it’s hard to imagine Pittsburgh without Iron City.
it’s the beer your uncle drank at the cookout. the one smuggled into dorm rooms before you were 21. the one that showed up—somehow, always—in the fridge during Steelers season. iconic. nostalgic. undeniably ours.
but just because a brand’s been around forever doesn’t mean it hasn’t had to fight for every ounce of relevance it still holds today. and Todd Zwicker, president of Pittsburgh Brewing Company, knows that better than anyone.
a North Hills native who started with the company back in 1991, Todd left PBC after nearly a decade to work at another legendary regional brewer. twenty years later, he returned to PBC—at a time when many thought the brand had fallen off the map for good.
what followed? a comeback story powered by community pride and a significant investment in the state-of-the-art brewery in Creighton, PA that’s helping shape the next generation of beer drinkers—without ever forgetting the ones who came before.
founded in 1861, Pittsburgh Brewing Company began as Iron City Brewery, tracing its roots to German immigrant Anton Benitz who arrived in 1838 and introduced lager beer to the city. the brewery quickly gained traction and became one of the nation’s first to produce lager commercially. through prohibition, world wars, and shifting industry trends, the company has remained a steel city staple—surviving ownership changes, production moves, and economic shifts to ultimately return to its roots with a brand-new facility in western PA.
the Q&A
Sarah: let’s start at the beginning—how did Pittsburgh Brewing Company 🍺 come to be?
Todd: the company traces back to 1838, when Anton Benitz—who was a German immigrant—came to Pittsburgh and started brewing lager. that led to the founding of Iron City Brewery in 1861, and we’ve been around in some form ever since.
Sarah: what was it like growing up here? how did that shape how you lead now?
Todd: Pittsburgh’s always been a hardworking city. it’s gritty, loyal. if you work hard and deliver something solid, people will respect that—and support you. that’s how we try to operate here every day.
Sarah: was there a moment you really felt that support from the city? 🤝🏼
Todd: when the Mt. Washington billboard came down, the response was immediate—and intense. people were mad. they felt like something that belonged to the city had been taken away. that showed us how much the brand still means here. you see that in the stadiums too. people choose Iron City even when national brands are right next to it.
Sarah: so when you came back to PBC, what advice would you have given yourself when first starting out?
Todd: stay the course. stay focused. stay true to Pittsburgh and to our roots.
Sarah: what was the toughest pushback you’ve faced along the way?
Todd: some wholesalers in other markets have been slow to get on board with a brand that’s so obviously Pittsburgh. it can be a challenge outside the region. but we’ve got a deep portfolio—beyond just Iron City—and a lot of those other brands help open the door.
Sarah: how much of the brand’s identity is still shaped by this city? 🌆
Todd: almost all of it. a lot of our marketing is inspired by local culture—landmarks, sports teams. but we go deeper than just branding. we’re tied into the community through sponsorships, partnerships, and local collaborations. that’s always been important to us.
Sarah: like the Primanti’s, Turner’s, and Mancini’s collabs?
Todd: exactly. those partnerships are real. they’re not just good for business, they’re fun for the fans too. we’ve always done that. way back in 1962, we partnered with Alcoa to debut the first snap-top can. that spirit of collaboration has always been part of our story.
Sarah: is there anything you wish people better understood about the company today? ✍🏼
Todd: probably just how far we’ve come with the new brewery. it’s a state-of-the-art facility and it’s letting us make the best beer we’ve ever brewed. that’s a big leap forward.
Sarah: what do you think is the biggest part of the legacy so far?
Todd: the connection to the city. when people think of Pittsburgh, they think of Iron City. it’s a part of the city’s story—and it means something to people.
Sarah: how do you keep that connection while staying relevant to new drinkers?
Todd: we stay committed to the core brands, but we also know innovation is key. we’ve invested in new products and new experiences. and we try to show up where people already are—whether that’s in stadiums, social media, or neighborhood events.
Sarah: that’s a tough balance—keeping traditions alive while trying new things.
Todd: it is, but it’s doable. not many breweries can say they’ve lasted over 160 years. that foundation means something, and we carry it through everything we do. but we’re also pushing boundaries, trying new formats, new flavors, new vibes. the history keeps us grounded, but we’re not afraid to experiment.
Sarah: so what’s the focus for the next few years? 👀
Todd: getting people in to see the brewery. we’re hosting tours, events, concerts. we want people to experience it firsthand. we’ve got two national concerts already announced, and a third is on deck. we’re building out an events scene here that’s going to be really special.
at the same time, we’re rolling out new products, expanding the Block House family in May–a product I think people are going to love, and continuing to grow what we do here best in Western PA.
