Pittsburgh 2017 In Review: A Very Good Year For Local Beer

PITTSBURGH, PA - If you’re a beer lover in southwestern Pennsylvania, raise your mug in appreciation and toast 2017. It was an extremely good year for the sudsy stuff.

How shall we count the ways? One measurable is the number of new microbreweries that have opened in the last 12 months. What follows is a retrospective proving beyond all doubt that beer lovers had much to be thankful for this year.

January

• Southern Tier Brewing Company, North Shore

The Lakewood, New York brewing company opened its first satellite brewpub in the shadow of Heinz Field. The North Shore location boasts a full kitchen, German-built brewhouse, Southern Tier favorites and local-only beer and a 10,000 square-foot beer garden.

• Mindful Brewing Company, Castle Shannon

It’s a brewery. It’s a restaurant. It’s a bottle shop. Located on the site of the John McGinnis & Co. grocery at the intersection of Castle Shannon Boulevard and Route 88, this place also boasts a second-story beer bar and outdoor patio.

March

• Cellar Works Brewing Co, Sarver

Small batch, handcrafted, and locally minded, Cellar Works focuses on locally sourced ingredients brewed with a farmhouse philosophy. Its diverse offerings include diverse offerings comprised of European lagers, hoppy American ales, and Belgian style and sour ales.

• Fury Brewing Co., North Huntingdon

This place focuses solely on the beer. There’s no food menu, but feel free to order from Inferno Pizza next door.

April

• Couch, Larimer

It’s easy to relax in Couch’s casual atmosphere while sipping at a table, one of the armchairs or, of course, on a couch. There’s no food here either, but usually a food truck or two is parked in the lot outside.

• Cobblehaus Brewing Co., Coraopolis

This brewpub boasts a rustic decor and beers inspired by the old-world masters. Call-in food orders are delivered to your table from Anthony Jr.’s Restaurant and Pizzeria, Big Shot Bob’s House of Wings and Zuko’s Pizza.

June

• Leaning Cask Brewing Co., Springdale

Co-owners Josh and Stephanie Lipke visited many pubs during a trip to England a few years ago. After returning home, Josh, a home brewer, began incorporating English methods into his brewing seeking to create ale that reminded him of what he experienced in England with an American twist. The results are served at the Leaning Cask.

• Abjuration Brewing, McKees Rocks

Located in the Parkway Theater building, these guys who run this place are sort of like the Grateful Dead of the local microbrewery scene. The Dead didn’t mind if you recorded their concerts to enjoy for yourself. Abjuration doesn’t mind if you use their beer recipes and even shares them online.

• Rusty Gold Brewing, Canonsburg

Located in the former Toy’s My Way Cafe, this brewery features onsite hand-crafted beers, and a pub-style food menu, both of which change on a regular basis.

August

• War Streets Brewery, North Side

This brewery actually has been around since 2015, but now has a new home: the old Benjamin’s burger bar on Western Avenue, which the War Streets owners purchased. The restaurant has been renamed Bier’s Pub and it’s the exclusive taproom for the War Streets brand.

• 11th Hour Brewing, Lawrenceville

Another fine addition to Lawrenceville’s robust bar and restaurant scene, this off-the-beaten-path brewery offers a rotating beer selection and food provided by a rotating roster of food trucks.

November

• Cinderlands Beer Co., Lawrenceville

Located on the site of the former Roasted Barrelhouse & Eatery, this place boasts a full kitchen preparing such local favorites as kielbasa as well as a diverse selection of house-brewed beer. If you're into wine or cocktails, though, you have offerings from which to choose.

Photo: Associated Press