Over on the Northside when you stroll past the old Garden Theater, you’ll find a new storefront with green accents right beside the marquee. The Bohemian, stemming from Golden Age Beer Co., fulfills that need for a welcoming spot to gather with friends. Not to mention it keeps you away from the (sometimes chaotic) line of bars on the North Shore. Its focus on Czech lager is just one delicious part of this project. The larger picture is to form a space where analog and vintage reign. All while technology shifts to the side for the evening.
New Bar The Bohemian Opens on the Northside with Czech Lagers and Vintage Atmosphere
Co-owner Adam Henry sees the taproom as a way for Pittsburghers to experience a new type of brewery. While other establishments go for a modern, hardwood feel, The Bohemian is different. The space immerse you into the 70’s where color and texture thrive.
“Pittsburghers can look forward to enjoying our offerings in a welcoming and comforting space in the historic Garden Theater that’s been designed to feel analog, vintage, creative, and, well … a bit Bohemian, with food available from our neighbors at Mayfly Market,” says Henry.
Part of The Bohemian’s unique appeal is its menu. The selections take you through Prague’s beer scene, into the world of natural wines, and drops you off with disco-era cocktails.
“The Bohemian will be unique in its hyper-focus on fresh, easy-drinking Czech lagers,” says Henry. “The beers are being brewed specifically for us by our sister spot Golden Age in Homestead, and will be served from side-pull taps into hand-washed steins like in Prague. We’ll also be shaking up creative cocktails inspired by the disco drinks of the 1970’s, and pouring natural wines.”
Detail and Care in Every Decision
The care the bar puts into side-pull taps and hand-washed steins (techniques which they use specifically in Prague) make your experience as authentic as it can be. It’s not like pulling up to your local bar for a foamy pour of Iron City. Instead the tapster takes crucial steps to produce a pour that balances the key aspects of Czech lagers like Saaz hops, Pilsner malt, and soft water. As The Bohemian states, “The perfect pour is a point of pride, and the attention to detail and care for every pour of lager that Czech tapsters demonstrate is unmatched throughout the world.”
Just as special as the beer they serve is the selection of craft cocktails. The menu here takes you back to the disco-era of the ’70s but still adds on modern twists. One of the cocktails the bar is currently teasing is a Popcorn Old Fashioned. It’s an ode to the Garden Theater’s history as one of the first nickelodeon theaters for movies. The recipe combines clarified butter-washed bourbon, cherry cola cordial, saline, and bitters.
So, the next time you’re looking for a new brew to try or even just a different atmosphere to relax in, let The Bohemian take you into its setting of vinyl records, lounge seating, soft earthen tones, astrology, funk music, jazz fusion, disco, and of course, a dash of cultural and political revolution.
Story by Kylie Thomas
Photography by Tom O’Connor
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