YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – An old flavor of Youngstown is making a comeback.
Old Bavaria, a beer made by the old Renner Brewing Co., is being revived by Penguin City Brewing. It will be available in cans at select retail outlets in the area, and also in Penguin City’s downtown taproom, beginning June 27.
Renner Brewing opened in Youngstown in 1913 and closed in 1962. Its South Side brewery was on the wooded hillside just north of I-680 and east of Oak Hill Avenue.
Old Bavaria is being made with the original Renner recipe as part of a partnership between Penguin City and the Renner family. The family had approached Penguin City to breathe new life into the brand, according to a press release from Penguin City.
Richie Bernacki, co-owner and chief brewer of Penguin City, worked with Carl James, a descendant of the Renner family, to produce the beer, according to Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki, co-owner of Penguin City. James researched the recipe and provided it to Bernacki, who then conducted multiple test runs.
“Carl was actively involved in the process, helping to test,” Lyras Bernacki said.
The beer is “a crisp Bavarian-style Pilsner brewed to honor the Renner family’s German roots and the hardworking spirit of Youngstown,” according to the release. It is darker than a typical lager and has a high malt profile.
It will be officially tapped at 5 p.m. June 27 at Penguin City, with representatives from the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and Youngstown Cityscape, to celebrate the city’s anniversary.
A special pint glass will be available to purchase to commemorate the release.
Penguin City plans to continue to brew Old Bavaria after the first batch is gone, and possibly other brews made by Renner, said Lyras Bernacki. “We hope to work on more Renner beers,” she said. “If the public want more, we’ll brew it.