USA, PA: Monaca Brewing Co. targets spring opening as Monaca’s first craft brewpub

Plans call for Monaca to get its first craft brewpub in 2022, the Beaver County Times reported on December 13.

Monaca Brewing Co. targets a mid- to late-spring opening at 1030 Pennsylvania Ave.

"We've got our brewery license and all the equipment is ordered and should be arriving in late-January," co-owner Norm Ely said.

Pouring a variety of brewed-on-site beers, Monaca Brewing will be in the former Fergie's Vape Shop that closed about three years ago. Next door is Steve & Benny's Chicken Shack, which will deliver its menu items to customers seated at Monaca Brewing.

"Their menu is going to be revamped for this when we open," Ely said.

Steve Gates, co-founder of Steve & Benny's Chicken Shack, is an ownership partner in Monaca Brewing, along with Ambridge Manager Mario Leone, who formerly served as Monaca's borough manager.

Leone and lifetime Monaca resident Ely, franchise owner-operator of Bruster's Real Ice Cream in Hopewell Township, bought several empty storefronts in Monaca, eager to be part of the budding revitalization of the downtown.

"If Monaca has something going on, the town is going to come out and support it," Ely, a former Monaca Council president, said. "We just want to see Monaca grow and flourish."

Monaca Brewing will pay homage to Monaca with its decor and possible beer names.

Beer varieties will range from pale ales to IPAs, and seasonals to sours, as well as seltzers, beer mimosas and bloody marys.

Monaca Brewing plans to partner with local businesses, like Stray Cat Studio in Beaver Falls for mugs.

Beaver County looks to get two new craft brewpubs in early 2022, with Fermata Brewing Co. aiming for a February opening at 918 Merchant St., Ambridge.

13 December, 2021