Matt Allyn Obituary, Death Corry, PA – Corry, Pennsylvania, reels from the tragic loss of Matt Allyn, a renowned brew master and founder of Voodoo Brewing Company, who died in a car accident on Saturday, May 3, 2025. His untimely death leaves a void in the craft beer community and among those who knew his vibrant spirit, yet his legacy of innovation and mentorship endures. Matt Allyn, a Corry native, shaped the region’s craft beer scene with over 29 years of brewing expertise.
He founded Voodoo Brewing in Meadville in 2007, introducing bold flavors like White Magick of the Sun and Big Black Voodoo Daddy, which won a silver medal at the 2013 Great American Beer Festival. For instance, his creative approach blending unique ingredients like coriander and passion fruit set Voodoo apart. Additionally, he co-owned Blue Canoe Brewery in Titusville and served as brew master at John Russell Brewing Company in Erie, sparking a “beer revolution” in Northwestern Pennsylvania.
Allyn’s journey began after graduating from Corry Area High School in 1990 and serving in the U.S. Air Force, where he discovered brewing in Utah. His passion led him to design brewing systems and consult for over 30 breweries, including Erie Brewing and Straub Brewing, where he became the first non-family brew master. Moreover, his leadership extended beyond brewing; as president of Skate Corry PA, he organized beer festivals to fund a local skate park.
Tributes highlight Allyn’s mentorship. Lisa Richards, a former colleague, shared how he transformed her understanding of beer at Four Sons Brewery, teaching her about flavors and leadership. She credited his guidance for her career growth, noting his unwavering support. Similarly, colleagues praised his down-to-earth nature and willingness to help, calling him a “Johnny Appleseed” of craft beer. The car accident’s details remain undisclosed, and funeral arrangements are pending. Although the community grieves, Allyn’s contributions live on through the breweries he shaped and the lives he touched. Thus, Corry honors a visionary whose craft and kindness left an indelible mark.
