We spend a lot of time talking about Pittsburgh’s amazing food scene, but the growing craft beer scene at local breweries is absolutely keeping pace. Chef Jackie Page is here once again to share her top 10 beers with TABLE readers.
Cool Off With a Cold One at Pittsburgh Breweries
Burghers Brewing
Zelienople, South Side, Lawrenceville, Millvale
Blotted Line Haze-Nelson Sauvin (6.6% ABV, Hazy IPA)
The first beer on my list is from Burghers Brewing, whose flagship location recently opened in Millvale. Their Blotted Line Haze-Nelson Sauvin is one of my favorites. What makes this particular beer special, with its notes of citrus and resin, is that it’s one in a series that will be called by the same name but will be brewed with different hops as they move through the series. Burghers is owned by Fiore Moretz and Neil Glausier, and Neil is the brew master.
Trace Brewing
4312 Main Street, Bloomfield
Reflect & Respect (7% ABV, IPA – New England)
This IPA, brewed with a blend of favorite hops from the past year, is full of flavor. It offers up a moment to look back and recognize all the people that helped us get here. I particularly love Trace because owners Dave Kushner and Joel Prickett, and head brewer Zack Colton do a lot of work for diversity, equity, and inclusion. They are among the people I think of when I drink this one. The 2024 edition was hopped in the kettle with Citra 702 and Columbus Cryo, then dry-hopped with Nectaron, Nelson Sauvin, and Motueka.
WYE Beer Co.
3 Forbes Rd, Trafford
Lucy in the Wye (5.3% ABV, Wheat Beer – Fruited)
First of all, Wye’s location is beautiful. and the beer menu has great variety. You can absolutely find something you like. My choice here this year is called Lucy in the Wye. It is a fruited wheat beer, which is where I started when I got into craft beer because it is very drinkable. Its kaleidoscope of flavor blends the juicy vibrancy of grapefruit and pineapple with the smoothness of a wheat beer. Inspired by a truly iconic song, brewmaster Todd Bowers delivers a colorful burst of tropical fruit that is perfect for those seeking a taste of something bright and dreamy. This beer is a trip you’ll want to take again and again.
As I sipped it, I talked to owner Mike Juricich about why he got into the business. He told me that he comes from a restaurant family… which led to us discovering that I had worked for his grandmother for many years at Nigro’s Italian restaurant. I knew his whole family and even went to school with his uncle! Zero degrees of separation in Pittsburgh!
Squatch Brewing
203 Townsend Drive, Monroeville
Zeke’s Special (4.7% ABV, Red IPA)
Open for just over a year, Squatch Brewing is doing an amazing job! Owners Bill and Barbara Campbell have lots of space and their brewery is a great place for a party. I chose Zeke’s Special from their menu. It’s brewed in a Red IPA style, which is the red headed stepchild of brews. Namesake Zeke’s canny crayon prowess created a lighthearted label that is the envy of the beer world. When I visited, I spoke to Bill about his introduction to the craft beer world. He told me that he had been skiing at Seven Springs and was invited down to somebody’s house to try some garage-brewed beer. The rest is history.
Abstract Realm
5009 Lytle Street, Hazlewood
Rags ‘n Tags – Krush (8% ABV, IPA – Imperial)
Abstract Realm serves up a delicious IPA called Rags ‘n Tags – Krush. The latest in their Rags N’ Tags Double Hazy IPA
series, “Krush” uses a newly released hop of the same name that provides the brew with a veritable fruit cocktail of flavor. A soft bed of malt allows the Krush hops to pop with notes of kiwi, pineapple, plus a little sweet orange and clementine from some Citra hops. An addition of lactose provides a lush finish. Owners here are Jason Short and Chris Carr. Chris doubles as head brewer.
Hazel Grove Brewing
4609 Irvine Street, Hazelwood
Pittsburgh Weather (6.2% ABV, Hazy IPA)
Another of my new brewery loves is Hazel Grove Brewing, owned by Steve and Barb Hartman. It was hard for me to choose a favorite, but I went with their flagship brew, Pittsburgh Weather. This hazy IPA style is magnificent, with juicy, fruity flavors of mango, candied peach, guava, and melon. I really enjoyed this one!
Late Addition Brewing and Blending
847 Western Avenue, North Side
Late Hop (7% ABV, Red IPA)
These folks know what they’re doing! From their brew list, I went with Late Hop Red IPA. This beer was a collaboration between Late Addition and East End Brewing. They really wanted this beer to pop, so they took great care with the water and the hop selection. The owners of Late Addition are Malcolm W. Frazier, Brian Robbins, Keith Kost and Chris Meta. Malcolm and Keith double as brewers.
Two Frays Brewery
5113 Penn Avenue, Garfield
Open Road Non-Alcoholic Milk Stout. (<0.5% ABV, Stout)
I am including Two Frays Brewing because they understand that not every beer drinker wants alcohol when they’re out, and they do a great job with N/A options. My N/A recommendation is their Open Road- Non-Alcoholic Milk Stout, brewed in collaboration with Open Road Non-Alcoholic Bar & Bottle Shop. Made with pale malt, caramel, flaked oats, chocolate, and roasted malts, this beer is conditioned on lactose, tasting a little like velvety milk chocolate, sweet caramel, and light roast coffee. The owners are Mike and Jen O’Fray, and Mike is the head brewer.
Altered Genius
Imperial and Ambridge
Biere Dae Garde (6.5% ABV, Farmhouse Ale)
The folks at Altered Genius brew great beer, and they have a diverse brewing team which intrigues me! The beer that I have fallen in love with there is called Biere Dae Garde. It’s a Farmhouse Ale whose smooth earthy finish reveals hints of pear and fig. Can you say yum? This beer was the first (absolutely amazing) solo brew by Daelyn Schellhaas, who is a dear friend and the first black woman brewer in Western PA. The trio of families involved with this brewery includes Donnie and Becky and their two boys, Mike and Shannon and their three girls, and Kerri and Ken and their two girls. Donnie and Mike are the head brewers.
Cinderlands Warehouse
Strip District and Wexford
Li’l Cinder Lime (4.2% ABV, Light Lager)
Last but never least, my crew from Cinderlands Warehouse! Lil’ Cinder Lime is perfect for sitting on the porch and relaxing. It’s a classic American light lager brewed with real lime and flaked maize. NOT TO BE MISSED! Owners here are Jamie Warden and Paul Schneider, with Paul doubling as head brewer.
Story by Jackie Page
Photography by Laura Petrilla
Shot On Location at Burghers Brewing
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