About Us

History of Our Beer

Pittsburgh is a city steeped in a rich history, climbing up from numerous hillsides, to spanning and wrapping around the banks of the three rivers.

With the northern banks of the Allegheny and Ohio rivers serving as the background, the Rooney Family opened their first family pub on the corner of Corey and General Robinson Streets, later to be home to Three Rivers Stadium.

In 1933, the family would expand the business to brewing at the General Braddock Brewing Company, located east of Pittsburgh, in Braddock, Pennsylvania. Rooney's Irish Red Ale and Veterans & Civilian Lager soon became their best-known brands.

Later, the recipe would be refined to provide an exceptionally balanced beer, exhibiting the subtle complex flavors of an Irish Ale and an American Amber Ale. The finest English floor malted Marris Otter barley, eight European and American specialty malts used to deliver a malty, caramel and slightly nutty taste, with hints of chocolate and roast. The finest American Chinook, Cascade, Columbus and Noble German Hallertau were then added, delivering a fruity and spicy herbal taste.

The Celtic heritage of the Rooney family is captured in the taste of Rooney's Old Irish Ale, a medium bodied sessionable amber ale. Raise one for the "Old Sod"…decades ago Dan Rooney served Pittsburgh with a beer full of flavor and pride. The handcrafted family brewing heritage continues today, at the historic Pennsylvania Brewing Company, back home in Pittsburgh, on the North Side.

The history continues…in 2011 Rooney's Old Irish Ale was introduced to Pittsburgh at the Jerome Bettis Grille 36, nearby the original location of the 1898 Rooney's saloon.

Sources:
The Point of Pittsburgh – Charles McCollester
Images of America Braddock, Allegheny County – Robert M. Grom