Jason began his brewing career as a obsessive homebrewer (still home-brewing today with his 3 young children). After winning a 'People Choice Award' for his Smoked Porter in March 2009, Nikki suggested they try to make their brewing dream a reality. Small business classes were attended, banks were met with and Jason began a apprenticeship at Brewerie, an Erie brewpub.

While communicating with the Brewer's Association in June 2009, the idea was presented to Jason that Lavery Brewing Co. might consider seeking a ‘Alternating Proprietorship” license. This classification of license means a brewing facility alternates proprietors. A deal was struck with Brewerie to use their equipment on the weekends and a new brewery was born. Currently, Lavery Brewing Co. is looking for its own space and equipment with intentions to open in Fall 2010.

We are not a contract brewery! We rent equipment form Brewerie but rest assured Jason brews, looks after, conditions, kegs and bottles these beers.
A brewer is not his kettle; a brew kettle is just a blank canvas waiting for an artist.

Location Update: We've settled on a space but have not signed the lease yet. Next few weeks/ months should be a whirlwind. We've already met with contractors, plumbers, electricians and used equipment sellers. Next step, sign a lease, get the funds and go to work.

The mash tun and boil kettles are steam jacketed, copper clad vessels. They hold 3 1/2 barrels (108 gallons). We brew two batches to fill one 7 bbl fermentor.

The beers are as natural as they can be. No filtration, no pasteurization.

The brew system is very hand-on and requires a lot of manual labor. The mash temp. is controlled by turning on the steam as stirring. The whirlpool is accomplished by stirring the wort 50 times with a canoe paddle.

We mash in by carrying the 55 lbs. sacks of grain up the ladder and dumping it into the mash tun.

Our beers are unfiltered, un pasteurized and naturally carbonated. This means there is yeast in the bottom of the keg and bottle.
This is a good thing..I promise!