Sharing The Best of Pittsburgh and Southwest Pennsylvania
The Good Wood Barrel-Aged Beer Festival is an annual event sponsored by Wigle Whiskey and East End Brewing.
While on the smaller end of beer festivals, this one packs a punch as all beers served have been aged in barrels- our kind of niche beer festival in Pittsburgh!
Read moreGood Wood Barrel-Aged Beer Festival – A Delicious Winter Beerfest
Emerson's Bar first started as a Christmas pop-up bar above Market Street Grocery in downtown Pittsburgh in late 2019, and was converted into a permanent bar space in early 2020 with a large and inviting space and a relatively straight forward bar menu.
So if you're in need of a cozy space to enjoy a drink with friends in downtown Pittsburgh, you may want to give this one a try!
Read moreEmerson's Bar Review – A Cozy Space for Drinks in Downtown Pittsburgh
Sly Fox Brewing is a popular craft brewery that has been making beer outside of Philadelphia since the mid-90s. But it wasn't until 2019 that this one expanded into Pittsburgh with a taproom just steps away from Point State Park.
As we believe that downtown is in need of more places for good, craft beer, we were eager to check this one out shortly after it opened to try their beer and housemade pizza. Sadly, we left this one fairly disappointed.
Read moreSly Fox Brewing Review – Taphouse and Restaurant Near The Point
We always love it when breweries have a full food menu on-site, and in late 2019, Hop Farm Brewing in Lawrenceville introduced a food menu from Provision!
If that name sounds familiar, you are right. Provision is the same restaurant concept that was found in the inaugural class of chefs at Smallman Galley and later at Federal Galley for a long stint as well. We were quite big fans of this one at both galleys, and are happy to report that their menu at Hop Farm features many of the favorites available at the stalls!
Read moreProvision Review – A Great Food Menu Comes to Hop Farm Brewing
Pennsylvania liquor laws are weird. In fact, we'd go as far as saying they're awful. Between the state-run liquor stores, limited accessibility of beer and wine outside of producers and select sellers, and other oddities, finding a good bottle to enjoy in Pennsylvania does not come without its challenges.
Thankfully, some of the most archaic of regulations have been changing in recent years, and one such change has allowed for the creation of a unique store in the Strip District called Pennsylvania Libations.
Their products? 100% Pennsylvania-made spirits.
Read moreDrinking Your Way Around the State at Pennsylvania Libations in the Strip
We have to be a bit honest in saying that the concept of a pop-up bar is becoming a bit overdone these days. In 2018, we had no fewer than six holiday pop-up bars in Pittsburgh and 2019 looks to be no different.
Thankfully, the new bars coming into the pop-up scene this year are being led by some of the city's finest bartenders. Chrismukkah in East Liberty is one such bar as it is managed by the team behind the bar program at Federal Galley (one of our favorite restaurants in the city).
Naturally, we went to this one as soon as they opened!
Read moreChrismukkah Review – Federal Galley Offers Holiday Libations for a Cause
From the moment you arrive at Commerce Bar in East Liberty, you know you'll be getting the full speakeasy experience.
That is because to even access this one you need to make your way to a back alley behind a popular stretch of restaurants and seek out the door to the bar. We could tell you which door, but where is the fun in that? (The end of this article will have a hint.)
Once you enter, the fun of this bar begins.
Read moreCommerce Bar Review – A Proper Speakeasy in East Liberty
Mary's Vine is a high-end wine bar that opened in the Pittsburgh borough of Rankin in late 2019.
This one can be found in a converted church and provides an ambiance and wine selection that is truly unlike no other wine bar in the region.
So if strong attention to detail and an impressive (albeit expensive) wine selection is what you seek, a trip to Mary's Vine is a must.
Read moreMary's Vine Review – A High-End Wine Bar in a Converted Church
Pittsburgh's Halloween season is in full force with a number of hauntingly fun attractions to enjoy. Naturally, some pop-up bars have jumped onto the scene to celebrate this spooky season with themed libations!
One of these themed bars is Cocktails from the Crypt, a South Side pop-up managed by Spencer Warren of The Warren (a popular cocktail bar in downtown Pittsburgh).
I checked this one out shortly after it opened for its limited run and share a bit more on what the bar and cocktails are like below!
Read moreCocktails from the Crypt Review – Halloween Themed Libations
Construction Junction is one of our favorite re-use centers in Pittsburgh, and every year the facility puts on a fundraiser in the form of a beer festival known as the CJ Steel City Big Pour.
We've been wanting to attend this one for a while, but the relatively expensive ticket prices had kept us away for a while (it is still a fundraiser, after all). But while it took us a bit longer than we would've liked to finally attend this one, we made it happen and attended the afternoon session of Big Pour #13.
Armed with our glasses, our necklace cupholders, and a thirst, we hit the festival to see what it is all about.
Read moreCJ Big Pour Beer Festival – Our Kind of Fundraiser (With Beer)