Pittsburgh Breweries - Fall Edition

Discussion in 'Mid-Atlantic' started by RandyRanderson, Oct 6, 2017.

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  1. RandyRanderson

    RandyRanderson Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2014 Pennsylvania

    There used to be a pretty active Pittsburgh thread on here but that activity has seems to have fallen off while the activity within the Pittsburgh beer seems is busier than ever. Seemed time to get chatter on the recent activity:

    - 11th Hour opened in Lawrenceville. Now 4 breweries all in pretty close proximity there. What are the early reviews for them?

    - Hitchhiker opened their new facility in Sharpsburg - looks pretty nice, Sharpsburg is quickly becoming a nice brewery visit.

    - War Streets finally found a home in what used to be known as Benjamins. Details seem a little hazy but hopeful this works out.

    - Penn is opening a taproom downtown. Great news for Downtown folk, craft beer scene is getting better downtown but no brewery presence until now.

    What new breweries have stood out to you? What are you looking forward to this fall?
     
  2. RandyRanderson

    RandyRanderson Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2014 Pennsylvania

    Also, there's Dancing Gnome's huge first year, pretty incredible how good they've been right out of the gate.

    Brew Gentlemen continues to be great as well, #1 DIPA (Lou) on Paste magezine's blind tasting to DIPAs. Double Mex is coming back this year, pretty sure the line will cross the Rankin bridge this time.

    Voodoo's increased production should hopefully increase distro and maybe see their can releases sold outside of the pubs. They've been teasing a number of collaboration beers with Cyle and a few others, so definitely interested to get more details on those.
     
  3. Fordcoyote15

    Fordcoyote15 Pooh-Bah (2,132) Nov 19, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    When is the double mex release?
     
  4. RandyRanderson

    RandyRanderson Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2014 Pennsylvania

    Not sure of release details, they posted video on their Instagram (via the stories feature) of them dipping the bottles in wax so I imagine we'll be getting details soon.
     
  5. 3genpanther

    3genpanther Initiate (0) May 20, 2009 Pennsylvania

    http://tenemu.com/news/voodoo-brewery-canning-big-black-voodoo-daddy-imperial-stout/10/2017
     
  6. EvenMoreJesus

    EvenMoreJesus Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2017 Pennsylvania

    Haven't been to their new digs, but I did have a beer from them the other day that was quite good. Nice to see that they're (finally) turning the corner from a quality standpoint.

    Definitely a whirlwind year for them. Hopefully they have continued success. Love their hoppy beers.

    Always like to stop by both of these places, but they're both SO out of the way for me, I only find myself there a couple times each year. Definitely NOT on release days.
     
  7. Hoprider

    Hoprider Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2009 Pennsylvania

    This Sunday. Reserve bottles during the week like the last couple of releases.
     
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  8. Fordcoyote15

    Fordcoyote15 Pooh-Bah (2,132) Nov 19, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm new to this... I'm guessing one must reserve in person?
     
  9. RandyRanderson

    RandyRanderson Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2014 Pennsylvania

    Yes, you have to go to the taproom in person to reserve. More details will be in their newsletter this Tuesday.
     
  10. Fordcoyote15

    Fordcoyote15 Pooh-Bah (2,132) Nov 19, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Am I completely inept and missing it or is there no place on their website to sign up for their mailing list?
     
  11. 3genpanther

    3genpanther Initiate (0) May 20, 2009 Pennsylvania

    You are completely inept lol. It's at the bottom of their home page - "stay up to date with our weekly newsletter"
     
  12. M-Fox24

    M-Fox24 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,525) Mar 17, 2013 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

  13. Fordcoyote15

    Fordcoyote15 Pooh-Bah (2,132) Nov 19, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Lol. Thank you.
     
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  14. 3genpanther

    3genpanther Initiate (0) May 20, 2009 Pennsylvania

    Any sense on how early you need to be there to be in the first 50? I'm thinking about going Fri so if someone goes Wed or Thurs, let us know how it goes!!
     
  15. OverTrainOverGain

    OverTrainOverGain Zealot (542) May 11, 2017 Oregon
    Trader

    I'll post when I get there tomorrow and how long the line is when I arrive. I am guessing tomorrow will be the busiest day since it is day 1. No idea what to expect. It also doesn't explicitly say that each person can only have one reservation, which would definitely limit the line later in the week. If people can get multiple reservations, which I kind of doubt, the line will be particularly long I assume.
     
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  16. Pierre_Pressure

    Pierre_Pressure Initiate (0) Apr 12, 2016 Pennsylvania

    They do specify only one pack per customer. So while that does technically leave the door open for multiple reservations it would be pointless since they would only allow you to buy one. Of course, that doesn't guarantee that some people won't try...
     
  17. OverTrainOverGain

    OverTrainOverGain Zealot (542) May 11, 2017 Oregon
    Trader

    Maybe 30 people in line at 320
     
  18. Crisb184

    Crisb184 Initiate (0) Dec 25, 2014 Pennsylvania

    Line just reached 50
     
  19. 3genpanther

    3genpanther Initiate (0) May 20, 2009 Pennsylvania

    Holy hell. I wonder if it'll be the same deal tomorrow. Hopefully BG provides another update on their Twitter or more people post here. Thanks for the updates.
     
  20. EvenMoreJesus

    EvenMoreJesus Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2017 Pennsylvania

    Curiously, anyone been to Couch? Figured that asking here would be the best place to get input quickly.
     
  21. RandyRanderson

    RandyRanderson Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2014 Pennsylvania

    I went a few months ago and was not a big fan. The "couch" theme just seemed gimmicky to me. I can get behind a neighborhood brewery full of couches, but it seemed like they got a bunch of 70s furniture from Goodwill and just filled up a space.

    The beers I tried were ok to good, fairly standard variety. I really like to support local breweries so I would likely go back in a few more months to see how they've improved. But with the number of quality breweries here now, I think competition will be tough for them.

    And that's certainly not to dissuade you, I think everyone should try the local breweries for themselves.
     
  22. EvenMoreJesus

    EvenMoreJesus Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2017 Pennsylvania

    Thanks, man! Just drove by yesterday and was like, "Completely forgot that this place was here."
     
  23. bnasse9900

    bnasse9900 Initiate (0) Apr 1, 2008 Pennsylvania

    DoubleMex line just reached 50.
     
  24. RandyRanderson

    RandyRanderson Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2014 Pennsylvania

    So how early are people going to be there Saturday?
     
  25. alphaiii

    alphaiii Initiate (0) Dec 6, 2013 Pennsylvania

    Was it actually 50 people, or also some empty chairs as placeholders? Word is this is became a thing at BG for this release...

    If that's the case, maybe I should sit this one out...
     
  26. OverTrainOverGain

    OverTrainOverGain Zealot (542) May 11, 2017 Oregon
    Trader

    On Wednesday people were pretty good about actually being there the whole time. I was nervous ten people would all of a sudden show up at 5 but they actually counted people there.
     
  27. alphaiii

    alphaiii Initiate (0) Dec 6, 2013 Pennsylvania

    That's good to hear at least.

    Wonder when the line hit 50 today...
     
  28. 3genpanther

    3genpanther Initiate (0) May 20, 2009 Pennsylvania

    The line didn't hit 50 until right around 5pm and that was only because some people in line started calling their buddies. I think some people just figured they couldn't get there in time. The line was at 30-35 at 3pm and then it died. You just never know with these things.
     
  29. ShabamJenkins

    ShabamJenkins Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2015 North Carolina

    How fast do Voodoo's releases generally sell out? I dont' live in the area but have a friend that's starting to get into craft and loves stouts. I doubt he's ready to go wait in line (haven't gotten him hooked quite that hard yet) but I could probably persuade him into picking up some stuff that sticks around for a day or so or stuff that drops with no notice (like Voodoo).
     
  30. RandyRanderson

    RandyRanderson Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2014 Pennsylvania

    The Grande Negro is sold out everywhere based on comments on their Instagram post. The can releases and Caution! will stick around for awhile but any of the Barrel Room Collection will be sold out same day.
     
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  31. EersandBeers

    EersandBeers Zealot (695) Jan 16, 2013 West Virginia

    About 4 weeks ago I hit some breweries around Pittsburgh that I have failed to visit.
    Fury
    Full Pint - coffee IPA that I thought was incredible, Luxuria
    Brew Gentlemen
    Voodoo
    Dancing Gnome
    Hitchhiker
    Roundabout

    For me Brew Gentlemen was far above any of the others in amount of beer I enjoyed. I'd probably follow it with Voodoo and Roundabout and Hitchhiker. I didn't find Fury to be very good or Dancing Gnome (which provides no samples, strangely). IPA's at these two places were very unimpressive.

    I missed 11th Hour and Grist. Plan on hitting those soon.
     
  32. RandyRanderson

    RandyRanderson Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2014 Pennsylvania

    You can get a 4 oz pour of any beer at Dancing Gnome (at least as of the last time I was there). I'm surprised you didn't like their IPAs since you liked Brew Gentlemen's.

    Grist House is always a good time, especially if Driftwood Oven pizza is there (most Wednesdays and some weekends I believe)
     
  33. 3genpanther

    3genpanther Initiate (0) May 20, 2009 Pennsylvania

    I believe I read on one of DG's newsletters a few months back that they were discontinuing samples.
     
  34. OverTrainOverGain

    OverTrainOverGain Zealot (542) May 11, 2017 Oregon
    Trader

    Formally yes but if it isn't busy and you genuinely appear to not know what you want they aren't going to tell you to screw off, they are all pleasant and want you to enjoy what they pour.
     
  35. EersandBeers

    EersandBeers Zealot (695) Jan 16, 2013 West Virginia

    It was quite busy the night I was there. First timer. Knew nothing about their beer. So I got Infinite Highway and buddy got Pounce. For me, Brew Gentlemen crushed these. So we left and went to Hitchhiker where they were more than happy to give us each a huge flight of beers. They were tastier too. I might stop by again if I'm with someone that's really interested. There are just so many other options in that area I wouldn't make the effort solo.
     
  36. 3genpanther

    3genpanther Initiate (0) May 20, 2009 Pennsylvania

    I do think BG edges DG, but a lot of people put DG a close second in the city these days. I am looking forward to hitting up the new Hitchhiker spot, I've heard they've come a long way quality wise.
     
  37. RandyRanderson

    RandyRanderson Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2014 Pennsylvania

    Has anyone heard anything about Cinderlands Beer Co? Apparently it's opening in Lawrenceville soon and is one of the brands Good Beer Hunting is helping to launch. A quick search didn't bring up much information which seems a little odd.
     
  38. Pierre_Pressure

    Pierre_Pressure Initiate (0) Apr 12, 2016 Pennsylvania

    Haven't hear much myself. They are/were hiring a brewer. Looks like the guy running it comes from Solemn Oath Brewery. And...that is about all I've read/heard. I'm looking forward to stopping by though once they are up and running though
     
  39. EvenMoreJesus

    EvenMoreJesus Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2017 Pennsylvania

    I also find it strange that you liked BG but did not like DG. They make, essentially, the same beers, from an IPA standpoint. Sounds like you were more upset that they didn't give you tasters/samples than with the quality of their beer, though. Never understood people getting all butthurt when they don't get to try a beer before buying a glass. It's usually a $5-7 "investment", a glass of beer is. Nothing to get all upset about if what you order isn't the best thing that you've ever tasted. Can't imagine what you'd do at the bottle shop, as they don't give out samples either.
     
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  40. EvenMoreJesus

    EvenMoreJesus Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2017 Pennsylvania

    They have.
     
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