The 814 Distillery sits in Altoona, Pennsylvania, taking its name from the local area code that represents this blue-collar railroad town in the heart of the state. Founded by Tim and Tina Caldwell, the distillery opened its doors in 2018 after years of planning and navigating Pennsylvania’s complex liquor laws. The couple converted a former commercial space on East Pleasant Valley Boulevard into their production facility and tasting room, creating a modern craft distillery that focuses on small-batch whiskeys and spirits. Tim Caldwell brings an engineering background to the distilling process, approaching production with technical precision while Tina handles the business operations and customer experience side. They started the venture after years of home distilling and a growing passion for craft spirits, wanting to bring quality distilling back to central Pennsylvania. The operation runs on a relatively small scale, allowing them to maintain hands-on control over every batch while building relationships with local customers and visitors. The distillery occupies a straightforward industrial space that they’ve transformed into a functional production facility with an attached tasting room. You’ll find their custom copper still setup alongside fermentation tanks and aging barrels, with large windows allowing visitors to see the production process. The atmosphere is unpretentious and focused on the craft itself rather than flashy aesthetics. It’s the kind of place where you can actually talk to the people making your whiskey and understand how it all comes together.