Stable 12 Brewing Company – A story of Pilam Brothers brewing beer

Friends since middle school, Rick Wolf ’10 and Chris Carbutt ‘10, bonded as Pilam brothers at Penn State, and found a unique career path through their shared enthusiasm for craft beer. A decade ago they opened Stable 12 Brewing Company in Phoenixville, PA and have been thriving ever since.

From a barn to a business

Rick and Chris started on a family horse farm with more passion than resources and learned firsthand what it takes to grow something small into something meaningful. They built a brewery from the ground up.

When they went looking for a business loan, nine banks turned them down. They had to get creative, so they went to crowdsourcing and in two months the business met their fundraising goal of $20,000.

When the business opened its doors, both brothers held down full time jobs while simultaneously running the brewery and managing its staff.

After opening, Stable 12 received a healthy pour of positive media coverage from The Philadelphia Inquirer, Forbes Magazine, MainLine Today, and The Mercury, boosting their profile and helping them build a loyal following.

If you brew it, they will come

Stable 12 has become a destination for craft beer lovers in the Philly suburbs. Joe Sixpack of the Inquirer wrote, “even city dwellers need to pay attention to what’s happening in Phoenixville.” 

Their beer selection is eclectic and sometimes unique to the Philly region. They’ve concocted creatively-named beers including:

• “Dayman” IPA – A shoutout to “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”
• “It’s a Philly Thing” Lager
• “Family Therapy” IPA
• “Over the Moon” Wheat beer
• “Four Horsemen” Stout
• “We Are” Lager – A tribute to their alma mater

The bar is casual, familiar, and inviting with a 42-seat draft room, and an outdoor garden with ample seating when weather permits. They have ten rotating taps of draft beer and a selection of their own canned beers. They’ve also expanded their list of libations for non-beer drinkers to include wine, mixed drinks, hard cider, and hard seltzer made by other local PA businesses. 

When they started, Stable 12 offered a limited snack menu, but as the business grew, so did their capabilities. They now offer a full menu (including vegan options), and have gained a reputation for not only craft beer, but for great food as well!

Stable 12 is a stalwart supporter of the local business community and built a loyal following of customers. Their beverages are now distributed throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, and they also ship beer to residents of PA, VA, and Washington D.C. through “Pony Express.”

Brewing up support for Pilam

Rick and Chris have never forgotten their Pilam roots, and have generously supported Pilam events. For five years, they enthusiastically donated Stable 12 beverages for brothers to enjoy at the annual Pi Lambda Phi Philly Golf Outing.

Cheers brothers! Thanks for your support!