E-Malt.com News article: US, PA: Brewery to open in former bakery site in Hempfield

Jeff Guidos is looking to the heavens for inspiration as he prepares to brew beer in a cavernous building on Route 119 in Hempfield, Pittsburg Tribune-Review reports.

Guidos and partner Beth Vreeland are transforming the abandoned Stroehmann bakery outlet into All Saints Brewing Co. He expects the brewery to open next month.

"Stage one is the brewing stage," Guidos said. "In stage two, I'd like to have a brew pub. Stage three and four — that's way down the road — I'd eventually like to have a restaurant."

Guidos was the brewmaster at the now-closed Red Star Brewery in Greensburg. He salvaged two copper brewing kettles and the stainless steel fermentation and serving tanks from the Red Star when it closed last year and is installing them in the building near Lynch Field in Greensburg.

He's a chemist by training. To get the brewery up and running, he's also had to be a plumber, electrician and all-around handyman.

"Being a brewer requires me to be everything," he said. "We have to be able to do it all."

Craft brewing is growing, according to the Brewers Association in Colorado.

In 1980, there were only eight craft breweries in the United States. By 1994, that number had grown to 537. Last year, there were more than 1,600.

Microbrewers sold nearly 10 million barrels of beer last year, nearly 9 million more than in the year before. It's a $9.7 billion industry, the association said.

In 2008, Pennsylvania had 75 craft breweries, ranking 20th in the country.

Those statistics are not lost on Guidos.

"I want to make what people want to drink," he said. "We're shooting for 450 barrels in our first year. More would be great, but we feel we can do 450 comfortably."

Because of licensing restrictions, Guidos can sell his beer only in kegs to local bars and restaurants. Walk-in customers will be able to purchase half-gallon containers, called "growlers," of lager and India Pale Ale.

"It's really a good time to get into the market," he said. "There's thirst out there. We have to satisfy that thirst."

Guidos, who has a degree in chemistry from St. Vincent College, got interested in home brewing while in college and parlayed a hobby into a career.

"I got turned onto it," he said. "I was totally fascinated."

He wrangled a job as assistant brewmaster at the Red Star, then became the brewmaster. When the Red Star closed, he started drafting plans for his own brewery.

"To be successful, you don't go into business for yourself," he said. "You go into it for beer lovers."


25 May, 2011