Penn Brewery Closed (Pittsburgh, Wilkes-Barre, Troy: lease, to buy, closing)

[pman]

Penn Brewery closes
it's getting ugly. Pennsylvania's first micro goes down

[Bagger]

Originally Posted by pman

Penn Brewery closes
it's getting ugly. Pennsylvania's first micro goes down

That's a shame... my friends and I came in from San Jose to see the Steelers play the NYG last year and I went there twice. Really enjoyed it...

[otters21]

AS the news article says that it is being sold. Hopefully it will reopen under the new ownership. The DH and I ate there twice and the food was outstanding. It would be very heartbreaking and not good for the surrounding northside communities should the brewery remain closed permanately. If it wasn't for the brewery places like Troy Hill would fall into steep decline and I cannot stand to see that happen.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by pman

Penn Brewery closes
it's getting ugly. Pennsylvania's first micro goes down

According to the article in your link, the brewery itself is not closing, the restaurant is. The article suggests this may not be a permanent situation (though it usually isn't a good sign when a hospitality business closes for "re-evaluation") and it doesn't elaborate on whether or not they will still operate a pub on the premises. Nothing in the article indicates they are no longer brewing beer. As for "getting" ugly, brewing has long been a tough, tough business. In just the last decade alone, Pittsburgh has lost The Foundry Ale Works, Strip Brewing, Valhalla, and an outpost of both John Harvard's and Hereford & Hops. And now Penn has direct competition from Hofbrau for the local German beer/beer-hall market.

EDIT: According to this article, all operations at the Troy Hill location are on haitus while Lion Brewery in Wilkes-Barre will continue to contract-brew their bottle products.

[BrianTH]

I feel somewhat guilty because I have to admit that while I drank a lot of Penn beers back in the day, that dropped off to almost nothing as a lot more foreign and micros became available, and I got a little more money in my pocket.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I feel somewhat guilty because I have to admit that while I drank a lot of Penn beers back in the day, that dropped off to almost nothing as a lot more foreign and micros became available, and I got a little more money in my pocket.

For me their beers have never been a huge attraction. You have to really like German styles to make Penn part of your regular beer rotation, and honestly German beers get pretty rigid and boring after a while. But I loved, loved, loved the space at the brewery itself, especially the outdoor seating area. One of the coolest places in the U.S. to sit and have a beer or two.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Drover

For me their beers have never been a huge attraction. You have to really like German styles to make Penn part of your regular beer rotation, and honestly German beers get pretty rigid and boring after a while. But I loved, loved, loved the space at the brewery itself, especially the outdoor seating area. One of the coolest places in the U.S. to sit and have a beer or two.

I 100% agree all around.

[greg42]

The story there has been crazy for a while, really. First the founder sold all but a small percentage (I think, or maybe all) a couple years ago. Then late last year or early this year there was a huge to-do about a supposed lease arrangement not working out. They started dismantling stuff there and contracted out the brewing. And the restaurant was on the brink of closing, supposedly to move somewhere else. Then, at the very last minute, it didn't. Long about last week came word of the founder trying to buy it back and even some remarks about bringing back brewing there, I think. And now this. Who knows what's going to happen....

[bbrian12]

this is to bad cause there will not be an octoberfest
i went last year for the first time and it was fun

[pman]

before they contracted out brewing, their pils was one of the best around. I love to drink it in the summer. that said, sometimes a man needs some hops. would the city brewing location work?