 Fort Pitt's sales decreased 40% leaving the company with a financial loss for the first time in over a decade.After the death of Berardino, in August 1957, the company announced it would cease brewing operations at the Sharpsburg plant in order to free more capital to invest in the newly incorporated Fort Pitt Industries.Although it would not be the immediate end of the Fort Pitt brand, the rights were sold to Gunther Brewing Company of Baltimore for 1.3 million dollars, and Gunther Brewing Company acquired the company.