Piece Of Pittsburgh Brewery History Stolen

PITTSBURGH, PA — It's an insufferable loss for a Pittsburgh brewery already experiencing numerous difficulties.

The Penn Brewery in Troy Hill, the city's oldest craft brewery, had the original bottom of its copper brew kettle stolen. It's a thick, four-foot section removed during a 2023 repair.

"While some may see scrap metal, this piece represented decades of Penn Brewery history and craftsmanship," a post on the brewery's Facebook page stated.

"What makes this especially heartbreaking is that plans were underway to turn it into a memorial plaque honoring our late former Head Brewer, Andy Rich.

"Amid everything else happening around us, it is disappointing that anyone would choose to take something with such deep historical and sentimental value to the brewery and to those who worked here through the years.We are currently working with detectives from the Pittsburgh Police to investigate the theft and hopefully arrange for the piece’s return."

The theft is the latest in a series of negative developments for the 40-year-old brewery.

According to the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, Penn Brewery on Vinial Street is on the list of properties up for a June 1 sheriff's sale.

Its property was listed for sale by creditor First National Bank. with an opening bid of $2,720.

That move comes a month after brewery owner Stefan Nitsch filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure the business.