Saturday, April 3, 2010

Penn Brewery Reborn

I went to the Penn Brewery yesterday. They are not opened full time but they do a Friday happy hour from 4 to 7. I was happy to see Tom. He built this brewery from the ground up and it has always been, and always will be, his brewery. He was working hanging new flags, cleaning and sweeping and just running around greeting people. I haven't seen him this happy since his first day in 1989. I was happy too. The Kaiser was back on tap and it has to me my all time favorite beer. Sorry to all you English ale brewers, but Kaiser is just that good. The brewery's American Pale Ale is as good. I wasn't sure what to expect from it but my first pint at Fat Heads last week made my eyes pop. It was equal to Kaiser in crispness and character. I for one can't wait until the brewery is open full time. This should be in late April, ut keep an eye out in the Pittsburgh Post in Bob Batz's column on Thursdays. More good news from the brewery is the return of the Penn Fest this June 5th. Only two sessions but two is better than none. For all you newbies in the beer drinking community, Tom and Mary Beth worked to allow brew-pubs to exist in Pennsylvania. Without them we may never have been allowed to have them. That in itself is another commentary. The Penn opened in 1989 as the Allegheny Brewery & Pub, Pennsylvania's first brewery-pub. Thanks Tom and Mary Beth.