Penguin City Unveils Limited-Edition ‘Evolution of Pete’ Cans

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Just in time for the start of football season, Penguin City Brewing Co. on Tuesday released two limited-edition cans that show the evolution of Youngstown State University’s Pete the Penguin mascot.

The new artwork will grace cans of Penguin City Light beer. The commemorative cans will go on sale Wednesday at Penguin City’s downtown brewery and taproom, and at bars and retail outlets across the Mahoning Valley and neighboring western Pennsylvania later this week.

Penguin City is named for the YSU teams, and the brewery is a sponsor of the university’s athletic program. So, naturally, the “Evolution of Pete” cans will be offered at Stambaugh Stadium, home of the Penguins, this season. The team will kick off its season at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Stambaugh against Valparaiso.

The can, which the brewery describes as a collector’s item, will also be sold at YSU basketball games at Beeghly Center this season.

“We love working with YSU Athletics and we love celebrating our partnership with these new designs every year,” said Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki, co-owner of Penguin City. “I love the excitement as people anticipate the new cans. It’s becoming a Youngstown tradition.”

Lyras-Bernacki is a self-described fan of retro looks, so this year’s commemorative can design was a no-brainer for her.

“The past editions of the YSU cans either had the current Pete or the Youngstown “Y” in all their glory, but this year I wanted to go old school and bring back some of the earlier renditions of Pete,” she said.

The project required some digging on the part of Michael Pontikos, brand manager of Penguin City.

“I found some really neat stuff in the archives that took some time to digitally retouch for this project, and I wanted to make sure they retained their original look and feel without looking too perfect in this digital world,” Pontikos said.

The “Evolution of Pete” can design will also be used on some limited-edition merchandise and apparel that will be sold at the brewery.

Penguin City beer is sold in more than 500 locations in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.