Talking All Things Beer with Larry Lozier, Penn Brewery’s Brew Manager

Penn Brewery’s historic location on the North Side dates back to 1848, although the new First Avenue Taproom & Kitchen in Downtown brings their iconic beverage lineup right to the Golden Triangle. To talk about all-things-beer, we sat down with Larry Lozier, Penn Brewery’s Brew Manager. Larry’s currently studying to receive his Cicerone-certification (read: sommelier but for beer). With a background in musical theater, a passion for storytelling, and a heart for beer, Larry’s keeping the tradition of Pittsburgh’s breweries alive through history and innovation.

What sets Penn Brewery apart from the rest of the craft brews out there?

In today’s craft beer market there are so many kinds of beer that your classic beers – lagers and pilsners – are really getting lost in the mix.  That is what makes Penn Brewery so great. They focus on the classics while staying relevant with their IPA and Hazy IPA styles. 

What should you look for in a good beer?

Well, it is the complexity of the taste of beers that really sets them apart.  It’s a very subjective question and really depends on each person’s own individual tasting journey with beer.  What really sets a beer apart for me, however, is the journey. What you smell first, then when you taste it, that initial taste should move you in a different direction and then finally bring the finish that should give you something new and exciting, as well. When a beer is able to both aromatically and tastefully give me different flavor profiles, that is what sets a great beer apart from the rest for me.

What’s your favorite beer to enjoy in the summer?

I really enjoy a nice IPA and I have to say, not because I work for them, but Penn Brewery’s IPA and Hazy IPA are definitely in my Top 3 for favorite IPA’s.

What’s a typical day in the life of a brewery manager like?

As soon as you walk in the door, you hit the ground running. Remember, we aren’t just a brewery, but a full-service restaurant on top of that.  We also work and operate in a building from the 19th Century, so there are daily challenges that go with that as well. It’s always a challenge and really does keep you thinking on your toes.  You are responsible for the staff and daily operations of the brewery and the restaurants and locations. These responsibilities range from staffing, hiring, training, the guest experience, supporting your staff, cooking, staying on budget, and more, and all of this within each day you are present.

My favorite thing about managing a brewery, though, has to be brew days. The smells of the malt and the hops as they brew weaving their way through the doorways of the restaurant and brewery is always a highlight.

What’s your most popular beer?

I mean for me personally it’s the IPA.  However, the most popular beer sold is our Penn Pilsner, which isn’t technically a true Pilsner, it is, in fact, a Vienna Lager.  A close runner up to the Pilsner is the Penn Gold. This beer is actually the world’s BEST Munich Helles Lager as it just won the gold medal at the World Beer Cup this past year. 

It is really great that Penn Brewery stays true to these traditional styles of beer and it’s actually one of the things I respect the most about Penn Brewery.   Lagering beer takes so much time that the majority of your “new age” breweries do not take the time or seem to have the passion behind these styles of beers anymore. More often than not you are seeing breweries with IPA and/or sour focuses today, but when they try other styles of beer they fall short.

Where does your passion for beer come from?

My passion for beer comes from my brother and also story-telling.  He introduced me to craft beer and now I can’t get enough of it. 

Also, most breweries you visit have and share their unique stories about their birth, where they are right now, and where they want to go, and I find that to be incredible.  The kinds of people these breweries bring in and the moments they share within those walls, all become stories and that idea fuels my passion for the craft beer industry.

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Meet Larry and learn more about how Penn Brewery has been brewing craft before craft was cool at their upcoming Penn U Brew: Night School/Flight School on Tuesday, July 16 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at their new location in Downtown.

By Colten Gill, PDP Digital & Online Content Coordinator