USA, PA: Pittsburgh Brewing Co.’s new site in East Deer expected to be brewing by summer

Citing steady progress at its new site in East Deer, Pittsburgh Brewing Co. general manager Todd Zwicker said on January 26 he expects brewing to be underway by the summer, NEXTpittsburgh reported.

The makers of Iron City Beer started work at the former Pittsburgh Glass Works last year. A tour of the facility on January 26 showed the brewhouse area is nearing completion as more equipment is set to arrive.

A total of 25 large brewing tanks will occupy the open main space.

The company’s original 1861 logo stretches across the floor with yellow lines representing the region’s three rivers on it. One of the river lines — the Allegheny River — leads to the circular logo of that reads Pittsburgh Brewing Co., Creighton Facility, Allegheny County, 2022.

“It is very far along in its development,” Zwicker said.

The building maintains the same structure as the Pittsburgh Glass Works, which closed in 2018. Cliff Forrest, owner of the Kittanning-based Rosebud Mining Co. who took over Pittsburgh Brewing Co. in 2018, bought the shuttered former windshield plant in 2019.

Zwicker would not disclose the amount of money being put into renovations but said it was a substantial investment.

“He [Forrest] wanted to revitalize the brewery and did it in an extremely big way,” he said.

The packaging area has flooring installed with a fully automated machine handling the packaging.

Facilities Manager Alex Gonzalez said the machine can package 400 to 450 bottles or cans a minute. The machine can run 24/7 and is customizable. Fluid from the brewhouse will be transferred to the packaging line.

There will be zero human interaction except for loading raw materials and people monitoring the machine, Gonzalez said.

“Everything we make will be done on this single line,” he said. Pittsburgh Brewery officials have not said how many employees will work at the East Deer brewery.

The company anticipates collaborating with breweries within the Pittsburgh Brewers Guild and small businesses.

Company spokesperson Ben Butler said there has been interest in doing events at the facility, but nothing has been made concrete. Butler said a private tour with fellow guild members will happen in February to show everyone around.

Butler said the community has been excited about the building.

“This is revolutionary for the area and hasn’t been done before,” he said.

Zwicker said the company’s process of renovating the building was no small endeavor. Last summer, the company extinguished the underground coal fire that had been burning since at least 2017.

The company made an effort early on to make its appearance known in the township. Signage was added in September to make the company’s logo visible to drivers on Route 28.

Zwicker said a draft beer cart will be displayed outside the building by spring or summer. One of the carts will make an appearance for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.

The company plans to have a store, beer museum and restaurant. Tours will be available for visitors to get a view of the facility.

Zwicker is confident once the building is completed, the company will be a national competitor.

“This will be one of the top breweries on the East Coast,” Zwicker said.

28 January, 2022