PITTSBURGH -- Taps can continue to flow -- at least, for the time being -- at the facility in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville section where Iron City Beer is made.
The city's Water and Sewage Authority says Pittsburgh Brewing Co. owes $3.7 million in unpaid bills, dating back to 1996. The authority demanded the entire amount be paid by Nov. 30 and was threatening to shut off the water supply, according to brewery officials.
Allegheny County Judge Robert Gallo met with both sides Tuesday and helped broker an agreement, which calls for Pittsburgh Brewing to pay its November bill of $40,000 by Dec. 15 and its December bill of $40,000 by Jan. 15.
The sides will meet again on Jan. 6, when they will crunch numbers and continue to work on a suitable arrangement.
"We will not cut off the water," said attorney Clifford Levin. "It was not our intent for employees to lose jobs. It's our intent that the water authority get paid what it's owed."
Pittsburgh Brewing does not deny that it is in arrears but it disputes the amount, which it said includes more than $1 million in penalties and fines.
"We'll have the bean-counters and engineers calculate things," said attorney Robert Lampl. "We'll see what they come up with. Hopefully, we'll agree. Then it gets to the hard part, which is paying."
A tentative date of Jan. 22 has been set for a preliminary hearing if Pittsburgh Brewing fails to meet the November and December payment deadlines.
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