Brew Pubs & Breweries in Pittsburgh

On the Pubnetwork™ 

This site originated at pubnetwork.com

and the barstool of Ed Vidunas

Posted June 2003

Here are the brewpubs and breweries of a world-class beer-drinking city listed by opening date. They are simple WORD documents with no pop-ups. Please see my notes at the end of this document.

© Denotes pubs serving cask (or cask-style) ale on hand pump.

 Pittsburgh Brewing Co. Brewery, establish in 1953

Liberty Ave at Herron Ave Bridge

            The only regional brewery still operating in Pittsburgh

Company Store (Gift Shop)

Liberty Ave at Sasafrass Street

            Store hours as of March 29, 2003: Open every day but Sunday at 10 am., closed at 4 pm weekdays and 1 pm on Saturday.

 Penn Brewery Pennsylvania Brewing Co. (Est. 1986) Brewpub (Est. 1989)

First Brew Pub in Pittsburgh, first in Pa.

No © but gravity at times

Troy Hill Road & Vinial St

Pittsburgh (North Side), Pa. 15212

Phone: (412) 237-9402 for the bar.  Fax: (412) 237-9406

Homepage:  www.pennbrew.com

            Opened September12, 1989 by Tom & Mary Beth Patorius

Since Prohibition this is the FIRST brewpub in Pennsylvania as well as in Pittsburgh. We old timers remember the Penn by its original name, Allegheny Brewery & Pub.

 The Strip Brewery © (CLOSED)

Second Brew Pub in Pittsburgh, second one to close

2106 Penn Ave between 21^st & 22^nd Streets

Pittsburgh (The Strip), Pa. 15222

Brewer, Bill Ehlert

Opened in June 1996 Closed

 Church Brew Works Brewpub ©

Third Brew Pub in Pittsburgh, first in Pa. to obtain a Liquor License

3525 Liberty Ave at 36^th St

Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville) Pa. 15201

Phone: (412) 688-8200

Homepage:  www.churchbrew.com

Opened August 1, 1996 by Sean Casey, Brewer, Bryan Pearson

Located in the former St. John’s Roman Catholic Church they kept it intact and the pub is breath-taking. So is the beer and food.

 Three Rivers Brewing Co. © (CLOSED) (Brewpub)

Fourth Brew Pub in Pittsburgh, first one to close

2837 Smallman St at 28^th Street

Pittsburgh (The Strip), Pa.

Open: December 1996 Closed: July 1997 Mark Slater, Brewer, is now working for St. Peter’s in England www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk

 Valhalla (Brewpub) (Closed)

Fifth Brew Pub in Pittsburgh

1150 Smallman St at the corner of 12^th Street

Pittsburgh (The Strip), Pa. 15219

Phone: (412)

Opened 1997

Brewer Sean McIntyre

 John Harvard's Brew House © and gravity

Sixth Brew Pub in Pittsburgh

3466 William Penn Highway (US Business Rt. 22) Shops at Penn Center

Pittsburgh, Pa. 15235

1-412-824-9440 Phone.  1-412- 824-7668 Fax.

National Web Page www.johnharvards.com

Opened Tuesday, August 26, 1997

Brewer, Andrew Maxwell

 Foundry Ale Works © at one time (Sweetwater Brewing Co) (Closed)

Seventh Brew Pub in Pittsburgh, third one to close

2816 Smallman St between 27^th and 28^th Street

Pittsburgh (The Strip), Pa. 15222

Last brewer Arron Madden, Former brewers Johnathan Zangwill then Mike Escourt

Opened in November 1997, Closed as of early 2003

Red Star Brewery

Eighth Brew Pub in Pittsburgh (Metro)

101 Ehalt Street at Harrison: at the AMTRACK station.

Take the Pittsburgh Street exit from Route 30 eastbound

Greensburg, Pa 15601

Phone 724-850-7245, FAX 724-850-7247

Brewer, Jeff Guidos since May 2001, first brewer was Mike Escourt

Rock Bottom ©

Ninth Brew Pub in Pittsburgh

171 E Bridge Street

Homestead (The Waterfront), Pa. 15120

Phone 412-462-2739, Fax 412-462-4514

Homepage: www.rockbottom.com

Opened in April 2002

Matthew Carroll Brewer

Additional Notes

Brewpubs seem to call there brewers by several names. I think the most accepted names in the industry are brewer and assistant brewer. One uses Head Brewer and Brewer and the name Master Brewer is also used out there. I call them essential to life.

 Of all the brewpubs that have opened, only two have closed. Three Rivers and the Strip Brewery closed due to financial problems and not due to the beer or food.

 In 1989 the Penn Brewery opened as the Allegheny Brewery & Pub. It changed its name and is still operated by Tom and Mary Beth. The Penn is the first brewpub to open in the City of Pittsburgh but also the first to open in Pennsylvania. Tom’s hard work paved the way for a change in the laws that prohibited brewpubs from operating. Thanks Tom.

 All brewpubs can carry other brands of beer and those of other brewpubs if they wish. They also may serve wines and spirits. The Church Brew Works was the first brewpub in Pennsylvania to obtain a license to serve wines and spirits. Thanks Sean.

© 2003 Edward P. Vidunas, All Rights Reserved

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