Dock Street Brewing Celebrates its 40th Anniversary

Philly’s Pioneering Brewery, Dock Street Brewing, Raises a Glass Celebrating a Legacy of Innovation

If ever there was a reason to raise a glass in celebration, a 40th anniversary checks all of the boxes. 2025 marks a milestone in Philly’s craft beer history as celebrations for Dock Street Brewing’s 40th anniversary begin. Founded in 1985 by visionary entrepreneur Rosemarie Certo and business partner Jeffrey Ware, Dock Street Brewing Company became the first post-Prohibition microbrewery in the city—and one of the earliest in the United States. With four decades of influence and innovation, Dock Street has evolved from an Old City trailblazer to a national icon, blending fearless creativity with deep community roots.

From humble homebrewing experiments to award-winning beer that traveled as far as Paris, Dock Street Brewing’s 40th birthday reflects the brewery’s history and the woman behind the hops. Certo, an Italian immigrant with a background in import/export and a passion for positive social impact, turned an idea into an empire. By the early 1990s, Dock Street was producing 28,000 barrels annually and distributing to 26 states—placing it among the top five craft breweries in the country.

Even after selling the business in 1999, Certo wasn’t done. She bought it back in 2002, moved operations to a firehouse-turned-pizza-brewpub in West Philly in 2007, and eventually expanded to the current 2118 Washington Avenue location in 2019. Alongside her daughter, Renata Vesey, who now serves as VP and future torchbearer, Certo’s vision continues to thrive.

Dock Street Amber Ale—their first brew—placed third at the 1986 Great American Beer Festival and continues to define their legacy. Other fan favorites include Man Full of Trouble Porter, named after a Colonial-era tavern, and Dock Street Walker, a bold seasonal ale brewed with smoked goat brains and raspberries for The Walking Dead finale.

Dock Street Brewing’s 40th: Toasting the Past, Brewing the Future

One of the most notable elements of Dock Street’s journey was its bold stance on trade equity. In the early ‘90s, Certo launched the infamous “PROTEST” label campaign, flipping her beer labels upside down to draw attention to unfair international pricing. The move earned national media coverage and even brought her to Washington, D.C. during Pre-GATT negotiations, proving that beer could be both political and personal.

Toasting to their 40th is a toast to the future of Dock Street. With Certo’s guiding spirit and Renata’s next-gen leadership, the brewery continues to champion artisan methods, community engagement, and fearless innovation.

I’ll drink to that.

Happy 40th anniversary, Dock Street. Here’s to many more.

About Post Author

Allan Lane

Philadelphia born and bred, Allan Lane is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of digital magazines. He launched his first publication, SportBikes Inc Magazine in 2010, followed by dosage MAGAZINE in 2019. Recently, Allan launched his third online publication, Club For Man. As a journalist, Allan covers fashion, lifestyle, culture, art, and motorcycles.

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