Penn Brewing to Boost Production 50 Percent

By Len Boselovic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mar. 22–Pennsylvania Brewing Co. yesterday announced a $500,000 expansion that will boost production 50 percent and create five jobs at the 20-year-old brewery.

Chief Executive Officer Tom Pastorius said when new fermentation tanks that were lifted through the roof of the Vinial Street plant yesterday begin producing in May, Penn Brewing will be able to make 15,000 barrels annually. He hopes that will mean the company will no longer have to contract out production to other breweries.

“That’s our goal. We’ve done this before and every time we expand people buy more beer and we still can’t keep up,” Mr. Pastorius said.

The new tanks also will enable Penn Brewing to supply a draft version of its Kaiser Pils to 30 local bars and restaurants, he said. The German-style pilsner, the eighth in the company’s lineup, is only available at the craft brewery’s restaurant.

Penn Brewing currently employs 45, Mr. Pastorius said.

He and his wife, Mary Beth, started the brewery in 1986. Its restaurant and beer hall, once home to Pittsburgh Brewing, were the state’s first microbrewery when they opened in 1989. The couple sold a majority interest in their business to Birchmere Capital of Pittsburgh in 2003.

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