Lesser-known Pittsburgh region breweries impress

While sampling brews at the Beers of the Burgh Festival last Saturday, one could not help coming away more convinced than ever that Pittsburgh region breweries are putting out some really good suds. 

Sure, you know the main ones well, but there are many other breweries that we rarely get out to try, and that’s a shame. Some are newer, some are tiny, some are way out in the burbs, some are just overshadowed by bigger, more popular neighbors.

Here’s a few of the breweries you probably have not yet experienced but won’t regret trying on your next road trip to the Pittsburgh region.

Cinderlands Beer Company in Lawrenceville

One of the newer additions to the Lawrenceville neighborhood, Cinderlands Beer Company definitely hit the ground running.

Paul Schneider, head brewer, seems to have his brewing duck lined up. He focuses on six categories of beer: traditional thirst quenchers (lagers and Kolsch), hop-forward pale ales & IPAs, kettle sours (Berliner Weisse and Gose), farmhouse ales, coffee & tea infused beers, and stouts.

“Not only do we make all of our own beer on site,” Schneider says, “we also have a scratch kitchen.”

The kitchen incorporates a lot of beer and beer ingredients into the food. For example, check out a vegetarian Chicharrón made from spent grain, tapioca flour, spices, and lime juice, fried up and served with an IPA-infused pub cheese.

ShuBrew in Zelienople

A small but growing brewery in Zelienople, ShuBrew specializes in hoppy ales, particularly IPAs and hazy IPAs. The brewery says its goal is delivering a creative, forward-thinking craft beer destination focused on moderately priced, artisanal beer and cuisine made with natural, local ingredients.

“We have a lot of fun with our beer,” says David Ieong, head brewer at ShuBrew. “We take our job seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously.”

Look for something from their Pixilated series. These hazy IPAs have tons of flavor and aroma with low bitterness and creamy mouthfeel. ShuBrew’s attractive food menu includes pizza, sandwiches, soup, salads, and rice/noodle bowls.

Allegheny City Brewing in North Side

It may be small but this neighborhood brewery on Pittsburgh’s North Side has gained a loyal following during its relatively short time in business.

Allegheny City Brewing keeps up to 12 taps flowing all the time filling pints and 5 oz. tasters. You will find a constantly changing line up with least a few IPAs, NEIPAs,  sours, browns, and stouts. The brewers here are adept at making about any popular style.

For food service, there is often a food truck parked on the street just outside each Friday and Saturday night. Otherwise, several local restaurants are a stone’s throw away.

Spoonwood Brewing Company in Bethel Park

Spoonwood Brewing Company operates a complete brewpub with full restaurant, wood-fired pizza oven, meat smoker, and a 15-barrel brewery

“We’ve got the full experience,” says Steve Ilnicki, head brewer and part-owner. “We run anywhere from 8 to 12 beers at a time, and we serve local spirits and wine, mead and cider.”

The beer menu is always changing. They don’t really have flagships, though some featured beers are tap regulars. So anytime you stop in you will find brews fresh for the season. Known for their spirit-barrel aged beer, Spoonwood also makes solid Belgian-styles and IPAs.

Quinn Brewing Company in Irwin

Allen Quinn, owner of Quinn Brewing Company,  says his brewery specializes mainly in traditional European styles.

“We really brew true-to-styles,” Quinn says. “We have a lot of German styles including Kolsch, and Hefeweizen. We don’t over-hop a lot of things. We try to keep it true to style.”

Don’t overlook Quinn’s IPAs and Belgian style brews too. Two restaurants in their facility provide food deliveries to the taproom.

Brew Gentlemen in Braddock

Because it sits about 20 minutes out of downtown in an area with few other attractions, Brew Gentlemen is not the first place people think of stopping. Brew Gentlemen General Manager Alaina Webber wants people to know that what they are doing is unique. The brewery is committed to being a part of the economic revitalization of its community.

Their highly acclaimed beers include many NEIPAs and barrel-aged farmhouse brews. Expect to find at least three seasonals too.

“We brew beers that are soft, balanced, and elegant,” said Webber. “What we’re doing is unique — not just the beer, but more than just what’s in the glass.”

Cellar Works Brewing Company in Sarver

At Cellar Works Brewing in Sarver you can sit down and try multiple beer styles with plates of good food from the brewery kitchen.

Tim Bauer, one of the owners at Cellar Works Brewing, says, “We brew classic styles without a lot of untraditional adjuncts.”

They stick to flavorful German, Belgian, and American classics. Expect diverse offerings comprised of European lagers, hoppy American ales, and Belgian style and sour ales.

Insurrection Ale Works in Heidelburg

Matt Messer, co-owner, says Insurrection AleWorks has been open for about 2.5 years.

“We focus on a lot of hoppy ales and also have a large wild ale program,” he says. “We make what we like to drink.”

Messer says they like making the wild ales because those are always a challenge. The brewery surely seems to have mastered this challenge. In their IPAs, one thing you will notice is the softness that comes from adjustments to the water chemistry done to decrease harshness that can often accompany hugely hopped beer. It really helps these beers stand out.

The brewery taproom has some of the best wings and charcuterie of any brewery in the Pittsburgh region. The cheese and meat selection if outstanding.

Eleventh Hour Brewing Company in Lawrenceville

Justin Strzelczyk, who handles a variety of jobs at the brewery, says the Eleventh Hour Brewing is located in the heart of Lawrenceville with all its restaurants, breweries, arts and crafts. “It’s a great place to really feel Pittsburgh,” he says.

Like so many of the Pittsburgh breweries, Eleventh Hour is into the hazy IPAs with all the contemporary hop varieties. No one trick pony, it also brews more traditional styles, such as pilsners and lagers, and does them well. Robo Jack and Cult Logic are two of their tasty and popular IPAs.

For food, Eleventh Hour hosts food truck most days they are open.

Levity Brewing Company in Indiana

Sure, it’s a ways out of Pittsburgh, but Levity Brewing Company is a staple in the city of Indiana. Mark Zellman, brand ambassador for Levity, says they normally keep 18 to 20 beers on tap.

“We have passionate owners; we have passionate brewers. It’s just a phenomenal place to be.”

You will find everything from NEIPAs to West Coast IPAs, to doubles, to brown ales. Always some seasonal brews too. Don’t overlook the house made root beer either. The brewpub menu has a nice selection of sandwiches and pub grub.

Levity Brewing recently won a who’s your favorite brewery poll conducted by the Breweries of Pennsylvania website.