Recon Brewing
Recon Brewing is a privately held craft brewery operating three taproom locations in Western Pennsylvania (Butler, Cranberry, South Fayette), producing over 80 in-house brewed craft beer varieties and selling directly to local community members through on-site transactions, food service, and a subscription loyalty program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersButler, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Recon Brewing does
Recon Brewing is a privately held craft brewery (LLC) headquartered in Butler, Pennsylvania, founded in 2016 by three lifelong Butler locals—Toby Wehr, Nate Bacher, and Dave Bestwick—who first met through the Butler Township volunteer fire service. The company operates a taproom-only distribution model with three locations in Western Pennsylvania: the original Butler taproom and brewhouse (opened May 2017), a Cranberry location in the Meeder development (April 2021), and a South Fayette location at Hastings (February 2022). The two satellite sites are co-located in Charter Homes & Neighborhood real estate developments, giving Recon built-in foot traffic from new residential communities. In 2025, co-founder Dave Bestwick stepped down and was replaced by new owners Rob Mikita and Mike Sherman, joining Wehr and Bacher in the ownership group.
The core product is an in-house brewed craft beer portfolio of over 80 SKUs spanning IPAs, stouts, sours, lagers, wheats, and seasonal/experimental releases, with BRC India Pale Ale as the flagship. All production occurs at the Butler brewhouse and is distributed to the two satellite taprooms. The product surface is extended by a full food menu at Butler and Meeder (food truck partnerships at Hastings), Pennsylvania-distilled specialty cocktails, a dry apple cider (Recon Cider), wine, growler fills in 32oz and 64oz formats, branded merchandise, and a hosted events calendar (live music, trivia, karaoke). Recurring revenue is generated by the Warrior Mug Club annual subscription ($80 single / $140 couples), and the Karma Tap program donates 15% of designated quarterly tap sales to a rotating local nonprofit. The company employs 51-100 staff, has no disclosed external funding or parent entity, and markets primarily through organic social media, brew festival presence, and community programming rather than performance-based acquisition. Head brewer Jack Laughner is a notable in-house technical asset, having designed the company's custom brewing equipment.
Recon Brewing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Recon Brewing
- Legal name
- Recon Brewing LLC
- Website
- https://reconbrewing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Recon Brewing is a privately held craft brewery operating three taproom locations in Western Pennsylvania (Butler, Cranberry, South Fayette), producing over 80 in-house brewed craft beer varieties and selling directly to local community members through on-site transactions, food service, and a subscription loyalty program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Recon Brewing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Brewery
- NAICS
- Breweries (312120), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)
- SIC
- Malt Beverages (2082)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG)
Keywords
Where Recon Brewing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Butler
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Recon Brewing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Taproom Beer Sales: On-site sales of craft beers across three taproom locations in Western Pennsylvania. Beers are brewed at the original Butler location and distributed to Meeder and Hastings taprooms.
- Food Sales: Food menu at all three taproom locations, including full menus at Butler and Meeder, and food truck partnerships at Hastings.
- Growler Fills: Growler fills available for Recon Brewing beers on tap. Options include 32oz glass growlers, 64oz glass growlers, and 64oz stainless steel growlers for purchase and fill.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of merchandise including Warrior Mug Club glasses, apparel, and other branded items at taproom locations.
- Warrior Mug Club Memberships: Annual membership program offering perks including discounts, loyalty points, and special event access. Single memberships at $80, couples memberships at $140.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Warrior Mug Club Single Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Warrior Mug Club Couples Membership |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Happy Hour Discount |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Beer Flights |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Growler Fills |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Recon Brewing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Recon Brewing operates a craft brewery with three taproom locations in Western Pennsylvania (Butler, Cranberry/Meeder, and South Fayette/Hastings). The company brews craft beer in-house at its Butler brewhouse and distributes to satellite taprooms, serving house-brewed beers plus guest taps, food menus, growler fills, and a Warrior Mug Club annual loyalty program. Operations are direct-to-consumer only, with no online or third-party distribution.
Product overview
Recon Brewing is a craft brewery with three taproom locations across Western Pennsylvania (Butler, Cranberry, South Fayette). The core offering centers on house-brewed craft beers (flagship BRC IPA and 80+ varieties), complemented by guest taps (cider, mead, seltzer), specialty cocktails featuring PA spirits, wine, and food menus. Additional offerings include the Warrior Mug Club loyalty program, Karma Tap charitable initiative, merchandise, and event hosting capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Craft Beer Portfolio In-house brewed craft beers across multiple styles (IPAs, stouts, sours, lagers, wheats, seasonal and collaboration brews), sold on draft at the Butler, Cranberry/Meeder, and South Fayette/Hastings taprooms in Western Pennsylvania.
- Recon Cider Traditional dry cider with crisp apple flavor and clean dry finish, offered as a gluten-free option at Recon Brewing taprooms.
- Taproom Food Service Food served at Recon Brewing taprooms: full menus at Butler and Meeder locations, and food-truck partnerships at the Hastings taproom. Includes kids' menu items and weekday happy hour appetizer deals.
- Growler Fills Refills and new sales of 32oz glass, 64oz glass, and 64oz stainless steel growlers filled with Recon Brewing beers on tap, available at all three taproom locations.
- Warrior Mug Club Annual Membership Annual loyalty membership offering a 10% discount on food, beer, and merchandise (excludes cans and kegs), a loyalty points system, and access to special events including the mug club party. Single membership priced at $80/year; couples membership at $140/year.
- Recon Brewing Merchandise Branded merchandise including Warrior Mug Club glasses, apparel, and other branded items sold at all three Recon Brewing taproom locations.
- Gift Cards Recon Brewing gift cards redeemable at any of the three taproom locations; available for purchase in-store only (no online purchase option).
Quantifiable outcome
- 15% of sales donated to charity on Karma Tap handle each quarter
Companies that use Recon Brewing
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Recon Brewing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Recon Brewing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Pennie's Bake ShopcoreCollaboration partner for the Bake Shop Series dessert stouts, including German Chocolate Cake and Salted Caramel Cupcake varieties. Pennie's also provides cold brew coffee for Burly Joe Breakfast Stout and Illusion of Light coffee blonde stout.
- Charter Homes & NeighborhoodcoreReal estate development partner for two taproom locations: Meeder in Cranberry (opened April 2021) and Hastings in South Fayette (opened February 2022). Both locations are situated in Charter Homes developments.
- Levity BrewingminorCollaboration on Pathfinder beer - a golden colored smooth sipper. Cross-brewery collaboration between Recon Brewing and Levity Brewing.
- Uncle Jammy's SaucesminorFresh Fest collaboration partner for Honey Bunches of Smoke (red wheat ale with beechwood smoked barley and wildflower honey) and Smoke Ring and Mirrors (cherry wood smoked ale with cranberries).
- The Witchn KitchenminorLocal organic ginger tea provider for Hits You Different Farmhouse Saison, brewed with apricots and organic ginger tea.
- Classic Rock Fabrication / Real Men Wear PinkminorCollaboration partners for Nice Pear hazy IPA, featuring double dry hop of Huell Melon and El Dorado hops conditioned on Prickly Pear puree.
- BC3 Pioneer PantryminorCollaboration with Butler County Community College food pantry for Graduate Pale Ale (GPA), brewed with flaked and malted oats and double dry hopped with Cryo Mosaic hops.
- NAMI Butler CountyminorCollaboration with National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for OK2Talk stout - a medium-bodied stout with roasted notes and chocolate hints supporting mental health awareness.
- Steve and Benny'sminorFood service partner at the Hastings taproom location in South Fayette, serving great food alongside Recon Brewing beers.
- Butler Area Society of Homebrewers (B.A.S.H.)minorHomebrew competition winner Andrea Weider's recipe (Just Dew Wit Belgian White Ale) was selected and brewed at Recon with B.A.S.H. members.
- MLH DistilleryminorGrove City, PA distillery providing spirits (vodka, bourbon, coffee liqueur, and coconut rum) for specialty cocktails at Recon Brewing taprooms.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Recon Brewing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Voodoo Brewing Company: Pennsylvania-based craft brewery that has scaled via a multi-location taproom model with company-owned and franchised brewpubs across multiple states. Closely comparable to Recon on brewpub/taproom-led growth, though at meaningfully larger scale and geographic reach.
- Brew Gentlemen: Butler County (PA) craft brewery with taproom serving the Pittsburgh-region craft beer market. Directly comparable to Recon given shared home geography, similar taproom-led model, and overlapping customer base.
- East End Brewing Company: Pittsburgh-headquartered craft brewery operating a taproom and distributing locally. Comparable Western PA craft peer with similar brewpub and limited distribution model.
- Grist House Craft Brewing: Pittsburgh-area craft brewery with taproom focusing on experimental and core line beers. Comparable to Recon on brewpub format, portfolio breadth, and Western PA market.
- Hop Farm Brewing Company: Pittsburgh-area taproom-focused craft brewery with an emphasis on community and locally-sourced ingredients. Comparable to Recon on community-led positioning and small-batch portfolio.
- Eleventh Hour Brewing: Pittsburgh-area craft brewery with a taproom model emphasizing experimental and small-batch beers. Comparable to Recon on taproom-only positioning and portfolio experimentation.
Broad incumbents
- Tröegs Independent Brewing: Larger Pennsylvania craft brewery (Hershey, PA) operating a destination taproom plus broad regional distribution. Comparable as a PA craft peer but significantly larger scale and broader distribution footprint than Recon.
- D.G. Yuengling & Son: America's oldest brewery, headquartered in Pottsville, PA. Comparable as a Pennsylvania brewing incumbent; competes indirectly through price and distribution rather than direct taproom overlap.
Emerging players
- Roundabout Brewery: Butler, PA-based craft brewery with taproom. Highly comparable local competitor sharing the Butler home market with Recon's flagship location.
- Levity Brewing Co. Western PA craft brewery that has collaborated with Recon Brewing (Pathfinder golden ale). Adjacent regional peer with overlapping beer portfolio and customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Recon Brewing social profiles
Digital presenceRecon Brewing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Recon Brewing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Recon Brewing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Recon Brewing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Recon Brewing
What does Recon Brewing do?
Recon Brewing operates a craft brewery with three taproom locations in Western Pennsylvania (Butler, Cranberry/Meeder, and South Fayette/Hastings). The company brews craft beer in-house at its Butler brewhouse and distributes to satellite taprooms, serving house-brewed beers plus guest taps, food menus, growler fills, and a Warrior Mug Club annual loyalty program. Operations are direct-to-consumer only, with no online or third-party distribution.
Is Recon Brewing a public or private company?
Recon Brewing is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Recon Brewing founded?
Recon Brewing was founded in 2016. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Recon Brewing based?
Recon Brewing is headquartered in Butler, United States, in the North America region.
How does Recon Brewing make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Taproom Beer Sales are the primary driver. The others are food Sales, growler Fills, merchandise Sales and warrior Mug Club Memberships.
Who are Recon Brewing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Voodoo Brewing Company, Brew Gentlemen, East End Brewing Company, Grist House Craft Brewing, Hop Farm Brewing Company and Eleventh Hour Brewing. Broad incumbents are Tröegs Independent Brewing and D.G. Yuengling & Son. Emerging players are Roundabout Brewery and Levity Brewing Co..
Does Recon Brewing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Recon Brewing.
What industry is Recon Brewing in?
Recon Brewing's product category is Craft Brewery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFALAA, Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service), with a secondary code of THAFALAB, Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service). Its NAICS code is 312120 and its SIC code is 2082.