Brew Pubs in and around Pittsburgh

Church Brew Works and Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh come to mind.

 

Also Penn Brewery (original North Side location - not sure about the 1st Ave taproom)

 

Don't know personally, but can't say that I've heard anything which would change your previous opinion.

 

Church Brew is cool to look at. The beer isn't that great and I don't really think the food is either.

Smoke is delicious.
Industry
Yard at Market Square
City Works Market Square

 

Couple that come to mind:

Rock Bottom (Homestead - near Kennywood) - obviously a chain, but they'll have a full scale menu and locally produced beers that aren't bad from the ones I've tried over the years.

Four Seasons Brewery (Latrobe, near Idlewild) - I've had a few pretty good beers from them at Piper's and while I've not been to the brewery itself, looks like they have some kid friendly foods online (dogs/pizza) albeit not a large menu.

Speaking of Piper's Pub, they certainly have a large menu and I would say that place is kid friendly too, outside of huge soccer matches, which there shouldn't be any (outside of the women's world cup perhaps).

 

FWIW, Rock Bottom's head brewer left for North Country Brewing in the last month or so. Not that it necessarily means a change in the beer quality, especially for a big chain operation like Rock Bottom, but it's always a possibility.

 

Can you buy take home beer from Penn, or any other brewery?

 

Was at Church Brew with my kids (boys 13 and 16) a few months ago. Definitely kid friendly, definitely cool to look at, definitely meh on the beer and food side. I wouldn't be in a hurry to go back.

More pricey but definitely kid friendly (at least kids my age) and not far from downtown I really enjoyed Cinderlands. Beer was really good and food was even better. Only spot I hit downtown was Proper (pizza place). Was really good and taps were solid.