The Founding of Noble Stein Brewing Company
Noble Stein Brewing Company is a craft brewery in Indiana, PA. The brewery is owned and operated by Zack Morrow and Ben Harley.
It all started in a garage.
We had both homebrewed before. Then, one day we brought all of our ideas and recipes together.
We started out using home brew kits in a simple five-gallon kettle, but our excitement and want for more grew rapidly. So, we began using a mini brewing system featuring a 20 gallon hot liquor tank, mash/lauter tun, and boil kettle. With a strategically engineered, gravity-fed brewing system, we began experimenting with multiple varieties of hops, malts, yeasts etc. until our beer recipes were perfect.
It was inevitable that the idea of a brewery would cross our minds one day and, when it did, it felt like a noble idea to pursue.
With several years of collective brewing experience, we decided to start brewing with the intent of bringing Indiana the beer they deserve.
It's all in the name
The name Noble Stein originated with a discussion of the values and ideals that we possess and believe are essential to producing quality products. Noble concisely indicates a strong sense of integrity among our team. The beers that we produce maintain this same trait, with no compromises in the production process.
Noble also reflects a certain level of reverence and appreciation—an exceptional quality, if you will. This level of appreciation continues to flourish in the craft beer community, and we aim to sow additional seeds to support this movement. Coincidentally, Noble also refers to a family of wild European hops, tying beer in nicely with our name.
A beer stein is viewed as a reference to the long-standing tradition of beer consumption as a vital element of culture. Nostalgic items such as steins serve as reminders of the cultural journey that beer has made providing necessary context for the growth of the industry in the future.
The combination of these terms results in a high-quality product produced with recognition of tradition alongside a quality-focused anticipation of growth. This is Noble Stein Brewing Company, in a nutshell.
About the Owners
ZACK MORROW - THE NUMBERS GUY
He takes care of the business end such as financial projections and planning, while also designing beer recipes (and tasting them, of course). He helps to fuel the creativity of the group, but he also reels everyone back in from the depths when an idea starts to go wild (ie. too expensive). No one would dare argue with him either, since he’s built like a tank!
In his spare time he enjoys power lifting, golf, the financial markets, a wide variety of ethnic foods and spending time with his family (including his 8 siblings).
Favorite Styles of Beer: IPAs and Belgian Triples
Fun Fact: Zack likes to remove the ladder when his Sims are in the pool.
Ben Harley - The Swiss Army Knife
He specializes in HVAC, can fix just about anything that breaks, and is always helpful and hands on during the beer-brewing process. You’ll be seeing him in the taproom a lot, too, since he has a background in Hospitality Management.
Ben is a local volunteer fire fighter for the Indiana County Fire Association, has a knack for a nine iron on the green, and is member of a bowling league… Actually, he plays just about every sport imaginable.
Favorite Styles of Beer: Stouts and Lagers
Fun Fact: Ben has a collection of five 60’s and early 70’s muscle cars.