Iron City Beer Remakes History with Return to Mt. Washington

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Iron City Beer pioneered the now Lamar-managed billboard on Mt. Washington from 1938 until the mid-fifties. After a roughly 66-year hiatus — and many other iconic brands filling the spot — Iron City Beer returns for at least the next 12 months.

Leveraging the new retro-inspired Iron City Beer brand design (unveiled in 2018), the sign borrows the color scheme of one of the original sign designs of the early 1950s.

The History

In 1938, Iron City Beer erected the “World’s Largest Neon Sign” (according to the company’s 1938 newsletter) at the now Lamar-managed Mt. Washington billboard site. Back then, it was 650-feet in length with each individual letter standing more than 30-feet tall.

In 1940, the sign was upgraded to feature beer glasses that filled from the bottom and a mechanism that told the time.

Iron City Beer’s presence on Mount Washington eventually ceased in the mid-fifties.

Cott Beverages took up the site next, followed by WTAE and a steady lineage of iconic brands including:

• Alcoa ( 1967 – 1992)*
• Bayer ( 1993 – 2013/2014 )*
• Sprint ( 2016 – 2018)*
• American Flag Foundation ( 2019 – Nov. 2020)*

*According to Lamar

“In 1921 the large sign was built atop Mt. Washington overlooking the city of Pittsburgh.  Since then it has become a landmark for the city and has displayed some of the city’s most well known companies,” says Stan Geier, Vice President Lamar. “Lamar is thrilled to partner with legendary Pittsburgh Brewing Company/Iron City Beer as the next great company to grace the iconic Mt. Washington sign that overlooks the city of Pittsburgh.”

Re-Making History

Although the sign is now roughly half its original size (the current sign is 226-feet wide), it’s yet another historically inspired move by Pittsburgh Brewing Company.

• In 2018, the brewery became Pittsburgh-owned once again when born and raised Pittsburgh’er Cliff Forest purchased it from a New York venture firm.
• In 2018, Iron City Beer brought back its retro-inspired white cans
• This year, Pittsburgh Brewing partnered with Dancing Gnome to resurrect the iconic Robin Hood Cream Ale

Established in 1861, Pittsburgh Brewing Company is one of the oldest still-operating companies in Pittsburgh and one of the oldest breweries in the United States. Next year, the brewery will be celebrating its 160th birthday.

For Media Inquiries

Ben Butler, APR
Founder, Top Hat
ben@builtbytophat.com