Welcome to our “Meet The Brewer” series! Where we interview brewers in Pennsylvania, from breweries small to large. Let us know if you know anyone who should be featured, email us at [email protected].
Four Seasons Brewing Company opened in November 2013 and was created out of Mark Pavlik’s passion for brewing beer. The brewery and pub are located in Latrobe, about an hour’s drive east of Pittsburgh. With 16 taps, the brewery produces a wide range of styles for all beer lovers. Mark Pavlik is the owner and head brewer at Four Seasons Brewing Company. Read more to find out his the first beer he ever brewed, where he sees the craft beer industry heading, and more!
What was your introduction to craft beer?
I was first introduced to craft beer at the former Red Star Brewery which was located at the train station in Greensburg, PA. I went with a few of my friends for the food, but I went back for the beer. After that, I tried to seek out beers such as Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Red Hook at beer distributors.
How did you get started as a brewer?
I borrowed a homebrew kit from one of my friends. Not too long after I started brewing in my garage about once a week. After several years of homebrewing, I met the guys at Full Pint Brewing and started helping out with everything from brewing to bottling. I left my job in the electrical field and started Four Seasons in 2013.
What style allows you to be the most creative, and why?
I would say our barrel-aged sours. We ferment in barrels and/or stainless with mixed yeast, bacteria cultures, and fruit. The type of barrel, wort, yeast, & fruit can give so many possibilities. The tough part is It can take several years to see the results.
What was the first beer you ever brewed, and what did you learn from it?
The first beer I homebrewed was an IPA, which I ended up dumping. I messed up the amount of water needed. I did some research and tried the same recipe a second time and succeeded. I learned that there are a lot of moving parts to a beer recipe and a change in the water, grain, hops, or yeast, can affect the final product. I also learned good notetaking is very crucial especially for repeatability.
Where do you see the craft beer industry heading in the next few years?
I believe people are going to focus on local more and more. I think smaller breweries are going to continue to open up in towns and cities. While gimmicky beers do sell, I am a huge fan of traditional styles, and they seem to be getting more and more popular.
Describe what it’s like to be a brewer in Pennsylvania.
PA has an amazing craft beer scene. Every brewer I have met to this date has been very friendly and willing to help out or discuss just about anything. That is pretty much how any brewer in any state seems to be though. It’s a very unique industry, where a local competitor is your friend and willing to help you out.
What is the inspiration behind your beer names?
We have started to use names based on outdoor activities, as that is what we like to do in our free time. Broken Sprocket IPA, Base Weight IPA, Black Diamond Dunkelweizen, and Winding Trail IPA are some examples.
What is your favorite beer to drink right now?
I don’t necessarily have a favorite, but I am drinking a lot of west coast style pale ales, and also really into traditional style lagers at the current moment.
What is the most important lesson you learned in the beer industry so far?
Listen to your customers and what they want. You also have to be able to adapt to the market. We purchased a wild goose canning line in June of 2020 because there is such a large demand for cans right now.
Thank you to Mark for talking with us! Make sure you visit Four Seasons Brewing Company for all the latest beers, news, information, and special events. And also follow Four Seasons on Facebook and Instagram.
