Pittsburgh Breweries - Fall Edition

Ok one last question...are there any good IPAs in distro?

 

Fat heads

 

That'll work! Thanks!

 

I did another mini-brewery tour around Pittsburgh this past weekend. Thought I would post my thoughts, because I’m sure everyone is dying to know! Sorry for the novel. It’s a boring Monday here in the office. Ha!

Day starts at Helicon Brewing. Kind of in the middle of nowhere it seems but very nice open building. When I walked in they were finishing up yoga. The instructor was an absolute smokeshow so I was pretty excited for the beer. Unfortunately it was short lived. I had the Festbier, American Pale Ale, English India Pale Ale, and Oatmeal Stout. None were very exciting to me. Stout was the best of the four and the English was undrinkable. It literally tasted like we dirt. I saw a lot of people drinking the Raspberry Wheat so I’m assuming that’s the go to. Just wasn’t going to spend more cash to take the chance.

On to Insurrection Aleworks! I have been wanting to hit this place for awhile now. For me, it was the best place I went all day. Loved the atmosphere, loved the beer, loved the music. I drank Vic Affect (IPA), Split Open & Melt (DIPA), and Sugar Shack (Stout). The DIPA was smooth and very drinkable. They were all delicious but Sugar Shack was amazing. If you are over that way do yourself a favor and get it. I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed.

Grist House. Very crowded, but really liked the place. Friendly people, dogs, good beer. Had a fire pit and taco truck outside. Had a Hazedelic Juice Grenade, Black Rye IPA, Girty’s Orchard (farmhouse ale), and Flood Line. Juice Grenade and Flood Line were definitely my favorite.

Next was Dancing Gnome. I wanted to give them a second chance because the first time I went I just didn’t enjoy the experience. I had Better One or Two, Inner Earth, Inter-Terrestrial, and Caligo. I don’t know what it is about this place I just can’t get into it. I know people love it and stand in line for their beer, which really surprises me. I did like Inner Earth and Caligo. I really think maybe it’s the bartenders and the crowd. Or maybe I’m just an asshole (most likely explanation).

On to Hitchhiker Brew Plant. All the things I dislike about DG? The exact opposite here. I just really really like this place. They also happened to have the best beer I drank the entire day…Whole Punch: Guava. A juicy IPA. Blew everything else I had the entire day right out of the water. Drank one and immediately purchased a Crowler of it. I also drank Nowhere Everywhere, Off Limits, Cultured Creature, and Deconstructed Arithmetic. Sours aren’t really my thing but the ladies were enjoying them so I did as well. They were ok for me which is saying something. Everything else was delicious.

On this thread’s recommendation we all tried to go and eat at Gaucho’s. It was a monsoon out at this time so I figured it would be doable. Wrong. Line around the corner. Off to FatHeads. Drank a Pizza Boy Keystoner, Anderson Valley Winter Solstice, and Butler Brew Works Jungle Bines…which I thought was exceptional. Then I ate a sandwich as big as my head. Drank a liter of water. And went to bed.

Pretty successful trip. In my opinion only I rank the day as:

1. Hitchhiker

1a. Insurrection

2. Grist

3. Dancing Gnome

4. Helicon

I also want to say, the best “beer bar” in Pittsburgh. Whole Foods. Not kidding. I’ve been thinking this for a while now and yesterday morning while leaving for home I swung through. Where else do I go to get Pizza Boy and Prairie Artisan Bombs on tap?? Drank a pint of LegenDairy IPA - OJ. If you haven’t had it, stop what you are doing right now. Walk out of your job and go there and drink one. It’s worth it.

 

Was this tour something you paid for or just organized with friends? Sounds awesome

 

What type of store do I need to look for to pick up a 6 pack? Grocery store? State run store? Beer store? Here in FL you can get beer at gas stations, grocery stores, liquor stores, beer stores...Ive been told it might be different up there.

 

It's just a tour I do with some and friends. Did the same a month or so ago. I've hit about 15 or 16 breweries in the Pittsburgh area.

 

PA use to be weird with all that. Now just go to your local friendly Giant Eagle/Whole Foods/Beer store and get whatever you like.

 

Solid day for sure. Haven't fallen in love with a Hitchhiker beer yet, but haven't tried enough either, including the whole punch guava, which I've heard is fantastic. They're pumping out cans now too. Interesting thoughts on DG (different strokes for different folks), I do wish they'd expand their offerings a bit, but there's something to be said about doing one thing well too. BG is starting to expand away from IPA's and into lagers, etc.

Helicon is definitely a "work in progress" - their regular american IPA is pretty good, but the rest of their stuff is pretty meh to me as well. Pretty cool spot along the Montour bike trail. I never rule out a place as quality always improves, and I'll head back there in due time, no doubt.

Not surprised you loved Insurrection. That place is really up and coming, their head brewer really knows his stuff, and they're expanding big time. Just saw they are releasing bottles of their RIS and stated a lot more to come in 2018.

 

^^^ Agreed. I just figured he's grabbing some local stuff which isn't to hard to come by. If you are flying in from FL then def hit the Giant Eagle Market District in Robinson. It's a good one. You will drive past it to and from the Airport. Other than that hunt down a Whole Foods. Give yourself some time though and just sit at the bar in there and enjoy a few. Ha!

 

Helicon is def one of those places I'll revisit in a year or so. I did like the area and they seemed to have a pretty big amount of people showing up. They are even open on Thanksgiving, which I though was odd.
I wanted to try some food at Insurrection as well. It looked pretty amazing. Plus they played that 90's grunge music the entire time. Which made me love it even more. Lol. Will def be going back there.

That Punch Guava....just sitting at home in my fridge...calling to me. Soon........

 

I've heard their food is awesome, including specifically their wings and their cheese/charcuterie. Their pulled pork sliders were top notch, but that's the only thing I've tried so far. Need to get back there soon.

 

Sounds like you hit them on a bad day, smokeshow aside. They're REALLY nice guys who usually brew very solid beers. It's just . . . umm . . . Oakdale.

Glad you enjoyed it. Love their spot and their beers are awesome. Brad (their head brewer) is a really nice fella, as well, if you ever get the chance to talk beer with him.

I'd agree that the Market District in Robinson has a pretty damn good selection, but "best beer bar"? Not by a long shot.

Any chance that you've visited Industry? They have two locations, but the one in Robinson is probably closer to you than the one in Lawrenceville. Although it's out of the way, Mindful Brewing in the South Hills is a kick-ass place as well.

BTW, Pizza Boy and Prairie all all over Pittsburgh thanks to Steel City Beer Wholesalers. Fucking fantastic outfit.

 

He might be the most experienced, but he's definitely the most well-traveled.

His beers are solid, but I wouldn't go out of my way for any of them.

 

I went to Whole Foods in South Hills not Market District in Robinson. They had 24 on tap and 20 that I don't think I've tried. That's why I was giving them a "best beer bar" for me. Just makes me not drive all over the city. And I can buy over priced organics!!

I have been to Industry. Really enjoyed it and also has a killer tap list.

This is what I need to know. Where is the best place for Pizza Boy? Seen it on tap a couple places. I see Prairie everywhere. But not Pizza Boy in cans. I love their beer.

 

Whoops. Sorry about that. Reading comprehension obviously isn't my thing this morning.

Cool.

I know that I've seen Pizza Boy cans at House of 1000 Beers and Mindful Brewing. Maybe at Beermuda, as well, but I'm not 100% on that one. Maybe Caliente, as well.

 

I'm going to be in Pittsburgh for the first time for Thanksgiving... are there any awesome beer releases or events going on Black Friday that I should know about?

 

Insurrection is releasing a 2 year anniversary maple bourbon occtahne (RIS) bottles at 11am (tapping a sixtel at 5pm), which I'm thinking about getting. DG is releasing cans of Galaxy Jam at 2pm. BG is releasing 4 different beers on Wednesday (including a prototype that won't last more than an hour). The other 3 are Bango, Deep Dinner, and a table beer, all of which are already on their website - they'll still be there on Friday I would imagine.

 

I haven't been to House of 1000 Beers in awhile. Was going to go Saturday to that Prairie thing they had going on but just got busy with all the breweries. Love Caliente. I actually drank a bottle of Damnation by Russian River there about 3 years ago. I keep going back in hopes I'll happen across another. I didn't know about Beermuda! I will def have to check em out next time I'm that way.

 

I always stop by and get the dry rub "seasoned" wings to-go. They are that good.

 

They had Bomb, Christmas Bomb, Birthday Bomb, Bomb with Cocoa Nibs, Vanilla Bomb and Chile Bomb.

 

Caliente Bloomfield location is having their Black Friday event starting @ 8am on Friday. A lot of heavy hitters.

Shadyside Giant Eagle is having their BCBS release 10am on Friday also.

 

Tomorrow we release 'Myrcene' DIPA cans at Hitchhiker. Hopped with Vic Secret, Citra, and Motueka. Both locations will have them.

 

Heading to Pittsburgh next weekend (Sat.-Tues.). Haven't noticed a lot of breweries open on Mondays. Any Suggestion? Thanks.

 

The only ones I know of are Voodoo in Homestead and Southern Tier in the north shore, across the river from downtown.

Edit - I think Penn Brewery is open every day as well (Troy Hill).

 

Hi all! Visiting Pittsburgh this week from NYC and really want to get as much local beer in as possible. We went to a couple bars in Lawrenceville last night when we got in, but really struck out in finding local pours.

Our main beer goals on this trip are to get some local cans and bottles to bring back with us and to try as many local beers on tap as possible while we are here.

We plan on visiting DG, Hitchhiker, and Grist tomorrow. What time do you think we’d have to arrive at DG to guarantee cans? Some of the NY releases require lining up 4-5 hours in advance. We were thinking around 1 hour in advance here might be fine since it’s a Wednesday?

We are also looking to hit up BG and Voodoo on Friday with a possible stop at Roundabout on Thursday as well.

Any other suggestions for non-breweries selling local cans or pouring local beers that we should try to visit? Thanks so much. This is my first time here and I am really enjoying it so far.

 

Obviously you could go to the breweries that you mentioned, but Piper's Pub (on East Carson St. in the Southside) has a LOT of local beers on tap. They also have food and footie, if you're into those things.

Glad you are enjoying our fair city!

 

Thanks! We do have a car and are staying in Lawrenceville. We struck gold at Smallman Galley just now with a lot of locals on tap. We will be hitting all of the breweries I listed, so I was just looking for some filler in between.

Thanks again!

 

Draai Laag currently has a lot of bottle options if you like sours/wild ales.
East End always have a good selection of their beers. Cans and bottles.

 

If you're looking for local cans right now at Hitchhiker we have an IPA, DIPA, and Gose in 16oz cans.

 

I'd def suggest just reading the 3 pages in this thread. Probably will answer everything for you.
Go get some Crowlers at Hitchhiker. Then go to Brew Gentleman.

 

This makes no sense considering Voodoo and Brew Gentlemen are like 4 miles apart.

EDIT: 2.7 miles according to Google Maps.

 

Fair point, I suppose, though I wouldn't read too much into a comment that was made tongue in cheek. Both are in areas that I don't have much cause to go to, but I was familiar with Brew Gentlemen prior to moving, so I guess that is why I made them more of a priority. I'd love to hit them both in one trip, but the walk between them looks a bit iffy.