USA, PA: Susquehanna Brewing Company to open in Pittston

Descendants of legendary beer crafter Charles Stegmaier are bringing back the family business to the Wyoming Valley, Wnep.com reported on October, 18.

A new brewery will be opening near Pittston, run by Stegmaier's descendants.

Fred Maier showed off some of the brand new equipment on October, 18 that will soon be used to make one of America's most popular and traditional sudsy beverages, beer.

Maier is the great,great great grandson of Charles Stegmaier who made a name for himself at the turn of the century with his handcrafted beers at his Wilkes-Barre brewery. Maier, his father, Ed, and the entire Maier family are happy to announce the reformation of the Susquehanna Brewing Company.

The Maiers hope to be producing 100,000 barrels of beer a year.

"It's the opportunity of a lifetime. When America got down to 47 breweries, this wasn't going to happen. With the growth of American craft industry it's almost too much to explain," said Fred Maier.

Ed Maier still has his great,great grandfather's stock shares from the first Susquehanna Brewing Company founded in the late 1800s.

This rebirth, at the Jenkins Township facility near Pittston is a $10 mln investment.

"We have state-of-the-art German brewing equipment that will be put together in the next couple of months then we will be brewing beer," the elder Maier said.

It's not just the folks at the Susquehanna Brewery excited about the new beer, at the Tipsy Turtle there are more than 30 beers on tap at the two locations. The owners said they are excited about adding a few more.

"Excited to get a new brew in. It's the perfect time with the economy micro breweries and small breweries are very popular right now," said Kenny Carey of the Tipsy Turtle.

"It's manufacturing. It's a new company opening up. It's certainly what we need need more of today. There will be smokestacks coming out of the building. There are not enough smokestacks around here these days," added Ed Maier.

The new brewery will bring 15 jobs to start. The first bottles of beer could be ready by Christmas.

19 October, 2011