Manayunk Brewing Company Plans Expansion to Celebrate 17 Years of Making Craft Beer

Manayunk Brewery Cans

Manayunk Brewing Company opened its doors in October of 1996 in the former Krook’s Textile Mill at the mouth of the Manayunk Canal. Since that day, Manayunk Brewing has produced 459 different styles of craft beer and survived eight different floods, including major damage from Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and Irene in 2011 that forced short-term closures. The brewing operations will shut its doors again at the end of the year, but this time it’s due to good news: they are expanding their brewing capabilities from the 1800 barrels currently produced to an anticipated 4000 barrels by 2015. However, during the expansion, Manayunk Brewing Company’s restaurant will remain open.

Doug Manayunk Brewery

Head brewer Doug Marchakitus explains that the expansion, which will include replacing most of the main brewing equipment and the addition of two more large fermentors, will allow Manayunk Brewing Company to keep up with the demand for their beverages. The brewery not only provides beer at the on-site brewpub and restaurant and many local bar accounts, but six months ago they began distribution of cases and six packs of some their flagship and seasonal brews which are now being canned by Iron Heart Canning, a mobile canning company.

Doug is a big proponent of canned beers, which have been making a comeback in the craft beer community. Gone are the days of canned beers having a metallic taste. Manayunk Brewing’s cans have a sprayed coating, ensuring that there is absolutely no contact between the beer and the aluminum, leaving nothing but the taste the brewer intended. Additionally cans keep out both light and oxygen, both which can cause beer to go bad quickly.

Manayunk Brewing made the decision to start canning their beers so that they could reach a wider audience of craft beer lovers in eastern Pennsylvania as well as New Jersey. They’ve canned their Dreamin’ Double IPA, Schuylkill Punch Raspberry Ale, and Monk from the ‘Yunk Belgian Style Tripel. Yunkin’ Punkin’ and Summer Paradise beers have made brief appearances in cans and next up for the canning line is Festivus, a malty, dark ale filled with holiday spices. Look for it at your local distributor in the next few weeks or better yet, come visit the brewpub for a bite and a pint.

Find Manayunk Brewing Company at 4120 Main St., Philadelphia; phone: (215) 482-8220.