Crafty Tour Takes You To Local Breweries

PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA) - We hear more and more stories about the big beer producers and how their sales are dropping, yet craft and local brewing is growing like wildfire. In and around Pittsburgh, we have some great independent breweries putting out some great beer, but how do you find them and then get there?

Jake Voelker, a former captain in the U.S. Army and veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq, solved this problem by starting a company called Pennsylvania Brew Tours, a venture he launched less than a year ago. Basically, he's shuttling people to different are breweries, where you get to try different beers and learn more about brewing.

"We provide you transportation to get to the breweries that are slightly out of reach from the Pittsburgh area," says Voelker.

And Voelker has already sold out a series of tours to breweries across western Pennsylvania. Among the many stops his tours have included are Lavery and Erie Brewing in Erie, Voodoo Brewery in Meadville, North Country Brewery in Meadville, Full Pint Brewery in North Versailles, All Saints Brewery in Greensburg and Helltown Brewery in Mt. Pleasant.

KDKA-AM's Larry Richert and John Shumway talk to Voelker about how his tours work and how you can get on the bus.  He's doing between two and five tours monthly and expects that to pick up in the spring.

Tours range from four to five hours with prices at either $31 or $69.  At present the tours are on Saturdays, but Voelker is looking at expanding the days as the weather improves.  He's also thinking about launching "Beer Dinners" in the fall. And, a portion of the profits goes to the Wounded Warriors Foundation.

For more information, visit his website at www.pabrewtour.com.