Pittsburgh - New Beers & Local Breweries

Chris had a big influence on me getting into craft beer many years ago via Sharp Edge beer club meetings. I've been waiting for him to go pro for a long time now. Insanely nice guy taboot.

 

High praise coming from you. What sorta stuff does he brew?

 

Don't believe they have one; recall last time we had the kids there we defaulted to the adult grilled cheese--it's "fancy," so the kids bitched and picked stuff off. Next time I'll just get it plain, though it's like eight bucks. So maybe I'll stuff them with some chicken nugs before we go, and order them milks.

 

Not to be silly, but you're aware of the Big Pour as well, right? I don't have time to search the thread to confirm, so I'm just checking.

 

Has anyone mentioned the firkin fest? Ocotber 3, 6-10pm, $50. The first one was totally worth the cost of admission and I think this one will be even better.

 

More so than the Big Pour? Surely you jest.

 

Any Oxbow on the docket? Pretty sure they distribute to DC now...

If so, I highly recommend checking them out...

 

This year's list: http://snallygasterdc.com/beer-list/

My friend went last year, and complained because it rained. Very much wanted to go with them this year.

 

Oxbow will be there. If that event was held here tickets would be $300.

 

Probably isn't much less there, DC is expensive as shit...

 

$65 for early entry VIP

 

yeah, that's a great price for what I scrolled through in that link up there...have fun man...be safe!

 

For those who have been, what is the allure of the Big Pour? Looking at the lineup there wasn't anything that really stuck out to me. Is it a fun event?

I am really digging some of the events being held around town during that week.

 

I went like 3 or 4 years ago. It was pretty fun. Black Note was on and it was the first time I had it so we pretty much just posted up at Bell's for while. First time having Idle hands too and I was really into it. Great fod selection as well. I've never went back so it isn't a "must go to" event in my opinion.

 

Agree with @Matthouse3 that it was fun in the past, but I'm not clamoring to return. Given the ticket price, I feel that they should work harder for our dollars--there are more of these events now, as compared to when they started doing this; many local bottle shares have brighter stars. Cool space; the crowd at the first session is more tolerable than that of the later one.

EDIT: they need additional bathrooms. Should've cath'd myself before I went, as half the time I spent in the effing line for few available bathrooms.

 

Both times I went to the big pour I was more impressed with the food than the beer selection. It's a good time but not worth the cost.

 

I'll...fourth (?)...that. The best beer fest I've been to. I'd recommend spending the money to go once, but I'm satisfied with not shelling out for it year after year.

Has anyone seen the Rick Sebak special where he goes to the Big Pour?

 

Agreed all on all above points. Part of the mystery is that it sells out within minutes each year but they don't release a brewery list 'til a week later.

Attended last year but aren't on this years:
Bells, Brew Gentlemen, Brooklyn, Costar, Duclaw, Fat Head's, Jack's Cider, Lagunitas, Milkman (RIP), Roundabout, Shubrew, Sly Fox, Smuttynose

Additions for this year:
21st Amendment, Abjuration, Couch, Dancing Gnome, Flying Dog, Kaliber, Long Trail, New Belgium, Oskar Blues, Otter Creek, Reclamation, Spoonwood, Spring House, Stoudt's, Sweetwater, Whitehorse, Wyndridge

43 total breweries for 2014
47 total breweries for 2015

So while it may seem 'bigger', we're losing Bells/Brooklyn/Fat Head's/Lagunitas for more local it seems.

2014: https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073441/http://www.constructionjunction.org/pages/brewers
2015: http://www.constructionjunction.org/pages/brewers

 

for the uninitiated:

 

Hello Pittsburgers (is that a thing?), I'll be in your wonderful city tomorrow through Sunday for a wedding. Where would you go if you had a limited time? We will have a car if that makes a difference.