Conny Creek Brewing taps into increased business with brew truck
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Members of the Layton family of North Apollo continue to pour their energy into two businesses celebrating suds, food and socializing.
Conny Creek Brewing Company, with locations in Allegheny Township and Saxonburg, is a family-friendly brewpub serving craft beers brewed in-house by brewmaster Lee Layton.
Layton is a co-owner with his wife, Erin. The couple runs the business while also parenting their two young children.
The flagship brewery in Allegheny Township opened in 2017 along Route 56 and Shearsburg Road, in the former Freedom Farms Cafe.
A second location, Conny Creek Brew Cafe, is located inside Sprankle’s Market in Saxonburg.
“We have a low-key atmosphere focusing on beer and food. Our patrons can come in for a quick bite and drink or hang out and socialize,” Erin Layton said.
The newest addition to the business is a mobile refrigerated brew truck that is scheduled to appear at 60 festivals and events this year.
“I’m trying to get into a lot more festivals,” said Lee Layton, noting Conny Creek’s participation at the popular Mingle on Main event in Saxonburg was a real “eye-opener” for him based on the number of people in attendance and how much beer was sold in just a few hours.
The Conny Creek brew truck is a regular every Saturday at the Monroeville Farmer’s Market, and festivals can result in more than 500 beer pours in a few hours, Layton said.
Last year, Conny Creek produced more than 12,000 gallons of beer.
“I think it’s constant growth, and it’s always an expansion project,” Layton said. “We’re doing it slowly and as it comes.”
The Laytons are hoping to add additional brew tanks at the Allegheny Township location.
“Business is stressful but great,” said Lee Layton, who left a career in the gas and oil industry to open Conny Creek and pursue his love of brewing beer.
Beer menus ???? #localwholebeer #drinkconnycreekbeer @ Conny Creek Brewing Company https://t.co/On5mAHe3l0
— Conny Creek Brewing Co. (@conny_creek) May 6, 2022
The couple said Conny Creek’s lagers are the top sellers. A wide selection of beer is available on tap or in to-go cans.
Local wines from Wooden Door Winery of Allegheny Township also are available.
A pub menu offers daily specials, and menu items include in-house smoked wings, brisket, pulled pork, pizza, soups, salads and sandwiches.
“We have people coming here for the food and not even ordering beer,” Layton said.
“We realized about six months into this that food trucks are not going to work, so we’ve scaled up our food. Last week, we had more food sales than beer sales one day.”
Pets are welcome at the outdoor seating deck at Conny Creek’s Allegheny Township location.
Hours of operation at the Allegheny Township location are 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays; 4 to 9 p.m. Thursdays; and 4 to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays.
The Saxonburg location is open from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.