Greetings Great Beer Now fans and followers! This is the fifth entry in a multi- part series of blog posts relating to the Great Beer Now Brew + Brew Tour 2018, which took place in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The tour featured some of the finest brew the city has to offer, whether it was brewed with hops, grain, and yeast or coffee beans. So pour a cup of java and your favorite roasty stout and follow along as I explore the Steel City and its rebirth as a craft beer and coffeehouse mecca. Cheers!
Beer brings people together. The sense of community one feels when inside a beer hall or at an actual brewing operation is obvious and it is this sense of community that convinces many people to ditch their day jobs in favor of brewing. Sometimes, the sense of togetherness is there from the beginning, like when relatives get together to share their passion for beer and open a brewery together. This is the story of Grist House Craft Brewery, located at 10 Sherman Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Family Ties
Grist House Craft Brewery has a story to share and it starts with Kyle Mientkiewicz and Brian Eaton, two childhood friends from Erie, Pennsylvania who later became brothers in law when Brian married Kyle’s sister. These two men shared a passion for beer that began with homebrewing and developed into a full- time brewing gig when Grist House was opened in 2014.
Grist House occupies a large space with a good deal of both indoor and outdoor seating. Outside, guests will find tents for shelter, picnic tables, and often a food truck or two serving some of the area’s finest chow. Oh, and don’t be surprised if you see multiple dogs in the outdoor space. Grist House Craft Brewery is dog friendly and many people take advantage of this fact to spend time with their four- legged pal while in the company of two- legged pals.
Grinding the Grain
Grist House has about ten taps of beer flowing at any given time. Here is a summary of the beers I sampled, listed alphabetically by name, followed by the style and my Untappd rating for each, on a 5- point scale:
- Camp Slap Red, Red IPA, 4.25
- Fire on the Hill IPA, American IPA, 4.25
- Gristly Bear Briwn, American Brown Ale, 3.75
- Hazedelic Juice Grenade, New England IPA, 4.25
Overall average rating: 4.13 out of 5
The beer at Grist House Craft Brewery is all- around good! I would be hard- pressed to select a single favorite among the brew, but I will say that each of the three IPA I sampled were all quite tasty and should easily satisfy fans of this style.
Hobby to Profession
Grist House Craft Brewery is yet another brewery that owes its influence and foundation to homebrewing. The two founders were avid brewers of beer, producing five gallons or so at a time, much to the delight of friends and family fortunate enough to sample the different styles they crafted. Kyle and Brian used homebrewing as a means to improve their skill and eventually this served as a launching pad for Grist House Craft Brewery.
When I visited Grist House Craft Brewery for the first time, what impressed me the most was the size of the place, both inside and outside. When you enter Grist House, you walk in through an outside entrance along a paved walkway surrounded by barrels, tents, picnic tables, families, and dogs. You cannot see the actual brewhouse or bar yet. They come later, after you turn the corner and continue onward.
Grist House Craft Brewery serves about a dozen or so beers at any given time with several IPA among the bunch. I was in an IPA mood when I visited, to say the least, so I opted to ignore my usual rule of diversity when I visit a new brewery and instead started off with three different IPA variations. I loved all of them and appreciated the care that went into the brewing of each. I checked Untappd and a large percentage of the beer brewed and served at Grist House has an overall rating of four stars or better, so they certainly know a thing or two about brewing non- IPA styles as well.
I enjoyed a pizza prepared by a local eatery when I was here. Food trucks are a common occurrence at Grist House Craft Brewery and I recommend trying food from at least one of the trucks if you visit. The food is usually something that pairs well with beer and having food in the stomach while drinking beer, as everyone knows, helps slow down the effects of the alcohol. This will help keep you going for the duration, which is what you will want to do, since there is so much excellent beer to try.
Grist House Craft Brewery is also notable for its sports and they strive to show every Penn State game. Pittsburgh is home to several professional sports teams, of course, along with a few college teams. If there is a Pennsylvania team playing, there is a good chance you will find the game broadcast here at the brewery.
Homebrewing can lead to many great things. It’s often a rewarding hobby in its own right but it is also a common catalyst for the launch of a full- fledged brewing operation. Grist House Craft Brewery is yet another example of what can happen when individuals discover the joys of homebrewing and decide to take their hobby to a new, professional level. It’s a great place for beer, food, dogs, and sports so be sure to pay a visit to Grist House Craft Brewery the next time you’re in the Pittsburgh area. And tell them Great Beer Now sent you.
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