Former software developer opens St. Benjamin’s brewery in Kensington

Tim Patton is a software developer turned microbrewer.

Patton, 37, of Fishtown, opened Saint Benjamin’s Brewing Company in Kensington in late May with his business partner Christina Burris. He previously cofounded Dealcatcher.com, a deals site based in Wilmington, Del.

But after ten years as the company’s senior software developer, Patton decided the company was going one way and he wanted to go another. He became a silent partner at Dealcatcher, which still operates, in 2009. He used his savings from Dealcatcher to help get Saint Benjamin’s off the ground, which cost at least $5,000, Patton told the Daily News. He also raised more than $21,000 on crowdfunding site LuckyAnt (now MoolaHoop) to restore the brewery’s facade, the Inquirer reported.

Saint Benjamin’s sold its first keg during Philly Beer Week‘s Opening Tap kickoff event. The microbrewery plans to open a brewpub in a year. As for software development, Patton said he still dabbles in it but the brewery has been his full-time gig for about two years now.