The Pittston brewery crafted a beer to help support WVIA…
A few weeks back, Pittston’s Blind Cat Beer Company did something rare, they brewed a beer that actually meant something.
Their new Signal Lager, a limited-release collaboration with WVIA Public Media, isn’t just another seasonal pour or taproom experiment. It’s a deliberate act of connection — a toast to local journalism, public storytelling, and the idea that a small brewery in Luzerne County can help keep a community’s signal strong.
The beer made its debut during WVIA’s News & Brews event, held at Blind Cat on November 13. It was the kind of night that reminded you what local really feels like: neighbors shoulder to shoulder, reporters swapping stories over pints, and a beer designed not just to be enjoyed, but to do a little good. A portion of proceeds from every pint and four-pack of Signal Lager goes directly to support WVIA’s programming, the kind that still digs into issues that matter around here.
A beer with purpose…
Signal Lager is clean, crisp, and quietly confident, a 5.3 percent ABV lager with a light floral aroma and just enough caramel malt to give it depth. It’s not a beer that shouts. It’s a beer that listens, steady and deliberate, built for conversation.
Co-owner Brittany Grasso-Salvatori and her husband, head brewer Manny Salvatori, created it as a nod to WVIA’s role in the region, a familiar voice on the airwaves that’s been connecting Northeastern Pennsylvania for generations. For them, this collaboration wasn’t about hype; it was about purpose. It was about a community institution and a young brewery finding common ground in their shared mission to keep local stories alive.
The Blind Cat story…
If you’ve spent any time in the Back Mountain or Pittston area, you’ve probably already heard whispers about Blind Cat Beer Company. It opened in late 2024 at 13 Kennedy Street, a short hop from Main Street’s growing restaurant row. What makes the place stand out isn’t flash or gimmick, it’s intention.
The brewery’s name comes from the Salvatoris’ two blind cats, Cricket and Weezy, the kind of mascots that make you smile and also explain a lot about how they see the world. The couple built their business around empathy and sustainability. About 90 percent of their grain comes from Pennsylvania farms, and their flagship Cricket Pilsner sends a portion of proceeds to animal rescues that support special-needs pets. Even the taproom itself, all reclaimed furniture, warm wood, and soft lighting, feels like a lived-in conversation.
Brewing with heart…
For Brittany and Manny, craft beer has never been just about what’s in the glass. Since opening, they’ve focused on using beer as a bridge, something that can bring people together, spark conversation, and give back. That philosophy has guided Blind Cat’s collaborations and events from day one.
It’s an ethos that feels deeply NEPA: work hard, take care of your own, and share what you’ve got. Whether they’re hosting fundraisers for animal rescues or teaming up with public media to keep storytelling local, Blind Cat brews with heart and with purpose.
The afterglow…
Since its release, Signal Lager has become one of those beers people talk about not just for its taste, but for what it stands for. It’s still pouring in limited quantities at the taproom, and for as long as it lasts, each glass poured continues to send a dollar back to WVIA.
In a region built on connection and storytelling, from coal miners and factory workers to today’s brewers, chefs, and journalists, it feels right that a beer called Signal is carrying that torch forward.
If you missed the News & Brews event, don’t sweat it. Head down to Pittston, order a pint of Signal Lager, and take a moment to listen. You’ll hear what Blind Cat’s been trying to say all along: Local still matters. And every time people come together over a good beer, the signal gets stronger.
