Beer Towns » Pittsburgh
DRAFT Beer Town: Pittsburgh
By Savannah Schroll Guz
Newly dubbed “Sixburgh” for its Superbowl superiority, this former steel city boasts craft beers, haute cuisine and avant-garde culture.
Appeared in: July/August 2009
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Bars
Fat Head's1805 E. Carson St.
Pittsburgh PA
At consistently crowded Fat Head’s, patrons select from 42 craft-brewed draft beers and one hand-pumped ale. A “Wall of Foam” honors those who have completed the bar’s Frequent Flyer Beer Tour.
Brillobox
4104 Penn Ave.
Pittsburgh PA
Brillobox is hipster heaven and a sound venue for local bands. While the name references Warhol’s art, the bar decor is signature Poe: Stuffed ravens perched on blossoming branches loom ominously over bartenders.
Olive or Twist
140 6th St.
Pittsburgh PA
The Manhattan-chic Olive or Twist is toasted for its martini selection but also offers 13 international taps (including Magic Hat No. 9) and 14 bottled selections, along with a spectacular assortment of hard liquors.
Sharp Edge Beer
302 S. St. Clair St.
Pittsburgh PA
On the city’s east end, the “Beer Emporium” location of Sharp Edge Beer showcases a staggering selection of Belgians—74 in bottles and 28 on tap. Owner Jeffrey Walewski’s work has not gone unnoticed: For his proselytizing on the beauty of Belgian brews, he was knighted by King Albert II.
Brewpubs
Iron City3340 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh PA
The brewery lays claim to several industry firsts—the snap-top can and twist-off bottlecap, for example—and maintains its place in locals’ hearts with its trendy, caramel-tinged Augustiner amber lager.
www.ironcitybrewingcompany.com
Church Brew Works
3525 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh pa
Located in historic St. John the Baptist Church, Church Brew Works situates its copper and chrome tanks against the apse’s striking cerulean walls. The brewery’s English-hopped Pipe Organ Pale Ale makes a heavenly pair with the adjoining restaurant’s Kobe beef cheese steak, but keep an eye out for Cherry Quadzilla and Non-Denominator Doppel Bock on tap.
Red Star Brewery
101 Ehalt St.
Greensburg PA
Thirty-two miles east of downtown is Red Star Brewery, located in Greensburg’s historic rail station. Its Day-of-the-Dead-themed Agave Grille showcases Mexican fare alongside seasonal brews, like the sweetly spicy Chile Beer.
East End Brewing
6923 Susquehanna St.
Pittsburgh pa
While not a brewpub, East End Brewing, founded in 2005 by homebrewer-turned-pro Scott Smith, offers “growler hours:” Customers can fill half-gallon jugs with crisp brews like Monkey Boy, a banana-flavored hefeweizen.
Pennsylvania Brewing Company
800 Vinial St.
Pittsburgh PA
Across the Allegheny River, in a building on the National Historic Register, Pennsylvania Brewing Company’s authentic Bavarian-style restaurant serves up sumptuous brews like Penn Dark, a richly flavored, moderately bitter delight showcasing roasted malts and Hallertau hops.
Dine
Eleven1150 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh PA
The elegant Eleven's ever-evolving chef’s tasting menu includes Tuna Tartare and Yellowtail Sashimi.
www.bigburrito.com/eleven/eleven.shtml
Cafe at the Frick
7227 Reynolds St.
Pittsburgh PA
With its view of the opulent Frick Mansion, the gardenside Café at the Frick offers
gourmet fusions like Duck Quesadillas and Pork Crepes.
www.frickart.org/start/cafe.php
Mallorca
2228 E. Carson St.
Pittsburgh PA
Portuguese tile and European vitality dominate Mallorca, where nimble, dark-suited Latin waiters deliver brilliant Iberian cuisine.
Point Brugge Cafe
401 Hastings St.
Pittsburgh PA
On its brunch menu, Point Brugge Café includes scrumptious Belgian-style Liege Waffles with baked-in granules of pearl sugar.
Primanti Bros.
2 Market Sq.
Pittsburgh PA
No Pittsburgh visit would be complete without a trip to Primanti Bros., open 24 hours to accommodate nocturnal carnivores. Sandwiches are served on wax paper, ’burgh style: piled high with slaw and fries.
Do
The Strip DistrictPenn Ave.
Pittsburgh PA
A must-see for any foodie is The Strip. Comprised of two parallel streets, The Strip houses a smattering of ethnic groceries, produce markets, bakeries, wine vendors, coffee roasters, gourmet chocolatiers, fishmongers and high-end antique dealers.
Benedum Center
719 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh PA
Further downtown is the Benedum Center, whose flashing, bulb-studded marquee lights up the city’s Cultural District. Inside, The Pittsburgh Ballet and Pittsburgh Opera showcase their productions.
www.pgharts.org/venues/bendum.aspx
Heinz Hall
600 Penn Ave.
Pittsburgh PA
Several streets over from the Benedum Center, you’ll find the neoclassical Heinz Hall, home of the internationally-renowned Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
The Duquesne Incline
1220 Grandview Ave.
Pittsburgh PA
Across the Monongahela River is The Duquesne Incline, a working museum that’s been in operation since 1877. It uses two funicular cable cars to conduct visitors to an observation deck overlooking Pittsburgh’s dramatic Point, where the Monongahela and Allegheny join to form the Ohio River.
Pittsburgh Filmmakers
477 Melwood Ave.
Pittsburgh PA
Film buffs arriving in late fall will find Pittsburgh Filmmakers hosting its quarter-century old, two-week long Three Rivers Film Festival, featuring 40 locally and internationally produced movies.
Mattress Factory Museum
500 Sampsonia Way
Pittsburgh PA
Because of its many pioneering institutions, Pittsburgh has ascended to unexpected art world prominence. Leading the charge is the Mattress Factory, which has invited international artists to create site-specific installations since 1977 and remains one of the nation’s most innovative contemporary art museums.
Society for Contemporary Craft
2100 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh PA
The Society for Contemporary Craft redefines its genre throughboundary-pushing, aesthetically astounding exhibitions featuring textiles, ceramics and other craft materials.
Hodge Gallery
5472 Penn Ave.
Pittsburgh PA
Pittsburgh Glass Center’s Hodge Gallery is always filled with fascinating work, while the second-floor furnace and first-floor studio offer mesmerizing displays of glass-blowing, lamp-working and casting.
www.pittsburghglasscenter.org/
Andy Warhol Museum
117 Sandusky St.
Pittsburgh PA
Of course, since Pittsburgh was Andy Warhol’s hometown, it’s only fitting that the city has an Andy Warhol Museum. Seven trippy floors memorialize Warhol’s art, life, movies and cult of celebrity. However, the museum also looks beyond these thematic boundaries to present challenging, socially-conscious exhibitions.
Fallingwater House
1491 Mill Run Rd.
Mill Run PA
Yet another American icon stands 90 minutes southeast of Pittsburgh: Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural
masterpiece, Fallingwater. This former home to Pittsburgh’s retail millionaire, Edgar Kaufmann, is a necessary stop for every architecture aficionado.
Sleep
The Priory Hotel614 Pressley St.
Pittsburgh PA
An intimate 25-room inn, The Priory Hotel has been restored to its early Edwardian magnificence and has two lovely features: a courtyard garden and afternoon happy hour in the library.
The Inn on Negley
703 S. Negley Ave.
Pittsburgh PA
Just blocks from Walnut Street’s high-end shops, The Inn on Negley is a picturesque bed and breakfast featuring full English tea and eight rooms furnished with period antiques.
Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel
107 6th St.
Pittsburgh PA
Near the heart of the bustling cultural district is the stately Renaissance Pittsburgh with its dramatic marble rotunda and winding grand staircase.
Omni William Penn Hotel
530 William Penn Place
Pittsburgh PA
Dazzling crystal chandeliers illuminate the coffered ceilings at the luxurious Omni William Penn Hotel, which once hosted John F. Kennedy.
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