Iron City a deadbeat beer?
There is trouble in Iron City. The brewery has closed its old plant in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Lawrenceville, moving its brewing operations to Latrobe where Rolling Rock was once brewed. Iron City also left town owing the city a hefty amount of money for its water and sewage bill.
How big a bill is in dispute. The brewery claims the amount is close to $400,000; the city says it's more like a million dollars.
According to a story I read in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority cut the brewery considerable slack on its water bill with the understanding that the brewery would modernize its plant.
When the brewery left town without renovating, the city felt jilted and wanted its money.
An editorial in Post-Gazette Friday pointed out that the brewery is foisting its bad debt on the residents of Pittsburgh, citizens who pay their water bills on time.
Does anybody buy Iron City now?
Has the move to Latrobe killed the Pittsburgh connection?
Photo of Iron City brewery: AP
Comments
Iron City will always be considered a Pittsburgh beer, although most residents I know drank the IC Light. Old Red Ball was just a little too painful.
Shame about them leaving town that way (or any way).
Posted by: Tony N | August 3, 2009 9:21 AM
I tried IC Light a few weeks back on a trip to the Burgh and it tasted like crap.
Posted by: Groundskeeper | August 3, 2009 1:49 PM
It's pretty amazing they've managed to stick around this long. Being from the Burgh, I like IC for the nostalgia, but on a recent trip back, I paid more for the IC than better beers on tap! Only 5 min from the brewery! Same goes for the stuff here in MD.
Posted by: Chris | August 4, 2009 3:21 PM
There's nothing cooler than an ancient brewery in the middle of a thriving urban area cranking out beer for the masses. However, with the latest shady owner, Hickman, running the show all of that is gone now. I have no need for the iconic brand now that it is not backed up by a real brewery in Pittsburgh, and no desire to contribute to Hickman's wallet, now that he killed it off.
Posted by: glann kernanahan | August 6, 2009 4:03 PM
Like countless many that had to leave the region on account of poor employment opportunities in Pittsburgh, would faithfully try to seek out cases of Iron City, Penn Pilsner, Rolling Rock for that sense of nostaligia, particularly during football season. Iron City was pretty dreadful, but got the job done... When Rolling Rock was bought out by Anheuser Bush, I vowed not to buy it any longer. Different set of circumstances with Iron City, but I appreciate the sentiment shared by some of your other readers...
http://www.cafepress.com/ICFootball
Posted by: Jack Fact | August 30, 2009 10:35 PM