OT: ~The Beer, Spirits, & Nightlife Thread V5~ Time For Good Beer

[HuskerTornado]

V4 is reaching the 1000 reply max, it's time for another fresh pour. Thought we'd add Spirits to the title as well since we talk as much about the world of whisky, rum, etc. as much as beer anymore.

V4 - http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1339345
V3 - http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=820613
Original - http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=499677

For reference...

Welcome to the official beer and nightlife thread of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

As a service to new members, and to people from other cities that might be visiting, this post will grow to contain a bunch of information about beers to try and places in Pittsburgh to try them.

Great Beer Bars in Pittsburgh

Name | Website | Part of town | Why you should go there Bites and Brews/Elbow Room | http://www.b2restaurants.com/bitesandbrews/ |Shadyside|Decent beer selection, good food.
Bloomfield Bridge Tavern | http://www.myspace.com/polishpartyhouse |Bloomfield|Dirt cheap beer and dirt cheap polish food. Some of the best pirogies in town.
Buffalo Blues | http://www.b2restaurants.com/buffaloblues/ |Shadyside|Good beer selection, decent food with good specials each night. Good place to watch sporting events, with lots of TVs and specials during games.
Church Brew Works | http://www.churchbrew.com/ |Strip District|Decent selection of beers brewed on the premises, good food that is somewhat overpriced, you get to drink in a church that has been remodeled into a brewery. The food and the beer will both probably disappoint you for the price, but it's something everyone should do at least once.
D's Six Pax & Dogz | http://www.ds6pax.com/ |Regent Square|15+ beers on tap, 1000+ bottles in a beer cave from which you can mix and match six packs, great bar food (though it's pretty unhealthy in a lot of cases).
DISH Osteria & Bar | http://www.dishosteria.com/ |Southside|10 beers on tap, decent bottle selection, fantastic food and ambiance.
Fat Heads | http://fatheads.com/ |Southside|42 beers on tap, decent selection of bottles, the best bar food in Pittsburgh.
Firehouse Lounge | http://www.firehouse-lounge.com/ |Strip District|Decent selection of bottles and drafts, cool atmosphere, dancing (if you dig that sort of thing).
Fuel & Fuddle | http://www.fuelandfuddle.com/ |Oakland|10 beers on tap, great bottle selection, great bar food.
Harris Grill | http://www.harrisgrill.com/ |Shadyside|15+ beers on tap, occasional use of a Randall the Enamel Animal, decent selection of bottles, good happy hour every day, awesome bar food, nice front and rear patio areas.
Hofbräuhaus | http://www.hofbrauhauspittsburgh.com/ |Southside|Decent beer brewed on the premises, decent food, cool atmosphere.
James Street Gastropub | http://jamesstreetgastropub.com/ |Northside|24-30 beers on tap, really good food, a nice atmosphere, and quality live entertainment.
The Library | http://www.thelibrary-pgh.com/ |Southside|10+ beers on tap, decent bottle selection, decent food, the menus are made out of books, so you can do a little light reading while you wait for your food and drinks to arrive.
Penn Brewery | http://www.pennbrew.com/ |Northside|Decent german food and fresh beer brewed on the premises.
Piper's Pub | http://piperspub.com/ |Southside|20+ beers on tap, great selection of scotch, great English/Irish pub food.
Point Brugge Café | http://www.pointbrugge.com/ |Point Breeze|6 beers on tap, decent bottle selection, fantastic food and ambiance.
Primanti Brothers | http://www.primantibrothers.com/ |Strip District, Oakland, Southside, Downtown|Beer selection is pretty weak, but it's the home of the legendary Primanti Bros sandwich. Take some fresh Italian bread, add some kind of meat and cheese of your choosing, and then smother the crap out of that with cole slaw and fries.
The Sharp Edge Beer Emporium | http://sharpedgebeer.com/ |Friendship|28 Belgians on tap, 25 American Micros/Imports on tap, bottle selection so big that it needs a menu, decent but overpriced food. Their late night (after 10) and happy hours are great deals, though. HH is from 4:30 - 6:30 on weekdays and is half-off Belgian drafts, boneless wings and individual pizzas.
Smokin' Joe's Saloon | http://www.smokinjoessaloon.com/ |Southside|60 beers on tap, 350+ bottles available, good bar food.

Great Breweries in North America

Brewery | Location | Website 21st Amendment Brewery |San Francisco, CA| http://www.21st-amendment.com/ Abita Brewing Company |Abita Springs, LA| http://www.abita.com/ AleSmith Brewing Company |San Diego, CA| http://alesmith.com/ Anchor Brewing Company |San Francisco, CA| http://www.anchorbrewing.com/ Anderson Valley Brewing |Boonville, CA| http://www.avbc.com/ Allagash Brewing Company |Portland, ME| http://www.allagash.com/ Avery Brewing Company |Boulder, CO| http://www.averybrewing.com/ Ballast Point Brewing |San Diego, CA| http://www.ballastpoint.com/ Bear Republic Brewing Co. |Healdsburg, CA| http://www.bearrepublic.com/ Bell's Brewery, Inc. |Kalamazoo, MI| http://www.bellsbeer.com/ Big Sky Brewing Company |Missoula, MT| http://www.bigskybrew.com/ Boulder Beer Company |Boulder, CO| http://www.boulderbeer.com/ Boulevard Brewing Company |Kansas City, MO| http://www.boulevard.com/ Brooklyn Brewery |Brooklyn, NY| http://www.brooklynbrewery.com/ The Bruery |Placentia, CA| http://www.thebruery.com/ Cigar City Brewing |Tampa, FL| http://www.cigarcitybrewing.com/ Dark Horse Brewing Co. |Marshall, MI| http://www.darkhorsebrewery.com/ Deschutes Brewery |Bend, OR| http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/ Dogfish Head Craft Brewery |Rehoboth Beach, MD| http://www.dogfish.com/ East End Brewing Company |Pittsburgh, PA| http://www.eastendbrewing.com/ Firestone Walker Brewing Co. |Paso Robles, CA| http://www.firestonebeer.com/ Founders Brewing Company |Grand Rapids, MI| http://www.foundersbrewing.com/ Green Flash Brewing Co. |Vista, CA| http://www.greenflashbrew.com/ Great Divide Brewing Company |Denver, CO| http://www.greatdivide.com/ Great Lakes Brewing Company |Cleveland, OH| http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/ Hair of the Dog Brewing Company |Portland, OR| http://www.hairofthedog.com/ Harpoon Brewery |Boston, MA| http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/ Hoppin' Frog Brewery |Akron, OH| http://www.hoppinfrog.com/ Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales |Dexter, MI| http://www.jollypumpkin.com/ KettleHouse Brewing Company |Missoula, MT| http://kettlehouse.com/ Lagunitas Brewing Company |Petaluma, CA| http://www.lagunitas.com/ Left Hand Brewing Company |Longmont, CO| http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/ Lost Abbey Brewing Company |San Marcos, CA| http://lostabbey.com/ Magic Hat Brewing Company |Burlington, VT| http://www.magichat.net/ Monkish Brewing Company |Torrance, CA| http://www.monkishbrewing.com/ Mother's Brewing Company |Springfield, MO| http://www.mothersbrewing.com/ New Belgium Brewing Company |Fort Collins, CO| http://www.newbelgium.com/ New Holland Brewing Company |Holland, MI| http://www.newhollandbrew.com/ Ninkasi Brewing |Eugene, OR| http://www.ninkasibrewing.com/ North Coast Brewing Company |Fort Bragg, CA| http://www.northcoastbrewing.com/ Odell Brewing Company |Fort Collins, CO| http://www.odellbrewing.com/ Ommegang Brewery |Cooperstown, NY| http://www.ommegang.com/ Oskar Blues Grill & Brewery |Lyons, CO| http://www.oskarblues.com/ Port Brewing Company |San Marcos, CA| http://portbrewing.com/ Rogue Ales |Newport, OR| http://www.rogue.com/ Russian River Brewing Company |Santa Rosa, CA| http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/ Saint Louis Brewery (Schlafly) |Saint Louis, MO| http://www.schlafly.com/ Shipyard Brewing Company |Portland, ME| http://www.shipyard.com/ Sierra Nevada Brewing Company |Chico, CA| http://www.sierra-nevada.com/ Southern Tier Brewing Company |Lakewood, NY| http://www.southerntierbrewing.com/ Stone Brewing Company |Escondido, CA| http://www.stoneworldbistro.com/ Summit Brewing Company |St. Paul, MN| http://www.summitbrewing.com/ Surly Brewing |Minneapolis, MN| http://www.surlybrewing.com/ Terrapin Beer Company |Athens, GA| http://www.terrapinbeer.com/ Three Floyds Brewing Co. |Munster, IN| http://www.3floyds.com/ Tröegs Brewing Company |Harrisburg, PA| http://www.troegs.com/ Unibroue|Chambly, Quebec | http://www.unibroue.com/ Victory Brewing Company |Downingtown, PA| http://www.victorybeer.com/ Weyerbacher Brewing Company |Easton, PA| http://www.weyerbacher.com/ Yards Brewing Company |Philadelphia, PA| http://www.yardsbrewing.com/

Online Resources

Beer Information/Ratings
Beer Advocate : http://www.beeradvocate.com
Rate Beer : http://www.ratebeer.com

Beer Distribution
Seek A Brew: http://www.seekabrew.com/distro/index.html

Click to read more...

 

[HuskerTornado]

Phillips Brewing Co in Canada came out with their annual Beer Advent Calendar again this year. This is such a great idea and seems to be a pretty big thing in Canada. I wish more breweries would get together and do this in the US. 24 different beers, 1 each day until Christmas.

Another one in Canada, a collaboration from 2 of their craft breweries Central City and Parallel 49.

Obviously, you could do your own, but you wouldn't get the festive packaging and daily mystery fun that way.

 

[terex]

The James Street Gastropub should be added to the list of bars you have going. I moved away from the northside a year ago, but that place had like 24-30 beers on tap, really good food, a nice atmosphere, and quality live entertainment.

 

[HuskerTornado]

The James Street Gastropub should be added to the list of bars you have going. I moved away from the northside a year ago, but that place had like 24-30 beers on tap, really good food, a nice atmosphere, and quality live entertainment.

Updated

 

[Allie Kitsune]

My hometown brewery in Troegs' makes the list, but Deschutes in Oregon doesn't?

Chainbreaker still sits atop the list of my favorite beers.

 

[HuskerTornado]

My hometown brewery in Troegs' makes the list, but Deschutes in Oregon doesn't?

Chainbreaker still sits atop the list of my favorite beers.

This list is from a long while ago, someone else put it together, wasn't sure how many referenced it, so I haven't really updated it. I could add several great brewers. I'll add some here in a bit. Deschutes is great.

 

[td_ice]

2nd annual winter Beerfest at the convention center, Feb. 20th and 21st, '15. Tickets on sale now.

http://www.pittsburghbeerfest.com

 

[Retrocity]

From the previous thread, Southern Tier's website said the Rum Barrel Aged Pumking was distributed to NY, PA, OH, MD, MI, and NJ. They have a beer finder on their site to see specific locations.

That Beer Advent Calendar looks great. I'd definitely be interested in one if a brewery in the US did one.

Drinking one of my favorite Christmas beers tonight, Penn St. Nikolaus Bock. Has anybody tried Penn Nut Roll Ale yet?

 

[WVP]

From the previous thread, Southern Tier's website said the Rum Barrel Aged Pumking was distributed to NY, PA, OH, MD, MI, and NJ. They have a beer finder on their site to see specific locations.

That Beer Advent Calendar looks great. I'd definitely be interested in one if a brewery in the US did one.

Drinking one of my favorite Christmas beers tonight, Penn St. Nikolaus Bock. Has anybody tried Penn Nut Roll Ale yet?

I picked up the Rum Aged Pumking last week. Haven't tried it yet.

I also haven't tried that Penn Nut Roll - see it around often but I am skeptical on that one.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

My hometown brewery in Troegs' makes the list, but Deschutes in Oregon doesn't?

Chainbreaker still sits atop the list of my favorite beers.

Deschutes is glorious...that list is ancient. I remember having to fight to get Big Sky listed back in the day...and it's not even the best brewery in Missoula (KettleHouse is basically unavailable outside of Western Montana, though).

Mind you I no longer have to fight for that...so I added Deschutes, and my favorite California brewery as well (North Coast).

 

[SaintLouHaintBlue]

Deschutes is glorious...that list is ancient. I remember having to fight to get Big Sky listed back in the day...and it's not even the best brewery in Missoula (KettleHouse is basically unavailable outside of Western Montana, though).

Mind you I no longer have to fight for that...so I added Deschutes, and my favorite California brewery as well (North Coast).

Out of all of those Northern West Coast breweries, Deschutes is your favorite?

Off the top of my head, Rogue, Hair of the Dog, Port Brewing, and Russian River are all out there somewhere, and I think each one of them is better. Well, except for rogue, I was never a huge fan of their beer.

 

[bathroomSTAAL]

Deschutes just recently started getting distributed here. It is indeed great. Obsidian Stout is amazing, and the Mirror Pond is one of the best pale ales.

Elysian is really good too, out of Seattle. Have some Bifrost Winter Ale right now, good stuff.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Out of all of those Northern West Coast breweries, Deschutes is your favorite?

Off the top of my head, Rogue, Hair of the Dog, Port Brewing, and Russian River are all out there somewhere, and I think each one of them is better. Well, except for rogue, I was never a huge fan of their beer.

Never said that, merely that Deschutes is glorious.

Rogue played a big role in the growth of microbrewing in the country, but they've been lapped many times over and are overpriced.


Husker & I both added a bunch of breweries to the list.

 

[Shady Machine]

Deschutes just recently started getting distributed here. It is indeed great. Obsidian Stout is amazing, and the Mirror Pond is one of the best pale ales.

Elysian is really good too, out of Seattle. Have some Bifrost Winter Ale right now, good stuff.

Yup both are great. I really want Elysian to distribute to Ohio.

 

[Shady Machine]

Any chance Hoppin Frog can get added to the list? They make some really good barrel aged ales. Also, their Summer Turbo Shandy is the best of any shandy I've had. I generally loathe the style but this one is delicious.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/14879/

 

[td_ice]

Any chance Hoppin Frog can get added to the list? They make some really good barrel aged ales. Also, their Summer Turbo Shandy is the best of any shandy I've had. I generally loathe the style but this one is delicious.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/14879/

Thanks for the mention, that one is new to me, will check it out.

 

[Zero Pucks]

Does anyone where (or if) you can find a 6-pack of Moose Drool in Pittsburgh? Trying to get it as a gift for someone.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Does anyone where (or if) you can find a 6-pack of Moose Drool in Pittsburgh? Trying to get it as a gift for someone.

Nope. Big Sky isn't allowed to sell the beer east of the Mississippi (with a couple exclusions in the brewers' home states of Michigan and Wisconsin) thanks to a lawsuit from Moosehead.

Apparently they feared that a great brown ale would besmirch the name of their awful piss beer that is barely even sold in the US.


Amazingly Coors has not yet sued Corsendonk.

 

[Zero Pucks]

Nope. Big Sky isn't allowed to sell the beer east of the Mississippi (with a couple exclusions in the brewers' home states of Michigan and Wisconsin) thanks to a lawsuit from Moosehead.

Apparently they feared that a great brown ale would besmirch the name of their awful piss beer that is barely even sold in the US.


Amazingly Coors has not yet sued Corsendonk.

Wow, really? That blows. Thanks for the info though.

 

[Shady Machine]

Thanks for the mention, that one is new to me, will check it out.

You're welcome. I believe all of their bottled beers are bombers. Really solid stuff from what I've tried.

 

[HuskerTornado]

Anyone find any St. Bernardus Christmas Ale this year? Have not been able to track it down yet this year in 2 different states. Store today that I have always got it from in the past said they didn't get any this year.

 

[Valarukar]

Don't know how close to Pittsburgh you require places on the list to be, but House of 1000 Beers is one of the best bars I've ever been in.

http://www.houseof1000beers.com/

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Found out last weekend that this chick I had a thing for now works for Quality Control for Southern Tier.

I think I have a crush on her again.

 

[chuppa chupp]

Drank this bad boy last evening. An amazing amazing beer, but I still prefer Goose Island's Proprietor's stout. This tasted like toasted marshmallows and went down incredibly smooth for a beer that has an abv of 13.6%. Absolutely insane that a single bottle of this sells for $150 on the secondary market.

 

[eXile59]

Phillips Brewing Co in Canada came out with their annual Beer Advent Calendar again this year. This is such a great idea and seems to be a pretty big thing in Canada. I wish more breweries would get together and do this in the US. 24 different beers, 1 each day until Christmas.

Another one in Canada, a collaboration from 2 of their craft breweries Central City and Parallel 49.

Obviously, you could do your own, but you wouldn't get the festive packaging and daily mystery fun that way.

I have a few friends at work who got an advent calendar. Going to try and get in on it next year.

I noticed the great beer bars doesn't have Pack & Dogs in Grandview? Great hot dogs, a huge selection of bottles, & make your own six packs.