Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh reinstates manager after racism allegations during Barrel and Flow Fest

Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh has decided to provisionally reinstate a general manager who had been accused of racism during a Black craft beer festival.

The employee was previously suspended after organizers of Barrel and Flow Fest, a September event celebrating Black brewers and artists, accused the general manager of harassment and racism.

On Thursday, Hofbrauhaus released a statement about its investigation. A post on Facebook said a “ preliminary report from its independent legal counsel’s investigation of the alleged claims of racial discrimination by one of its employees at the Barrel and Flow Beer Fest held on September 11, 2021, at the SouthSide Works has been concluded.”

The investigation included interviewing witnesses, reviewing videotapes, inspecting communications and reviewing pertinent documents, according to Hofbrauhaus.

In the absence of “evidence corroborating the allegations,” Hofbrauhaus said via social media it has decided to provisionally reinstate its manager. The plan is to finalize the investigation shortly.

A call to the Pittsburgh location for comment was not immediately returned.

The festival’s founder Day Bracey alleged that the general manager at some point “came out and exploded in a fit of rage, dropping racial slurs at artists and Hearcorp staff.” Hearcorp was the event’s staging and light company.

Bracey on Friday said he was aware of the manager being reinstated.

“It’s not surprising,” Bracey said. “They decided unless there was hard video or audio evidence they weren’t going to fire the manager. But then they say the investigation is ongoing, so that’s contradictory.”

The SouthSide Works restaurant had posted on social media in September that it had suspended the employee in question pending an investigation.

Bracey said the restaurant has not interviewed him, but he has a meeting with them next week. He said he gave Hofbrauhaus manager other names of witnesses who haven’t been interviewed.

“I don’t believe there was a real effort from Hofbrauhaus,” Bray said. “They just hired an independent law firm to cover their (butts) legally. So if there is an accusation of sexual harassment unless they have video or audio they won’t remove the person? How can you reinstate someone who was acting unhinged and harassing people?”

Bracey said previously that he invited the brewhouse and its general manager to participate in the Barrel and Flow Fest held nearby in SouthSide Works on Pittsburgh’s South Side.

Bracey said that Hofbrauhaus declined.

Some of the comments on Facebook included questioning why people who have no knowledge of what happened to judge what they think happened. Another read if why if is it still an ongoing investigation if the employee was provisionally reinstated. A commenter said he will not spend any money at Hofbrauhaus. Another said Hofbrauhaus did what was “reasonable.”

Bracey said the date for next year’s festival is Aug. 13. He is searching for a new venue.