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Did not eat. Beer was decent but not spectacular. Worth a stop.
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MARK,
palm harbor, , FL
(09/30/2012) |
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Great
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Penn Brewery is back in business!
The menu has changed a little and the quality of everything I have tried has improved.
I also think the Allegheny Ale a nice addition to their beer line up.
I always liked Penn Brewery and it is great to have them back.
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Pittsburgh, PA
(07/22/2010) |
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N/A
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Update to the status of Penn Brewery. On 11/23/09, Tom Pastorius, the original founder of the brewery, and a team of investors reacquired a controlling interest in Penn Brewery. Brewing resumed at the Vinial Street Brewery in December. A new kegging line was installed in February, and starting in March, the restaurant is open on fridays, serving beer only. The grand re-opening of the restaurant is scheduled for May and they will be hosting the Pennsylvania Micro Brewer's 2010 Fest on June 5th.
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Steve Alvin,
Henry, IL
(04/12/2010) |
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N/A
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Things aren't looking good for this Pittsburgh institution. As of August 18th 2009, all have ceased until further notice. Places like this that close "until further notice" usually don't re-open. Penn products will continue to be available courtesy of a brewing contract with Lion Brewing in Wilkes-Barre. But if the Troy Hill brewpub closes for good, it will be a sad day for Pittsburgh's brewpub scene even if it re-opens elsewhere as had been discussed in previous months. Any "new" Penn brewpub just wouldn't be the same.
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Chicago, IL
(08/19/2009) |
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Great
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Great
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N/A
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Great
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Great
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It's been too, too long since I've stopped by Penn Brewing, so we made this stop #1 on a recent beer cruise. Everything was fresh and clean; true to style. Pils had that original malty goodness I remembered from my first taste many years ago. Kaiser Pils had a spicy, refreshing quality, and I have to admit I forgot how good the dark was--especially when it was the first beer of the trip. Penndemonium is an 8% bock sweet in the nose and slightly throughout. It's smooth and drinkable despite the alcohol percentage. I'll definitely seek out Penn brews more often.
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Beav,
York, PA
(08/17/2008) |
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To the review below, you may have opened a bottle that was not fresh. Their weizen is an excellent example of the style and has received high rating in several ber publications. Or it could be you don't like the weizen style. If that's the case, please don't disparage the brewery.
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Mark,
Yardley, PA
(04/18/2008) |
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Awesome!
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Great
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Good
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Great
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Awesome!
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Penn Brewery is starting to produce special seasonal beers. The St Nick Bock Reserve was awesome.
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Pittsburgh, PA
(04/02/2008) |
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Lousy
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Lousy
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N/A
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So So
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I have had beers in the past from this brewing company through local distribution and thought they were nothing special. I stopped in and had the hefeweizen which made me feel bloated and half way through it, I wanted to move on to another beer. It was a weak and generic attempt at a weizen. The beer had a thick feel with very little spice or citrus feel. I have no idea how this won any medal at any competition. Perhaps the batch served was old? I have had the Penn Dark in the past and found it very unrememberable. I moved on to Penn Pilsner and it really had no flavor. It was a below average pilsner.
The brewery itself is awesome. You can hang out between the brewery and another smaller building. They have an outdoor bar and the ground is cobble stoned. The brewery is brick with old masonry. The atmosphere would make me want to stop in again. If I am out there again at another time of year, I would definately stop in to give the place another shot.
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thomas sup,
schnecksville, PA
(06/25/2007) |
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Awesome!
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Great
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Awesome!
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Great
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Awesome!
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A definite destination when in the Pittsburgh area, particularly if you want good German food. OK, it's somewhat typical fare, and missing some of my favorites, but it IS good, and the beer is very good. The seating is rather family style -- which will put some off, but the atmosphere is quite Gemütlichkeit!
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RFM57,
Beaver, PA
(03/08/2007) |
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Good
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So So
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This is a borderline "great" recommendation, based more on the food and the surroundings than the beer. I visited Penn Brewery on July 13 while in town for the All-Star Game. I had been there once before many years ago, probably in the early 90s.
The venue is a good one: lots of long tables not unlike a German beer hall. And since it's German beer and food styles they feature at Penn Brewery, the decor and seating makes sense. It was a very hot day when I visited, so the inviting outdoor beer garden space was not being used. However it looks like a great place in cooler temperatures to while away an hour or two.
I had the Rouladen (stuffed sirloin rolls), mostly because when I saw it on the menu it reminded me that my mom made the same dish occasionally many decades ago. They were well-prepared and the spatzle and red cabbage accompaniments were likewise satisfying. My wife had the potato pancakes and loved them. We also had the German meat sampler plate as an appetizer and it was hearty. (I'm headed to Munich this fall for Oktoberfest and figured I'd "test-drive" my taste buds with this hearty German fare.)
The weakest link at Penn Brewery is the beer. What was offered was certainly clean but not overly memorable. I had the Maibock and the Penn Pilsner and sipped my pal's Kaiser Pils. All were OK but there was nothing particularly noteworthy about them. Later that night I had a Penn Gold at the ballgame. It was just a crossover beer for the Bud Light crowd and can be bypassed by folks in pursuit of microbrews with character. The biggest drawback was that only five beers were available at the brewery, and three of those were variations on the same golden lager theme. I know it's a German-style brewery, but I would have welcomed an alt or other lesser-known such style.
Overall, Penn Brewery is certainly worth seeking out ... especially if you're hungry.
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Ken Kane,
Portland, OR
(07/17/2006) |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Come here many times, from special events like Oktoberfest or their Microbrew Festival to just stopping in before or after the game. It's always a great time. The beer is always top-notch from their weizen to the dark to the seasonals - there's always a good brew to be had. And the food has greatly improved over the last couple of years. Before it was hit-or-miss, sometimes you would get a good meal and sometimes you wouldn't. But lately all the meals I've had their have been top-notch. If you like German food and beer there's no other place to go than the Brewery.
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John Lewis,
Pittsburgh, PA
(02/20/2006) |
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Awesome!
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Great
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Good
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Good
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Great
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Been here many times. The beer is always the same quality...Awesome", but the food can be spotty. EG, last week I ordered the Brewmeister's Steak. A ribeye with a wild mushroom sauce made with their Penn Dark. I wish the sauce hadn't been so thick so it would have been easier to cut around all the fat and grissle on the cut. But, I've been here that the food's been "Awesome" too. Wish the food could be as consistantly "Awesome" as the beer and atmosphere. It truly does seem like you're in Germany.
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BR,
State College, PA
(01/09/2006) |
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Great
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Great
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N/A
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Awesome!
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Great
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Unique, I felt like I was in bavaria! Cool old relics and breweriana from the old E&B brewery in the basement. Although nothing very adventerous, the beer was very good and true to style! Yet another PA. original.
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BENBREW,
HUDSON, OH
(01/05/2006) |
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Good
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N/A
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I've tagged the selection as "great" because there was probably a good ten varieties available the time I stopped by. I'm crossing the Burgh, going from Church Brew to Penn Brewing to John Harvard's only to find that this brewery does not offer a sampler tray. How can you guys have such a selection and no tray? I can't be drinking a gallon of beer to try everything and then moving on. ANYWAY, try their Penn Dark. It's got a rich flavor to it that I haven't quite found anywhere else.
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SuperSteve,
Spokane, WA
(11/04/2005) |
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Good
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Good
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N/A
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Good
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Good, old historic location. All German-styled beers are offered, so don't look for an Imperial IPA. Between the maibock and marzen that I tried, I favored the marzen; it seemed to have a little more flavor. I found it ironic that a Brit was on the bar (without a hand pump in sight!).
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Beav,
York, PA
(06/29/2005) |
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Great
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Good
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Great
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I paid a visit to Penn recently and I can now say all is forgiven. So you folks can stop ragging on me for "badmouthing" the place. You won't find an Imperial Rye Chipotle Stout or any such experimental stuff here. It's traditional German-style beers or nothing. I tried their Pilsner, Kaiser Pils and their hefe-weizen. I'm not sure why they call the Pilsner a pilsner; it is described in their literature as a Vienna lager and it certainly tastes like one (which is a good thing). Their Kaiser Pils is actually a pilsner as the name describe, and again, it tastes like one. The Weizen is appropriately tart, straw-colored, cloudy and citrus-like. Nicely done. Atmosphere is much like that of a Munich beer hall with common tables in a big open hall, plus a smaller seating area with conventional tables and a second, smaller bar in the Rathskeller. The main level seating area features a glass wall that overlooks the gleaming brewing equipment. Service left nothing to complain about. Beers were brought out with a pleasant attitude and a smile. Didn't try the food but suffice to say the place smelled like a German restaurant. I'll let you decide if that's a good or bad thing. Capital Brewery in Middleton WI is still my favorite American brewer of German beers but Penn's quality comes quite close. I'm glad I live within daytripping distance of Capital but I wouldn't be disappointed if I lived near Penn either.
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The Enemy,
Chicago, IL
(04/23/2005) |
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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Penn was rocking when I stopped in last week, tables full and busy, and pint after pint of St. Nikolaus Bock sailing across the bar. I stuck to the damn-near-perfect Penn Dark and was not disappointed. Food was delicious and plentiful, service was on the dot. No complaints here.
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Lew Bryson,
Philadelphia, PA
(01/02/2005) |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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So So
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Great
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Cool place with good beer.
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beer drinking mike,
lagrange, OH
(11/20/2004) |
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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A truely great brewpub. Brewed in the German tradition adhering to German purity laws. They have a nice outside area great to sit outside and enjoy a few pints. Stage with regular events.
I can't comment too much on what beers I tried. I tried the range, which was good to awesome! Worth trying if in town. Good German food.
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Mike Murphy,
Iselin, NJ
(11/18/2004) |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Just had an enjoyable visit to this establishment on 6/26/04. The beer was clean crisp and flavorful. The Dark I found smooth and easy to drink with a nice chocolate malty tone. The service was exceptional, polite and courteous. The staff was helpful in explaining the beers and was generous enough to bring a sample of the weizen as I did not want to have a whole pint. The weizen was quite flavorful and drinkable. Also great atmosphere and good food all the way around.
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Elk,
Binghamton, NY
(06/28/2004) |
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Great
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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Awesome!
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Got a chance to try the seasonal Maibock at Fat Head's over the weekend: excellent beer, smooth as silk and rich with malt. Very nice. Also heard that the Kaiser Pils may finally be bottled: can't happen soon enough for me!
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Lew Bryson,
Philadelphia, PA
(04/27/2004) |
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Great
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Really enjoyed the Maibock and the Dark. Steak Sandwich was excellant. On weekends they have entertainment.
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Bob Morseburg,
Seattle, WA
(04/26/2004) |
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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"I don't know what The Enemy's and Tim Tomlinson's problem is. This place is far and away the best brewery in Western Pennsylvania and one of the best in the region." My "problem," as it were, is that Penn beers were problematic when I tried them. But let's be real here -- my prior review is over 5 years old. Note some of the other reviews from around that time and it seems like Penn had hit a rough spot. In the microbrewery industry, 5 years is an eternity -- things change, I realize this, and I don't hold grudges. Recent reviews seem to indicate that Penn has subsequently gotten their act together. I moved away from Pittsburgh years ago so I haven't had a chance to re-evaluate Penn beers. Next time I'm in the area I'll give 'em another go.
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The Enemy,
Chicago, IL
(04/23/2004) |
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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I don't know what The Enemy's and Tim Tomlinson's problem is. This place is far and away the best brewery in Western Pennsylvania and one of the best in the region. Great recreations of German beers, served up in an authentic German-style brauhaus. The place is practically in my back yard so I get to spend lots of quality time here.
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Orberthur,
Mexican War Streets ('Burgh), PA
(04/19/2004) |
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Great
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Great
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Good
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Good
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Great
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Stopped after several hours on road from Arlington,VA. It was quiet time on Friday. Very interesting facility with lots to see and weathered copper bar to lean on. Very German in its beer selections - no hop crazies here! Easy to find, but watch the directions closely!
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Lynwood sinnamon,
Arlington, VA
(04/13/2004) |
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Beer Quality |
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Service |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great beer, great food and great service. What more can I say.
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Geo. Miller,
Plymouth, CT
(01/29/2004) |
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Beer Quality |
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Great
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Great
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The beer is very good. Although they have added "American Food" to the menu you can still get a great German meal.
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Matt Gray,
McCandless, PA
(12/30/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Oops, make that culinary... this damn website kicks you off so fast, it's tough to write it all down without a few panic-driven typos.
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Otto,
Toms River, NJ
(10/31/2003) |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great beers and great food, not so great owner. Listen Fritz, if you enjoy conversing with the people who make this all possible, don't bother with Tom Pastorius. I don't think he likes mixing with the "little people." It's hard for him to climb down off his throne. But, if it's great culilary adventure you want, you can't miss here!
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Otto,
Toms River, NJ
(10/31/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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Had a great late lunch here 7/17/03. The Kaiser Pils was outstanding but the Hefeweizen was perfect in every respect. Really a joy to taste such fine examples of German brewing. The Meat, Cheese and Bread Platter appetizer was a great way to down a couple of cool ones.
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Jeff McClellan,
Raleigh, NC
(07/29/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
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Great
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Great
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I stopped here after the Vintage Grand Prix, and very much enjoyed the place. They did not have a large selection of beers, but the Heifeweizen was very good (nice banana, spice and head), the dark was quite nice. The courtyard was a very relaxing place to unwind.
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Jon Bernardi,
Hudson, OH
(07/21/2003) |
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Great
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Gretat German style beers and food. One of the better breweries we visited on a 17 brewpub tour of Ohio and west PA.
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Bearded Dave,
Pine Springs, TX
(07/17/2003) |
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Good
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Great
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N/A
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So So
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Good
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Dissapointed they no longer fill up growlers (came all the way from Baltimore) due to "the six packs they sell now" but I feel that when Im sitting 10 feet from a serving tank and I cant get my growler filled for the same price as their 6-pack something is wrong with the management/marketing plan for sure!
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Beertrekker,
Catonsville, MD
(05/07/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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Mr. Tomey, I couldn't let your comment go by. Rest assured, Tom Pastorius is NOT a jerk. Tom Pastorius is one of the true gentlemen in the craft brewing industry, a well-spoken, educated man who runs a clean business. His annual beer festival in June is one of the most popular fests with the brewers because of how well they are treated. This is the very first negative comment I've ever heard about Tom. He is one of my favorite people in the Pennsylvania brewing industry, in a group of great people. His beer's damned good, too. No slam on you, just letting you know my opinion, based on about 8 years of interviewing Tom for stories I've done.
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Lew Bryson,
Langhorne, PA
(04/20/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
Overall |
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Good
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Great
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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We enjoyed all the beers we tried, which was all of them. I particularly enjoyed the Marzen.
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Bearded Dave,
Pine Springs, TX
(04/17/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
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Service |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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During my brief enrollment at North Catholic in the late 80's I walked past this beautiful building every day thinking it was a shame there was not more urban rebuilding. Several years after joining the army I came home to discover the brewery and have stopped in several times since. I love everything from the history to the food and rounding it off with the brew. I've never left sober and plan to visit every time I come home. Great pub.
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Kirk Kuebbing,
Ft. Drum, NY
(04/15/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Great
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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Great
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This is a great place. its perfect. a noisy beer garden with good food and great beer. I like really big beers. they dont make any biggies but what they make sets the standard for that genre. Their wheat is top notch and the kaiser pils is a nice hoppy beer. Its also relatively family friendly. Mr. Pastorious, although rumored to be a jerk, clearly knows how to make a good brew.
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Mr .Tomey,
pittsburgh, pa
(03/13/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Great
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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One of my favorite pubs all-time (or should I say Stuebe?)
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Dave Sutula,
Berea, OH
(10/16/2002) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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I have zero complaints or suggestions for improvement, but I have several compliments: The beers, the atmosphere, the food, the service, all, even the swing band, were great! And I'm not saying this flippantly; it was all truly excellent. It's almost enough to make me want to live in Pittsburgh. Instead, I'll plan to revisit the Penn Brewery the next time I'm in town.
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Road Mode,
Asheville, NC
(09/25/2002) |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Penn Brewery continues to grow and produce fine products. We were there last Saturday with a group of six... Waitress was attentative, food was fresh and we consumed a fine portion of their Weizen which is a fine wheat beer and good for summertime..
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paris lundis,
Pittsburgh, PA
(07/12/2002) |
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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I grew up and went to college in the 'Burgh. I only wish they'd been open then. A truly wonderful place to go with friends, your kids (for the great German food), or, if you must :-( alone. My favorite's the Penn Dark, followed by the Pilsner and Gold. I don't like wheat beers in general (too yeasty for me) so I won't offer my opinion on the Weizen.
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Paul Stanko,
Crown Point, IN
(06/27/2002) |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Ambience of Munich (squint a little). Long communal tables to eat and quaff your excellent beer. Jazz combo accompanied dinner when I was there, a nice touch.
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Larry Violand,
Cleveland, OH
(04/04/2002) |
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Penn Brewery is quite an interesting place. Seated in what use to a strong German section of Pittsburgh its history dates back well over 100 years.
Inside you will find a very traditional German interior, very dimly lit at best. The menu reflects the German heritage. Do note, the pickings are very limited (1 dish) for anyone on a fixed diet or vegetarian folks.
Beer wise Penn gets a so-so rap for their local saturation of the Penn products. They are better than the competing Pittsburgh Brewing Products consistantly. Much better fresh picks than the typical beer you find bottled from them.
A must stop for any Pittsburgh beer tour.
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paris,
Pittsburgh, PA
(01/06/2002) |
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Good
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Good
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Good
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The Penn Brewery is a great asset to Pittsburgh. Go here for a true German brewhouse experience...from the food to the decor (including the long wooden tables found in Germany) and including the atmosphere. (The last time I was there a man was playing tunes on the accordian.) Octoberfest is not to be missed. Crowds flock here for a great time and for beer. I highly recommend a trip here.
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Kimberly Booth,
Pittsburgh, PA
(01/06/2002) |
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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Another Great American Beer Festival medal for Penn Gold -- the fifth, and the FOURTH GOLD. Some kind of achievement. Congratulations!
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Lew Bryson,
Newtown, PA
(10/02/2001) |
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Great
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Best microbrewery in Pittsburgh!!! Try the Penn Dark and Penn Weizen.
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McKees Rocks, PA
(04/27/2001) |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Good
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Great
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I had a great time on a Saturday night - the place was packed and had a live jazz band. The hefeweizen took me back to Bavaria; it's the best I've had in the US.
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D. Murphy,
Woodbridge, VA
(04/27/2001) |
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Great
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Awesome!
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Great
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Good solid beers that are well worth a visit. The food was good, and the service was very good. It is a little hard finding the place for out of towners, but worth it!
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Russ Hobaugh,
Birdsboro, PA
(01/24/2001) |
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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Great
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I maek a stop here any time I am in the 'Burgh. The Penn Pilsner has been a staple in my beer diet since I first tried it 3 years ago. The atmosphere is terrific, big oak picnic style tables which are great for a group of friends. Their seasonals are always good and ture to their style and thier regular brews all please (Dark, Gold, Kaiser Pils,Weizen)A bit of Germany right in Pittsburgh.
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Brett Hollern,
Windber, PA
(08/22/2000) |
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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Great
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Awesome!
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The atmosphere at the Penn Brewery was simply awesome! The live band had the whole place singing and clapping. The beer was fabulous and the food was affordable and very delicious. The whole ambiance was relaxed in its own informal way. I felt like I was in a German beer garden.
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Tom Madigan,
Kettering, OH
(05/21/2000) |
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N/A
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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I finally found the place (I guess it would of helped if I had followed the colorful direction signs that simply read "The Brewery"), and I'm glad I did. My wife and I loved it. The atmosphere is fantastic, and our server was both attentive and knowledgeable. I've had Penn Pilsner before, so it was no surprise to enjoy it fresh; Penn Dark was very well done, and the Weizen may have been the most flavorful I've had anywhere. I had the Bockwurst, while my wife had the Balsamic Vinegar Grilled Chicken salad. Both were excellent. I wish that I had more time to sample additional brews....
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Bill Stimmel,
Waterville, OH
(03/27/2000) |
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Good
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Great
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Nice place - good atmosphere! I was disappointed I could not spend more time. Good food and the menu selection was great. Highly recommended.
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Bart Fellin,
Flemington, NJ
(02/09/2000) |
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Great
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N/A
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Great
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Great
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Was disappointed that they did not have samplers. This was the only drawback I could find though since I thought the beers were delicious. My favorite beer was the Penn Dark -- I can see how it won an award at the GABF! The Octoberfest was also excellent and I got to take home a six-pack from the brewpub -- not something you often get to do in VA. Also, for the hopheads out there, try the Kaiser Pils. In addition, this place had a very friendly waitstaff.
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Robert Borsato,
Annandale, VA
(11/03/1999) |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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First off, CONGRATULATIONS on Penn's latest GABF medals: a pair of Bronzes for Penn Gold and Penn Dark! This brings Penn's total to six. Penn's beers are great examples of their styles, clean as a whistle, and just the thing for quaffing (unless, of course, you're tying into some of the Bock or Weizenbock, in which case use a little caution: Big Beer Ahead). I love going to this place, tucked into the old Eberhardt and Ober brewery building, and having a good cold lager beer.
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Lew "Pennsylvania Breweries" Bryson,
Langhorne, PA
(10/13/1999) |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Nice tour to boot!
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Nick--- Beer Trekker,
Baltimore, MD
(07/26/1999) |
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So So
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Lousy
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So So
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The first thing I noticed about this place was the number of servers standing behind the bar chatting, ignoring the customers. I sat at the bar--which only seats 4 or 5 people--and it took me 10 minutes to get a beer. The people seated at tables kept coming up to the bar to get drinks. Maybe they don't have table service, but then I don't understand the number of servers just standing around. The Penn Dark is dark in color--that's all. A light malty flavor but nothing to write home about. The Keisser Pills, looks, smells, and tastes like Budweiser--enough said. The Weitzen was actually good--especially considering they opened a bottle and poured it into a Hefeweitzen glass. Not a fan of weitzen, but this was pretty good. The stuffed banana peppers were good--they and the free parking made the trip worthwhile.
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Bill Laubert,
Alfred, NY
(07/17/1999) |
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Awesome!
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Good
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Definitely German cuisine, beer as well as entertainment. Each December, a visit from Santa kicks off the season with their holiday bock, one of my favorites.
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Steve Holowach,
Uniontown, PA
(06/17/1999) |
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Good
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Good
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So So
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This place definitely had a German atmosphere. The beers were all German Style brews. I particularly enjoyed the Marzen, which was their seasonal. The food was German fare and good, but the portions were less than desirable. Also disappointing was the fact they had no samplers to taste their brews and they did not have growlers to go, just bottled beer. Not only did the waitress we had have no clue about the establishment, the food, and the BEER!(lack of proper training), she really didn't seem to care.
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Steve Albrecht,
Columbus, OH
(04/18/1999) |
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Awesome!
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Great
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Undoubtedly THE best German beer in the USA. And the food is authentic German gasthaus fare. This is the real McCoy(or Schmidt, if you will)! Ask any beer snob who disagrees if he's ever been to Der Vaterland. Penn Kaiser Pils is a dead ringer for Henninger Kaiser Pils of Frankfurt, and is my favorite.
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Dan Thomas,
Thomas Mills, PA
(03/13/1999) |
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Good
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Great
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Write Your Review
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Eddie Figas,
McKeesport, PA
(02/18/1999) |
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Awesome!
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What this place lacks in the quality of its food, it more than makes up for in the quality of its brews!!! Also, the atmosphere is outa sight!! Every time I frequent this establishment I always end up taking a quarter keg home with me! The beer is that good! This is not a place to take you sweetheart for that romantic dinner, but definitely bring her along if you want to go somewhere and have fun!!!
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Christian Wagner,
Pittsburgh, PA
(02/01/1999) |
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Lousy
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Good
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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I've never actually been to the brewpub. I tried once to go but it was closed. The atmosphere looks pretty decent, and the beer court looks like it might be a fun place to hang out. But their products, which are widely available on tap at other establishments around Pittsburgh, are an unmitigated nightmare. Every time I tried a Penn Product I literally could not finish the rest of the glass/bottle. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt each time a new Penn variety was offered to me. Now I know better. Yegads, how do these people stay in business?
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The Enemy,
Pittsburgh, PA
(01/27/1999) |
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Awesome!
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Lousy
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It is great to read all the comments from people who took the time to visit this site! As the President of Pittsburgh's Homebrewing Club (No connection to this pub !) and a Certified AHA beer Judge, I really like to read responses to opinions of beer perception. Weitzen Beer, because of the aggresive Ale Yeast, will "overcarbonate". But this head that is also 50%Wheat or more is famous for its Huge Head in a half-liter glass. My suggestion is to check out the bananna and cloves that this beer is famous for and you will taste a great example of a Weitzen Bier. P.S. Don't drink it with a Lemon if you want to evaluate a Weitzen Bier.
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Ed Bloom,
Gibsonia, PA
(01/17/1999) |
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So So
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So So
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N/A
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Awesome!
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So So
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This is a perfect example of a great place gone bad. They are currently having so many problems that they don't have any Hefeweizen on tap, and what is in bottles literally explodes out because of overcarbonation. Their beers can be so good here, but they either have to fix some equipment, dump some batches or fire someone. Making customers put up with shut vial crap is unacceptable in this business. I hope that by my next visit (June and October were disasters) their product is improved.
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Tim Tomlinson,
Austin, TX
(12/20/1998) |
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Great
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Awesome!
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I have been their many times and I like the dark beers, especially the Octoberfest which is not available year round.I have a friend from Munich,who tells me this is the closet American brewed beer to German beer.The food is great and this is my favorite place in Pittsburgh.
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Jim Gill,
Hermitage, PA
(12/17/1998) |
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Great
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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THE brewpub of Pittsburgh. Without them we would have no others (here or any where else in PA.). Mr. Pastorius was instrumental in getting brewpubs allowed in the state (also see Stoudt). They make traditional german style beers and do it well. THE Absolute best wheat I have tried in many back to back tastings. All are good though. Beer festival in the spring is excellent with many microbrewers on hand. Stop by and thank them for what they have done for us beer lovers.
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Ed McCauslin,
Harrisville, PA
(10/16/1998) |
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Awesome!
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Good
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Great
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Good
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Great
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Best lagers in the tri-state. Only decoction brewery in Pgh. Keiser Pils @ Old Man Winter (Double Wheat Bock), are a must. Quality to STYLE, not quantity of beer selections. Great Hassenphefer (Rabbit) goes well with their PennDark.
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Ed Bloom,
Gibsonia, PA
(03/09/1998) |
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Great
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Good
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Good
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Good
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Good
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The grandaddy of brewpubs in Pittsburgh, they do serve 4 beers at all times, though the Penn Pilsner is their best, followed by a decent wheat beer. Food can vary, but follows a good German routine. German entertainment and long tables add to the enjoyment, and they brew to the Purity Laws!!
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Rick Jarvis,
Wexford, PA
(01/01/1998) |
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Awesome!
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So So
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Awesome!
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Great
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Awesome!
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The Penn Dark is as good an alt beer as I have had in the Shwarzwald in Germany. The Atmosphere is straight out of the German Beer Halls and the stolling accordion player in leiderhosen finishes it off. The meals are excellent and the quantity is superb.
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Pittsburgh, PA
(09/28/1997) |
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So So
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So So
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Good
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Good
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Good
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The atmosphere here is truly German brewery (not one of those fancy new high tech places), the menu is predominantly German and of good quality. The Penn Pilsner is the best of the lot, the Penn Dark has a chocolaty taste but surprisingly little body (typical of a lot of Pittsburgh dark beers). If you want authentic German food and a good Pilsner, this is the place. Also, they sponsor a beer-tasting in late spring which is worth the price of admission.
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Sean McLinden,
Pittsburgh, PENNSYLVANIA
(09/24/1997) |
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