Pittsburgh's Craft Beer Scene: A Guide to the Best Breweries

April 13, 2025

Here's where to start.

Church Brew Works — Lawrenceville

There is no brewery setting in Pittsburgh — arguably no brewery setting in America — quite like the Church Brew Works. Housed inside the former St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Liberty Avenue in Lawrenceville, the brewery opened in 1996 with the brewing tanks installed directly on the altar beneath the original stained glass windows. The pews became the dining room. The confessionals became storage.

The irreverence is entirely intentional, and the beer quality has always backed it up. Their Pious Monk Dunkel and Celestial Gold have won national awards, and the seasonal releases are eagerly anticipated by Pittsburgh beer fans. The food menu is a full gastropub operation — the pierogies here are as good as anywhere in the city.

Allegheny City Brewing — Lawrenceville / North Side

With locations on Butler Street in Lawrenceville and on the North Side near PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium, Allegheny City Brewing has become one of Pittsburgh's most beloved neighborhood breweries. The beer is approachable and well-made — their ACB Lager is a daily-drinker that would have made the old mill workers proud — and the taprooms feel like actual neighborhood bars rather than brand experiences.

The North Side location is ideally positioned for pre- or post-game drinking, within walking distance of both stadiums.

East End Brewing — Larimer / Bakery Square

East End Brewing was one of Pittsburgh's earliest craft brewery success stories. Founded in 2004 in a small East End warehouse, it grew steadily on the strength of its Big Hop IPA and Pedal Pale Ale (brewed with spent grain from the brewing process, supporting local cycling culture). The current taproom near Bakery Square is a welcoming space with regular events and a loyal base of Pittsburgh regulars.

Wigle Whiskey — Strip District

Strictly speaking, Wigle is a distillery, not a brewery — but no guide to Pittsburgh craft beverages is complete without it. Wigle Whiskey opened in 2012 as Pittsburgh's first whiskey distillery since Prohibition, named after Philip Wigle, a Western Pennsylvania farmer who was sentenced to death (later pardoned) for his role in the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion. Pittsburgh's relationship with whiskey runs deep — this region was the center of American rye whiskey production before Prohibition, and Wigle is reviving that heritage one barrel at a time.

Tours and tastings are available at the Strip District location. Their Landlocked Rye and Organic Wheat Whiskey are exceptional.

Dancing Gnome — Lawrenceville

Dancing Gnome has built a national reputation for hop-forward IPAs and hazy New England-style ales, all brewed in a compact taproom on Butler Street. For serious craft beer enthusiasts, this is a required stop — their limited releases sell out quickly and draw visitors from across the region.

Pittsburgh Brewing Company — Iron City

No Pittsburgh beer story is complete without Iron City. The Pittsburgh Brewing Company has been producing Iron City Lager — the original Burgh beer — since 1861, and it remains the totem of Pittsburgh working-class drinking culture. "IC Light" is still the cheapest beer in most Pittsburgh bars, and ordering one is an act of neighborhood allegiance as much as a thirst decision. The brewery is in Latrobe's Penn Brewery now, but Iron City belongs to Pittsburgh permanently.

Penn Brewery — North Side

Penn Brewery on the North Side occupies a gorgeous restored 19th-century complex — the former Eberhardt & Ober Brewery — that tells Pittsburgh's deep German brewing heritage in its very architecture. The Penn Pilsner is a model of the style, and the Bavarian-style beer hall and beer garden are among the best outdoor drinking spaces in the city. Their Oktoberfest is a Pittsburgh fall tradition.

Where to Drink: A Quick Map

• Before a Pirates game: Allegheny City Brewing (North Side), Penn Brewery
• Date night in Lawrenceville: Church Brew Works, Dancing Gnome
• Strip District Saturday: Wigle Whiskey tasting after the market
• East End afternoon: East End Brewing taproom near Bakery Square

Pittsburgh's brewing geography mirrors its neighborhood geography — every district has its own place to drink, and each one has a story. Explore the city and find your local.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a Pittsburgh-only experience?

Very much so. Pittsburgh's food culture is deeply tied to its industrial and immigrant history, and many of the dishes and establishments described here are unique to the city.

What is Pittsburgh's most iconic food?

The Primanti Brothers sandwich — stuffed with coleslaw and french fries — is the undisputed symbol of Pittsburgh food culture. But pierogies, kielbasa, and Heinz ketchup are all deeply Pittsburgh too.

Where is the best neighborhood to eat in Pittsburgh?

Lawrenceville on Butler Street is currently the most exciting dining neighborhood. The Strip District is essential for market food on Saturday mornings. Bloomfield (Little Italy) and Squirrel Hill each have long-established dining traditions.