Industry pioneer to step down as CEO of Penn Brewing
As young as the craft beer industry is, we don’t hear about too many retirements. Yet.
Tom Pastorius, who helped pioneer the national craft beer industry by introducing Penn Pilsner in 1986 and founding what would become the Penn Brewery three years later, has announced that he will retire. “All good things must come to an end,” said Mr. Pastorius, 63, of Sewickley.
He has continued working as Pennsylvania Brewing Co.’s chief executive officer after selling a majority interest to Birchmere Capital in 2003. But part of that deal was that he step down after five years.
When Pastorius started the company, the restaurant was called the Allegheny Brewery and Pub and was the first brewpub in Pennsylvania since Prohibition.
He’s not sure if he’ll hang on to his stock and his seat on the board, but he does plan to keep a hand in the beer business, perhaps working to raise the membership and profile of the Pennsylvania Brewers Guild. “Look at what the wineries have done,” he said, citing their collaborative marketing and lobbying efforts.
He’ll officially say goodbye at the annual Penn Brewery anniversary party on Sept. 12.
