Iron City Bean coffee — a new brew suitable for breakfast
Have a cup of Iron City with your breakfast.
No, we aren’t suggesting kegs and eggs. There’s no alcohol in this brew.
Iron City Bean Nine to Five Blend is a slow-roasted, medium-dark coffee made with beans from Cameroon, Mexico, Guatemala and Brazil.
Released in late May, it’s java made for Pittsburgh Brewing Co. — known for Iron City and IC Light beer — by Press House Coffee, a Pittsburgh-based premium coffee source.
“We are super excited about this partnership,” said Press House Coffee owner Adam Randall.
Randall said his company was in the rebranding stage when approached by Ben Butler, founder and owner of Top Hat, a Pittsburgh-based creative agency, about the collaboration.
Butler invited Randall to partner with client Pittsburgh Brewing Co., which has been in a renaissance as well.
#BEERANDBRANDING: Pittsburgh’s own @builtbytophat errs on the side of heritage with their rebrand of iconic @IronCityBeer –– https://t.co/KmCOkcaLmC pic.twitter.com/XNbD6LUeK7
— The Hop Review (@TheHopReview) October 16, 2019
With the collaboration in place, Iron City Bean Nine to Five Blend was launched May 29, selling 500 pounds in the first week. It’s described as “your new go-to morning brew to help you earn your go-to evening brew.”
“We have had so many great experiences with Ben and Top Hat and from the first meeting with Iron City we knew this was going to be the perfect combination,” said Randall, who describes his company as a “small-batch roaster.”
He said the goal is to make “really, really, good coffee.”
And that was what Pittsburgh Brewing owner Cliff Forrest wanted, too. Forrest tasted 10 choices to come up with the right combination.
“For Iron City it was important for them to get something good and not just rush into it,” Randall said. “I really love this coffee.”
It’s available (call in advance) at JR’s Beer Warehouse in Rochester, Beaver County; Duffy’s Beer & Much More on the Baldwin/Pleasant Hills border; The Brew House in Richland; the Press House’s tasting room on the North Side; and online. It will be sold at the new Press House location when it opens in Sewickley sometime this summer.
The plan is to produce Iron City Bean through the end of the year and, if it does well, beyond that, Randall said.
The coffee has been a popular choice not just in Pittsburgh but other parts of the country. Randall said his ecommerce site continues to experience growth during the pandemic because more people are at home and making their own coffee.
“People who are from Pittsburgh support local even if they aren’t living here,” Randall said. “Pittsburghers embrace their city and that warms my heart. They are loyal to Iron City so this is really exciting.”
Cost is $14 a pound for whole or ground.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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