| Church Brew Works 3525 Liberty Avenue | Pittsburgh, PA 15201 412-688-8200 www.churchbrew.com |
The Church Brew Works is a brewpub located in a restored Roman Catholic church, formerly St. John the Baptist Church, in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA. Originally built in 1902, the building was used as a church until 1993. Church Brew Works opened in August of 1996 and was added to the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation’s List of Historic Landmarks in 2001.
During the renovation of the church, the original pews were hand cut into “mini pews” for restaurant seating. The bar was built from the leftover oak planks from the pews. The Douglas Fir floors are original as are the eight lanterns in the center bay.
Many bricks used outside on the sign and ramp leading to the building were salvaged from the removal of one of the confessionals. The other confessional is used for Church Brew Works merchandise. The brew house is located on the Apse. For as they say, “And on the eighth day… man created beer.”
The brewpub’s 15 barrel system brews up delicious flagship beers on draft including:
- Celestial Gold – a light lager golden in color with fine hop aroma and a light malt taste.
- Pipe Organ Pale Ale – an English pale ale brewed with a large amount of pale malt and three kinds of American hops.
- Pious Monk Dunkel – a Munich-style dark lager that is surprisingly mellow with a roasty aroma, finishing crisp and clean.
- Rotating Stout – changes frequently; typically includes an unconventional ingredient such as espresso, vanilla, or coconut.
Available in bottles:
- Millennium Trippel – a Belgian tripel light in color and highly carbonated with a fruit-like aroma and sweet and malty taste.
- Cherry Quadzilla – a Belgian quad amber in color with red hues, fruit-like esters and bread-like maltiness with lingering caramel sweetiness.
There are also several specialty or seasonal beers, and one cask-conditioned ale. One speciality was Thunderhop IPA, which offered intense hop bitterness and aroma from large amounts of Australian Galaxy and American Chinook hops (3 pounds per barrel!). Other specialty brews included Hop Confession, Apple Rye Saison, Schwarzbier, Honey I Spiced the Wit, and Renegade Black IPA.
Chef Jason Marrone has created a diverse menu including everything from appetizers including Untraditional Pierogies and Pumpkin & Chorizo Risotto Fritters to entrees like Wild Boar Cassoulet and Buffalo Meatloaf.
Church Brew Works also offers a “featured menu” every week, which includes soup, mussels, pierogies, hummus, and special entrees. The features are always interesting and different.
In 2012 the Church Brew Works won the Great American Beer Festival’s Large Brewpub Brewer of the Year Award. Check out the list of other medals and accolades on their website.
During your next trip to Pittsburgh, don’t miss Church Brew Works. Whether you enjoy a delicious meal sitting in a pew at a booth or indulge in a few tasty beers at the bar, you are sure to have a heavenly time!
