Secretary Dennis Davin Becomes Brewer For A Day at East End Brewing Company

To celebrate Governor Tom Wolf declaring September Craft Beer Month in the Commonwealth, the Brewers of Pennsylvania (BOP), the state’s official beer guild, was pleased and honored to host Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development Dennis Davin at the latest Brewer For A Day event held at East End Brewing Company in Pittsburgh on September 12, 2019.  

Sec. Davin received an up-close brewing experience where he toured the brewery, weighed hops, analyzed malts, and learned of the brewing system that helps East End produce some of Pennsylvania’s finest craft beers. 

This was the BOP’s seventeenth successful Brewer For A Day event, an initiative designed to give state legislators and government officials a hands-on, insider’s perspective on the brewing process, as well as further educate them on the direct economic impact craft brewers have on communities throughout the state.

“I’d like to thank Secretary Dennis Davin and Deputy Secretary Carrie Fischer Lepore, for making time in their schedules to visit East End Brewing,” said Scott Smith, owner / founder.  “In our Brewer For A Day program, we tasted Pennsylvania Malt, and brewed something from our 2005 catalog – Black Strap Stout. We also had a spirited conversation about the skills and quality controls involved in beer making, East End’s zero waste goals, staying relevant in a crowded brewing scene, and what it means to be ‘local’.  We also discussed the importance of creating a welcoming place for a diverse set of guests in our taproom so that everyone can be included in craft beer!”

According to the Brewers Association, a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, Pennsylvania ranks as the number-one producer of barrels of craft beer per year (3.7 million). The craft beer industry in the Commonwealth injects $5.78 billion into the state’s economy while supplying more than 10,000 jobs, which generates $2.2 billion in wages and benefits annually.

“The addition of local Pennsylvania craft breweries to communities has spurred revitalization, created thousands of jobs, and built new and treasured social gathering places,” said Secretary Davin. “We raise our glass to an industry that’s grown significantly over recent years and is a real source of pride for the Commonwealth.”

Secretary Davin took part in the seventeenth Brewer For A Day event. To further celebrate Craft Beer Month in Pennsylvania, the eighteenth event will take place on September 20 when Appalachian Brewing Company in Mechanicsburg will welcome Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding.

The BOP and its members will take advantage of the popularity of the Brewer For A Day program by hosting more events throughout 2019 and 2020. Legislators who have participated in previous Brewer For A Day programs include:  

• Sen. John Rafferty, Pa. District 44 – Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown 
• Rep. Kurt Masser, Pa. District 107 – Old Forge Brewing Company in Danville 
• Sen. Sean Wiley, Pa District 49 – Lavery Brewing Company in Erie 
• Rep. Harry Lewis, Pa. District 74 – Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown
• Rep. Adam Harris and Rep. Paul Costa – Victory Brewing Company in Parkesburg
• Rep. Mike Carroll, Pa. District 118, Sen. John Yudichak, Pa. District 14, and Rep. Aaron Kaufer, Pa. District 120 – Susquehanna Brewing Company in Pittston 
• Rep. Dave Reed, Pa. District 62 – Levity Brewing Company in Indiana 
• Rep. Tom Mehaffie, Pa. District 106 – Troegs Independent Brewing in Hershey 
• Sen. Richard Alloway, Pa. District 33 – GearHouse Brewing Company in Chambersburg 
• Sen. Chuck McIlhinney, Pa. District 10 – Weyerbacher Brewing Company in Easton 
• Sen. John Gordner, Pa. District 27 – Berwick Brewing Company in Berwick
• Rep. Patty Kim, Pa. District 103 – Zeroday Brewing Company in Harrisburg
• Rep. Marguerite Quinn, Pa. District 143 – Round Guys Brewing Company in Lansdale
• Sen. Judy Schwank, Pa. District 11 – Chatty Monks Brewing Company in West Reading
• Rep. Edward Gainey, Pa. District 24 – East End Brewing in Pittsburgh
• Sen. Maria Collett, Pa. District 12 – Tannery Run Brew Works in Ambler 

The Brewer For A Day program was launched in 2016 on the heels of Pennsylvania Governor, Tom Wolf, signing a $1.3 billion revenue package. Part of that package included a Malt Beverage Tax Credit not to exceed $5 million annually. The tax credit, matching equipment and facilities investments made by applicant breweries, has been one of the BOP’s top legislative goals since 2013. The BOP fully supports this tax credit measure, and considers it a major victory for all craft breweries in the Commonwealth, particularly smaller breweries as the benefits of the measure is capped at $200,000 per year, per brewery. From 2016 to current day, many BOP members have greatly benefited from the Malt Beverage Tax Credit.