THE STORY OF RECON BREWING
Recon Brewing was established in February 2016 by 3 friends, all born and raised in Butler that met through the fire service in Butler Township. Toby Wehr, Dave Bestwick, and Nate Bacher set out on a mission to start a brewery that would focus on high quality, yet simple beers that will become known for their drinkability and value.
You may be asking what’s with the name Recon? As many of you know, Butler, Pa. is the birthplace of the Jeep vehicle. The first Jeep prototype was called the Bantam Reconnaissance Car (BRC). We wanted to capture the essence of Butler in everything we do and what better way than to have our name be a tribute to such an important part of our history. Butler is the birthplace of the Bantam Reconnaissance Car and now, Recon Brewing. Even as we expand, we pay homage to our roots and display Jeep memorabilia around the taprooms.
Prior to opening our first taproom, we developed a following by attending brew fests. Our first brick-and mortar-location opened up in May 2017 in Butler, Pa. Recon Brewing's mission has always been to create a relaxed atmosphere that invites all walks of life to come spend their day or evening with us and share a pint. As we continue to grow, that mission remains the same.
We opened a second taproom in Cranberry Township, Pa. in April 2021. The taproom is conveniently located off of RT 19 in Meeder by Charter Homes & Neighborhood. The Cranberry community welcomed us with open arms and gave us the confidence to open a third taproom just a few months later.
Recon Brewing at Hastings opened in February 2022 and is another partnership with Charter Homes & Neighborhood. Located conveniently in South Fayette, the Hastings taproom extended our reach into the Pittsburgh area. We have always been passionate about supporting local and decided to partner with our friends from Steve and Benny's at our Hastings location.
With a combined volunteer history of over 70 years of service, we have dedicated our lives to volunteering and working for our community and we strive to continue to give back to our communities. Our “drink local” mentality means more to us than just our beer and has led us to seek locally for materials, supplies, equipment, and even design. Our logo and artwork has been designed by Butler native artist, assistant brewer, and long-time friend, Jack Laughner and our custom brewing equipment was manufactured only an hour away.
#OnAMission
