Another year, another pro sports venue for Fat Head’s Brewery and Saloon. The Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Portland-based brewery announced recently that it would begin serving beer on 12 taps at the Pittsburgh Penguins’ PPG Paints Arena, joining the taps that are located at Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Indians.
“I think it’s awesome,” said Pittsburgh Fat Head’s Saloon General Manager Geoff Stober. “Year after year craft continues to grow. It’s a real competitive market, but when you make a high quality and consistent product like we do I have great confidence we will succeed every market we go into. Building these partnerships with teams like the Penguins and Indians will continue to put us out front there.”
In March, 2016, the Cleveland side of the brewery started to distribute beer and food on the Indians’ concourse. The Tribe went on to win the American League Championship.
“We brought great luck to the Indians, I’m taking credit for it,” Stober joked.
Wholesaler Wilson-McGinley let Fat Head’s management know there would be an opportunity because others had pulled out of their advertising agreements, so the brewery started the conversation and found a threshold for all parties involved.
In collaboration with Aramark, “Sunshine Daydream” Session IPA will be available on draft while “Head Hunter” IPA and “Bumble Berry” bottles will also be available at many of the bars within the arena. Bottles will be limited, but cans will soon be available at both parks, Stober said.
Fat Head’s is scheduled to break ground this spring on a new facility in Cleveland and will add a canning line. Eventually, a 16-ounce “venue” can may be available at both spots. All the beer will not just be available for sporting events, but concerts and other events at the arena as well.
“When you are able to showcase your product in a venue with 18,000 people it’s a pretty good audience,” Stober said.
He added that the brewery has been looking for ways to “create more marquee opportunities to showcase our brand.”
“It’s the right opportunity at the right time to work with the Penguins and get into the arena,” he added.
On the West Coast, Fat Head’s Head Brewer Mike Hunsaker will be leaving his post as Head Brewer, it was announced. Eric Van Tassel was recently promoted to the the position
“Eric is an extremely knowledgeable brewer who brings years of experience to the table,” said a release by the brewery. “He will continue to come up with innovative recipes, while maintaining our highest standards.”
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