Jason Lavery was one of the first local brewers to blaze what has become a well-traveled and delightful trail of beer crafters in the Erie region. And like the disbelief you might feel when a friend’s kid turns 15, it’s bewildering to think Lavery Brewing Co. is practically a high school sophomore.
Gone are the days when you had to walk through a dark hallway that led from the parking lot through the brewing room and finally into the glorified tasting room at 128 W. 12th St. Jason and Nicole Lavery put $750,000 into renovating it in 2023, incorporating the space that used to be the adjacent Hungry Howie’s pizza, which closed in 2022.
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Now guests ― and there are plenty of them ― can walk in through a front door that faces West 12th Street. They have free access to restrooms that were once locked, and can order a sight more food than could be made in the previous kitchen. Front of House Manager and Creative Director Hayley Gardner keeps things running smoothly while chef Tyler Fails has taken charge of the new food prep area. The food was always good, but now the kitchen wizards have more room to be creative.