{"id":87,"date":"2018-02-27T16:09:18","date_gmt":"2018-02-27T21:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsinteractive.post-gazette.com\/distinction\/?p=87"},"modified":"2018-03-01T16:45:12","modified_gmt":"2018-03-01T21:45:12","slug":"awash-take-a-ride-on-our-allegheny-river-towns-ale-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsinteractive.post-gazette.com\/distinction\/2018\/food-drink\/awash-take-a-ride-on-our-allegheny-river-towns-ale-trail\/","title":{"rendered":"Awash: Take a ride on our Allegheny River towns ale trail"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Pittsburgh Beer Guild formed in the fall, bringing together nearly 30 of the breweries in Allegheny County, its principals said their first project would be a Pittsburgh Brewery Guide, \u201cthe go-to resource for finding information … useful for visitors and residents alike in planning a brewery tour through Pittsburgh and the surrounding suburbs.\u201d <\/p>\n

Why wait? Fans can already visit four breweries and taprooms in Millvale and Sharpsburg and soon will see two more in neighboring Etna. Think of them together as the Allegheny River Towns Ale Trail: <\/p>\n

\"The <\/a>
The outside patio of the Draai Laag Brewing Co., which in March is being rebranded as Strange Roots Experimental Ales. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The outside patio of the Draai Laag Brewing Co., which in March is being rebranded as Strange Roots Experimental Ales. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div>
\"Santana <\/a>
Santana Woodring, taproom manager and resident artist, pours a glass of cake beer at the Draai Laag Brewing Co. in Millvale, which in March is being rebranded as Strange Roots Experimental Ales. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Santana <\/a>
Santana Woodring, taproom manager and resident artist, pours a glass of cake beer at the Draai Laag Brewing Co. in Millvale, which in March is being rebranded as Strange Roots Experimental Ales. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The Draai Laag Brewing Co., which in March is being rebranded as Strange Roots Experimental Ales. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Strange Roots Experimental Ales<\/strong>
\n501 E. Ohio St., Millvale (and 4399 Gibsonia Road, West Deer)
\nwww.strangerootsbeer.com<\/a>
\nHours: 5-10:30 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 3-10:30 p.m. Sat.<\/p>\n

The oldest brewery in this group also is the newest. It opened in 2011 in a former gas station\/drive-through bagel shop at the gateway to town from Route 28. In 2012, Draai Laag Brewing Co. opened a taproom, which expanded into an outdoor beer garden.<\/p>\n

Per its tagline \u201cWild by Design,\u201d co-owner Dennis Hock and head brewer Tony Zamperini conceived some of the wildest brews in the region and beyond, specializing in wild yeast and extended bottle- and barrel-aging to make a range of Belgian- and French-style ales with sour and funky flavors like some had never tasted. One example: Relic, made with a yeast strain extracted from beneath layers of wax on a 17th-century French monastic cabinet. <\/p>\n

Now what science geek Mr. Hock affectionately calls this \u201cweird little brewery\u201d has just launched a rebranding that changes the name to Strange Roots (officially as of March 7). That reflects a renewed commitment to experimental brews in small batches, but now in a range wider than sours. For instance, they\u2019ve started experimenting with edgy stouts. <\/p>\n

The brew house, for a time located in Hampton, moved in the fall to a new, bigger facility in West Deer, where Mr. Hock is using on-site yeast strains and local agricultural products to showcase that terroir. Another small tap room and a much bigger beer garden are to open there this spring, but in the meantime, in Mr. Hock\u2019s native Millvale, they\u2019ll continue to pour their strange brews. One of his favorites: Grand Blu, made with peaches and Penicillium roqueforti, the fungus used to make blue cheese.<\/p>\n

Blu and most of the brews will continue to be available in big \u2014 500- and 750-milliliter bottles \u2014 for roughly $8-$10 per bottle, and there are eight taps. The food menu includes sandwiches and sides, tacos and snacks. The new location will start out with food trucks.<\/p>\n

Mr. Hock is excited for upcoming and continual changes. \u201cWe have evolved significantly from where we started. And we\u2019re still evolving.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"The <\/a>
The Chameleon is one of the popular beers at Grist House Craft Brewery in Millvale. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Grist <\/a>
Grist House Craft Brewery. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div>
\"Grist <\/a>
Grist House Craft Brewery. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The outside patio of Grist House Craft Brewery in Millvale. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Alex <\/a>
Alex Pusateri, of West View, makes a face at Ginny, Kyle Mientkiewicz\u2019s dog, at Grist House Craft Brewery. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Angelo <\/a>
Angelo Re, of North Hills, buys food from the Brisketburgh food truck that is parked in the outside patio of Grist House Craft Brewery. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Grist House Craft Brewery<\/strong>
\n10 Sherman St., Millvale
\n412-447-1442
\nhttp:\/\/gristhouse.com\/<\/a>
\nHours: 5-10 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 2-10 p.m. Sat. and 2-8 p.m. Sun. <\/p>\n

When childhood friends, homebrewers and brothers-in-law Brian Eaton and Kyle Mientkiewicz opened this one in May 2014, there were far fewer local breweries. Mr. Eaton helped form the Pittsburgh Brewers Guild and is its chairman. Partner and numbers guy Tom Schneider is its treasurer.<\/p>\n

In a former slaughterhouse whose industrial bones include the ceiling crane for moving meat, this 15-barrel brewhouse is hitting its stride. In warm weather, a lot of the action is on the outdoor patio and beer garden, but dogs are welcome inside, too, as long as they have leashes and good manners. Brewery swag includes dog collars and bowls. Hardy customers, both human and canine, sit outside in the snow around the fire ring, which repurposes wood from the nearby axe-throwing studio. There\u2019s a different food truck out there daily. <\/p>\n

These days, they offer a big indoor tap list (15) in a wide variety of styles. The outdoor bar has 16 more that will dispense interesting stuff now that the brewery is firing up a small pilot system. \u201cWe plan on doing a lot of one-offs \u2014 double IPAs, sour IPAs,\u201d Mr. Eaton says.<\/p>\n

The big news is a new canning line, so watch for more regular can releases. Grist House also is working on opening another brewpub location. As Mr. Eaton puts it: \u201cWe\u2019re looking forward to an exciting 2018.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"The <\/a>
The Dancing Gnome Beer in Sharpsburg. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The Dancing Gnome Beer in Sharpsburg. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The Dancing Gnome Beer in Sharpsburg. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The Dancing Gnome Beer in Sharpsburg. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
A glass of Dancing Gnome Beer\u2019s double IPA \u201cOrbital Convoy\u201d. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Ian <\/a>
Ian Warner, taproom manager, pours a glass of Dancing Gnome Beer\u2019s double IPA \u201cOrbital Convoy\u201d. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Dancing Gnome Beer <\/strong>
\n925 Main St., Sharpsburg
\n412-408-2083
\ndancinggnomebeer.com<\/a>
\nHours: 4-10 p.m. Wed.-Fri., noon-10 p.m. Sat. and noon-6 p.m. Sun. <\/p>\n

This storefront is easy to find during one of its canned beer releases, when lines of people stretch around the block. It opened in October 2016 and quickly became one of the region\u2019s hottest breweries, famous for its \u201chop pronounced\u201d and often hazy-on-purpose pale ales. Eight are always on tap \u2014 if they haven\u2019t run out. They frequently limit how much of a new beer one customer may buy. Another way to find the brewery is by the food truck parked out front. <\/p>\n

They\u2019re brewing a big double IPA brewed with Moscato grape juice for Hop Culture magazine\u2019s Juicy Brews event at the Ace Hotel on March 17. Recent accolades include being named Rate Beer\u2019s 2017 best new brewery in Pennsylvania. <\/p>\n

Owner and brewer Andrew Witchey, who is a member-at-large of the new Pittsburgh Beer Guild, says he\u2019s thinking of expanding production. He just added more fermenting capacity at the end of 2017 and a new canning line is in the works. <\/p>\n

\"Hitchhiker <\/a>
Hitchhiker Brewing Co., has 20 brews on tap and is located in a smokestack-topped former coal-fired boiler room and machine shop of the former Fort Pitt Brewing Co. in Sharpsburg. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Hitchhiker <\/a>
Hitchhiker Brewing Co., has 20 brews on tap and is located in a smokestack-topped former coal-fired boiler room and machine shop of the former Fort Pitt Brewing Co. in Sharpsburg. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Hitchhiker <\/a>
Hitchhiker Brewing Co., has 20 brews on tap and is located in a smokestack-topped former coal-fired boiler room and machine shop of the former Fort Pitt Brewing Co. in Sharpsburg. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Hitchhiker <\/a>
Hitchhiker Brewing Co., has 20 brews on tap and is located in a smokestack-topped former coal-fired boiler room and machine shop of the former Fort Pitt Brewing Co. in Sharpsburg. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Hitchhiker <\/a>
Hitchhiker Brewing Co., has 20 brews on tap and is located in a smokestack-topped former coal-fired boiler room and machine shop of the former Fort Pitt Brewing Co. in Sharpsburg. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div>
\"Hitchhiker <\/a>
Hitchhiker Brewing Co., has 20 brews on tap and is located in a smokestack-topped former coal-fired boiler room and machine shop of the former Fort Pitt Brewing Co. in Sharpsburg. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Hitchhiker <\/a>
Hitchhiker Brewing Co., has 20 brews on tap and is located in a smokestack-topped former coal-fired boiler room and machine shop of the former Fort Pitt Brewing Co. in Sharpsburg. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Hitchhiker <\/a>
Hitchhiker Brewing Co., has 20 brews on tap and is located in a smokestack-topped former coal-fired boiler room and machine shop of the former Fort Pitt Brewing Co. in Sharpsburg. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Hitchhiker <\/a>
Hitchhiker Brewing Co. is located in a smokestack-topped former coal-fired boiler room and machine shop of the former Fort Pitt Brewing Co. in Sharpsburg. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Hitchhiker <\/a>
Hitchhiker Brewing Co. is located in a smokestack-topped former coal-fired boiler room and machine shop of the former Fort Pitt Brewing Co. in Sharpsburg. (Antonella Crescimbeni\/Post-Gazette) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Hitchhiker Brewing Co. <\/strong>
\n1500 S. Canal St., Sharpsburg
\n412-343-1950
\nhttp:\/\/hitchhiker.beer\/tap-rooms\/<\/a>
\nHours: noon-8 p.m. Sun., 4-11 p.m. Tues.-Fri. and noon-11 p.m. Sat. <\/p>\n

This epic brewery and taproom \u2014 in the smokestack-topped boiler room and machine shop of the former Fort Pitt Brewing Co. \u2014 is the second taproom for Hitchhiker, which started in May 2014 in Mt. Lebanon. It moved brewing here and opened in this past September. With a much bigger (10-barrel) system, brewers Andy Kwiatkowski (Brewers Guild secretary) and Matt Gibb have been killing it, with \u201cprogressive and traditional\u201d brews that they regularly release in cans to social media acclaim. One popular series is \u201cWhole Punch,\u201d brewed with assorted fruits (including guava!) and lactose sugar for a fruit shake\/smoothie-like experience. <\/p>\n

On tap here are up to 20 draft brews, which you also can get to-go in glass growlers and aluminum crowlers, plus housemade root beer, and there\u2019s cider and wine by the glass. There\u2019s a limited menu of snacks and rotating food trucks. <\/p>\n

This spring, look for the beers now aging in spirits and wine barrels and mixed culture (different yeasts and bacteria) brews from two 30-barrel oak vessels called foudres. <\/p>\n

And soon, notes owner Gary Olden, they\u2019ll be improving the outdoor beer garden. \u201cWe\u2019re going to do something that\u2019s more unique than just putting tables out.\u201d <\/p>\n

New kids \u2019round the corner:<\/strong> <\/p>\n

A groundbreaking is planned in April for a new garage-style brewery and taproom for CoStar Brewing<\/strong>, which since 2013 has been brewing and selling kegs from a garage in Highland Park. Owners Caitlyn and Jeff Hanna and Dominic Cincotta say it will be located near 327 Butler St. in Etna but aren\u2019t saying much else. Watch for updates at http:\/\/costarbrewing.com\/csb\/<\/a> and on CoStar\u2019s social media.<\/p>\n

Borough manager Mary Ellen Ramage is thrilled that Etna looks to be getting yet another brewery. Maria Paterra and two partners have purchased the former PNC building at 381 Butler St. and the former Texaco station at 399 Butler St.<\/p>\n

The plan is to partner with another brewery to open a brewery taproom in the latter, perhaps by this fall, and then open a casual, pet-friendly restaurant with outdoor seating next-door and run it as one operation. The name: The Rear End on Butler Street<\/strong>. She says they\u2019re talking with breweries and working with a designer. \u201cWe\u2019re hoping this livens Butler Street up!\u201d<\/p>\n

Not enough beer? Across the Allegheny River is Eleventh Hour Brewing Co.<\/strong>, 3711 Charlotte St., Lawrenceville. Owner Matt McMahon is the Brewers Guild\u2019s vice chairman. <\/p>\n