Closed Breweries in Pittsburgh

On the Pubnetwork™

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and the barstool of Ed Vidunas

January 1, 2012

The list below (briefly) illustrates the brewpubs that have opened in the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County since the end of prohibition in 1933. With the repeal of prohibition breweries were once again allowed to quench the thirst of the public. But they could be only breweries as brewing at home or in bars were still illegal. Home brewing became legal in 1977 with the signature of President Jimmy Carter. Brewpubs would still be illegal until 1989, or maybe a year sooner, when a gentleman arrived back home from Germany. This information was taken from my notes when I talked to the brewers or owners of each place. The breweries are listed in the order in which they opened.

Prior t prohibition, there were a great many breweries in Pittsburgh. The ones listed here were brewing after prohibition but have since closed.

Duquesne Brewery (Regional Brewery)

Mary Street (City of Pittsburgh-South Side)

Things were going well at this pre-prohibition brewery until a labor strike and a mysterious fire caused their closure in 1977. As with most post-prohibition and after war breweries, they produced German style lager beer. Major brands were Silver Top and Duquesne Pilsner. The adverts would call customers to “Have a Duke”. Although known to be a South Side brewery, they had a brewery in Stowe Township as well. For more on the Duke, see this tavern trove.

Foundry Ale Works (Brew Pub)

2816 Smallman Street (City of Pittsburgh-Strip District)

Opened November 1997, closed

Original brewer Jonathan Zangwill was known throughout the region for brewing some of the most highly hopped beer ever to pass the lips of mankind. It is easy to dump tons of hops in a brew but that would make it undrinkable. Jonathan knew how to balance the hops with the malt to make beers we still talk about today.

Aran Madden came after Jonathan but he left for the Church in early January 1999. Aran then left Pittsburgh to become a brewer in Wisconsin and co-founder of Furthermore Beer.

Sadly missed as well is bartender Debbie.

Iron City Brewery (Regional Brewery)

Formerly Pittsburgh Brewing Company

Liberty Avenue (City-Law)

This is the last brewery of the post-prohibition era still operating in town. At one time they were one of the top 5 breweries in the country but were beset by issues late in life. After some re-organizing they continue to live as the Iron City Brewery.

They gained an influx of money when they were contracted to make Sam Adams. But they lost most of the many other brands that they produced. When the Sam Adams account moved on they fell into hard times.

John Harvard’s (Brew Pub)

Penn Center Shops (Allegheny County-Wilkins Township)

Opened August 19, 1997, closed September 2008

The original head brewer was Pete Seaman until April 1999 when he left for the Two Stars Brewery in Atlanta. Sean McIntyre was Pete’s assistant until he left for Valhalla in the Strip. Bill Bryson took the lead until his departure in 2001. Bill came from John Harvard’s – Cleveland where he was the number 2 brewer. Andrew Maxwell became head brewer but left in 2006 to open Rivertowne in Monroeville. My beer stained notes have Erik Gruetzmacher as an assistant and I have Brad Bernas listed as a brewer but that’s all I have.

Strip Brewery (Brew Pub)

2106 Smallman Street (City-Strip District)

Opened 1997, closed

Original brewer Bill Ehlert came down from Buffalo Brewing. It was said that he moved south after the brewery closed. Bill did traditional ales served in wood casks and without pressure or pumping. Bill had an assistant, but heaven help me, as I can’t remember his name. The Strip Brewery made good beer on tap and cask. One thing that set them apart (until John Harvard’s) was the interesting cask ale on the back bar. This beer was served at room temperature and via gravity. Those were the days.

Three Rivers Brewing (Brew Pub)

2837 Smallman Street (City of Pittsburgh-Strip District)

This may be a bit murky, but my hop infused brain remembers Mark Slater getting a call while he was in bed in England. He had replied to an ad for a brewer’s position in Pittsburgh. He accepted and in no time flat we had a third brewery. Mark’s beers started to be poured in December of 1996. Sadly this venture did not last and the brewery was closed on July 31, 1997.

When the brewery closed he and family (wife Judy) moved to New York State. They soon moved back to the UK. Upon his return he began brewing for St. Peter’s Brewery in Bungay. Did I say that Mark was an Englishman? That should be all that needs to be said. As I have been drinking in the UK for some 30 years I can say his were spot on.

During the 1990’s there was much concern about the growing number of clubs and restaurants coming to residential neighborhoods. The Church was doing well nearby and so was the Three Rivers. The Strip District was attractive because few people lived there ho would complain and parking was free. This would spawn three more brewpubs.

Valhalla (Brew Pub)

Smallman Street (City-Strip District-Convention Center area)

Opened 1997, closed 2003

Original brewer Dave Strock was a short-timer and was quickly followed by Patrick O’Neal (1997 – 1998) and finally Sean McIntyre on August 18, 1998. Patrick came up from the parent brewery in Louisiana and Seam came from John Harvard’s, Pittsburgh where he was assistant brewer to Bill Bryson. When Valhalla closed, Seam moved to the original brewer spot at North County Brewing in Butler Co. English ales were featured here but their signature beer was the Pils.

Christopher Passodelis was the original owner but sold the brewpub in 2003. In September of that year they ceased brewing operations.