visit abroad and has a goal of trying beers from all 50 states. In the State College area, Otto’s, Happy Valley Brewing Company, and Voodoo are among his favorite spots.
In addition to his love for beer, Spoll is also an avid runner, having completed 15 marathons since 2013. He sees a connection between his love for beer and running, noting that he couldn’t enjoy the beers he does without the balance of running. Traveling to different races allows him to discover new breweries and local beers to feature on his account, with a goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon in the future.
Despite his many titles, including beer enthusiast and marathon runner, Spoll holds one title closest to his heart: Penn Stater. He may have left the university, but his love for Penn State remains strong, as he continues to support the Nittany Lions in both football and basketball. When he reached beer number 2,500, it was only fitting that he wore his Nittany Lion cap for the occasion.
Alan Spoll’s journey through over 2,500 different beers showcases not only his passion for quality brews but also his ability to connect with a community of like-minded individuals who share his love for beer. Through his platform, Spoll has created a space where people can come together, bond over their shared joy of beer, and discover new brews to enjoy.