New owners today took control of the brewery formerly known as Pittsburgh Brewing, ending the company's 21-month stay in bankruptcy and promising to invest $4.1 million in the long-neglected Pittsburgh institution.

A group of investors led by Connecticut businessman John N. Milne will operate the Lawrenceville brewery under the name Iron City Brewing, building on the tradition of the 146-year-old brewery.

The closing comes more than three months after Mr. Milne's plan for reorganizing the debilitated brewer was approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Chief Judge M. Bruce McCullough. Since then, the investors have sought necessary approvals from their bankers as well as the state and federal agencies that regulate the brewery's operations.

"The new Iron City Brewing Company is totally focussed on providing quality products to our loyal customers," said President Tim Hickman. "We're committed to making Pittsburghers proud again of their hometown beers."

Pittsburgh Brewing was forced into bankruptcy in December 2005 after the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority threatened to terminate service over more than $2 million in unpaid bills. The company's chronic shortage of cash continued during the bankruptcy, disrupting production and causing morale problems among its work force.