The Phoenix Brewing Company, housed in the historic Schroer Mortuary and Funeral Home, where haunted history meets craft beer.

MANSFIELD — History never really stays buried. At The Phoenix Brewing Company, it just found better lighting and a bar menu.

This October, to celebrate all things spooky, I headed to the Phoenix, housed in the former Schroer Mortuary and Funeral Home. The building, once tied to the family’s furniture and casket business, carries decades of stories — some fascinating, others downright chilling. Nobody really knows whose spirit lingers here, but staff and visitors alike have felt it, a curious presence waiting just at the edge of your vision.

The Space

Today, the old mortuary’s basement, once used for embalming, holds the brewing equipment and cold storage. The chapel above has become the taproom, and the casket elevator now hides supplies.

That mix of history and haunt makes the Phoenix the perfect place for its Adult Trick-or-Treat. From October 22 through 26, guests can enjoy Halloween candy and beer pairings in two themed flights. Or skip the hard choice and try both, because it’s all “treats, no tricks,” as the brewery puts it.

Choose between two flights of Halloween candy paired with craft beers.

The Pairings

As I worked through the flight, Carmone Macfarlane, the brewery’s creative & marketing director, shared stories of how the beers were named, the lore behind them, and the ways their team weaves history through the space.

Bessie Kölsch with Cranberry & Orange + Skittles

Light and crisp, Bessie Kölsch is named for South Bay Bessie, Lake Erie’s Loch Ness Monster. Cranberry adds gentle tartness, while Skittles lift bright orange notes, making each sip bright and refreshing.

Tensomnia Coffee Blonde + Twix

Originally brewed for the Phoenix’s tenth anniversary, Tensomnia is light and smooth, coffee-forward but not overpowering. Paired with a Twix, the caramel and chocolate blend with subtle coffee and vanilla notes, making it easy to sip.

Orange Eyes Pumpkin Ale + KitKat

Locals first spotted Orange Eyes, the Charles Mill Lake Monster, in 1959 — glowing eyes drifting through the mist, a creature said to have once lived beneath Riverside Cemetery until construction sent it into the world above. The beer named in its honor carries that same eerie warmth. Pumpkin, molasses, and spice rise like autumn fog, while the KitKat’s chocolate crunch adds just enough sweetness to soften the mystery. 

Ferryman Oatmeal Milk Stout + Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup

Dark and intimidating at first, this stout surprised me with how smooth, creamy, and easy it was to sip, even for someone who isn’t a big beer drinker. Roasted malt and chocolate notes built a rich base, while the peanut butter from the Reese’s elevates every bite and sip. Named after the Ferryman, a nod to old funeral lore, it’s decadent, indulgent, and just a little sinful.

The Cocktail

For the cocktail tasting, I headed upstairs to the Spirit Room, where sunlight spills through tinted glass, wrapping everything in honeyed light. Bottles behind the bar shimmer like embers, warming a space that feels alive yet quietly haunting.

Garnet in the glass and topped with a dehydrated fruit slice, the Midnight Spirit opens with juicy blackberry, soft floral notes, and finishes with bright pineapple that keeps it playful yet layered. No burn, no harsh alcohol;  a well-crafted drink that unfolds with every sip.

Ghost Stories

Between sips, I asked Macfarlane the question everyone wonders: “Is this place really haunted?”

She didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

Then came the stories; the taps on shoulders, the whispers, the small objects sliding from shelves as if nudged by unseen hands.

Goosebumps crept up my arms as she spoke, the air seeming to shift around us. On the Phoenix’s Ales from the Afterlife: Haunted Ghost Tours, you can step inside these chilling tales yourself. From shadowy corners to hidden nooks, every stop comes with stories that will make shadows crawl and pulse with life.

The building dates back to 1914, when it housed the Schroer Mortuary and Funeral Home. Back then, furniture makers often doubled as coffin builders, a practice that made perfect sense for the family business, until 1934, when Charles Schroer Jr. died by suicide inside. His story lingers here too, quiet but unforgotten.

The Phoenix team carries this legacy with subtle nods to the past: coffin-shaped tap handles and names that honor local legends, blending history with craft in unexpected ways.

I came for the candy and beer, but left with goosebumps and not just from the spellbinding drinks. The Phoenix doesn’t just serve beer; this season it serves haunt, flavor, and a thrill that follows you home.

Upcoming events

October is packed with eerie happenings at The Phoenix: haunted ghost tours through the old mortuary, a haunted bourbon tasting in the Spirit Room, and on October 25, the annual Halloween Bash, when the patio transforms into Camp Crystal Lake for a night of costumes, contests, and prizes.

  • Upcoming events Credit: The Phoenix
  • Hops & Shops event Credit: The Phoenix
  • Local art: Silent Auction Nov. 2
  • Local art: Silent Auction Nov. 2
  • Local art: Silent Auction Nov. 2
  • Ferryman Oatmeal Milk Stout 7.2% ABV, 30 IBU Photo: The Phoenix
  • Orange Eyes Pumpkin Ale 6.5% ABV, 27 IBU Photo: The Phoenix Credit: The Phoenix
  • Bessie Kölsch 5.2% ABV, 20 IBU, cranberry & orange. Photo: The Phoenix Credit: The Phoenix
  • All treats, no tricks in this flight
  • The Spirit Room
  • October specials
  • The Spirit Room Credit: The Phoenix

more from bite club