ABV: Dream Queen // Grist House reveals their latest fruited sour
With a fresh new website and a continued focus on approachable fruited sours, Grist House grinds on at their Millvale digs.
by Aadam Soorma
October 15, 2019
ABV is our weekly series that highlights a different beer from a local Pittsburgh brewery every week. Check out our past picks here.
From 2014 to 2017, Pittsburgh’s collective craft beer drinker’s palate had grown accustomed to various styles of IPAs, coffee porters and lactose-infused milkshake styles. Each style carried its own respective hype and trendiness that would rise and fall.
At some point in early 2018, something different gained its legs: the fruited sour beer.
Pittsburgh’s fruited sours came with a sense of curiosity and tiered availability. Cherries are in season? Have a cherry gose. Watermelon is available right now? Throw it in; let’s do a watermelon Berliner Weiss.
The fruited sours (of the ‘kettle sour’ variety in brewers’ speak) found a Pittsburgh fan base. They were trendy, approachable and served as a gateway beer for the inaugural sour sip.
What about Pittsburgh’s more serious sour beer fans?
Hardline, strict believers in wild ales that are spontaneously fermented (to create a naturally sour beer) will generally tell you that kettle sours are not actual sours. And they’re not wrong.
i.e. Strange Roots, which operates its Millvale taproom just four blocks from Grist House, will likely never brew a kettle sour beer as their ethos and mantra adhere to the strict Belgian principles around spontaneously fermented wild ales (that taste very sour).
This is a very long-winded way to say, beer is fun. And should remain fun. And if you appreciate a fruited sour for what it is (its own style of beer), then read on.
Grist House has a fun beer coming out this Saturday that you should try. It is a fruited sour beer called Dream Queen.
ABV, volume XXXVII
Dream Queen – a fruited sour beer made with local honey; available beginning Saturday, Oct 19
Beer Name: Dream Queen
Style / ABV: Fruited Sour, 5.5% ABV
Why we recommend it: If you can appreciate the fruited sour as its own style – separate from wild ales – then you can appreciate the Dream Queen. It is not meant to be ultra tart nor pointed, but rather a fun, aromatic experience. At a cool 5.5% ABV, it is controlled and mild.
Dream Queen is brewed with peach, mango, vanilla, and honey from Bedillion Honey Farms.
Dream Queen | Fruited Sour
Saturday, October 19th @ 2pmWe are very excited to announce Dream Queen, a new, irresistible sour brewed with peach, mango, vanilla, and honey from Bedillion Honey Farms!
RSVP —> https://t.co/FUNj2phEWU
*Must be kept cold. pic.twitter.com/9q79a9YmJ3
— Grist House (@GristHouse) October 13, 2019
When is it available: Dream Queen will be released on Saturday, Oct 19. This is the inaugural release of Dream Queen; it is hard to say how long this beer will remain available at Grist House. My best guess: Dream Queen will last about 2-3 weeks before it kicks.
How is it served: On draft and in cans (4-packs of cans for carry out). Cans must be kept cold.
Where is it available: Grist House (Millvale)
Honorable Mention Beer: Dark Shaman (Fruited Sour, 5.5% ABV)
Makes sense to stick with what Grist House has been doing exceptionally well. I was blown away by the Shaman series from the start. Every one of these fruited sours has been easy to drink and uniquely different from one another. I find myself consistently looking forward to each iteration of the Shaman.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3e2-mUjEcd/
Visiting Grist House
First Time Visitor?
Parking: Plan to park across the street from Grist House in the long, free parking lot adjacent to the canal. You may be able to find some street parking along Sherman Street as well.
Food: The food truck lineup at Grist House is very good and generally VERY accurate. Although the brewery does not maintain a kitchen or any in-house food program, their team does an excellent job booking food trucks that are on-site every single night the brewery is open. Few local breweries can boast such an amenity. Check their food truck schedule here (scroll to the bottom of their homepage) before you go.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzLxgISndGn/
Interior: More like exterior, am I right? Grist House is super pup-friendly and MOSTLY outside. Dress weather appropriate and enjoy your beers under a tent outside. If you must head inside, be advised that it can be tight, cramped and small (depending on the crowds). The outdoor experience here is where it’s at.
Also, it’s fall and – therefore – it is the season of sport. Grist House is deeply supportive of the Penn State student-athletes of sport. Be advised that game day (generally Saturdays) are exceptionally spirited and passionately packed with sports fans of Penn State sports.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2K9dt8pjrF/
Getting to Grist House
Bus: it’s not optimal, but you can take the 1 (or the 2) to Millvale and walk a hefty distance to the brewery.
Bike: If you find yourself cycling through town, I highly recommend biking to Grist House. Plenty of bike parking near the front entryway and you’re guaranteed to make friends with others who have pedaled their way to the brewery. There exists a laid back, relaxed cycling community vibe at Grist House on the weekends.

More Local Stories
Eat Play Stay Orlando: Sanford
On this episode of Eat Play Stay Orlando explore what’s new in the Northern part of town. Sanford has a plethora of breweries, bars, and delicious dining options to choose from.
Hometown Tragedy: The Pike County Massacre
On this episode of Hometown Tragedy: Missing in Milwaukee, we’ll explore what happened to Jerica Banks, her children, and how it impacted their community.
Six New Orleans parks that are perfect locations to celebrate 4th of July
Head to one of these six New Orleans parks to celebrate Independence Day in the city.
Cheap Date Orlando: Punk Rock & Pooches
Two Orlando couples shop vintage, search for the perfect slice, visit a post-apocalyptic saloon, and take the stage on blind dates in Orlando.
Fit and Fab: Free summer workouts in Boston
Cover photo courtesy Getty Images Looking to get fit for the summer? Still wary of COVID-19 or just looking for some sunshine while you sweat? Here are some Boston free summer workouts across the city so you can keep moving all season long! Seaport Sweat May 2 to Sept. 29 Boston’s biggest free workout series…
What’s On the Menu?: Farm-to-table
The farm-to-table movement brings locally grown foods to your plate. Not only will enjoying farm-to-table meals allow you to indulge in fresh, nutritional, seasonal dishes, but farm-to-table dining helps the environment and supports the local economy. Check out these delicious farm-to-table restaurants in Greenville, South Carolina on the latest episode of What’s On the Menu?. …
A guide to some of the best Black-owned brunch spots in NOLA
Gather the crew together, make those reservations, and celebrate all things Black at brunch.
A guide to Pittsburgh’s summer events must-do list
Check out our roundup below for the can’t-miss events happening in the city over the next few months.
Eat Play Stay Orlando: Tarpon Springs
In this episode of Eat Play Stay Orlando you’ll be transported to a thriving Greek community nestled on Florida’s gulf coast. From sponge diving to flaming cheese to a Greek bakery that supplies a ginormous amount of baklava to the entire country, you’re sure to fall in love with Greek culture in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
Dorchester doughnuts that pack a paczki
These traditional Polish pastries are the real deal.
A grab-and-go food guide to the MSY New Orleans terminal
Time. Most of us don’t have a lot of that. Even less so when we’re rushing to make a flight. There are still plenty of tasty options for the less leisurely travelers among us, though it helps to know where to find them.
Not your typical Asian takeout — a guide to international takeout food in Pittsburgh
Let’s talk international food from Korea, Thailand, India, Uzbekistan and more! This isn’t your typical takeout box.
Homestead’s Golden Age Beer Co. is ushering in a golden age of lagers
Homestead’s Golden Age Beer Company is in business to shine a light on the time-honored brews.