5th-generation brewer gets 'memory for a lifetime' making Iron City in East Deer

Sitting in the brewery control room at Pittsburgh Brewing Co. in East Deer, Justin Puharic clicked on his computer mouse, initiating the process of making Tuesday’s fourth batch of Iron City Beer.

The click marked a historic moment for the Puharics. Justin, 27, became the fifth generation of brewers in his family, even if his tenure was brief.

The Puharic family coordinated with Pittsburgh Brewing Co. to make Justin the brewmaster for the day. Justin; his parents, Mike and Theresa; and grandmother, Irene, were able to tour the facility, guided by brewer Brandon Mayes. Justin was able to work with other brewers to brew the beer, which will be available in stores the week of Oct. 23.

It has long been a dream of Mike Puharic, Justin’s father, to have one of his sons work at the brewery, to be a fifth-generation brewer.

But it didn’t seem that dream would come true because Justin has Down syndrome.

“We wanted to take it to the next level and let him be the brewer for the day,” said Rachel Semelbauer, marketing coordinator for Pittsburgh Brewing Co.

Mike Puharic worked four summers while he was in college — 1979 to 1982 — at the company’s former facility in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood. Rich with stories, Mike reminisced about his days at the brewery as the family made its way through a much more modern facility than Mike remembered.

Much has changed.

“Everything was done by hand,” Mike said. “Nothing was automated at that time.”

Justin’s grandfather, Andrew George Jr., worked for Pittsburgh Brewing Co. for more than 30 years. Irene has a picture from the brewery’s first employee picnic from June 29, 1941, in Millvale, where Justin’s great-grandfather, Andrew George Sr., was pictured.

The first brewer in the family was Steven Puharic, who came to the United States in the late 1800s from Europe.

Justin’s favorite part of the day was making the beer, he said. He liked touring the 150,000-square-foot facility, too.

“And tasting (the beer) was good,” he quipped.

The brewery supplied Justin with a shirt designating him as brewmaster for the day, and he listened intently as Mayes and brewer Liz Haeckler explained the science behind brewing beer.

“I like making new stuff,” Justin said.

Justin also had the opportunity to meet Cliff Forrest, the brewery’s owner, and Todd Zwicker, its president. Forrest said the company’s rich history is what makes it special.

“The history of Pittsburgh Brewing is amazing; to have four generations of brewers, five generations,” Forrest said.

Mike said the day was a “dream come true.”

“This is more than just a one-day event. I feel like part of a family, I feel like I’ve known them for a long time. It’s so moving.

“How they’ve embraced us; not just a day, but a memory for a lifetime.”