A German-style beer hall set to open on Tuesday will once again delay its opening. The Hofbrauhaus at the South Side Works was originally scheduled to open a month ago. However, beer lovers will have to continue to be patient. A soft opening for the new $4 million beer hall is scheduled for March 10.You weren't holding your breath, were you?
The beer hall is just one of three locations throughout the United States. It will seat 450 people indoors, and another 600 outside. A grand opening for the Hofbrauhaus has not yet been set.
Meantime, Penn Brewery will probably -- almost certainly -- shut down at the end of the week (the actual brewery operation; the beer will continue to be made under contract at The Lion). Dammit. Thank God for the Church.
Ach du Lieber! Ich hab die Nase voll von Bayerischen Typen. Immer mehr Zaudern! Quatsch!
ReplyDeleteI know both Eberhard AND Ober and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them stepped up and reclaimed their brewery, now that Penn is gone. Perhaps I will float the idea...
ReplyDeleteGanz genau. Alles was hat mit Bier hier in Pitsburg zu tun, geht direkt in die Hose!
ReplyDeleteIs Penn Brewery closing for good? i though I read that was a temporary thing and they were going to continue brewing at other places until they were set to reopen.... Terrible news, love their beer, don't get enough of it in NEPA....
ReplyDeleteThe brewery is closing: the beer's being made at The Lion, actually. They SAY they're going to re-open and brew. I'm waiting for that.
ReplyDeletewhoops actually I meant to say : Alles was hat mit bier hier in Pitsburg zu tun, direkt in die Hose geht. sorry Lew my Deutsch sehr schwach geworden ist.
ReplyDeleteno the bottling line is sold and the equipment is to be sold as well
ReplyDeletehttp://www.soundbrew.com/featured/jc30hl/index.html
very sad, but we're looking at it on Sat... ya never know
Charlie
Thanks, Charlie (and good luck!).
ReplyDeleteMy mistake: I meant to say they're looking to re-open in a new place, with a new, smaller system. I will believe this when I see it, and not before.
It looks to me like the new beer joint on Pittsburgh's South Side you speak about is training a staff.
ReplyDeleteSo then Lew, if they're brewing the stuff 30 minutes from my home will I be able to find their St. Nick's Bock and their Weizen in a store near me soon? Or is that asking too much?
ReplyDeleteAlso, if they're still brewing at the lion, what does that mean for the quality of the beer? Same stuff/same recipe? or will they just be making Penn Pils and that's it? Any idea?
Not good news on the Penn front.
ReplyDeleteA listing for the brewing equipment, via a broker:
http://www.soundbrew.com/featured/jc30hl/index.html
Sorry, I didn't notice the previous post...my bad.
ReplyDeleteSaturday night is the "Turn Out the Lights" party at Penn, then there is a week or so gap in German beer in Pittsburgh.
From what I've heard, Lion will only be doing the base beers and not the seasonals....hopefully that was incorrect information.
There is no gap, the church will still be plugging away, east end is not going anywhere, always available dahn in Regent Square, and would it won’t kill you ladies' delicate pallets to order an Iron or Augustiner once and while.
ReplyDeleteCharlie:
ReplyDeleteGood luck, hope you can get the stuff and keep it brewing in-state. If you need a place to store it, I've got tons of room in Berwick...
it won’t kill you ladies' delicate pallets to order an Iron or Augustiner once and while.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that!
(I rejected a comment about the ownership of Iron City: not because I necessarily disagree, but I'm not sure who'd be liable in a libel suit. I ain't gonna get sued over this damned blog! Please keep that in mind when you make comments. Thanks. (BTW, I agree that the worst part of all this is that there's no Penn Kaiser Pils or Marzen being made.))
ReplyDeleteOn the contrary Lew...Kaiser is in the kettle as I type this...
ReplyDeleteReally?! Which kettle? Great news!
ReplyDeleteWe only have one...and you'll see it tomorrow night...
ReplyDeleteHeh. I doubt that; I'll be in Chicago at a wedding rehearsal tomorrow night.
ReplyDeleteToo bad...I made a beer special for you...guess you'll have to miss out...
ReplyDeleteSorry about the comment, its just upsetting that the business is being run into the ground and has been for sometime. If you know anything at all about Pgh Brewing you know that what I wrote is true, although looking back I understand why you didn't post it.
ReplyDeleteI really hope there is one last batch of Marzen to be had, spring won't be the same without it.
Hey Anon,
ReplyDeleteYou're experiencing the same thing us Stoney's fans endured when Gabby took over the reins in Smithton. Enjoy what you can while you can. It won't last long (they're in their death throes), and rejoice in what you got left once it's over. Pittsburgh will remain a great beer town!
I agree, it's a damn shame. I also recognize that there's nothing the legion of fans can do to save their beloved regional brewery...there since before the civil war! Sad.
I totally understand your frustration.
Man Sam K you are a dose of realistic buzzkill today. I'll be out in Pburg next weekend and will be drinking iron and auggie and hauling 5 cases of old german back east for friends and devotees of that brand, not to mention a case of auggie for myself. Long live PBC (or IBC).
ReplyDeleteI apoligize for any ruffling of feathers this causes sam_k, but blaming current mgt for the problems with ICB is a bit naïve. It is kind of like blaming the current bucco rookie bull pen for the last 15 seasons. I know I can not name names here but a certain Frank Sinatra song is playing in my head right now and it ain't New York New York.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09058/952114-100.stm
ReplyDeletePenn Brewery postpones closing
Friday, February 27, 2009
By Bob Batz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Penn Brewery will not close after tomorrow.
President and CEO Len Caric held a meeting for remaining employees this afternoon and told them that the restaurant will stay open at the North Side site while the company continues to look for a new site. Penn already has shut down its brewing operations and contracted that out to The Lion Brewery in Wilkes-Barre. The brewing equipment is for sale and the bottling line already sold.
But Mr. Caric has said that the company wants to move the restaurant and at least some brewing to a new location in the city.
Mr. Caric said more details would be released at a news conference tomorrow morning.
First published on February 27, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Good News!!! It's offical Penn Brewing is set with a new 5 year lease.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09059/952421-100.stm
The more details that Troy's post references:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09059/952421-100.stm
Penn Brewery to stay put under new lease
Saturday, February 28, 2009
By Bob Batz Jr., Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
As it turns out, Penn Brewery isn't going anywhere, at least for five years.
In a surprise announcement at a news conference today, president and CEO Len Caric said the North Side brewery will remain at its Vinial Street location under a new 5-year lease.
Mr. Caric had said in November that the company decided not to renew its lease after the rent was effectively more than tripled by E&O Partners. E&O later said Penn owes it money for a disputed water bill.
The lease was to expire today. Mr. Caric told employees at a meeting yesterday afternoon the brewery would remain open but didn't provide details.p>
However, today he said a new lease had been worked out and Penn would remain a fixture on the North Side.
More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
So then Lew, if they're brewing the stuff 30 minutes from my home will I be able to find their St. Nick's Bock and their Weizen in a store near me soon? Or is that asking too much?
ReplyDeleteAlso, if they're still brewing at the lion, what does that mean for the quality of the beer? Same stuff/same recipe? or will they just be making Penn Pils and that's it? Any idea?
CG,
ReplyDelete1. Yeah, that's probably asking too much. Unfortunate, but true.
2. We seem to have Lions lurking on the blog, so I'm going to leave that to them to address...
It may be the same recipe, but it sure isn't the same water . . .
ReplyDeleterecipe (old or new) + different water = different beer.
I wasn't blaming the current regime at IBC for its impending closure, though after reading my comment, I understand why you took my remarks that way.
ReplyDeleteIron has been run by convicted crooks, and/or mismanaged for decades. Alan Bond and Michael Carlow both spent time behind bars for their hi-jinx while in control, and Joe Piccirilli was less than a worthy steward, getting behind by millions to the city itself, among others.
Don't know much about the current ownership, but they were willing to run their can line without maintenance until it failed, thus shifting a percentage of production to Rochester...not only cans, but draft, too, according to my connections at High Falls. Wanna bet this is the opening for the eventual shift of all ICB production to contract brewing? Sound like a good way to run a viable company for the long haul?
The last time I visited there (less than 5 years ago), the place already looked like a junkyard, and I'm truly surprised it's lasted this long.
It is a true testament to the power of the brand and the loyalty of their customers that the company has lasted this long. It certainly hasn't been because of the sure hand of management at the helm!
All of this relates to my observation of the similarities between here and Smithton.
ok so ya its been pushed back alot the offical date of openin is on march 16th i work there so i know
ReplyDeleteSorry about the comment, its just upsetting that the business is being run into the ground and has been for sometime. If you know anything at all about Pgh Brewing you know that what I wrote is true, although looking back I understand why you didn't post it.
ReplyDeleteI really hope there is one last batch of Marzen to be had, spring won't be the same without it.
waiting for that.
ReplyDeleteThree sneak Peek photos posted today of Hofbräuhaus Pittsburgh exterior here . . .
ReplyDeletehttp://www.urbanspoon.com/r/23/1344616/restaurant/South-Side/Hofbrauhaus-Pittsburgh-Opening-2009-Pittsburgh
. . . also, saw they were training the crew inside . . . and I saw a woman all dressed up in St. Pauli Girl attire walking outside.
Must be soon . . . that March 16th date must be good!!!
Can't wait!!! Menu here . . .
http://www.hofbrauhauspittsburgh.com/