Latest news with #PittsburghBrewingCompany
CBS News
7 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
The history behind Iron City Beer
From U.S Steel and Heinz to the Clark Bar and Iron City Beer, Pittsburgh has many world-famous brands and inventions. Southwestern Pennsylvanians are often extremely dedicated to their branding heritages. Take Iron City Beer, which has been one of those long-time survivors of Pittsburgh brands. It's been doing your thirst a favor since 1861. That's the start of the Civil War, and how long Iron City Beer has been part of the proud fabric of Pittsburgh. "Wherever you're from, if there's an institution or business that's been around for that long, you wear it on your sleeve. You're proud of it. You say, 'Oh, I'm from Pittsburgh, that's where Iron City is made,'" said Rachel Gill, Pittsburgh Brewing Company's marketing director. Created, bottled and shipped out from here, about 20 minutes from Downtown, going up Route 28. It's moved several times and been through several owners. The latest owner, No. 6 to be exact, bought the full brand seven years ago and is serious about keeping its long-lived, well-loved heritage. "In 2018, back track a little bit, that's when Cliff Forrest came in. He's a local man, owns a coal mining business, that is his start-up, but he came in a purchased Pittsburgh Brewing Company because he wanted Pittsburgh to have its brewery back," Gill recounted. Chuck Puckett is the company historian. He's shown all types of memorabilia from the past, a past rich in the type of person who made Iron City famous then and now. "It really appeals to the work ethic that is prevalent to the Pittsburgh area," Puckett said. "All the way back to the 1800s, you had to have a good beer to quench the thirst of a working man, whether he be a miner, a steel worker, or laborer." To bring us to the current day, just last week, workers started brewing their Block House Pumpkin Ale. Scheduled to be released next month, it is the No. 1 selling pumpkin ale in western Pennsylvania.
CBS News
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Regatta returns to Pittsburgh's rivers this weekend
It's been six years since Pittsburgh has had a regatta on the three rivers, but this weekend, Pittsburgh Brewing Company is hosting the inaugural Rockin' Regatta on the Allegheny River. Pittsburgh Brewing Company now makes Iron City Beer in what was originally a PPG plant in Creighton, about 20 miles north of Downtown Pittsburgh. The plant from the late 1800s was transformed into a modern brewery, distillery, event and concert venue. The outdoor amphitheater holds about 9,000 people, and they're expanding this year with larger acts including Alabama, Blues Traveler and Joan Jet. "The whole venue is amazing. It's 42 acres. The property itself is just beautiful. When people look and drive up 28 and you see the big flag and the sign, it's not even close to what's behind those doors. What people think is behind those doors and when they walk in here, they're amazed and wowed. It's just beautiful," said Rebecca McCormick, Pittsburgh Brewing Company's event coordinator Pittsburgh Brewing Company also brings in food trucks for events, including the Irish Festival, Oktoberfest and Steelers watch parties. The Regatta is Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8, with live music, food, kids activities, boat racing and, of course, Iron City beer. For more information on tickets, go to Pittsburgh Brewing Company's website. Pittsburgh used to host an annual Three Rivers Regatta, but the event was canceled in 2019 after officials said the promoter failed to take many of the steps necessary for it to continue. There hasn't been a regatta on Pittsburgh's rivers since, though Moraine State Park holds one yearly on Lake Arthur.
