| Roundabout Brewery 4901 Butler Street | Pittsburgh, PA roundaboutbeer.com |
Roundabout Brewery, located in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood, opened in July 2013. The brewery was founded by husband and wife team Steve and Dyana Sloan, who have been talking about opening a brewery since meeting in St. Louis in 2003. Steve is from Detroit, while Dyana is from Christchurch, New Zealand. Despite having no family or friends in Pittsburgh, they were both drawn to the city.
Steve, who is also the head brewer, was named “Large Brewpub Brewer of the Year” at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival. He’s worked for commercial breweries all over the country in Florida, Hawaii, California, Colorado, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. Some notables include Firestone Walker in Paso Robles, CA, Lost Coast in Eureka, CA, and Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh, PA.
As we walked up the ramp to the entrance to the Roundabout tasting room, the iron tree sculptures caught our attention. Upon entering the building, there is an open area, perhaps for seating and tables in the future. A small step down takes you to the bar area where Dyana was serving up samples of Steve’s brews.
- Ginga Wheat – a 5.0% ABV, 18 IBU American wheat beer brewed with fresh pressed ginger, local honey, and a touch of lemon.
- Trompe le Monde – an 8.1% ABV, 22 IBU Belgian golden strong ale brewed with coriander and local honey meaning “Fool of the World.” This beer is brewed with the same yeast as Unibroue’s famous La Fin Du Monde.
- Hy-PA – a 5.5% ABV, 42 IBU hybrid between a pale ale and an IPA featuring Centennial and Motueka hops.
- #8 Wire – 6.5% ABV, 48 IBU Belgian IPA with New Zealand hops. The beer was a collaboration for Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week with Rivertowne Brewing.
- Irish Coffee Stout – a 4.8% ABV, 25 IBU Irish stout brewed with coffee from Pittsburgh’s La Prima and vanilla. This one was my personal favorite.
Roundabout also recently released (and sold out of) 22 ounce bottles of Heini’s Good Cheer, a 10.4% ABV, 56 IBU bourbon barrel aged old ale with aromas and flavors of vanilla, oak, caramel, citrus, cocoa powder and warming alcohol.
All beers on tap can be sampled at the brewery for no charge. Beer is available to go in 32 or 64 ounce growlers. Gift certificates, t-shirts, and glassware are also available for sale.
I very much enjoy the well-made, delicious brews from Roundabout. The Lawrenceville neighborhood is becoming a “must visit” for Pittsburgh craft beer fans. I look forward to my next visit to sample what else they have “on tap!”
