Downtown Butler Welcomes New Micro Brewery
BUTLER (KDKA) -- Four years ago, demolition began on a key corner in downtown Butler where young entrepreneurs dreamed of opening their own micro-brewery.
"The three of us were working at Verizon Wireless actually," Travis Tuttle told KDKA money editor Jon Delano back in August 2012. "We started home brewing together about two and a half years ago. One of our partners is a real entrepreneur spirit."
That was Tuttle back then. Now their brewery is set to open on July 13.
"Butler Brew Works. Been working on this for about five years now," Tuttle recalled Thursday afternoon.
The once-corporate type has done his own makeover with a very full beard.
"Part of the culture is definitely having the beard, looking a little rough, so here we are," added Tuttle.
But there's nothing rough about Butler Brew Works.
Shiny stainless steel vats brew five kinds of beer.
"It starts over here with these three tanks that are collectively known as the brew house."
And there's a combination of grains that create the special flavors.
"They come in with different roasts, different colors on them, and that all contributes to the flavor of the beer."
The beer ferments for seven to ten days before refrigeration and then poured from the tap.
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The beer is complemented by a unique food menu.
The chef's favorites?
"Probably either have to be the tuna tetadito or the prawn dish itself just because I like shrimp," says executive chef Joshua Clouser.
Butler Brew Works has also preserved history -- like bricks from the demolished building, old signage, even old piping as a bar rail.
Butler native and co-owner Nick Fazzoni says it's all about the memories.
"I remember as a little kid my grandma and I would come down and we would go to Alands toy store and we'd go catch a movie at the Penn Theater," recalls Fazzoni.
And locals hope it helps revitalize Butler.
"With every new business coming in, it's just more energy and enthusiasm for downtown Butler," says Amy Pack of the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau.
But it all comes back to the beer.
Jon Delano sampled an American pale ale and a Belgian farmhouse beer, and pronounced both of them good.
But you should go try them yourselves!
