2020: The Year in Pittsburgh Beer
Despite pandemic-related difficulties, Pittsburgh has continued to punch above its weight in craft beer with notable moments and memorable stories.
by Aadam Soorma
December 29, 2020
ABV is our weekly series that highlights a different beer from a local Pittsburgh brewery every week. Check out our past picks here.
For our 2020 grand finale, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite stories from the past year about Pittsburgh beer.
That’s right. It’s an end-of-year recap piece for folks who may have missed some of the notable moments in our local beer scene. From bike quests to virtual beer fests, the pandemic did little to stop Pittsburgh’s vibrant brewing scene.
What else would you add to the list? What was the best beer you tried this year? What are you looking forward to in 2021? We’d love to hear from you!
Drop me an email: [email protected].
Cheers and thanks for reading this 100th edition of our beer column, ABV.
2020 Pittsburgh Beer in Review
ABV, Volume C
Mike Cottle Rides his Bike to 29 Breweries in 10 Weeks
Our Story: Quarantine Quest: Mike Cottle bikes to every brewery in the Pittsburgh Brewers Guild to show support for local breweries during the pandemic
Follow: Mike Cottle on Instagram
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Several Pittsburgh-Area Breweries Begin Offering Home Delivery
Our Story: Local breweries that are now offering home delivery. Plus, take a listen to our interview with Scott Smith from East End Brewing on how they adapted to the changes in March.
Follow: A great local beer resource, the Pittsburgh Brewers Guild has helpful information available on their Facebook page.
Fresh Fest Beer Festival Goes Digital
Our Story: Fresh Fest goes Digital
Our Podcast: Hear Day Bracey, Fresh Fest co-founder, explain the digital pivot in his own words on Ep 34 of The Slaw
Follow: Fresh Fest on Facebook
Brew Gentlemen Expands Brewing Capacity & Unveils Slim Cans for Distribution
Our Story: Brew Gentlemen kicks off slim cans with ‘General Braddock’s IPA’
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Trace Brewing Announces a Paid Vocational Program, Aims to Diversify the Beer Industry
Our Story: Trace Brewing opens in Bloomfield
Follow: Trace Brewing on Instagram
Dancing Gnome Collaborates with Iron City to Resurrect the Robin Hood Cream Ale
Our Story: The return of the Robin Hood Cream Ale from Pittsburgh Brewing Company and Dancing Gnome
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Virtual Beer Festival “Cheers, Yinz!” Donates 100% of Proceeds Back to Participating Breweries
Story, via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Cheers, Yinz virtual festival
Follow: Fueled By Hops on Instagram
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Pittsburgh-Area Breweries get Creative with Outdoor Seating Options
Story, via Good Food Pittsburgh: Beer Gardens & Outdoor Breweries
Follow: Good Food Pittsburgh on Facebook
Old Thunder Rumbles into Blawnox
Our Story: The final brewery to launch in 2020, Old Thunder Brewing, is now open inside the former Blawnox Post Office
Follow: Old Thunder Brewing on Instagram
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All of the new breweries that opened in Pittsburgh in 2020
Quarantines and shutdowns did little to stop the flow of beer in the ‘Burgh. Here are 8 new breweries that opened in and around Pittsburgh this year.
Header Photo courtesy of Nicole Dunlap, Tranquil Fern Photography.
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