The Best Breweries in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We’ve been obsessed with the drinks menu since we first found out about it on a recent visit to Pittsburgh. The word on the street is that the combination of freshly made food and carefully curated booze is of the highest order and Spoonwood Brewing Company is a place to hangout come rain or shine. Keep an eye out for their regular event nights where things can get wild.

Anyone of legal age in the Pittsburgh area knows of the East End Brewing Company. East End has been serving the Western Pennsylvania area kegs and, as of 2014, pints at the brewery. With food trucks, Keg Rides, Crafts & Drafts and pub quiz nights, the East End Company keeps the local Pittsburgh community well entertained. The Big Hop IPA and Pedal Ale are popular options for drinks. If you can’t or don’t want to drink for the night, ask for the Barmy Soda Pop: fresh and house-made root beer or ginger ale.

Although it’s a bit outside of the city, Full Pint’s tap list makes it worthy of the trip. They have recently opened a tap house (Full Pint Wild Side Pub) in Lawrenceville, where you can try all of Full Pint’s beers alongside seasonal meals made by Wild Side Purveyors. For many people the Wild Side Cherry Berliner Weisse Sour Ale and the White Lightning are go-to drinks, but give the Chinookie IPA a go too.

It might seem too good to be true, but this venue is not just a clever gimmick. Just as Lawrenceville has undergone a resurgence in recent years, one of its former churches has also seen a glorious return. Mini pews, in keeping with the building of course, are part of the furniture and the renovation that took place in the late 1990s has delivered incredible results. Church Brew Works has a decent selection of drinks, although admittedly not the broadest in terms of variety, but you’re here for the experience as much as anything else.

Family-run businesses seem to always have something special about them, and Grist House Craft Brewing is no different. Brothers, best friends, girlfriends, wives and in-laws all put in a hand to make Grist House work. While sipping your Camp Slap Red IPA and grabbing a bite to eat at one of the rotating food trucks, you can also enjoy live music twice a month at this dog and kid-friendly spot.

Hitchhiker will not only fill you up with great beer, but they’ll fill you up with great food as well. Try the Roadie IPA with pulled pork sliders, beef jerky and beer nuts. With live music on Thursdays and cask night on Wednesdays, make sure to get there early to grab an outdoor seat before the festivities begin.

Penn Brewery knows that you can’t enjoy a great German beer unless it’s accompanied by great German food, and makes sure to give you both. The beer garden makes you forget that you are in a restored, old industrial building in the middle of Pittsburgh, and transports you right to the European countryside. The Penn beer samplers are great if it’s your first time and you can’t make up your mind. Ordering a pretzel with beer cheese is a must.