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Individual User Reviews |
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The beer is good and the food is different and artsy, but expensive. The food tastes good but you will not be full when you leave.
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Sean,
Washington, DC
(01/15/2003) |
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Good
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Good
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Steve Clymer,
Virginia Beach, VA
(11/19/2002) |
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So So
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This is a novel brewery. If you are visiting, you should at least check this place out. The beer quality was average, but there was quite a variety. Although we didn't eat here, the food looked like good pub grub. The only real attraction is the fact that they turned a beautiful church into a beautiful brewery.
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Mike Blumena,
Cleveland, OH
(10/26/2002) |
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On a recent trip to UPitt, I dragged my daughter and nephew over here (just about 10-15 minute drive). When you walk in the front door, you have to stop to catch your breath. I was not prepared for the size of the place; very impressive. I worked my way through the sampler and the Brown was definitely the highlight. This is the first brewery I've ever been to that made their own ginger ale. It's lightly flavered with raspberry and was the hit of the evening. Something for the young and old. The kids had the pizza which was excellent I had craft pierogies which were also good. All and all a nice night.
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Beer Island,
Lancaster, PA
(10/18/2002) |
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Awesome!
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I visited Pittsburgh for the Sunday night Raiders vs Steelers game. Figuring that the town would be jumping, we headed out to hit a few brewpubs. We started with two in the Strip district - both were closed! Luckily for us, the Church Brewpub was open. It was pretty empty, but the beer was incredible. Definitely try the Brown Ale, which was just right - not too hoppy, not too malty. Their house pale was delicious as well.
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Anthony,
Baltimore, MD
(09/17/2002) |
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So So
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This was my second visit over the past 2 years. I tried the Pale and Brown, and unfortunately, not real impressed. There is some strange flavor that I cannot explain, not bad, not good. Its seems the beer was better a few years ago. It is still worth a visit as it is a very unique place.
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Daryl VB,
Huntley, IL
(08/28/2002) |
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Well, fair enough, Dave, and I see we both like Brian O'Reilly's beers, so... I just have to stick with what I said: never had a bad one at Church, and I've had good cask ale there, too.
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Lew Bryson,
Langhorne, PA
(08/26/2002) |
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Lew, I haven't been to the Church in just under a year, but I think it is worth relating my last experience as an indicator of what, exactly, I do not like about the beers. Clarity and flavor. My boss and I were sitting at the bar when the brewer announced that he was tapping a new cask of real ale. he did and proudly poured us a couple pints. It was horrible. The brewer proceeded to make up the worst excuses for cask beer being bad - it's served warm, he said, it's got yeast in it, so it's supposed to be cloudy... Poor excuses for bad cask. teh funny thing is that all the other beer was as turbid and poorly executed. The food is good, but the beer is not great. I am not trying to be mean, just my honest opinion. And I know many others who feel the same way. it's not just me.
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Dave Sutula,
Cleveland, OH
(08/21/2002) |
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The Church Brew works is a necessary experience. A converted church which brews its own beer (some of which is quite good). The food is decent but nothing to write home about. Check it out and tell 'em Wakie sent you.
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Wakie,
Pittsburgh, PA
(07/18/2002) |
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Unlike many of the previous reviewers, I lucked out with a very attentive waitress. The church-turned-brewery is so cool, it's worth the visit alone, but the food and beer certainly ain't bad, either. The menu is a little spartan for a bigger brewpub like this, but it is interesting. The pizza was great, although I wish they would serve it on something bigger than a dinner plate that lets the crust hang over the edge. To wash it down, I stuck with Thorton's ESB, since I was on my way over to Penn's brew festival a couple hours later. It's not Fuller's, but it's nice and balanced with a malty start and a nice mellow hop finish. It stacks up well against most of the ESBs and similar styles I've tried.
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J. E. Koslosky,
Bloomsburg, PA
(06/05/2002) |
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Awesome!
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I dunno, Cleveland Dave. I've never had a bad beer AT the Church, never had a bad beer FROM the Church when I've seen them at beer festivals (Stoudt's, Penn, and Harrisburg). I've had Church beers that were just okay, but never bad. I'm not saying I'm better at this than other people, but I do make my living reviewing beer and writing about breweries, so I'm not a complete amateur. The judges at the GABF are all either pro brewers, similarly experienced writers, or very experienced homebrew judges. However, tastes do vary. I'm will say that I'm NOT nuts about the service at the Church; it's been average at best and sometimes glacial. But the food I've had there has been good, and I have always found the beer to be at least good and often outstanding. Like I said: I dunno. Exactly what is it about Church beers you DON'T like?
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Lew Bryson,
Newtown, PA
(05/27/2002) |
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Awesome!
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Some other reviewers have said some negative things about Church, and I have to disagree. We got fantastic service when we went for dinner on a Friday night. I felt the ESB was top notch, and I had a cask conditioned IPA that was excellent. The food was just OK....sort of a strange menu. Freaky drinking beer in a church, though - that might be the only thing that would stop me from going back next time I am in town
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Irwin Markus,
Baldwin, NY
(05/24/2002) |
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Lousy
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Lew Bryson comments that, although people keep slamming the beer, the brewery seems to be a perrenial winner at the GABF. Rather than being an indictment of the reviews here it seems more likely that this is an indictment of the GABF. Could it be that the beers we have here are treated differently than the beers he sends to Denver? I have been to Church Brew Works a number of times and NEVER ONCE had a pint that I would feed to my neighbor's dog. And I HATE my neighbors dog.
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Dave,
Cleveland, OH
(04/03/2002) |
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So So
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If you are looking for service to go along with that beer, then I suggest you try Penn Brewery instead. The service was HORRIBLE and we will never return. Please, don't put up with servers and managers who treat you rudely! These people are awful.
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Jeff,
Pittsburgh, PA
(03/27/2002) |
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I guess this is blasphemous but the beer doesn't live up to the atmosphere. This setting deserves awesome brews, and while good the year round styles don't impress me. No full bodied, chewy,dark beers such as a stout or porter were available on my visit. The alt was tasty with a nice malt background balanced with some hop complexity. Staff was extremely helpful and prompt. Really nice place, but I would visit more often if they had more big! beers on tap.
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John Kuster,
Murrysville, PA
(03/24/2002) |
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Awesome!
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We visited this in the Fall and found it to be a near religious experience (in a church). the beers were very good and they had a good selection. They have done very well in the reconditioning of the beautiful church. High on my recomendation list of must visit brewpubs.
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Dave,
State College, PA
(03/16/2002) |
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Service was quite slow, and beers were ok but not great. Decent selection, though. The building itself is pretty cool.
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Amber,
West Chester, PA
(03/12/2002) |
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Some downright weird menu items, but a very good place.
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texjets,
Robbinsville, NJ
(03/09/2002) |
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Good
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Great atmosphere. In the summer, check out the outdoor courtyard. Beer is fine. Pizza is always good. A wide selection of unique food, better than one would expect in a brewpub. Great place to take visitors.
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Kimberly Booth,
Pittsburgh, PA
(01/06/2002) |
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Quick Update By Michael Jackson One of our specialty beers. CBW is the first brewery to brew a Quinoa based beer in the country - a rare treat if you can catch it. Cheers Sean Casey
Church Brew Works Belgian Tripel, 9.0abv. Soft, orangey, aroma. Golden bronze color. Teasing interplay of soft maltiness, citric spiciness, alcoholic warmth, and appetising light bitterness. Full of flavor A good example Of this complex style, from an excellent brewery in a former church in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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S Casey,
pgh, PA
(12/17/2001) |
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Dontcha hate it, when people keep slamming your beer...and then you keep winning those pesky Great American Beer Festival medals? Congratulations to Bryan the Brewer on two more medals! Mad Brewer Maibock and Pious Monk Dunkel do it again!
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Lew Bryson,
Newtown, PA
(10/02/2001) |
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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I sure can't understand why anyone would complain about this beer. We had five this past weekend: Turbo Llama Lager (made with quinoa), Blast Furnace Stout, Pious Monk Dunkel, Bell Tower Brown (cask), and Weizenbock. The T.Llama damn near took my head off, a strong lager that needs to be treated with respect but with a delicious sweet taste. The Blast Furnace Stout is the stout newbies think Guinness is, rich and tasty. The Weizenbock was fantastic, full of weizen esters and banana and clove, and the Dunkel was smooth and malty...which is why it won a Gold GABF medal in 1998. The only complaint I had was that the Bell Tower Brown was served a bit too cold. But these were excellent beers, a great range of brewpub beers. That's what I expect from all four brewpubs in Pittsburgh, and I haven't been let down for three years or so. The Pierogie pizze was good too, and my son's bison burger was outstanding. Price was reasonable, service was competent and knowledgeable, if not particularly personable. This place is great, a destination stop in Da Burgh.
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Lew Bryson,
Newtown, PA
(09/25/2001) |
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Good
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This was my 2nd visit, this time I brought the rest of the "Brew Krew", Scott and Tim. I'll admit we were definitely impressed with the BP itself, being an old ornate church. It was breathtaking seeing all the stained glass windows throughout the establishment and the towering Brew Vessels at the alter. unfortunately that's where the greatness ended. The brews were OK, but nothing to write home about. Scott and I liked our sandwiches (Beer-Battered Clubs), but Tim had the Fish Sandwich which was somewhat dry. The service was good. Overall the visit was good and just to see the sight is worth one visit.
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Steve Albrecht,
Pickerington, OH
(07/31/2001) |
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Lousy
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Judging by the quality of beer here, it should be called Hell Brew Works. I was at the bar with my pal and the brewer was behind the bar. We asked for cask conditioned beer and he said that he was about to tap and spile a new cask of Pale Ale. The beer he handed us that was supposed to be - to use his words - fresh and alive - was rancid at best. I heard that they are putting up another one in Cranberry - I guess it's true that cancer spreads.
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State College, PA
(06/25/2001) |
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Good
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The food and the location are the draw. The beer is well made but uninspired.
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dave,
Reston, VA
(06/18/2001) |
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