Pittsburgh - New Beers & Local Breweries

Thanks for coming up! I'm glad you (kind of?) enjoyed yourself. A few things I want to chime in on...

"Was busy for the first 30-40 minutes after opening and died down after."

This week was insane! Full crowds Wednesday-Friday. We opened early on Saturday and it was a little sparse at times, but the rest of the day was jammed packed! We were really happy that the word is out there. Thanks for understanding if there was a longer wait time - though hopefully it wasn't bad.

"The other offerings we not very good and for the most part one dimensional."

Sorry you felt that way. Our ratings this week were most excellent on Untappd (as well as in person), but I also know that people with not terribly refined tastes use Untappd a lot. Shoot us an email at [email protected] if you have any suggestions. We want to improve constantly. Not one single person pulled us aside to tell us anything negative or that could be improved about our beers, so that makes it a little hard to know if they need worked on.

"The only thing about Reclamation I will have a hard time getting passed were the prices. I heard complaints from everyone around me at the bar when paying. Pint prices were ok ~6$, taster was a little high at $9.50 for 4 tasters and the growler prices were crazy at 20-28$."

This is interesting to me. The only "complaints" we heard were Saturday when the Fall Festival was going on and people just wandered in from the street who were expecting a new bar and couldn't understand why we didn't have Miller Lite on tap. We were actually told, on more than one occasion, that we should be charging more. We don't plan on it, but it was nice to hear the thought. Glad to hear the pints aren't too bad - but I'm surprised with the taster reaction.

Also, just a little clarification on the growler prices... they range from $16 - $26.50. And since all of our prices include tax - they actually range from ~$15.09 - $25. Only beers above 8.5% break the $20 mark with the only beer making it to $25 coming in at 10%. Only one of our growler-available beers is below 6.5% with the average being about 7.5%

At any rate, I'm glad you gave us a chance! We'd love more feedback if anyone else visited. And please don't take my response here as defensive - I just want to ask for more feedback and clear up some possible misconceptions. And thanks for the positive statements as well!

We definitely worked out a lot of operational kinks over the last few days and will continue getting more refined as we go hopefully!

 

I went to OC Brewing, Assawoman, Back Shore, and Burley Oak. Burley Oak gets all the stroke in the area however they were really no better than the others. Their one dimensional "sours" didn't do much for me and their more standard styles were mediocre. Best beer I had from the four was a dipa from Back Shore. Other "locals" I had on tap were from Evolution, Rubber Soul, and RAR. Nanticoke Nectar from RAR was nice.

 

I don't get the Burley Oak love in this area. They are overpriced and mediocre. Evolution has some good barrel-aged offerings, but their daily lineup is hit or miss. Lot 6 is a solid DIPA, and I love Rise Up Stout.

Nanticoke Nectar is one of the best hoppy beers brewed in MD. They actually just released their DIPA, ChopDank, this past Saturday. It's pretty good.

 

I was hoping to come across Lot 6 on tap but it didn't happen. Figures ChopDank would get released the day I left. While it is not local, I brought home some Union Double Duckpin.

 

Meh, Solid, Decent IJGFM

 

Dbl duckpin is awesome very underrated in my opinion

 

International Journal on Governmental Financial Management?

 

Has anyone had anything from Casey Brewing & Blending? There seems to be a lot of buzz around them but I haven't actually talked to someone that has tasted their beer. I have a chance to stop by for a bottle release when I am in Denver but wonder if its worth the time.

 

From what I hear, you probably should. But no, I have not had anything.

 

Casey makes good stuff. Not shit your pants awesome (figuratively and literally)...but definitely better than most American breweries that makes sours...

 

This is what they will have. My only issue is that I will be at the same bottle shop both Thursday and Friday for other bottle release. Hard to justify a 3rd trip there unless it is knock out stuff.

 

The Cuts are supposed to be very very good. I have also heard Oak Theory is great.

 

Someone brought a bottle to a share before the Voodoo/Grat release. I was fairly impressed and based on the ratings, it was one of their weaker efforts. So I'd definitely make an extra trip if it's not too out of the way.

 

I'm really surprised the barleywine was so polarizing. It was probably my favorite thing I had there, but didn't strike me as that type of goofy love it or hate it beer (I'm thinking about sam Adams triple bock, black Tuesday, etc.). Seemed like just a really solid American barleywine.

But I also thought Bigfoot was pretty universally loved, so looks like I'm learning a lot this morning.

Cue the "people have different opinions" crew...

 

I like Bigfoot and don't mind hoppy barleywine shuts before a big bold English barleywine.

 

Even by American Barleywine standards, I thought it was too hop-centric. I know American Barleywines are much hoppier but I still feel like they are showcasing the malt base as opposed to the hops like the BG one was. Like I said, I enjoyed the flavor but didn't think it was a barleywine, even an American styled one.

 

I generally prefer an English to an American Barleywine.. But, I didn't really find the one at BG to be all that hoppy, nor did I think it tasted anything like Bigfoot.

 

Well, folks who haven't tried the BG Barleywine.....Are you confused yet?

 

Yeah it's interesting how differently that one seemed to sit with everyone. To further confuse, my wife and I both thought we got a sort of odd cherry taste from it. Sort of like SA Cherry Wheat, but not repugnant like that stuff is. It was tough to describe, but I didn't care for it as a whole.

I'm sure @brewgentlemen will be able to glean a ton of worthwhile information from our scattered, nonsensical criticism though.

 

makes me wanna try it.