Larry Winans and his best friend Skip Kratzer used to meet every week to grab a beer. Like true craft beer enthusiasts, that weekly beer eventually turned into a home brewing operation. Larry generously offered some hard-earned home brew advice, "Don’t drink all the bourbon while trying to make a bourbon porter.” He recalls how he and Kratzer began brewing so much at home, that they quite literally couldn’t drink it all. The solution? He and Kratzer founded Jackass Brewing Company to start selling their beer (and to keep the bourbon consumption under control). The former dentist now calls himself the “Chief Keg Washer,” and runs two successful brewery locations with Kratzer by his side. We spoke to Winans about their new facility and a special celebration they’re planning this month.
Jackass Brewing Company’s original production facility and taproom is a 4,350 sq. ft. space they opened in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania in March of 2020. “We were open for a grand total of five days before having to close during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Winans. Their business not only survived the pandemic, but it also outgrew its facility within two years. Now, in 2024, they just opened a second location in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
“We started our business with an eye for expansion,” Winans said. “When we knew we had outgrown our space in Lewisburg, we started looking for properties and probably saw 30-40 properties over the course of a year. When our realtor brought us to this building, I immediately said, ‘Are you kidding me?! It’s perfect!’ We closed on the purchase of the building in July of 2023 and started renovations in January of 2024.”
Winans continued, “This 125-year-old building has an interesting history. It was built in 1899, it suffered a fire in 1912, and then was rebuilt in 1913 only to flood in 1936. The building has been a malt house, a furniture store, a salon, and hosted several other businesses, but had been empty for the last 7-8 years.”
With a project that would involve renovating 28,000 sq. ft., Winans and his partner turned to the team at T Ross Brothers as their general contractors and Quality Air and Mechanical for the HVAC and plumbing installations. Converting this historic building into a large brewery operation along with an event space meant that they needed to consider a lot of different systems that would be put to use. “The brewing system we selected is a barrel steam brewhouse which requires the installation of a large boiler,” said Winans. “Many piping connections were needed to navigate the building and were done with expert attention to detail. Our contractors recommended we use Viega for the installation, and it was absolutely the right choice.”
Winans explained that they were looking for a brewing system that would allow for what they anticipated future demand would be. The system they selected is a steam-fired, 15-barrel system that can brew 440 gallons of beer at a time and do double batches easily. They needed a high-powered, energy-efficient hot water system. They purchased a 30-gallon hot liquor tank used to heat the brew and the mash to the same temperature. “Brewers are very particular about water and the temperatures for water. Right now, as we’re running tests to get ready to open, the system has 800 gallons of water in it and we’ve been able to raise the temperature five degrees in only eight minutes and the entire brew deck is controlled by a touch screen,” said Winans. “The pipes, fittings and valves are critical to the success of this system.”
The company used ProPress®, MegaPress® and MegaPressG® fittings on the intricate boiler system and hot water tank installations. “T Ross Brothers and Quality Air and Mechanical only use the best products, and we all wanted this project to be done right,” said Winans. “The design phase was critical. We had to go through 14” block walls to run some of the piping.”
Winans said that the decision to use Viega for this project was even more clear when he saw what was required for the boiler system. “I didn’t realize how dangerous a boiler system is and how important it is that the valves and fittings are strong and secure. Viega’s products are solidly built, safe and strong.”
And while Winans says that he has the utmost confidence in Viega’s systems, he also knows that the team at T Ross Brothers and Quality Air and Mechanical have done their jobs with the installation. “Expanding into a second and much larger location means I have enough to worry about, but I won’t have to worry about this because I know the job has been done right.”
Jackass Brewing Company is planning a 125th birthday party for their new building at 301 W. Third Street in Williamsport on October 26, 2024. Winans said they found a brick with the signature of one of the original construction workers from 1899 that will be put on display. As Viega celebrates their own 125-year anniversary, they are delighted to partner with Jackass Brewing to create a special sponsored beer. Viega will also offer a “first drink on us” to any local union members who attend the event in Williamsport.