The Official Guide
#PCBW | 2016
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Table of Contents
4. President’s Letter 7. PCBW History 8. Bob Batz Jr. - PCBW2016 10. Meet the Board Members 12. 2016 Collaboration beers 15. Making the Most of Your Mix-Pack Six-Pack 16. Pittsburgh Craft Beers: Drink Local 19. Lawrenceville: Crafting a Beer Scene for All to Enjoy 20. Overview of Events 21. PCBW Events 33. Sponsor Story: Craft Beer 101 34. Sponsor Story: Wilson McGinley 36. Sponsor Story: Pig Iron Public House 39. Sponsor Story: Caliente Pizza & Draft House 40. Craft Beer Trends to Watch in 2016 42. Penn Brewery: A Brewery 30 Years in the Making 44. PCBW Sponsors Associate Editor Frank Cunniff
Contributors
Brian Meyer, Jason Cercone, Brian Conway, Rebecca Johnson, Evan Wagner Jeff Zoet, Brian Meyer, Rebecca Johnson, Mike Weiss
#PCBW All information and materials in this magazine, individually and collectively, are provided for informational purposes. The contents of this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The Pittsburgh Craft Beer Alliance, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without expressed written permission from the publisher. Advertisements are subject to the approval of The Pittsburgh Craft Beer Alliance. The Pittsburgh Craft Beer Alliance reserves the right to reject or omit any advertisement at any time for any reason. Advertiser assume responsibility and complete liability for all content in their ads.
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
Photographers
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President’s Letter
W
hen the first Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week began in 2011 there were fewer than ten breweries in the area. As we embark on the 5th annual PCBW we have over 30 with the potential to be over 40 by year’s end. Existing breweries are either expanding production or moving into new locations altogether. Taps at our neighborhood bars and restaurants are filling up with new breweries both local and national. Our wholesalers and bottle shops are boasting more diverse portfolios than ever. 2016 is a banner year for the area but our future is even brighter. There is no better time for us to usher in our 5th annual PCBW. Our community’s continual thirst to expand their horizons makes this possible. In 2010 Craft Beer Week was just an idea discussed on social media between industry insiders and beer fans alike. Because of your hard work in supporting this we stand together in pushing Pittsburgh closer and closer to the national spotlight. What we have done together is nothing short of extraordinary and the thought of what 2017 can bring is tantalizing. You are directly responsible for changing our area through beer, which is remarkable. Whether it is the millions of dollars you help bring in during PCBW or the jobs you help create hoisting a pint any other time, cheers to you. Together we our changing our area directly by drinking beer and that’s pretty freaking awesome.
Andy Kwiatkowski #PCBW | 2016
Andy Kwiatkowski President of the Pittsburgh Craft Beer Alliance Head Brewer at Hitchhiker Brewing Company
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#PCBW | 2016
PCBW History
Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week was founded with the idea that like other cities that have a thriving beer culture, Pittsburgh deserved to have a time of the year where we celebrate all things craft beer in and around the city. This is why a few friends sitting around a table at one of their houses decided, over a few beers, that Pittsburgh needed our own week too. Those founding fathers, so to speak, included Chris Dilla of Bocktown, Andrew Rich of Penn Brewery, Hart Johnson of Piper’s Pub, Chris Momberger and Lee Schmidt of The Stewards of Beer. Together they knew the beer industry from all angles and they, along with help from others, fermented out an idea that today we call Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week. Part of this celebration is education, which is why the Pittsburgh Craft Beer Alliance operates under an educational non-profit status. By working with local brewers and venues, it is our goal to educate as many people in and around Pittsburgh about the amazing beer culture right in our own backyard. From the art that is craft brewing, to the time, effort, and aesthetics that goes into the design of local venues, Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week may be all about the beer, but at its core, PCBW is about local support and education. Looking back to 2012, the beer scene in Pittsburgh was truly starting to boom. With breweries like East
End Brewing and Penn Brewery in full swing as well as many others, the city quickly started attracting new breweries and businesses to our area. It was the goal of the original organizers of Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week to highlight these businesses and people, thereby educating the rest of us on how great it really is to love craft beer in Pittsburgh. Thanks to you and your support of craft beer, PCBW has grown each year, making this the biggest craft beer week in Pittsburgh yet. With more than 300 events throughout the city, we’re thankful for those who got PCBW started, and for everyone keeping it going - Brian Meyer
PghCraftBeers.com
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
2016 marks the fifth year for Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week, and is turning out to be the largest one yet. This seems like a great time to look back and reflect on where we came from and what’s in store.
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Bob Batz Jr. PCBW 2016
They call this Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week, but one of the trends that most tickles me about the local craft beer scene is how many breweries are popping up outside of Pittsburgh proper. Enough new places opened in the region in the past year that most beer fans probably didn’t get to all of them yet. It’s only going to get wonderfully harder to get to them all later this year. I recently heard about Yellow Bridge Brewing Co. The name couldn’t be more Pittsburghy, but it turns out this 7-barrel brewery and taproom is to open in a former interior-design store on Route 66 just north of Route 22 in Delmont. Its owner/brewer is a Pittsburgher, 32-year-old Ian Staab, who, when he couldn’t find the right space on the North Side where he lives, decided to go out to the eastern suburbs where he and his brother, Trevor, grew up. He plans to open in July.
#PCBW | 2016
Also aiming to open east of the city by this summer is Fury Brewing on Route 30 in North Huntingdon.
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West of Pittsburgh, Helicon Brewing is set to open this spring in Oakdale. Chris Brunetti is working with fellow renowned homebrewer Andy Weigel on this 15-barrel brewhouse with a tap room in what used to be the Joy dog food factory. Swinging towards the south, E.J. Kleckner is working to open Rusty Gold Brewing in a former bar in Canonsburg in time for its big Fourth of July
celebration. In Bridgeville, the landmark Tambellini’s Restaurant that closed in December is being transformed by the driving force behind several area beer distributorships into a craft bar and eventually brewpub called The Railyard. North of the city, several breweries are set to open this year, including Butler Brew Works, which would join the new Reclamation Brewing on Main Street in the Butler County seat. Not far away, Cellar Works Brewing is set to open in Sarver. Northeast in Indiana, PA, Noble Stein Brewing plans to open this summer, near the recently opened Levity Brewing Co. Closer to the city limits in Sharpsburg, Andrew Witchey plans to open the 10-barrel Dancing Gnome Beer brewery and taproom in a storefront at 925 Main Street this summer. In Emsworth, gluten-free Aurochs Brewing is reopening this spring, having expanded in every way, including into 22-ounce bottles. Several new breweries are slated for the city too, including Eleventh Hour Brewing Co., coming together for a fall opening at 3701 Charlotte Street in Lower Lawrenceville. The North Side is booming with breweries, all of which have presented tastings long before their
openings. On Foreland Street in Deutschtown, three partners — Al Grasso and North Side natives Matt Yurkovich and his sister Amy Yurkovich — are working on Allegheny City Brewery, which they plan to open this spring. Along with Allegheny City, War Streets Brewery is coming together in an 1877 fire station on nearby Arch Street. Once they finish transforming it into a brewpub, Jake Bier and collaborator Zach Ingoldsby will serve brews named for neighborhood streets — such as Monterey IPA. On Spring Hill, Greg Kamerdze plans a fall opening for Spring Hill Brewing, located in a former social hall he’s sharing with an entrepreneur who’s opening an urban agriculture business on the grounds. Kamerdze, who lives in Bloomfield, plans to use honey, hops and fruit raised on the property in his farmhouse-style brews that he’ll serve in a tap room in an old brick house. Couch Brewery also aims to open in the city this spring or summer — on Fifth Avenue in Larimer.
At the far end of that boulevard where it intersects with Route 88, yet another brewpub and restaurant is to open this year: Mindful Brewing Co. I live in that “suburban” neighborhood. Just a few years ago, I never would have believed that I’d be able to walk to two brewpubs. Whether or not organizers change the name, next year it’s definitely going to be an even Greater Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week. -B ob Batz Jr.
Bob writes about beer, among other things, for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: bbatz@post-gazette.com
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
At least one suburban brewery plans to expand in the city. This winter, Mt. Lebanon’s Hitchhiker Brewing Co. announced that it plan to open a satellite 15-barrel brewhouse and a taproom on Muriel Street on the South Side.
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Meet the Board Members Andy Kwiatkowski
President
Head Brewer, Hitchhiker Brewing Andy Kwiatkowski is the Head Brewer at Hitchhiker Brewing Company in Mt. Lebanon and is serving his second term as President of the Pittsburgh Craft Beer Alliance. Andy’s Father is a homebrewer which led him into craft beer and ultimately homebrewing in January 2010. Since then the hobby quickly led to an obsession and ultimately his career as a brewer. Andy is highly involved with the beer community, previously he was Vice President of TRASH (Three Rivers Alliance of Serious Homebrewers) and is currently a Certified Beer Judge and the Brewer Liaison for the Steel City Big Pour. His favorite beer right now is anything local although it may be cliche. Andy is a firm believer that Western Pennsylvania beer is on the cusp of getting more national acclaim. When Andy isn’t geeking out over fermentation science or grain bills he can be found playing fetch or cuddling with his Boston Terriers.
David Cerminara
Vice President
Owner, Apis Mead & Winery David Cerminara is currently representing the brewers of Pittsburgh for Craft Beer Week. A beer brewer with a passion for mead, David opened Apis Mead & Winery in Carnegie in July 2014. Working for Penn Brewery for over four years, he brought numerous connections with this city’s brewers and the craft beer community to help organize the PCBW collaboration beers. His favorite beers change season to season, but one constant is that it is always one of this city’s great local libations. One thing you might not know about David is he likes turtles. No, honestly, he really likes turtles.
#PCBW | 2016
Brian Meyer
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Treasurer
Craft Beer Columnist & Evangelist Brian is currently serving his fourth term as the treasurer for the Pittsburgh Craft Beer Alliance, and is also working on his third Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week. A technology nut in the online education field by trade, his passion is promoting craft beer, specifically craft beer and brewing in and around Pittsburgh. Brian writes about craft beer for the Great Lakes Brewing
News, Nightwire Magazine, and CraftPittsburgh Magazine. He also shares beer knowledge on the site CraftBeerAcademy.com and local Pittsburgh Beer love at PghCraftBeers.com. Currently his favorite beer is Brett Hop from East End Brewing. Something you may not know about Brian is that he’s firewalked across red hot coals, and there wasn’t even a cold beer waiting on the other side.
Brent Stanko Secretary
Straub Brewery Regional Sales Manager This is Brent’s first year on the PCBW board. Brent comes from a military background, currently serving in the Air Force as a C-130 Loadmaster at Pittsburgh’s 911th Airlift Wing. After Brent traveled the world enjoying local brews, he fell in love with craft beer. He entered into the beer industry several years ago as a passionate craft beer enthusiast with roots both in Beaver and Allegheny counties. You can find Brent passionately spreading the good word of Straub Brewery.
Nick Bogacz Retail Representative Owner, Caliente Pizza & Draft House
Nick is currently serving his third term as the Retail Representative for the Pittsburgh Craft Beer Alliance, and is also working on his second Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week. Nick is the owner of Caliente Pizza & Draft House in Bloomfield and Allison Park. He took ownership of Caliente in Bloomfield in 2012 and opened the second location in 2014. Nick has been in the pizza business for 19 years, falling in love with it at a young age. He always dreamed of his own pizza shop, and when the chance came he ran with it. Realizing that craft brewers use the best ingredients and original recipes Nick also fell in love with the craft beer industry. He is committed to growing the beer scene in Pittsburgh by giving his customers what they want at any lengths necessary. His favorite beers are the collaboration beers he and his team have brewed. Nick loves taking his family on family vacations, and you can bet there is pizza and beer involved on the vacations!
Owner, Beer Express
Ryan is serving his third year on the Pittsburgh Craft Beer Alliance Board, as the Beer Distributor representative. Ryan has owned Beer Express in Robinson since 2008, but was interested in craft beer long before getting into the beer business. Aside from beer, Ryan is also interested in spending time with his family, home brewing (OK that’s also beer related), boating, and has begun to find enjoyment in good whiskey. As a self-proclaimed “Hop Head” Ryan enjoys almost any IPA, but can be found drinking a nice stout or porter in the winter months.
Jim Mooney Wholesale Representative Specialty Sales Manager, Wilson-McGinley, Inc.
Jim is currently serving his second term on the Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week Board. For the past eight years, Jim has been the Specialty Division Sales Manager at Wilson-McGinley, Inc., but he has been selling and promoting beer throughout the greater Pittsburgh area for over 15 years. Jim became a certified Cicerone in October 2014 and his favorite beer is a hoppy beer.
Dana Staudt Homebrewing Representative Homebrewer
This is Dana’s second year on the board as the homebrew representative. She’s a member of Three Rivers Underground Brewers (TRUB), The Pink Boots Society, and a Certified Beer Judge. Dana enjoys all things beer, but more than anything being a part of this amazing Pittsburgh beer community! You can occasionally taste her beer at local beer fests, but you’ll always find her at TRUB’s event, Brewing Up a Cure, held every October. Dana also likes cats.
Todd McDevitt
Board Member
Owner, New Dimension Comics With 29 years in the business under his belt, Todd has five comic book stores surrounding the Pittsburgh region. Years ago, he discovered that meeting friends over a beer was much more fulfilling if it was a craft beer. He embraced that path and sought out new brews, venues, breweries, and festivals, discovering a deeper craving for craft beer. His passion is obvious when you get him talking on the subject. His dedication to craft beer caught the attention of PCBW board members and he was asked to join this year. His favorite “go to” beer is Fatheads Head Hunter, but he often quests for forbidden fruits such as Zombie Dust, Black Note, Cascade sours, & other brews from out of our region. His favorite beer of all time is Good Morning, Mekong from Cigar City and should they brew it again, he will not hesitate to fly to Tampa to enjoy it.
Rob Soltis Board Member
Owner, CraftPittsburgh Magazine After a long night of drinking last summer, Rob woke up and found himself on the Pittsburgh Craft Beer Alliance board. It was a pleasant surprise and welcomed change from the normal feelings of shame and regret. Rob is the owner/publisher of CraftPittsburgh, a print magazine dedicated to the craft beer culture of Southwest Pennsylvania. He feels lucky to have a career that allows him to meet fellow beer lovers, business owners, brewers, artists, and craftsmen. When Rob isn’t convincing the world print’s not dead, he enjoys obscure documentaries, illegal fireworks, horology, camping in ridiculously remote areas, and spending time with his wife and daughter. His favorite beers are all local and he was once chased by a group of angry carnival workers, narrowly escaping with his life.
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
Ryan Federbusch Distributor Representative
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Collaboration Beers PROSPERO
WHITE STOUT - 7.5% - Rock Bottom Brewery - CoStar Brewing - Hitchhiker Brewing Co. - 11th Hour Brewing
MASH PADDLE VS. HIPSTER
INDIA RED LAGER - 6.5% - Penn Brewery - Allegheny City Brewing Co - Spring Hill Brewing - War Streets Brewing
GREENFIELD BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN #PCBW | 2016
IPA - 6%
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- Helltown Brewing - Dancing Gnome Brewery - Helicon Brewing - Spoonwood Brewing Co.
PLUM PUCKERED FRUIT SAISON - 6% - Rivertowne Brewing - Bloom Brew - Hop Farm Brewing - Reclamation Brewing
PASSIONATE EMBRACE... (UNCOMFORTABLE SILENCE) HOPPY SAISON WITH PASSION FRUIT - 6% - Gristhouse Craft Brewery - East End Brewing - Roundabout Brewery
S’MORES INSPIRED IMPERIAL PORTER - 10% - Church Brew Works - ShuBrew - All Saints Brewing - Mindful Brewing Co
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
YOU’RE KILLING ME S’MORES
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VECENIE D
MPANY CO
TRIBUTING ISSINCE 1933
2015
VECENIE DISTRIBUTING CO.
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For All our Pittsburgh Craft Week Activities go to: www.beersince1933.com Follow & Like Us Too
Making the Most of your mix-pack six-pack
“I pretty much never get cases of beer anymore,” said Matt Gibb. A brewer at Rock Bottom Brewery, Gibb said there is too much variety right now to settle on just one single beer. One of the thing he likes most about mix-packs is buying six of the same style from six different brewers. “Sometimes you just want all dark beers,” he said. “The same goes for IPAs. I can now get six different bottles with all the same hops, but produced in completely different areas, and it changes the flavor, the mouthfeel, the consistency—everything. It’s one of the things I love about beer. You can brew the exact same beer at multiple different locations, and it will be different at every single location,” Gibb said. Matthew Wein, an editor-at-large at NEXTPittsburgh and former Eat/Drink columnist, says that what he looks for in a mix-pack is to “build something I can drink vertically, so that I’m not wrecking my palette.”
Stop in at your local distributor and it’s an embarrassment of riches. Pretty much any style of beer is available from any number of craft and local breweries. But there is just one caveat: you have to buy an entire case, or at least a 12 pack. That first imperial IPA may go down smooth, but what about the next 23? Fortunately, there’s the mix-pack six-pack. There are no restrictions on style or brewery; the only limit is your imagination. While you may not get the same price per beer as you might in a full case, mixed six-packs, when done right, can be the best way to try a variety without breaking the bank on a variety of cases.
It’s a strategy echoed by Travis Floyd, an employee at Carson Street Deli & Craft Beer Bar. “I usually will end up drinking most of it in one night, so I don’t want to end up with all stuff that’s all 11%,” he said. Otherwise, he said, he tends to look for what’s new and seasonal. Floyd’s colleague, Austin Vanasdale, said that he typically encounters two types of six-pack shoppers. The first knows what they’re looking for and they tend to select six of a certain style or whatever is new. The second will browse and peruse, and it will typically take them upwards of 15 minutes to complete their pack. Everyone agreed that it ultimately depends on your mood at the time of purchase. So relax, take your time, try something new, or seasonal, or perhaps an old favorite. If you pick a beer or style you don’t like, you’ve learned something for the future. That’s the beauty of the mix-pack: there are no wrong decisions. - Brian Conway
NEXTPittsburgh’s music editor
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
We live in a golden age of craft beer, especially here in Pittsburgh where it seems like a new brewery opens every month.
“If you go in and you get a Bear Republic Racer X, and a Green Flash, and this other dank stuff, two or three beers in everything is going to taste the same,” Wein said.
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Pittsburgh Craft Beers drink local
Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week is all about the beer, but below the surface there’s something more, something deeper. If you look behind the curtain of the local craft beer scene what you’ll see is quite a bit more than you’ll get on the typical brewery tour on any given weekend, and while it might not be a visceral as tasting beer from the tank, it’s just as important, if not more so. What you’ll find is some of the hardest working dreamers in the world. These fine folks that chose to become brewers aren’t some mythical creatures that survive off of Untappd stars and social media likes, they’re pretty normal people that chose to follow their dreams of working in an industry they love.
#PCBW | 2016
This love for an industry might be glimpsed on said brewery tours, but what you don’t see is the hours spent scrubbing out tanks and painstakingly sanitizing so the next batch of beer comes out as it should, and isn’t poured down the drain. It’s easy to imagine yourself being a brewer if you only see the finished product, but the huge amount of time and love these fine folks put into their craft behind the scenes is what makes craft beer in Pittsburgh so great.
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Most new breweries are run on what could be called a skeleton crew, with the majority of that crew also working full time jobs on top of their brewing so the bills can be paid. This means your favorite brewer may have put in 80-100 hours this week so you can have that amazing beer. If you look at enough breweries, you’re bound to find brewing taking place on weekends, nights, and just about any other time possible.
Craft beer is indeed crafted, and just like any other craft, it’s tough work. This is why “Drink Local” is more than just a motto, it’s a belief. Drinking local supports your local brewery, and more importantly, your local brewer. It’s almost like you’re adopting a brewer for a few bucks each day every time you buy one of his or her beers. Drink Local should be a way of life. Sure, there are amazing beers local to other parts of the world and you should drink those, too. Small, craft breweries face similar challenges no matter where in the country they are Sure, we’re partial to those breweries here in Pittsburgh, but craft beer gives us this feeling no matter where it’s from. Drink Local means to support the small, independent breweries out there and know where your beer came from. So, for this the 5th annual PCBW, take it from us and Drink Local. - Brian Meyer
PghCraftBeers.com
Wed 5 pm – 10 pm | Thurs: 5 pm – 10 pm | Fri: 5 pm – 10 pm Sat: 2 pm – 10 pm | Sun: 2 pm – 8 pm 10 Sherman Street | Pittsburgh, PA 15209 www.gristhouse.com
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
GRINDING OUT GREAT BEERS
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#PCBW | 2016
Lawrenceville
crafting a beer scene for all to enjoy
Today, this idea of blue collar dedication is maybe best seen in the burgeoning craft beer industry that calls Lawrenceville home. Resident breweries include Hop Farm Brewing Company, Full Pint Wild Side Pub, Roundabout Brewery, The Church Brew Works, and the soon to be Eleventh Hour Brewing. Each of these breweries are within a relatively short distance of one another and each one with its own distinctive style. Hop Farm is well known for its flagship Hop Farm IPA and One Nut Brown Ale, with much of their selection constantly changing. Considering they have some delicious food and a great staff, it’s a winning combination Head about two blocks into town and to find Full Pint Wild Side Pub. This small pub is easily overlooked,
but upon entering you’ll be greeted by an attentive staff and a wonderful lineup of beers. Full Pint’s year rounds, seasonals, and delicious one-off batches are all regularly available. They don’t have food yet, however they are in the process of combining the taproom with the space next door to open a full pub and expand seating. Walk a few blocks down to discover Roundabout Brewing. With an amazing beer list and savory pies from The Pub Chip Shop that are heavily inspired by New Zealand brewing and cooking, you’ll be sure to want to stay. Keep your eyes out for their collaboration with Grist House and East End, Passionate Embrace... (Uncomfortable Silence), a hoppy fruited saison. Although Eleventh Hour Brewing has yet to open their doors, they have been present at several beer festivals in the city and done a number of tasting events. They have an impressive lineup in the works and will be one to watch in the near future. The Church Brew Works is a brewery in a decommissioned church with awesome food. Four wonderful year-round German-inspired beers, fantastic seasonals, and truly one of the most unique bar atmospheres in the city continue to make this a craft beer-lover’s dream. For a change of pace from the brewery scene, stop in Butler Avenue’s Atlas Bottle Works. With over 750 bottles, a nice tap list, movie theater snacks, and the popular theater Row House Cinema attached, you can easily have a fun night. If the bigger bar scene is for you, Industry Public House can provide a wonderful food and cocktail menu with 40 taps from local breweries and some of the bigger name brands. If craft beer isn’t for you, or you just need a break, head to Arsenal Cider House and Wine Cellar. They offer a diverse selection of ciders and wines that have been making craft beer lovers take a closer look at craft cider. From breweries to bars to bottle shops, Lawrenceville’s glass already looks half full, and it’s still on the rise. - Evan Wagner
Writer for Sommbeer.com
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
There was a time when Lawrenceville was an industrialized, blue collar neighborhood, welcoming home the exhausted, determined mill workers from the coke ovens and open hearth furnaces.
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Overview of Events What would a craft beer week be without events? At the heart of Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week are the hundreds of events thrown by bars, breweries, and everything inbetween. While few of us need a good excuse to head out and enjoy a few great beers with friends, there’s something special about finding a unique beer that’s hardly ever on tap, a giveaway from your favorite brewery, or even education to go along with your beer! When it comes to Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week, it all about the events, and this year we have some of the best ones we’ve ever had. If you want to get your feet wet there are a few dozen beer samplings where you can taste a new beer or even get a sweet giveaway with your favorite brew. If you’re a diehard fan of a specific brewery, then you’ll love the more than 25 tap takeovers being held over the 10 days of PCBW 2016.
#PCBW | 2016
If you’re a rare beer hunter, then this is definitely open season. Throughout the week you’ll find more than 25 special beer tappings including specialties like Founder’s KBS and hard to find beers from your favorite local breweries, too.
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So you say you like beer AND food? Well then, there are some standout events for you, too. There are a few beer and food pairings throughout the week including Moos & Brews with Wheel and Wedge and Roundabout Brewery, a beer dinner with ShuBrew, and even a beer and wing pairing with Burgh’s Pizza and Wing Pub. There will be quite a few firkins floating around during PCBW this year, including collaboration beer firkins at the Rivertowne Pourhouse, a Spoonwood firkin at 99 Bottles in Carnegie, and some firkin alternatives at Apis Wine and Meadery. Don’t be fooled by this simple list, there’s quite a bit more to do during PCBW, but you’ll have to check the calendar out for yourself to see. There are beer and music events, a Brewers’ Olympics, and even a beer school tossed in for good measure. Check out the events listed here, and head over to PittsburghCraftBeerWeek.com to see the events calendar and up to the minute updates on your favorite events. Download the PCBW mobile app to get in on the action, too. Get ready, it’s gonna be a fun week.
FOR EVEN MORE EVENTS AND EVENT DETAILS CHECK OUT PITTSBURGHCRAFTBEERWEEK.COM PLATINUM AND GOLD SPONSOR EVENTS IN RED
Friday 15
th
EVENT
TIME LOCATION
• Guinness Foreign Extra Stout Cupcakes
ALL DAY
Cafe Chocolade
• Beer to Drink Music to with Dogfish Head
7pm - 9pm
99 Bottles
• Firkin Alternatives
9pm - 11:30pm
Apis Mead & Winery
• Name That Beer
5pm - 7pm
Beer Express
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Robinson
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Monaca
• Yards Soup On! Soup & Beer Pairing
6pm - 8pm
Modern Cafe
• Grist House/East End/Roundabout PCBW Collaboration Beer Release
5pm - 12am
Grist House Craft Brewery
•R ooney’s Brewing Sampling
5pm - 6pm
Beer Lottery
•S hipyard Sampling
4pm - 6pm
Giant Eagle Monroeville
• F at Head’s Sampling Event
5pm - 7pm
Bridgeville Pop & Beer 4 Less
• F ull Pint Inspired Milkshakes
ALL DAY
Burgatory North Shore
•K eglet Scavenger Hunt
ALL DAY
Pig Iron Public House
• F at Head’s Brewing Beer Dinner
4pm - 9pm
Cain’s Saloon
• Heavy Seas Exclusive Pin Event
5pm - 7pm
Beer Hive
• The Unofficial Kickoff of PCBW With All the Collaboration Beers
4:30pm - 12am
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Oskar Blues Sampling
5pm - 7pm
Babcock Beer
• Voodoo Tap Takeover
7pm - 11pm
House of 1000 Beers
• Plum Puckered Pouring
11am
Rivertowne Brewery
• Plum Puckered Pouring
11am
Rivertowne Pourhouse
•B allast Point SoCal Night
4pm - 11pm
Industry Public House - Lawerenceville
• 1/2 Off Happy Hour
4pm - 6pm
Stokes Grill
•C aliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
•C ollaboration Beer Tap Takeover
4:30pm - 12am
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• Fat Heads Bumble Berry Cocktails
ALL DAY
BRGR - All Locations
• T errapin Tax Day Happy Hour
6:30pm - 7pm
Double Wide Grill - Mars
• Happy Hour Raffle
4:30pm - 6:30pm Mad Mex - South Hills
• New Belgium at Wexford Ale House
7pm
Wexford Ale House
• Sam Adams Tasting
6pm - 8pm
Bado’s Pizza Grill & Ale House
FOR EVEN MORE EVENTS AND EVENT DETAILS CHECK OUT PITTSBURGHCRAFTBEERWEEK.COM PLATINUM AND GOLD SPONSOR EVENTS IN RED
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
• Plum Puckered Pouring Reclamation Brewing
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Saturday 16
th
EVENT
TIME LOCATION
• Victory Deep Cocoa Porter Cupcakes
ALL DAY
Cafe Chocolade
• Beer & Bass: Beer & Music Trivia Night
7pm - 9pm
99 Bottles
• Homebrewing Demo & Homebrew Sampling with T.R.U.B.
12pm - 5pm
South Park - Home Economics Building
• Bobbing for Beer Shwag
2pm - 4pm
Beer Express
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Robinson
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Monaca
• Kegs ‘n Eggs Monaca
8am - 2pm
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Monaca
• Grist House Brewery Tours
5pm - 8pm
Grist House Craft Brewery
• Rooney’s Beer Sampling
1pm - 3pm
Beer Minimum
• Evil Genius Beer Cocktails & Grilled Cheese Night
6pm - 8pm
The Yard - Shadyside
• Evil Genius Beer Cocktails & Grilled Cheese Night
6pm - 8pm
The Yard - Market Square
• Founders Pint Night
7pm - 9pm
Bella Notte
• Homebrew Workshop with T.R.U.B.
9am - 12am South Park - Home Economics Building
• Yards Corn Hole Tournament
3pm - 6pm
Whole Foods - Wexford
• Collaboration Beer Lunch
11am - 3pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Founders KBS Tapping
4pm - 7pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Caliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• National Record Store Day with Dogfish Head Tap Takeover
4:30pm
Sidelines - Millvale
• Collaboration Beer Lunch
11am - 3pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• PCBW Annual H.A.S.H. Run
1pm - 4pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Dogfish Head Record Store Day Party
7pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Plum Puckered Pouring
1pm - 6pm
Bloom Brew
• Goose Island Bourbon County Tasting
7pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House Hampton
#PCBW | 2016
• Dogfish Head Record Store Day Celebration 1pm - 3pm
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Urban Tap
• Dogfish Head Record Store Day Celebration
4:30pm - 6:30pm Sidelines - Millvale
• Full Pint Rye Rebellion Shakes
ALL DAY
Burgatory - All Locations
• Full Pint Rye Rebellion Launch
ALL DAY
BRGR - All Locations
• Caliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• Greenfield Bridge is Falling Down Collaboration Beer Debut
7pm-8pm
Spoonwood Brewing
• Hops for Hearth
7pm-9pm
Big Low Conference & Reception Center
• Art for Autism presented by Liveburgh & Magic Hat Brewing Company
7pm
James Street Gastropub
• Full Pint Tap Takeover & Sampling
6pm - 9pm
Bridgetown Taphouse
• Southern Tier Tap Takeover & Brewer Meet n Greet
4pm - 10pm
Beermuda
Sunday 17
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EVENT
TIME LOCATION
• Mindful Brewing Sneak Peek
6pm - 5pm
99 Bottles
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Robinson
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Monaca
• Yards Buy a Meal Keep the Mug Brunch
10am - 3pm Hough’s
• Pig Iron Beer Release Pig Roast
Pig Iron Public House
• Meet the Brewers of PCBW
Rivertowne - North Shore The Summit
• Caliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Crush the Pin: Cask Beer Extravaganza
6pm - 1pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Shower Beer Day Drinking
1pm - 8pm Hough’s
• Dogfish Head Record Store Day Celebration - Encore
5pm - 7pm
• Caliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• Ward off Evil with Stone Brewing Company
6pm - 8pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
James Street Gastropub
FOR EVEN MORE EVENTS AND EVENT DETAILS CHECK OUT PITTSBURGHCRAFTBEERWEEK.COM PLATINUM AND GOLD SPONSOR EVENTS IN RED
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
8pm - 10pm
• Beer Rep Olympics - East vs. West Giant Jenga 9pm - 11pm
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Monday 18
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EVENT
TIME LOCATION
• Spoonwood Firkin Tapping
7pm - 9pm
• Grit & Grist
6:30pm - 9:30pm Grist House Craft Brewery
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Robinson
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Monaca
• Beer Rep Olympics - Shuffleboard
8pm - 10pm Hough’s
• Caliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
•C ascade Brewing Sour Night Featuring Seven Different Cascade Sours
7pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
•H oppy Trails: Beer & The Outdoors with REI and Pgh Craft Beers
7pm - 8:30pm
REI - Settler’s Ridge
• Dusty Cellar Night with Dogfish Head
6pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• Weyerbacher Tap Takeover
7pm - 10pm
Dommy’s Pizza
• Dogfish Head Vintage Night
7pm
D’s Six Pax & Dogz
• Caliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• 1/2 Off Happy Hour
4pm - 6pm
Stoke’s Grill
• Yards Trivia
6pm - 10pm Hough’s
99 Bottles
FOR EVEN MORE EVENTS AND EVENT DETAILS CHECK OUT PITTSBURGHCRAFTBEERWEEK.COM PLATINUM AND GOLD SPONSOR EVENTS IN RED
Tuesday 19 EVENT
TIME LOCATION
• Yards Chocolate Love Cupcakes
ALL DAY
Cafe Chocolade
• Beat the Brewer with Apis
7pm - 9pm
99 Bottles
• Paints & Pints
6:30pm - 9:30pm Grist House Craft Brewery
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Robinson
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Monaca
• Finch’s Sampling Event
5pm - 7pm
Monaca Draft House
• Full Pint Brewing Beer Dinner
5pm - 8pm Willow
• Evil Genius Tap Takeover
5pm - 10pm
Six Penn Kitchen
• Terrapin Down Under
7pm - 9pm
Burgh’s Pizza & Wing Pub
• Beer Rep Olympics - Cornhole & Yahtzee
8pm - 10pm
Barrel Junction
• Caliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Bell’s Beer Dinner
6:30pm
Bella Frutteto
• Big Beer Night Featuring a Sam Adams Utopias Tasting & 2014 North Coast Old Stock Cellar Reserve
7pm - 9pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Deschutes The Abyss Tasting
6pm - 9pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• Dogfish Head Happy Hour
5pm - 7pm
Double Wide Grill - Mars
• Caliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• Battle of the Barrels
4pm - 7pm
Giant Eagle Market District - Shadyside
• New Belgium Night
5pm - 7pm
Giant Eagle Market District - Robinson
• Local Collaboration Sampling
6pm - 8pm
Penn Avenue Brews
FOR EVEN MORE EVENTS AND EVENT DETAILS CHECK OUT PITTSBURGHCRAFTBEERWEEK.COM PLATINUM AND GOLD SPONSOR EVENTS IN RED
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
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Wednesday 20 EVENT
TIME LOCATION
• Weyerbacher Tiny Dried Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes
ALL DAY
Cafe Chocolade
• 420 Safety Fest with 99 Bottles
7pm - 9pm
99 Bottles
• 420 Day with Flying Dog & Long Trail/Otter Creek
6pm - 8pm
The Beermarket
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Robinson
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Monaca
•R ock Bottom & Carson Street Deli Collaboration Release
7pm - 9pm
Carson Street Deli
• Terrapin Tasting
7pm - 9pm
Duke’s - Homestead
• Founders Brewing Company Beer Dinner
6pm - 9pm
BZ’s Bar & Grill
• Vintage Night
7pm - 11pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Weyerbacher Riserva 2015 Raspberry Ale Cupcake
ALL DAY
Cafe Chocolade
• Caliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Firestone Walker Flight Night
6pm - 9pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• Ithaca Beer Company Happy Hour
4:30pm - 6:30pm Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Vermont Beer Trivia Night
7:30pm - 9:30pm Stokes Grill
• Southern Tier Top Tier Event
7pm -9pm
Wexford Ale House
• Dogfish Head IPA Night
8pm - 10pm
Bado’s Pizza
• Dogfish Head Happy Hour
6pm - 7pm
Industry Public House
•B eer Flights and Education with the BeerTender at Spoonwood Brewing
6:30pm - 9pm
Spoonwood Brewing
• Pies and Pints & Pints at Roundabout Brewery with Pgh Craft Beers
4pm - 10pm
Roundabout Brewery
• Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week Homebrew Contest Winner Draft Release
ALL DAY
ShuBrew Handcrafted Ales & Food
• Caliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• Fat Heads Beer Dinner
6:30pm - 10pm
Olives & Peppers - Penn Trafford
• Decorate Yo Donut with Lagunitas
4pm - 8pm Hough’s 6pm - 8pm
BRGR - Cranberry
• A Night With BCBS
7pm - 9pm
The Library
• The 4/20 Silver Ball
6:30pm - 9:30pm Bierpot
• Goose Island Event
6pm - 8pm
Sidelines - Sewickley
• GLBC Happy Hour Sampling
5pm - 7pm
Whole Foods - Wexford
#PCBW | 2016
• Yards Sampling
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FOR EVEN MORE EVENTS AND EVENT DETAILS CHECK OUT PITTSBURGHCRAFTBEERWEEK.COM PLATINUM AND GOLD SPONSOR EVENTS IN RED
Thursday 21
st
EVENT
TIME LOCATION
• Heavy Seas Black Beards Breakfast Mocha Cupcakes
ALL DAY
Cafe Chocolade
• Beatnik Brewers
7pm - 11:30pm
Apis Mead & Winery
• Craft Coloring with CraftPittsburgh
7pm - 10pm
Grist House Brewing
• Guess What? Trivia - Beer Edition
8pm
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Monaca
• Rock Bottom Happy Hour
5pm - 7pm
99 Bottles
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Robinson
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Monaca
• SoCal Tap Takeover
5pm - 7pm
Giant Eagle Market District
• Founders CBS Tapping
12pm - 1pm
Urban Tap
•C lown Shoes Brewing, Burger & Beer Night
5pm - 8pm Stack’d
• Quench your Thirstday with Collaboration Firkins
6pm
Rivertowne Pourhouse
•C aliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Tröegs Tap Takeover
7pm - 9pm Cousins
•H elltown Happy Hour Meet & Greet
4:30pm - 6:30pm Caliente - Bloomfield
• Yards & Nodding Head Brewery Meet the Owners & Pizza Eating Competition
7pm - 9pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Smokin’ Joe’s & Dogfish Head 20th Anniversary Celebration
8pm - 10pm
Smokin’ Joe’s
• Luchador Night with Victory & Tröegs
7pm - 9pm
Mad Mex Cranberry
• Battle of PA Breweries East Vs. West featuring Full Pint vs. Evil Genius
5pm - 7pm
BRGR/Spoon - East Liberty
• Caliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• Sam Adams Utopias Tasting
6pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton Crafty Jackalope
• Southern Tier Sampling
7pm - 9pm
Bridgetown Taphouse
• Ithaca @ 5801
8pm - 10pm
5801 Video Lounge & Cafe
• Fear & Loathing in Barrel Aged Gonzo
6pm - 10pm
Bierport
• Fuel & Fuddle Tap Takeover
6pm - 9pm
Fuel & Fuddle
• New Belgium Event
6pm - 8pm
Sidelines - Sewickley
• Barrel Aged Beer Night
4pm - 11pm
Hough’s
• New Belgium Bike Giveaway
5pm - 8pm
OTB Cafe - North Park Boat House
FOR EVEN MORE EVENTS AND EVENT DETAILS CHECK OUT PITTSBURGHCRAFTBEERWEEK.COM PLATINUM AND GOLD SPONSOR EVENTS IN RED
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
• Taste the Crazy Jakalope - Beer & Food Pairing 6pm - 9pm
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Friday 22
#PCBW | 2016
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EVENT
TIME LOCATION
• Souther Tier Cupcakes, from Creme Brulee to Pumpking!
ALL DAY
• Sour #Patch with Full Pint
7pm - 9pm
99 Bottles
• Long Trail Earth Day
5pm - 10pm
Double Wide Grill - Mars
• Plant a Tree with Long Trail
5pm - 7pm
Whole Foods - Wexford
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Robinson
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Monaca
•S oCal Tap Takeover
5pm
Giant Eagle Market District
•A leSmith Brewing & Ice Cream Floats
4pm - 6pm
Save Mor Beer
• Full Pint Brewing Tap Takeover
7pm - 9pm
Crafty Jackalope
• Caliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Luchador Night with Victory & Troegs
11am - 9pm
Mad Mex - North Hills
Cafe Chocolade
• Yards vs. The World for the Championship Belt 5pm - 7pm
Industry Public House - Lawrenceville
• Stone Fizzy Yellow Beer is for Wussies
7pm - 11pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• PA Tap Takeover
6pm - 11pm
Stoke’s Grill
•C aliente IPA Challenge
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
•W est Coast vs. East Coast IPA Flight Night
5pm - 11pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• Pittsburgh Craft Brewhaha: Summer 2016
5pm - 9pm
Altar Bar
• Yards Charity Event with Evil Genius
5pm - 8pm
Shiloh Grill
• Southern Tier Beer Floats
4pm - 8pm Hough’s
• Ithaca at Carl’s
7pm - 8pm Carl’s
• Goose Island Bourbon County
6pm - 8pm
Social at Bakery Square
• Beer School / Course One
5pm - 7pm
Mitchell’s Restaurant
• Beer School / Course Two
7pm - 9pm
Nola on the Square
• Beer School / Course Three
9pm - 11pm
Tonic Bar and Grill
FOR EVEN MORE EVENTS AND EVENT DETAILS CHECK OUT PITTSBURGHCRAFTBEERWEEK.COM PLATINUM AND GOLD SPONSOR EVENTS IN RED
Saturday 23
rd
EVENT
TIME LOCATION
• Beligian Christmas Ale Cupcakes!
ALL DAY
Cafe Chocolade
• Kegs ‘n Eggs
8am - 2pm
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Robinson
• Oyster Fest 3: Presented by Blue Dust
1pm - 10pm
Under the Homestead Grays Bridge
• PCBW Collaboration Celebration
ALL DAY
99 Bottles
• Brunchin’ for the Weekend
12pm
Grist House Craft Brewery
• Grist House Craft Brewery Tours
2pm - 8pm
Grist House Craft Brewery
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Robinson
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Monaca
• Rivertowne Island Party
4pm - 8pm
Rivertowne Brewing
• Goose Island Bourbon County & Lolita Tapping
7pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Sour Saturday PCBW Edition
1pm - 4pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Caliente IPA Challenge Finals
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Official Rogue Nation Event: a Salute to the HOP
4pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Victory Sampling
4pm - 6pm
Duffy’s Beer
• Smokin’ Joes & Victory Brewing 20th Anniversary Celebration
8pm - 10pm
Smokin’ Joes
• Dogfish Head Night
6pm - 8pm
Front Door Tavern
• Terrapin Single Origin Coffee Stout Flights with Donuts
7pm - 9pm
Korner Pub
• Caliente IPA Challenge Finals
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• Founders KBS Tasting
4pm - 6pm
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• Battle of PA - East vs West featuring Full Pint & Evil Genius
5pm - 7pm
BRGR - Cranberry
• CWP BEER BARGE
6pm - 9pm
Gateway Clipper
FOR EVEN MORE EVENTS AND EVENT DETAILS CHECK OUT PITTSBURGHCRAFTBEERWEEK.COM PLATINUM AND GOLD SPONSOR EVENTS IN RED
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
• Maryland Crab Boil with Flying Dog, Dead Rise 12pm - 5pm Hough’s
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Sunday 24
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EVENT
TIME LOCATION
• 2016 Brewers’ Olympics
2pm - 8pm
Grist House Craft Brewery
• Green Flash Cornhole Tournament
2pm - 4pm
99 Bottles
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Robinson
• DAILY Local Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Bocktown Beer & Grill - Monaca
•U nofficial Send off of Beer Week 2016 The Lost Abbey/Port Brewing Total Tap Takeover
4pm - 12am
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Bloomfield
• Penn Brewery PCBW Tap Takeover
ALL DAY
Stoke’s Grill
• T he Best of the Best Leftovers, Beer Week Closing Event
ALL DAY
Caliente Pizza & Draft House - Hampton
• Terrapin Wake & Bake Brunch
10am - 3pm Hough’s
• Helicon Sampling - Meet & Greet
6pm - 8pm
99 Bottles
FOR EVEN MORE EVENTS AND EVENT DETAILS CHECK OUT PITTSBURGHCRAFTBEERWEEK.COM PLATINUM AND GOLD SPONSOR EVENTS IN RED
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pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
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#PCBW | 2016
Craft Beer 101
the knowledge behind craft beer Beer isn’t simple. Beer today is some serious business and not knowing how to work with it can really wreck a good experience. From dirty tap lines to poor understanding of the beer…what’s really needed in the craft beer world today is a little bit of education.
In the craft beer world of today however, knowledge is king. Being able to suggest a beer based on what a customer or friend already likes is just as important as knowing what beer goes with what glassware. Understanding the basic brewing process is crucial to knowing why a certain beer might taste more bitter than another. And most importantly for a business, being able to pour and serve beer correctly and safely protects their customers and their bottom line. Heck, proper beer knowledge can even get servers and bartenders bigger tips! So why don’t more people know about beer? Is the trouble where the information comes from? Sure, you probably know a guy at your local bar or brewery that loves to sit and tell anyone listening all about the beer he’s drinking and why it’s better than your beer, but who wants to listen to him, right? To really learn what matters about beer, you need to learn from a source that actually knows what it’s talking about, and can teach it to you in a way that’s manageable and, dare I say, fun. This is where the BeerTender Certification Program comes
in. The BeerTender course is built from the ground up to give you the information you want and need without being like “that guy” at the bar. Whether you’re looking to learn a little more about beer to impress your friends, or work in the industry and want to be the best you can be at beer to make more money and have happier customers, the BeerTender Certification Program is perfect for you. If you’re a business that wants the smartest staff out there, the BeerTender course can help you, too. There’s a version of the program built for businesses to offer their employees the same online training built for individuals, but with added features and a onecost structure no matter how many employees take the course. Beer doesn’t have to be hard, but it definitely isn’t simple. With some education and a love for the industry you can start treating beer like it’s meant to be treated. You have to provide the love, but the BeerTender Certification Program can do the rest. If you’re interested in learning more visit BeerTender.co for more info. - Brian Meyer
Brian is the head BeerTender and is available for writing and educational work large and small. brian@freshbrewmedia.com
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
There was a time when someone could just say “gimme a beer” in a bar and they’d have a golden, fizzy beer poured from one of two tap lines into a frosted mug waiting for them before they could sit down. The need to know about beer in this time wasn’t very important. As long as the beer kept coming out of the tap life was good.
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Wilson-McGinley
expanding on quality distribution since 1949
There’s something to be said about having experience. Experience gives you skill, knowledge, and a feel for the industry that just can’t be matched. This is the perfect way to describe Wilson-McGinley Wholesale. Wilson-McGinley has been providing beer to Pittsburgh since 1949, which means they have 67 years of experience in providing beers from around the world to thirsty Pittsburghers. Founded originally by Fritz Wilson and Jack McGinley, the company first called the Terminal Building in the South Side home until 1979 when they moved to their second home in Lawrenceville. This year the company moved to a new 200,000 squarefoot facility, also in Lawrenceville. The added space and fresh, new home is giving Wilson-McGinley the space they need to grow.
#PCBW | 2016
Today, Wilson-McGinley has partnered with more than 30 different suppliers, spanning more than 150 different brands. While Wilson-McGinley loves focusing on all things local, they also have a large catalog of beers from across the country and around the world as well.
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So what exactly is a beer wholesaler? Well, in short a wholesaler is go-between that gets beer from your favorite breweries to the bars and beer distributors. This means that without the hard work and experience of wholesalers like Wilson-McGinley, those beers from the other side of the state as well as the other side of the country would stay where they are, far away from you.
Wholesalers work with the breweries to get their beer within your reach, and then deliver it out to venues around the city so you can have your craft beer fix. A quality beer wholesaler makes sure the beer you drink is as fresh as it possibly can be, and that it’s delivered as it should be. Today, Wilson-McGinley is still run by a Wilson and a McGinley with Christopher Wilson serving as the President and John McGinley and Ryan Wilson both serving as Vice Presidents. Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week is lucky enough to have one of Wilson McGinley’s sales managers, James Mooney, serving on our board. Jim, along with the rest of the board, have helped to make this, the 5th anniversary of Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week the best one yet Thanks to Wilson-McGinley for yet again signing on to sponsor PCBW for 2016. Check out WilsonMcGinley.com for more on the company, and PittsburghCraftBeerWeek.com to see all of their events as well as countless others. Follow WilsonMcGinley @BurghBrewNews on Twitter to get the lowdown on all the newest beer and best events during PCBW as well as all year. - Brian Meyer
PghCraftBeers.com
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pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
Pig Iron Public House the heart of local beer
Local is a word that’s thrown around quite a bit these days, but why is it important? Above being a buzzword that’s used in marketing, “local” is the idea of supporting the people right here in your backyard. Local means the money you spend makes a full circle in your neighborhood/city/state. Local means the dollars you spend help businesses around you thrive, which in turn helps your town thrive. Pretty amazing what local really does, isn’t it? Pubs, restaurants, and bars need more than a location for “local” to matter. What’s truly important is where the food, beer, supplies, and even the owners themselves come from. This is what makes a local business. The business we’re talking about isn’t some mythical one created for the sake of an article, but instead is Pig Iron Public House in Cranberry. Pig Iron is owned by a trio of brothers, the Lang family, who call Pittsburgh their home and believe in keeping things as local as possible. I got the chance to sit down with Shawn Lang and talk about what local means to him. There are plenty of interesting aspects to Pig Iron Public House, but I was most intrigued by finding out what exactly a “Keglet” is.
#PCBW | 2016
BM: It’s obvious that keeping things local is important to Pig Iron, but why do you feel local is so important yourself?
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Their want to support the local economy is amazing. It’s one of the main things that sets us apart from the chain restaurants, especially in a place like Cranberry where we are one of the few independently owned restaurants. BM: Speaking of local beer, how many local taps do you have on at any given time? SL: We have 66 beers on tap, most of the time 45 are beers from Pennsylvania. Of those 45 we try to keep more than half of those from Southwestern Pennsylvania. We try to give any local Western PA brewery one or two permanent tap handles. BM: Wow, that’s pretty amazing. You have more local taps than most bars or restaurants have TOTAL taps. Kudos to Pig Iron for keepin’ it local. So we know how local the beer is, but just how local is Pig Iron Public House?
SL: Local is important to me, and to all of us here because we are local. Being from the area helps us understand the economic benefits of supporting local businesses. If we tell our customers that shopping local is important when they come to Pig Iron, then we need to think locally with what we buy, too.
SL: Pig Iron Public House is owned by three brothers (Shawn, Tony, & Matt). We were born and raised in Millvale, where we lived for the majority of our lives. Eight years ago we opened our first restaurant in Indiana, Pennsylvania. For the last 8 years we have been living there and had been looking for the right opportunity to move back closer to Pittsburgh.
The main benefit from selling local beer and food is that consumers are actively seeking out restaurants and bars that have local offerings.
BM: I’m sure I speak for anyone who’s been to Pig Iron already by saying I’m glad you three moved back! Now that we have the warm-up questions out of the
way, I need to get down to the important question. What the heck is a Keglet and how do I get one? SL: A Keglet is our version of a Crowler. We decided to name it a Keglet instead of the more common Crowler since we are using 25.4oz(750ml) cans. A Keglet lets you take any of our draft beers home to enjoy up two weeks later. We went with the smaller size cans so people can get more variety when choosing what beers to take home with them. The benefit of a Keglet is that it is an aluminum can and sunlight is the enemy of fresh beer, so once the beer is sealed in the can it can travel much better without the risk of being spoiled by sunlight. You can get any of our 66 beers on tap in a Keglet to go, the price is even on the beer menu right next to the standard per-glass serving. - Brian Meyer
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
PghCraftBeers.com
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#PCBW | 2016
Caliente
your beer week headquarters As we prepare for the 5th installment of Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week, it’s impossible to deny the effect this 10-day beer extravaganza has brought upon our city. More and more beer drinkers have discovered a wonderful world of products at their disposal, many born right here in town, thanks to countless craft beer destinations using PCBW to showcase their devotion to craft beer 365 days a year.
To say their efforts put Caliente on the map would be an incredible understatement. “Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week 2013 was our coming out party,” Nick Bogacz declared. “We did everything we could to make the most of the week and people took notice that we had arrived.” Since then Caliente has redefined the blueprint for celebrating Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week and continues to be at the forefront of delivering the most unique, enjoyable, and memorable events from top to bottom. In 2014, they hosted 15 events at their Bloomfield location. In 2015, they raised the bar and hosted 18, in addition to five more at their newlyopened location in Hampton Township. This year, history repeats itself. Caliente has once again upped the ante and will host 20 events in Bloomfield and 10 in Hampton. They are also on
the verge of opening their 3rd location in Mount Lebanon! Unquestionably, hard work and sound business management were key factors in their expansion, but their steadfast approach to shooting for the stars during PCBW certainly helped the cause as well. Throughout the year, Caliente has become synonymous with some of Pittsburgh’s best pizza and one of the most diverse, constantly-rotating tap lists around. In fact, Caliente Regional Chef Eric Von Hansen recently won Best Pan Pizza in the World at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas, a true testament to the dedication Caliente has to delivering high-quality products to their customers year-round. Those efforts get amplified during Craft Beer Week and, for 10 solid days, the vibe they send throughout Pittsburgh’s craft beer community is one that proves they want to be the absolute best. Your Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week experience won’t be complete without paying Caliente Pizza & Draft House a visit. Mark your calendars today and discover why they’re one of Pittsburgh’s ultimate PCBW hot spots! - Jason Cercone
Pittsburgh Craft Beer Network
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
At the top of that list is Caliente Pizza & Draft House. Their initial involvement with Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week dates back to 2013 when owners Nick and Angie Bogacz grabbed the reins at Caliente and embarked on a mission to elevate their brand to the upper echelon of craft beer establishments in the city. They pulled out all the stops, hosting events from the second PCBW kicked off until last call 10 days later.
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Craft Beer Trends to watch in 2016
Hey Trendsetter, do you like to be on top of a new craze before it even happens? Check out these craft beer trends expected to develop in 2016. Continued Dominance of IPAs
Hop heads, rejoice! Your IPAs aren’t going anywhere. The dominance of big, hoppy double and Imperial IPAs isn’t expected to change in 2016. Looking at the American-style India Pale Ale (IPA) entries during the Great American Beer Festival gives it away: a whopping 336 beers were received for judging in this category alone. The entries were so numerous and the category so competitive, they waited until the end of the entire awards ceremony to announce the winner. Some local offerings include Fathead’s Hop Juju, a seasonal Imperial IPA that’s simply packed with flavor. A new Imperial IPA, Hopism, released this year by Full Pint Brewing, is a further proof that the hops are here to stay.
#PCBW | 2016
Entry-Level Easy Drinkers
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Having secured their big IPAs, seasoned beer drinkers can relax and enjoy an uptick in easy drinking, lower ABV beers. Designed to capture more of the crossover market, these beers are great for folks who recently entered the craft realm. Some local beers to try are Stoop Kid, a pale lager from Brew Gentlemen Brewing, and Cobblestone, a Kölsch from Hitchhiker Brewing Co.
Craft Beers in Cans
Cans are a natural fit for high-quality craft beers. Light and oxygen, two things that will cause beer to degrade very quickly, are completely sealed out by the aluminum cans. They’re also environmentally friendly, since they’re 30 – 50% lighter than glass bottles. They cost less to ship and therefore use less gas to transport. Since they stack perfectly, they require less space to store. As more breweries move toward canning, that old canned-beer-is-junk-beer stigma is fading away. If you want to check out some of our local Pittsburgh breweries that can their beers, you need look no further than Rivertowne Brewing Co. or North Country Brewing Co., who recently opened an entire canning facility.
Crowlers
One of the most exciting new trends in craft beer is the Crowler. Invented at Oskar Blues Brewery, it’s
exactly what it sounds like: part can, part growler. The large, 32-ounce aluminum can is filled from a bar or brewery’s draught system. Then, a Crowler crimping machine is used to seal the lid onto the can. The benefits are many. Firstly, customers are no longer stuck carrying glass growlers around in their car trunks, since the Crowlers are used once and recycled, just like a can. Growlers which are not cleaned well or don’t seal tightly can ruin beer quickly, whereas the Crowler has neither concern. Aluminum is impervious to light. This lack of exposure to light and oxygen means the beer inside lasts longer than with its glass counterpart. Beer sealed in a Crowler can last one–two weeks unopened, compared to a glass growler’s one–two days. Though an initial investment is involved for a brewery or bar to purchase the large cans, lids, and crimping machine, it’s small enough of an investment that many can afford to make the transition to Crowlers. Expect to see many more Crowler machines, like this one at East End Brewing, making their way into the Pittsburgh area. - By Rebecca Johnson
pittsburghcraftbeerweek.com
Rebecca is a Pittsburgh-based craft beer journalist. She founded and writes for beerPittsburgh.com.
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Penn Brewery
#PCBW | 2016
a brewery 30 years in the making
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This year marks the 5th anniversary of Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week and while we all consider this a pretty big milestone, it’s only a fraction of the time that Pittsburgh’s own Penn Brewery has been making craft beer, as this year also marks their 30th anniversary.
Opened before anyone knew what craft beer was, Penn Brewery stands as a staple of Pittsburgh’s craft beer scene, and is one of the key reasons we even have a Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week at all! In any spy or mystery movie there’s always that one place that the protagonists call their home base, where they draw up the plans for the big heist or how to win the war. More often than not those places end up being an inn or bar where they trust the owner, who’s typically part of the resistance, too. For PCBW this home base is definitely Penn Brewery. The first ideas of a craft beer week to call our own started over a few Penn Pilsners in the brewery and from there grew into a plan, and finally into what we know today as Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week. It was this support (even before there was actually something to support) that helped to make an idea
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Wings, Suds & Spuds
Original Buffalo Style Wings Fresh Cut Curly Fries & Chips
10 Craft Beers on Tap!
8806 University Boulevard, Moon Township
(412) 264-1866
formed amongst industry veterans into a reality. Once PCBW got some legs and started to get moving, Penn Brewery was still there to support us with a meeting hall for us to have both board and public meetings in, and even host us each year for Media Day, where we share PCBW with the world. From beer to food to a roof over our heads, Penn Brewery has been there for Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week, and for that we are eternally grateful. The board of Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week would like to congratulate everyone at Penn Brewery for 30 years of making great beer and for 5 years and counting of supporting Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week. Without Penn’s help we may not have one today. -Brian Meyer, PghCraftBeers.com
Art by Joe Deck - Twitter: @JoeDeckArt Facebook: JoeDeckArt
#PCBW | 2016
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Bocktown Beer & Grill Craft Brewhaha Summer 2016 Pennsylvania Beer Alliance
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Apis Mead & Winery
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BEERS ON TAP - CRAFT COCKTAILS