"I'm leaving on excellent terms and things are good here at Manayunk," Horwitz said. "This was just too good an opportunity to pass up. I know I wasn't at the top of Iron Hill's list, but I'm flattered that they came to me. If I had known they were looking, I definitely would have approached themed. Iron Hill set out to be the company that everybody wants to work for, and I think they've achieved that. They certainly have in my case."

Horwitz starts at Iron Hill immediately (January 5) and says he will probably go to the West Chester location  for a short time "to train a bit with [head brewer] Chris LaPierre and learn Iron Hill's methodology and how they do things." The North Wales pub, the company's fifth, is scheduled to open on February 15.

Leaving is never easy and Horwitz said it was particularly difficult in this case. "I had been discussing things with Iron Hill for a while, and, as it worked out, I had to go in on the Monday after Harry died (Harry Renner 4th, Manayunk's owner, died in Florida on December 14, of complications following surgery) and tell them I was leaving. It was unfortunate timing, but unavoidable. "

Renner's daughter and sister have inherited the brewpub and "it is not for sale, regardless of the rumors you hear," Horwitz stressed. "I'm helping them find a replacement brewer right now. We've already received several resumes, including a couple of local guys."

He noted that there are "four exciting projects" that he's leaving behind for the new brewer: a steinbier made on December 23, a two-year-old barleywine aged in a bourbon cask, a "super" lager ("not quite a triple bock but bigger than a double bock") and a framboise made with Rodenbach yeast and real fruit.

"Having the opportunity to taste all those beers when they're ready is just one of the many reasons I'm delighted to be staying in the Philadelphia area," Horwitz said. "I really like it here."