Two Philadelphia friends and beer aficionados, Connor Sheridan and Jon Henning, are excited to announce the launch of a new brewery, Prime Station Brewing.
Driven by a shared passion of craft beer honed over more the past decade, Sheridan and Henning are setting their sights on opening a taproom in South Philadelphia in the coming years. In the short term, the plan is to focus on building brand awareness and local distribution of their beer throughout 2025. The first beers have been brewed and have just been released!
Prime Station’s branding tells the story of a steampunk-era character, Axel Hopsworth, who was a brewer, entrepreneur, and inventor living in 1860s Philadelphia. Axel lived in the basement of a train station on Washington Avenue, then known as Prime Street. He built a time machine that suddenly transported him through Philadelphia’s illustrious history. But after time-hopping to 2025, he was encouraged to see the brewing industry thriving after the post-prohibition decline, and realized a new era of culture and art was flourishing in Philly. He decided to permanently remain in 2025, to eventually open a new Prime Station, an all-day space where Philadelphians can come together to share the best beer, food, art, and community the city has to offer.
Each beer name and branding pulls from lesser-known people, places, and events from Philly’s rich history, all of which Axel witnessed during his time travels.
The initial offerings include “Cult of the Divine”, a 4.5% ABV dry-hopped pale lager inspired by the history of the Divine Lorraine Hotel, and “Howling Wilderness”, a 5% ABV extra pale ale, inspired by a quote about Philadelphia’s early years before urbanization.
Utilizing a partner brewery located in the Philadelphia suburbs, Prime Station will launch with 7-barrel batches, yielding approximately 80-90 cases of each beer each batch, before scaling up as demand increases. Sheridan and Henning will self-distribute their beers to bottle shops, restaurants, and bars throughout Philadelphia initially, expanding to the suburbs thereafter.
Looking ahead, Prime Station Brewing envisions a modern and airy taproom in South Philadelphia, ideally along Washington Avenue, due to the brewery’s namesake. Beyond serving as a destination for great beer, the founders want the space to serve as a ‘third place,’ a community hub, offering coffee during the day, partnering with local restaurateurs to offer different food options, and hosting events and art galleries.
The draft list will lean heavily on lighter, sessionable, yet flavorful beers, while also rounding out the list with beers that can pack a punch. To fuel their growth, Sheridan and Henning will eventually be seeking additional investors to support their vision.
