Manayunk Brewing expanding with cans and larger brewing facility

Manayunk Brewing is marking 17 years of beermaking on the Schuylkill this month with big news: the brewery will close at the end of the year for major renovations. When the doors reopen (at some point in 2014), the facility will have more than double the brewing capacity - 4,000 barrels per year, compared to the current 1,800. (Hopefully it will be less flood-prone in addition to bigger, as there's a history of hurricanes causing the river to pour into the brewhouse floor.

Managing partner Mike Rose is currently ramping up production as much as possible so that the onsite brewpub and local bar accounts will still be able to stock Manayunk beer throughout construction. Another recent addition will help with that - Manayunk Brewing is now distributing several of its signature beers in cans.

Iron Heart Canning has already produced batches of Schuylkill Punch raspberry ale and Manayunk IPA. Christmas seasonal Festivus, a 7.2% ABV spiced ale, will be next on the canning line, and the last batch to be produced before the facility closes for the upgrade.

Before any of that happens, there's a 17th anniversary celebration set for this weekend. From Thursday-Saturday, $17 gets you a platter of house-smoked ribs or cedar plank salmon, a pint of brew and a slice of birthday cake.