Three Mugs Brew Pub Easter Update

I took a drive by their Broad Street Mall location several months ago and saw that there was no work being done other than what was finished when they first went to building out. Nothing has changed in the building work on today's visit other than contractor's tools have been moved about.

The company was given a brewer's license as well as a brewery-pub license by the state but they have been removed. I can't find if they are in safe keeping or no longer wanted. I can't say for certain if the company is out of business as they may be facing financial issues. A recent in Craft Pittsburgh magazine noted they were looking to open in late 2016. That could happen. But for now I am perplexed. Are they in business or out? Why the removal of the licenses? Maybe we shall see later this year.

Imbibe Northside Tasting 2016

The Pittsburgh Mattress factory will host a tasting on January 30 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM at 500 Sampsonia Way 15212. The event is produced by War Streets Brewery & Distillers.

Participants are:
War Streets Brewery
Allegheny City Brewery
Wigle Whiskey
Commonplace Coffee
PGH Taco Truck
Mac & Gold Food Truck
Penn Brewery
Klavon's Ice Cream
Spring Hill Brewery
Music by Joel Pace Organ Trio

Suggested donation is $20.

This looks like a great way to introduce yourself to some of Pittsburgh's small business people and enjoy what they produce.

200 Years of Pittsburgh Brewing by Dick Ober

If you ever paid a visit to the Penn Brewery in Pittsburgh’s North Side you may (or may not) be aware that is was a brewery from the mid 1800’s. It was the Eberhardt & Ober Brewery at the time. The F. L. Ober Brother Brewery was next door alon Vinial Street.  The Eberhardt & Ober families controlled the breweries until 1899 when they merged with newly formed Pittsburgh Brewing Company of Iron City Beer fame. Family members continued working in the new company but the E & O closed in the early 1950’s. Richard (Dick) Ober, from Beaver County comes from the Ober family and although not a brewery he is a well-established brewery historian. His new book is out: 200 Years of Brewing in Allegheny County from 1760 to 1960 by Richard Ober and Robert Musson: Zepp Publications, 2015.

The book chronicles Allegheny County’s rich history in brewing. Mr. Ober spent over twenty years gathering material for the book and Dr. Musson provided much of the illustrations. There are many photographs of not only the breweries but of the people who owned and worked in them.

Read about the early history of the Iron City Brewing Company when it started out in the Strip District. How exciting would life be today if the breweries in the village of Oakland were still operating only steps from the Pitt campus. How were the football games in the 1930’s when tailgaters were drinking Rooney’s Ale? But by far the book illustrates how industrious Pittsburgh was. There were small brewers in almost every community because there was opportunity in Pittsburgh.  This book shines light on an often-missed part of Pittsburgh’s past manufacturing history. If you have the slightest interest in Pittsburgh history or beer then you will enjoy this book.

I don't (always) drink Craft Beer

I don't brink local and I don't drink craft beer. I just drink BEER! I drink beer from around the world and not just from the nearest brewery. I have no idea what craft beer is and I never understood the meaning behind artisanal. And despite being called many names by family and friends, I am not a connoisseur.

Yes, I do support local breweries but at one time there was only one. All the other beer in my city was similar national brands that were, albeit good, rather uneventful. Then the imports arrived. Europe was far from local but the beers were new and exciting. Coming into the pub each Friday was exciting as we would instantly scan the cooler for the new arrivals. Back then drinking beer was like going on a new date each weekend.  I was at the famous Ratskeller in Washington DC and found Kessler 55 form Montana (I believe). I though then as I do now that this has be the best beer ever made. My buddy and me drank the last two bottles they had and was told the brewery was out of business. Had they not I would have lost any desire to even look at another brew.

The Brewers Association have come to define what a craft brewery is. I have issues, as family and friends can attest. First, I don't care what the definition is. If a craft brewery makes great beer and grows (this is what businesses must do) must I stop drinking what I enjoy? If a craft brewery puts out a really bad beer must I not complain and continue to keep buying it? And for those who know me (not that they publicly admit to it) I enjoy a pint with old and new friends at a nice pub. I DO NOT drink with pinky finger extended although fellow drinkers extend one from time to time.  I will drink a pint of beer that I enjoy no matter who makes it.

I enjoy beer. There are so many styles and flavors that you can find one that meets your mood at the time. Finding a new one should bring excitement and old favorites bring comfort. Having a pint should be enjoyable. When I walk in to the pub and see a new beer I never ask to see the brewery’s stock report or mailing address. Just seeing it gets me giddy. 

There are many breweries in my city right now and they all have something to offer. I enjoy every one of them and support them. I don't shun any because they are not local. Some of my favorites are far from home. So, let's not get snobby about this and just enjoy the beer we have in front of us at the moment. It's all about having a good brew. And remember, the next time you see me at the pub please extend all 5 fingers.

The Other Straub of Pennsylvania

When we think of Straub we think of St. Marys, Pennsylvania. After all who doesn’t know of Straub’s beer? But in Pittsburgh’s history there was another Straub named John. Both Peter and John came to America from Germany but were not related other than by name. Peter from Baden-Württemberg and John from Hesse-Darmstadt in the Grand Duchy of Hesse by Rhine. John Straub landed in America on July 4, 1831. Talk about a day to remember.

 

It is said the Peter Straub worked for the Eberhardt & Ober Brewery on what is now Pittsburgh’s North Side. In the 1800’s it was Allegheny City. It is also said that Peter work under John Straub. Facts: They were note related. Fact: er, no, Peter most likely worked for John Straub at the Canal Street brewery. Peter was in St. Marys in the 1870’s and E&O did not buy John’s brewery until 1883. Whilst in Allegheny County Peter Straub worked in McKeesport and then moved to Brookville and Centerville. But then a brewer’s daughter, Sabina Sorg caught his eye and the rest is history.

 

John Straub came to America and essentially walked to Pittsburgh from Baltimore. He lived in the area near Ross Street and was befriended by a tailor who gave him start-up money to open a brewery. Straub opened in 1834 at Third Avenue at Market Square, then called Diamond Square. John moved from Pittsburgh to Allegheny in 1843 and built a brewery at South Canal Street adjacent to the Pennsylvania Canal that opened in 1834.

 

John is not listed in the list of Pittsburgh Firsts but should be. In 1849 he sent an order to Philadelphia for something new to America; lager yeast. It came via canal boat and in 1850 John Straub brewed Pittsburgh’s first lager beer.

 

John’s brewery burned in 1858 and as his insurance expired the day before he was out of business but re-built. The Eberhardt & Ober Brewery bought him out in 1883.

 

John’s son, Henry went into the brewing business. In 1882 he bought the Union Brewery in Bloomfield from John Gangwisch. There were strong connections between the Gangwisch and Straub families. Two of the Gangwisch boys alone with J. Straub bought the old Depple brewery in Manchester.   

 

In 1899 the Pittsburgh Brewing Company formed and acquired a number of breweries in Pittsburgh. One on the list was Straub’s Union Brewery in Bloomfield. After 1920 the name Straub was never used in Pittsburgh until Peter’s brews came to town. His brewery continues to thrive to this day. The Henry Straub Brewery closed in 1920 and Pittsburgh Brewing converted the facility to the Tech Ice Cream factory.

 

For more on Peter Straub of St. Marys, see http://www.pittsburghbrewers.com/styled-2/styled-23/styled-32/index.html

And a bit more on John, see http://www.pittsburghbrewers.com/styled-39/styled-44/index.html

P.S., don't ask me how/why this plopped in here with such big gaps. I have no idea how this works.

Pennsylvania Breweries - How Many?

Pennsylvania Statewide Brewery Count

November 12, 2014: Date of License Search

There are 67 counties in Pennsylvania and I have listed the number of breweries and brewery-pubs licensed by the Commonwealth to operate as such. The Liquor Control Board issues the licenses and to find a brewery or pub visit their site at https://www.lcbapps.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/PublicLicenseeSearch/

The state issues a G license for a manufacturer of malt beverage by a brewery and after that has been issued a GP license can be issued so the brewery can also operate as a restaurant. Some home brewers have websites that infer that they are a brewery and may have actually formed a brewing company, but as they are not licensed to brew they are not a part of this work.

Here is a quick summary:

Pennsylvania has 219 breweries of which 87 are brewery-pubs as of the date shown above.

45 Counties have breweries, 22 do not.

Of the 45 brewing counties, 30 have brewery-pubs

Lancaster has 24 breweries. Allegheny is second with 21.

Philadelphia County is in 6^th place with only 11 breweries.

First place Lancaster is also first in brewery-pubs with 12. Pittsburgh is in 4^th place with 7 brewery-pubs. Philly has only 3 as do 3 other counties.

15 Counties that have breweries do not have any brewery-pubs. Sad.

There are 8 counties in which every brewery is a brewery-pub.

York County has the highest ratio of brewery-pubs to breweries with 10/13 other than the 8 having 100%.

The List:

Adams County: 5 breweries, 1 brewery-pub

Allegheny County: 21 breweries, 7 brewery-pubs

Armstrong County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Beaver County: 2 breweries, 1 brewery-pub

Bedford County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Berks County: 5 breweries, 3 brewery-pubs

Blair County: 2, none of which are brewery-pubs

Bradford County: 1 brewery, which is also a brewery-pub

Bucks County: 10, 4 brewery-pubs

Butler County: 6 breweries, 3 brewery-pubs

Cambria County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Cameron County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Carbon County: 1, which is also a brewery-pub

Center County: 5 breweries, 1 brewery-pub

Chester County: 13 breweries, 7 brewery-pubs

Clarion County: 1, which is also a brewery-pub

Clearfield County: 2 breweries, 1 brewery-pub

Clinton County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Columbia County: 4 breweries, 2 brewery-pubs

Crawford County: 3 breweries, 2 brewery-pubs

Cumberland County: 6 breweries, 2 brewery-pubs

Dauphin County: 7 breweries, 2 brewery-pubs

Delaware County: 4, none of which are brewery-pubs

Elk County: 1 brewery, which is NOT brewery-pub

Erie County: 6 breweries, 2 brewery-pubs

Fayette County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Forest County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Franklin County: 1, which is also a brewery-pub

Fulton County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Green County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Huntington County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Indiana County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Jefferson County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Juniata County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Lackawanna County: 1 brewery, which is NOT a brewery-pub

Lancaster County: 24 breweries, 12 brewery-pubs

Lawrence County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Lebanon County: 1 brewery, which is a brewery-pub

Lehigh County: 5 breweries, 1 brewery-pub

Luzerne County: 6 breweries, 2 brewery-pubs

Lycoming County: 5 breweries, 2 brewery-pubs

McKean County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Mercer County: 1 brewery, which is a brewery-pub

Mifflin County: 1 brewery, which is NOT a brewery-pub

Monroe County: 2 breweries, none are brewery-pubs

Montgomery County: 15 breweries, 9 brewery-pubs

Montour County: 3 breweries, 1 brewery-pub

Northampton County: 3 breweries, none of which are brewery-pubs

Northumberland County: 2 breweries, none of which are brewery-pubs

Perry County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Philadelphia County: 11 breweries, 3 brewery-pubs

Pike County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Potter County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Schuykill County: 3 breweries, none of which are brewery-pubs

Snyder County: 1 brewery, which is also a brewery-pub

Somerset County: 1 brewery, which is NOT a brewery-pub

Sullivan County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Susquehanna County: 1 brewery, which is NOT a brewery-pub

Tioga County: 2 breweries, 1 brewery-pub

Union County: 2 breweries, neither of which are brewery-pubs

Venango County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Warren County: 1 brewery, which is NOT a brewery-pub

Washington County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Wayne County: No breweries or brewery-pubs

Westmoreland County: 8 breweries, none of which are brewery-pubs

Wyoming County: 1 brewery, which is NOT a brewery-pub

York County: 13 breweries, 10 brewery-pubs

South-Western Pa Breweries as of 2014

If you read the Hop to it Microbrew Tour in the Post Gazette today, I have the answer to Tom Labanc’s question below. Also, see http://www.post-gazette.com/life/travel/2014/07/06/Hop-to-it-on-microbrew-tour/stories/201406270173 for the question.

This is a list of the breweries and Brewpubs that have opened since the 1980’s. All of these entries are breweries but some have a brewpub license that permits the sale of food and drink within the same licensed area. Essentially they are a combination of brewery and full service restaurant. You may be surprised the ones that do not have this license. Only licensed breweries are listed below.

Allegheny County

Draai Laag Brewing (Millvale)

Grist House Brewing (Millvale)

East End Brewing Co (PGH Homewood then Larimer in 2012)

Hitchhiker Brewing, (Mt. Lebanon)

Hofbrauhaus (PGH South Side)

John Harvard’s Ale House (Wilkins Township) 1997-2008

Lawrenceville Brewery (PGH Lawrenceville)

Operates the Church Brew Works as a restaurant

Milkman Brewing (PGH Strip District) 2014-present

Pennsylvania Brewing Co. (PGH North Side) 1986

Operated the Allegheny Brewery & Pub as a restaurant then Penn Brewery.

Roundabout Brewing (PGH Strip District)

Rivertowne (Monroeville) 

Walnut Brewery (Homestead)

Operated the Rock Bottom Brewery as a restaurant.

Strip Brewery (PGH Strip District) 1997-unknow Closed

Sweetwater Brewing Co. (PGH Strip District) 1997-2003

Operated the Foundry Ale Work as a restaurant

Three Rivers Brewery (PGH Strip District) 1996-1997

Valhalla (PGH Strip District) 1997-2003

Beaver County

Beaver Brewing Co 2010-present

Hollywood Gardens Brewery 2012-present

Butler County

Kaliber Brewing 2013-present

North Country Brewing 2003-present

ShuBrew, Zelienople 2013-present

Somerset County

Whitehorse Brewing 2013-present

Westmoreland County

All Saints 2011-present

Bloom Brew (LCB shows as pending)

Dommy’s Pizza & DD Brewing Co. 2011-present

Four Seasons Brewing Co. 2013-present

Full Pint Brewing 2010-present

Helltown Brewing 2011-present

This information will be updated some day.