Pittsburgh - New Beers & Local Breweries

With the weird rules, disinterested service, and mediocre food, I've always likened drinking at Al's to eating lunch in a middle school cafeteria.

 

Don't forget racism, homophobia, and boners.

 

Well with middle school, it is more likely "the concealing of said boner in ones waistband"

 

I went to a Catholic middle school, we weren't allowed to get boners.

 

FYI Moonstomp bottles are supposed to be released on 8/1. I guess they are doing another Collab with Pizza Boy, as well

 

There are so many wrong things that could be said here.

 

It hides it, and it feels awesome.

 

RE: Pizza Boy, what about bottles to go? We're going to be headed out that way before long but my main goal in stopping there was to pick up a couple of sours to bring home. Anything I need to know?

 

Make sure and go around the time of release. After awhile they have them for in house consumption only. I know they are releasing Funky Apple Sauce and Mango Sour early next week.

 

There were two bombers for sale, a wild ale and a sour, both priced around thirty bucks (I think), but I know some of their bombers are for on-sight consumption only--didn't ask about either of them this weekend because of the price.

For the rest--you can stock up on crowlers. Grabbed an Eternal Sunshine, Red Saison, Smurfs Blood and Crucial BBQ for the road, once my bullshit meter topped out and I had to leave. Realize this doesn't lend itself to cellaring, but I've been slamming a lot of IPAs recently and was looking forward to sour/funky, so I'll drink them rather quickly.

 

Moon Stomp bottles and Big Hop cans are available at Pizza Boy today. I've had Big Hop on draft but am curious what a good price would be for the Moon Stomp to those that've had it.

 

Do you think you will go back?

 

I should have clarified that East End is supposed to have Moonstomp bottles on 8/1

I'd pay in the $13 range for a bottle of Moonstomp.

 

Thanks!

 

Historically, as the poignancy of my frustration subsides, I make excuses and end up returning. But, after the most recent shenanigans I won't make the same effort to seek it out, and I won't return with a group unless I'm one of a bunch of hostages and one of them has a gun to my head.

Occasionally, business takes me out that way, but I will start detouring to Troegs or Federal Taphouse going forward. I like Troegs, but they distribute so widely, that it's really only an adventure if there's an interesting scratch on. Federal usually has a bunch of stuff on, though it's not really on the way and their price points are higher.

But at least I won't hate myself afterwards.

EDIT: If you've never been, it's worth the trip, as it seems that customer appreciation does vary. Maybe those guys just hate my face and you'll have a blast.

 

I wonder if the people who work there feel the wrath of upset customers more than the usual service establishment (less tips, treated rudely, getting yelled at, etc.) due to their rigid rules. I feel like people who post here are pretty civilized. I could only imagine the shit that they get from other people.

 

You also can't tip on your card, which I'm sure sucks as a 'tender.

Though I've only encountered one or two tenders there who have any desire to explain a beer to you (whether it's lack of knowledge or a shitty disposition, I couldn't tell), my experiences as a customer have suggested that their experience as an employee has the effect of turning them either toward empathy or vengeance. The latter seems more popular.

 

I'm not a big sit-and-drinker, so customer service sometimes doesn't get as much a blip on my radar. When I go to Al's my primary interest will probably be to just pick up a couple of bottles, maybe a crowler and jet.

I've heard more and more that the food sucks though, so I guess we should plan to lunch elsewhere?

 

Voodoo (Homestead) will soon have a dedicated food truck: https://www.facebook.com/FoodooHomestead

 

I think I remember reading a while back in the previous thread that they don't take tips there or something. And I'm just going to conclude that you had a very unpleasant experience with your last visit, haha.