New Albanian Brewing Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Roger Baylor, Amy O'Connell Baylor, Kate O'Connell Lewison |
| Headquarters | New Albany , United States |
Area served | Indiana, Kentucky |
Key people | David R. Pierce (Director of Brewing Operations), Ben Minton (R&D Brewing) |
| Products | Craft beer |
| Website | newalbanian |
The New Albanian Brewing Company, situated in New Albany, Indiana, near the Louisville metropolitan region, is a craft brewery serving markets throughout Indiana and Kentucky. It has earned notable acclaim, ranking as high as sixth worldwide among craft breweries on Ratebeer.com. This establishment marks the first commercial brewery in New Albany since 1935.
New Albanian manages two brewing sites: a production brewery located downtown featuring the Bank Street Brewhouse taproom and gastropub, and the original brewery focused on research and development, which is adjacent to the New Albanian Pizzeria & Public House.
Originally founded in 1987 as Sportstime Pizza, the enterprise transformed into a well-regarded craft beer destination with the 1992 debut of Rich O's Public House. The company formally entered brewing by incorporating as New Albanian Brewing Company in 1994, with brewing operations commencing in October 2002. This progression illustrates its growth from a family-owned pizza restaurant into an influential regional craft beer producer.
Brewing
Brewing activities began in October 2002 within an extension of the suburban Pizzeria facility. The brewery was established by Roger Baylor, his then-wife Amy (O'Connell) Baylor, and her sister Kate (O'Connell) Lewison. Michael Borchers, the inaugural brewmaster, contributed his expertise along with a 4-barrel brewing system acquired from Silver Creek Brewing Corporation. In 2005, Jesse Williams assumed brewing responsibilities, later joined by Jared Williamson in 2008. Since 2009, experienced Louisville craft brewer David R. Pierce has held the position of Director of Brewing Operations at the Bank Street production site, while Ben Minton oversees R&D brewing activities.
The initial 4-barrel system produced approximately 14,000 gallons of beer in 2005. Following the addition of a 15-barrel DME production brewery in 2009, annual output more than doubled to 1,571 US barrels by 2011, facilitating expanded regional distribution. Beginning in March 2011, select beers were bottled in 22 oz. 'Bombers,' starting with Elector, an Imperial Red Ale.
Pizzeria & Public House
Although brewing began in 2002, Rich O's Public House and Sportstime Pizza have been operating since 1987 and 1990 respectively. Initially launched as a Noble Roman's franchise managed by Rich and Sharon O'Connell (parents of Amy and Kate O'Connell), Rich O's transitioned under Amy O'Connell’s leadership. Roger Baylor joined the team in 1992 and now co-owns these establishments alongside Amy and Kate O'Connell.
Rich O's Public House boasts a selection of 648 beers including house-brewed varieties but deliberately excludes light or mass-produced domestic beers to maintain a focus on quality craft options. Sportstime Pizza offers both classic and specialty pizzas featuring distinctive sauces such as ranch, pesto, and barbecue, complemented by popular items like Beer Cheese.
While sharing kitchen facilities and menus, Sportstime and Rich O's primarily differ in atmosphere. Positioned near Indiana University Southeast and opposite the University of Louisville campus, New Albanian Brewing Company attracts patrons from both academic communities.
External links
- New Albanian Brewing Company – official website
- The Potable Curmudgeon – blog authored by co-owner Roger Baylor with updates on beer selections and company news