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Awesome!
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Worth a visit just to see the beer works up on the old alter area and the stained glass windows. The beer was quite good also, had the IPA and was impressed. Did not eat but menu was large and many people were dining.
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MARK,
palm harbor, , FL
(09/30/2012) |
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Found this place while on a business trip. Took a 25 minute drive, but was worth it! I tried the Pipe Organ Pale and the Thunder Hop IPA (including the cask). The couple pints of cask I had were a little warm, but still superb. After trying junk they had at the Penn Brewery, this was truly heaven!!
The bartender Gene was excellent, and an additional reason for plans to go visit again when I’m in Pittsburgh in the future.
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Shane Cherry,
Torrance, CA
(12/30/2008) |
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Good
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Good
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Good
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Lousy
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So So
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Stuffy and uptight! Felt like I was really in church.
I think breweries are supposed to be fun and a little more laid back.
We were the only customers for our waiter and it still took forever to get drink refills. The only thing he was fast about was trying to take away our plates. At one point somebody stopped eating for 2 minutes (while talking) and he walked over and started to clear the plate. Didn't ask if the person was done, just started to pick it up!
Never asked if the food was okay or if we needed anything.
Another family complained that the place was too dark ("I'm sorry, we don't want to sit in a dark corner") and the manager told them that the restaurant was in dinner mode and they couldn't turn any of the lights back on.......this was at 4 in the afternoon!
Nice place to see and a neat concept, but I can think of plenty of better places to spend my money!
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Johnson City, TN
(07/21/2008) |
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So So
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Good
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So So
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So So
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So So
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Sorry but this place is turning into a tourist trap. On my last visit I got a $28 steak that was just OK. For that price it should be memorable.
I love barleywine but what they served me was almost undrinkable.
Service that in the past was always great was also substandard.
Too many changes to what was a great place. New brewer, new beers but they often miss the mark.
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Pittsburgh, PA
(06/10/2008) |
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So So
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So So
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N/A
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So So
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So So
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The setting is what draws you here. It is a spectacular setting. Unfortunately, the beer is totally uninteresting.
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chris,
philadelphia, PA
(05/25/2008) |
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N/A
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So So
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N/A
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Lousy
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N/A
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My party was seated on 03/14/2008 at approximately 8:50 PM. At 9:20 PM, we decided to leave after not one server greeted us or asked us for our drink order. Every server we stopped as they passed said the same thing "that's not my table, I'll find your server for you." They must have all been in the confessionals or too repenting for what they put in your food. When I tried to tell the hostess that we would no longer need the table, she replied "excuse me, I'm busy." I alerted the parties waiting that if they would like to eat (or drink) that night, they should go elsewhere and they took the advise. I will be sure to tell my friends and family about the unpious treatment toward clients at this establishment.
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Pittsburgh, PA
(03/14/2008) |
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Good
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Good
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So So
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Good
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Good
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First, my quesdilla was burned. Had 3 of the seasonal beers. The Anchor Hammer was very good but the other 2 seasonals (one was a porter, can't remember was the other one was) were medicore. Have been to this establishment many times over the last few years and I really believe the overall quality is sliding downhill. Even though I live in Pittsburgh, places like John Harvards, Rivertowne Pub and North Country are better choices.
It also really bugs me that the one seasonal I had (7% a.b.v.) was served in a small snifter glass? Come on!
Bill Caraway
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bill caraway,
pittsburgh, PA
(09/02/2007) |
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Always a regular stop on a trip to the burgh, yinz need look no further then the Church n'at! Thw cask is typicaly always a good choice, the food is top notch and there is no better bartender than the rigth reverend Gene. slainte!
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gary,
somewherein, CT
(08/31/2007) |
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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As far as how this place looks, it is incredible. The church is huge with a very tall ceiling and ample seating. The windows were stainglass and all the equipment rested on the alter area, how sacred!
The Celestial Gold- refreshing with a mild sweetness and mild hop feel. It was not the greatest gold out there, but an overall good attempt.
Pipe Organ Pale Ale- a refreshing ale with a mild hop feel to it. Kent Goldings do not ussually make a bold hop statement. It is an easy to drink ale.
Pious Monk Dunkel- This was my favorite beer on the list. I am not much of a German lager person and this one really stood out amongst the line of dunkel's I have had. It had a very rich lingering malt flaver and a minimal hop feel to balance it out.
Imperial Pilsner- an overhopped pilsner that boosted its flavor. It was very enjoyable and served in a flute glass. It was very easy to drink. Ussually pilsners really have no flavor, but this one had a refreshing hop feel.
Seasonal Thunder Hop IPA- This IPA tasted much better then the other pale ale on tap. You can defintaley feel the strong hop taste of Chinook due to its dry hopping.
Heavenly Hefeweizen- This was an above average attempt at a hefe.
I picked up a 22oz of the triple which i wish they had not stored in the fridge due to me wanting to properly give it some age.
The service there is very fast and efficient. There was a mistake with our pizza order and the bartender gave it to us on the house and gave us another pizza. They also have a nice cask of one of the ipa's available. I was in Pittsburgh for the weekend and made it to this place twice and definately intend to stop in again.
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thomas sup,
schnecksville, PA
(06/25/2007) |
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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this was my second visit to church brew works, i love the use of the church space. we should convert all of them to brew pubs. :) a lot of free space over head maybe we could do something with that so it's not wasted space. kept clean here too. the food was very tasty, southwestern pizza. not pretty looking but delicious. the salad was crisp and fresh and green, one of the best salads around and i eat them a lot. ranch dressing is made in house. to drink i first had the blast furnace stout, perfect appetizer. next i had the belgian-style abbey dubbel. very pleased, wish i would've brought a growler home. maybe would have if i was offered one. my one gripe is when it was time to pay the bill, i didn't receive correct change back.
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amanda,
pittsburgh, PA
(02/27/2007) |
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Great
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Good
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Good
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Good
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I've been here several times before but just could never seem make The Church a regular Pittsburgh stop once the novelty of the location wore off. Honestly, I was one of the many hopheads that just felt unwelcome due to the fact that they never seemed to have any hoppy beers on. Then... I read about the ThunderHop IPA Anniversary Beer and I determine that it is time to give the Church another try. Good call on my part. This was by far the best beer that I have ever had at the Church and I finally felt welcome. Even though this was a special brewed by the recently departed brewmaster, I can only hope that someone there figures it out that it needs to be made year round and added to the regular beer menu. Then I can say that the Church is a must stop.
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Jim S.,
Wayland, NY
(11/29/2006) |
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Good
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Good
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The managers and brewer need to look at the last several reviews. Four out of the last five have not been flattering - and I see why to some extent. The good? The service was very good and the Pizza is some of the best around. I enjoyed the Blast Furnace Stoudt and the Cask Conditioned Ale was decent. However, the Heffe Weizen and the Wit tasted kind of ackward. Very citrus like and frankly, you couldn't tell much difference between the two. The waiter basically said it wasn't surprising and there had been some problems with the Yeast. To be honest, I opt for John Harvards, North Country or Four Sons (even though the two are much farther to travel) because the Church Brew Works is overpriced and the beer quality (and choices) are not up to these other places. And when they have a good beer that's over 6% - you're charged more and it's given to you in a much smaller glass. To have basic Pizza, a kids meal, 2 beers and a growler refill came to almost $50 - a good $10 - $15 (or more) above a similar selection at the locations mentioned.
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bill caraway,
pittsburgh, PA
(09/10/2006) |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Arrived Thursday 12:30 lunchtime. It's a big beautiful place, not overcrowded while we were there. Parked directly in front of the place (no meters, little traffic, plenty of parking out back too).
After taking many photos of the outside - building and gorgeous flowers, we enjoyed a beer sampler and buffalo meatloaf. It came with a side of tasty bread, with ?garlic?herbed? butter to spread on it. DELISH.
On the plate was a generous serving of yellow squash & zucchini (grilled? in butter?, had a fresh healthy taste), a nice amount of garlic?mashed potatoes (fresh taters!) and on top of the meatloaf was a huge glob of fried potato string. I guess that's what I'd call it. Fingers came away nice and greasy, which my sis didnt like, so to appease her I ate the entire serving myself. See, with the leanness of buffalo, you need sides with some grease to it, no? ;)
This one dish easily served two of us (late 40s) for lunch. We had bread pudding for dessert, and it would serve 3. It was dense, not too rich, and a few raisins. We took half of it to go and ate it later in the hotel room.
Oh, the beers? They were tasty, well enough crafted with something to satisfy most. I dont recall specifics (4 days later), but I will return soon and try them again more critically.
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jay,
rockville, MD
(08/14/2006) |
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Good
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Good
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So So
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Good
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I've been to, and reviewed on this site, the Church before. It is still true--the real draw here is the building. The beer is not bad but nothing exceptional. The food is reasonably priced--till you see the small portions. The day I was there I ordered the special. I got a piece of grilled chicken about the size of a Bic Lighter on top of 2 tablespoons of corn salza with about 2 tablespoons of mashed potatos for about $9. The service this day was really disapointing. I was the only person at the bar there was one party setting in the "congregation." The bartender was not pleased at my post-lunch rush arrival and certainly let me know. Everything she said to me was said with a condescending tone of voice and a fake smile. I finally stopped trying to be pleasant and just left. If I lived in Pittsburg I'd probabaly visit a lot, but it's a long way from Hornell, NY and now that I've been there a few times, its not worth going out of my way to get there.
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Bill Laubert,
North Hornell, NY
(08/08/2006) |
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Good
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Have to echo the sentiments of other reviewers. This is one of the wildest establishments I've ever visited. They could be pouring nothing but Budweiser and it would be worth a visit. I was there on 7/27 and got in the door about ten minutes before a healthy thunderstorm. Nice special effects. They had four regular taps running and four seasonals along with a cask conditioned ale. Started off with a pint of the Celestial Gold which was okay then went to the Pious Monk Dunkel. Much better. The food menu is fairly decent. Opted for one of the wood-fired pizzas, pepperoni. Put a serious dent in it but still had enough left over for breakfast. Had room for a couple more beers so I tried the cask-conditioned ale. It was good but not great. Finished off my stay with the Blast Furnace Stout. The best of the four beers I tried. Wanted to try their seasonal stout but the ABV was up around 9%. After getting lost/misdirected driving around the city a few times already even before imbibing, figured caution was the catch word of the day. As I settled up my tab, the late afternoon sun came out from behind the storm clouds illuminating the stained glass windows. Took that as a sign.
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J. King,
Campbell, CA
(08/01/2006) |
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Great
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Good
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Good
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Great
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I visited The Church Brew Works on July 13 while visiting Pittsburgh for the All-Star Game. I found the beers clean and certainly drinkable. The Imperial Stout (a specialty beer) was quite good. They only had about five of their beers available. Coming from Oregon, I guess I'm spoiled, bout I would've hoped for at least two or three more to choose from.
The untraditional Pittsburgh pierogies were a tasty, if small, appetiser. The chicken cordon bleu sandwich was only so-so, though far from terrible. I guess uninspired would be the word I'd use. The seven onion soup was definitely the best food I sampled. It was robust and enjoyable.
All of this said, much of the experience to be savored at The Church Brew Works comes from the building itself. It's a former church, for God's sake (pun intended). The stained glass windows are a hoot as is the brewhouse/altar. If you're religious there's a slight chance you'll be off-put by this unusual re-use of a former house of worship. But for most of the rest of us, it's just a cool place to down a couple near downtown Pittsburgh.
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Ken Kane,
Portland, OR
(07/17/2006) |
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So So
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Good
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So So
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So So
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So So
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I moved to PGH about a year ago. People told me I should check out the church brew works. The set up is a great. It was packed so I thought the food and beer would be great (with out that all you have is a church). The service was very slow because of the amount of people eating.
FOOD The food was ok but it was nothing to write home about however the food in Pittsburgh is not great compared to cities like New York, Boston, Phildelphia, Toronto and Montreal. I have eaten in all these places so I am not making this up. If you like wings and steak salads with French fries this is the city for you. Anyway the food was OK but I could eat the same food futher up Liberty ave and it would be 40% cheaper, but I guess they have to pay to heat the place. The Food was not bad nor is it the worst food in Pittsburgh.
BEER The Beer was Ok. I have had various micro brew beers from London, New York, Montreal, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Paris to compare. I was a little disapointed. The beer was not horrible and it is much better the brewery across the street (Pittsburgh Brewing Company). However there a very few beers that are worse than that. The Beer was unmemorable.
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Phil,
Pittsburgh, PA
(07/14/2006) |
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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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Awesome!
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So we are enjoying our beers and I am looking around for the best spot to take a photograph. I see a balcony above the main entrance. I ask the bartender, "Can I go up there to get a picture?" "No", he says, "But we do sell these postcards that were photographed from that very spot". I was laughing too hard to be upset. Very unique place with great atmosphere and staff. Beers were above average. Well worth the trip to go there. Finally, a reason for me to go to church.
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Rob,
romeoville, IL
(04/20/2006) |
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Good
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Great
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So So
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So So
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Good
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Brewery in an old church, hence the name, awesome! Blast Furnace Stout is pretty good stuff... Check out the confessionals while you are there. Neat place to drink....
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TOM,
ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OH
(03/09/2006) |
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Great
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Good
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Good
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Awesome!
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Great
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I went saturday night with my boyfriend to the Church Brew Works. The IPA was delicious, and so was the stout. It was really a great experiance, and the service was phenomenal. We had to cutest waiter, I think his name was Adam. If I hadn't been with my boyfriend I definately would have left him with my number. Single ladies of Pittsburgh, you've gotta come check this guy out. While your at it, try the Pot Pie, it's really good.
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Jenny,
Pittsburgh, PA
(02/12/2006) |
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Good
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Good
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Great
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This has got to be the coolest building to host a brewpub! If you haven't been yet, It's worth going just to see it. In my opinion there regular beers are good, but I think are directed more to the dinner crowd. however, they always have one or two speciaty beers that make the trip worth it! The food is beyond description! They also have a great selection of to go's and merchandise. The staff is very friendly and attentive to your needs. You will not be dissapointed with this one.
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BENBREW,
HUDSON, OH
(01/05/2006) |
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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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I'm gonna come to Father Foamy's defense in the "gotcha" game someone's trying to play with the Father's "insane amount of hops" statement. Double IPAs are supposed to have an insane amount of hops. Maibocks are not supposed to have an insane amount of hops. Making a great beer necessarily means having some respect for the style of beer you're trying to interpret. Other American craft brewers would do well to note that more IBUs does not always mean better beer, especially those brewers that hop the holy hell out of styles that are supposed to be mildly bitter. I'm glad Church Brew takes note of when an "insane amount of hops" is appropriate and when it's not. However, voting on your own place is bad form. Cheers, -The Enemy
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Chicago, IL
(11/01/2005) |
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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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Lousy
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So would this beer include that "insane amount of hops" you were talking about earlier?
Don't vote for your own place. That's just bad form.
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pittsburgh, PA
(10/31/2005) |
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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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Awesome!
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Quick Update from the Church Brew Works.
Look for the Double IPA to come out the 2nd week of November for CBW's 9 year anniversary. Desihned for the hard to please hopheads, A 90 IBU rating will be achieved by the bountiful addition of 9 varieties of hops. 5 Liter cans of the Pious MOnk Dunkel (Gold Medal & Bronze Medal at GABF and Bronze Medal at World Beer Cup) and 5 Liter Cans of the 9.0% Milennium Trippel (our medal winning Belgium trippel)are available for sale "To Go" at the Restaraunt. Our GABF Gold Medal winning Blast Furnace Stout and GABF Gold medal Pious Monk Dunkel are always available on draft as House Beers. Cheers
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Father Foamy,
Pittsburgh, PA
(10/28/2005) |
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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I just wanted to comment on Mr. Averill's complaint of how expensive the takeaway sixpacks are at Church Brew. This is the result of Pennsylvania's archaic and silly alcohol retail laws that force retailers to sell by the case. To purchase less than a case (but no more than 192 ounces) of beer for take-home, you have to go to an establishment licensed to sell for consumption on-premise (read: a bar or restaurant). So bars are basically forced to sell take-home beer at a price point necessary to support a tavern business model. This creates sticker shock for out-of-staters who are used to buying sixpacks from package-only retailers that operate on a volume-price model. Considering a six-pack of average craft beer usually costs $13-$16 everywhere in Pennsylvania, $10 is actually a bargain. (If you want to buy beer at retail rather than tavern prices, you have to buy direct from distributors that also operate as walk-in retail stores, minimum quantity one case. And not "mix-n'-match" cases either. If you want a couple of Sierra Nevada Pale Ales, you have to buy a whole case of the stuff from a distributor or buy a few at a bar and pay bar price.) It's unfortunate that the steep price prevented you from taking plenty home to share with friends, but it's a statewide problem that Church Brew has no control over so please don't hold it against them. Cheers, -The Enemy
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Chicago, IL
(10/23/2005) |
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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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I visited this brewpub on 10/13/05 and had the following brews; Celestial Gold, Pipe Organ Pale, Pious Monk Dunkel, Blast Furnace Stout, Confessional Kolsch, Octoberfest, and Burley Friar Barley Wine. The barley wine was not part of my sampler, but the waiter brought me a small sample to try. It was outstanding! Not quite what I am used to in a barley wine, but it made the stop for me. I can't add much to what others have said of the atmosphere, it is worth the stop in just to check out the stained glass. I was disappointed at the cost of the 6 packs to go. $10 for a six to go made it too expensive for me to take home this brew to my friends. You would think it would be cheaper at the source? Like a couple other brewpubs on this journey they did not have their medal winning brew available for me to try. Next time I am in town I will have to try the food!
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G. L. Averill,
Lakeway, TX
(10/17/2005) |
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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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Owners Note - This same batch of MaiBock took the Gold Medal at 2005 Grat American Beer Festival in the bock category. It also took two silvers and a bronze at the GABF in previous years. Great beers can be made in America using quality malt versus insane quantity of hops. Cheers - Father Foamy
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father foamy,
pgh, PA
(10/15/2005) |
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So So
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So So
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N/A
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Lousy
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So So
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The fact that they converted an old Catholic church to a functioning brewery is very cool. The atmosphere is really sort of neat. This however doesn't make the utterly flavorless beer any better. Nor does it make up for the fact that the waitress acted like she was doing you some sort of favor just to bring you a drink.
I had been anticipating visiting this place for weeks and could not have been more disappointed.
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Joshua Frank,
Rockford, IL
(10/09/2005) |
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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I visited for the second time over Labor Day Weekend with my Dad and Aunt. As others have mentioned, it is a beautiful place to have a beer, even if for the old Catholic in me a little sacrilegious! They had a pale ale on cask that was very good. I also had the pale ale they had on tap and trying the two was a good way to taste the differences between real ale and regular ale. The Dunkle lived up to its awards, it was very good. The only brew I really didn’t like was a cherry stout. The food was excellent, especially the 7 onion soup and the cheesesteak sandwich.
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Steve Alvin,
Henry, IL
(09/27/2005) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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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
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6 beers on tap. Tried the ones I hadn't had before; can't say that there's a whole lot to say about them, though. Stout was the best, mild and drinkable. Celebration de Mayo was a Vienna style that had a bit too much sweetness for my liking. Maibock @ 7% was pretty much nondescript. As I've mentioned before, Church is more about the place than the beers. It's spacious--there were about 70 people there and it felt empty. Good for them though, always room for one more!
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Beav,
York, PA
(06/29/2005) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Beers well done but not remarkable. Not much in the flavor category but they might be brewing to get people who have not tried pub beers interested. Menu pretty high end with prices to match but definitely good. Would go back for the food rather than the beer. Adding something for the hoppy in a person might be a good idea.
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Steven LaRue,
Ogden, UT
(06/27/2005) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Good
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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 couldn't really find anything outstanding about most of the beers I had here, namely the dunkel, the IPA, the stout, the pale ale, and the gold lager. All are competently done and none are "bad" but suffice to say it won't necessarily be the beer that will keep me coming back. I did have one standout beer, however: a Belgian-style tripel that stacks up well against Belgium's finest offerings. The date on the bottle suggests it had been aged for five years. I must say, it aged exceptionally well. Service has been spotty in the past but this time our needs were met without pause or fumble. Our waitress was top-notch. Food was very good if a little steep. (I suppose they have to pay for the upkeep of this massively ornate place somehow.) Best cheese steak sandwich I can remember and the fries had a nice zing. Atmosphere: it just can't be beat. The photos speak for themselves. Even if the beer isn't stellar, this is a wonderful Pittsburgh institution that deserves your patronage if you're in town.
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The Enemy,
Chicago, IL
(04/23/2005) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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This is one of my favorite places in Pittsburgh in terms of atmosphere. Beautiful stained glass windows and high ceilings, and the lighting isn't too bright. The food is excellent and the servers and bartenders are always friendly and cool to talk to. And of course the beer is great. I think the Blast Furnace Stout is my favorite.
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Lisa Ondrey,
Pittsburgh, PA
(02/27/2005) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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Awesome!
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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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Stopped in last week and was lucky enough to find the Bocks au Chocolats on tap. Wonderfully dry cocoa-flavored beer, not the chock-sweet chocolate beers you'll find elsewhere, and light in body and color. Delightful. Service was quick, witty, and just a bit smart-assed: perfect for the moment. Great time, thanks, Church!
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Lew Bryson,
Philadelphia, PA
(01/02/2005) |
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Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Great
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Good
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Incredibly place. Great beer, cool aesthetics, a little sacreligion, what more could one possibly want?
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pittsburgh, PA
(12/28/2004) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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Lousy
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Lousy
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Great
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Good
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So So
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Do you like Augustiner? Good, cause all the beers here taste like it! Seriously, clean your lines or something, cause the beer all tastes the same! Maybe your average "Bud light" guy likes the atmosphere and is being "wacky" by drinking a micro-brew, but this place needs to do more than just be in a "kooky" location. The beer is mediocre at best and bland at worst. the food is alright, I'll give you that, but if you are someone who likes different styles of beer to actually taste different, try Rock Bottom Brewery, or The Sharp Edge until this place gets it's act together. (Which hopefully, will be soon. You guys used to be good!?!?!)
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Matt,
Pittsburgh, PA
(12/16/2004) |
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Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Good
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Good
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N/A
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So So
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Good
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It seemed a little strange to be drinking in what was once a church.Who could of thought of that one?
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beer drinking mike,
lagrange, OH
(11/20/2004) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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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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Church Brew Works continues to excel at both brewing beer and food. I was back recently to try their Oktoberfest. While it was good I was a little disappointed in its lack of a “kick”. It seemed a little mild for an Oktoberfest. But their standards remain very good. Their stout is very tasty and the Pious Monk Dunkel remains one of my favorite brews anywhere. The food has always been excellent. Everything from simple burgers and fries or pizza to the more upscale meals are always tasty. Of all the brewpubs to go under recently in the ‘Burg area, I’m glad this one has remained. Let’s hope it continues. We need more local brewpubs to contrast the blandness of the chains.
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John Lewis,
Pittsburgh, PA
(10/25/2004) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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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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Was in the 'Burgh for a wedding. Heard this is the place to go for great beer. Stopped in on a gloomy Sat afternoon. The place wasn't too busy, but then, this was at 3 in the afternoon. I would imagine the atmosphere is better during happy hour, late night, etc. I started with the Pipe Organ Pale. Excellent. Then I did the sampler. My favorite was the Pious Monk Dunkel but they were all very good. Highly recommended!
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Jeff K,
Boca Raton, FL
(08/11/2004) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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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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Well the Church Brew Works continues to bring the crowds in and keep me a happy diner.
Every other month on the first Thursday, this place hosts Pittsburgh Geek Night. A good reason for the tech industry folks to get out and mingle.
Every visit I get the undeniable Southwest pizza... It's one of the best pizzas anywhere in Pittsburgh.
This time I tried the high alchol beer they had on tap... It seemed flat. The seasonal Weiss beer was a good followup and quite popular amongst the geeks.
The Church is working on bringing in an increasingly larger wine selection. That should please the non-beer folks visiting the Church.
Parking is around back and along the side street as well as limited space along Liberty Avenue... I only note this, because on weekends and event times, parking can be hard to find.
I can only say positive things about this Pittsburgh institution that keeps brewing and around even long after the other nearby brewpub concepts have long faded.
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paris lundis,
pittsburgh, PA
(08/09/2004) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Great
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Good
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Great
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Good
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Great
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It's hard to not be overwhelmed coming into the Church. The whole place is gorgeous. We got there late on a Friday night, but because of competing event in the area, getting a table was not a problem. The owners need to get over their problem with serving bar food in the dining room. We visitors from 300 miles away had no idea why we couldn't get a pizza in the "dining room," which has no apparent physical separation from the bar; since we saw people in the dining room eating pizza we insisted, though we probably wouldn't have bothered if there were more vegetarian options on the dining room menu. The salads were some of the best fresh green "house" salads I've ever had in 25 years of travel. Our waitress was a slow starter, but turned out to be excellent--she took the time to explain to us the bar-vs.-dining room policy. I won't reveal her name, because she told us that waitstaff has been hassled for not following the "rules." To the owners: You have an outstanding venue, very good beers (the Brown Ale was our favorite, the Alt was runner-up, but a littel thinner and drier than we expected) very good food and capable waitstaff. Why make your food policy the customer's problem? Sure, we understand if you are busy, this policy makes sense--BUT if you don't make that clear to the customer upon entry, you make it seem like it's their problem for asking. My long experience with designing customer service satisfaction makes me bristle when an arbitrary policy makes it difficult for me to buy from you. Get it? Of course, on balance, you have a fantastic place well worth visiting and revisiting, but this takes you from a solid five star to a 3-1/2.
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Jay Steichmann,
Ann Arbor, MI
(07/19/2004) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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Very nice atmospher. So many beers it was hard to choose. Waiter very attentive. Didn't mind waiting a little while for food as we were busy sipping away! Pulled Pork sandwich great!
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Mary Jo,
Pittsburgh, PA
(04/29/2004) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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So So
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Good
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N/A
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Good
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Good
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This was my 2nd visit. Last year I tried the sampler and really couldn't adeqautely comment on the quality. This year I tried the Pale Ale and Maibock and was not impressed. I thoroughly enjoyed the ambience and the setting.
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Bob Morseburg,
Seattle, WA
(04/26/2004) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Great
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Great
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Good
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Good
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Good
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A must see. Nice selection of beers. Interesting Pittsburgh based food. Had a Pittsburgh salad that was filling, hot, and I would buy it again. Our service on Sunday afternoon was friendly and prompt.
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Lynwood sinnamon,
Arlington, VA
(04/14/2004) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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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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Re: review below -- I'm glad to hear the Foundry brewer found work. I'm still heartbroken about the Foundry's demise. Now I know where I can get Foundry-quality brew. Foundry and Church Brew... now there's a great team.
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The Enemy,
Chicago, IL
(03/08/2004) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Great
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Good
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Awesome!
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Good
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Great
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Been coming here since 1996, not long after it opened. Food is excellent - the pizzas are the best around (not your typical pizza either). Service is pretty good - a few times I've had to wait for service longer than I wanted, but when the place is busy I expect that. There's been plenty of times I've been served quickly, so it all evens out - I'm not the type to whine if I'm not being treated like a king. The beer is good, but I wish they'd have more variety sometimes. The stouts and porters are never on tap for long. They recently had some coffee stouts there (which were out of this world!), which I learned were brewed by the ex-brewer of the Foundry. It tasted very similar to the wonderful Breakfast Blend, which I miss so much...as well as the Foundry :-( They always have a Gold, Dunkel, Brown, Pale Ale on tap and about 2-3 others.
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sean,
Pittsburgh, PA
(03/01/2004) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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So So
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Good
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Great
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Lousy
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Good
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"THE" worst service of any brewpub I've ever been in. I've been there many times and EVERY time, I've had horrible service (won't bore you with details - trust me - it's BAD). The pizza is out of this world. I would go there for the chicken and sun dried tomato pizza alone. Not a big fan of their beer though :( sorry guys. Atmosphere is second to none - A MUST SEE.
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DannyK,
Youngstown, OH
(02/16/2004) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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Awesome!
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Great
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Good
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Great
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Great
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The specialty beers are some of the best, period, from any brew-pub. The barley-wine and other high gravity big beers are always very well made and true to style. You must try the rotating specials to really appreciate the quality of this brewery. Wood oven pizza is what I usually eat, can't remember the other food.....
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bloombrews,
Pittsburgh, PA
(02/04/2004) |
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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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Good
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Great
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A must stop if you've never been there before!
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Geo. Miller,
Plymouth, CT
(01/29/2004) |
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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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Awesome!
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Great food. Great beer slection. I would reccomend it as one of the top 10 places in the Pittsburgh area.
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Matt Gray,
McCandless, PA
(12/30/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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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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I've really gotta start proof-reading my stuff before I hit the send... I meant to say: "I don't KNOW about the rest of you..." dopey!~
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Otto,
Toms River, NJ
(12/10/2003) |
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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 don't about the rest of you, but I can't wait to hear what "tasteless" James of Scottsdale, AZ has to say after his return trip. Come on man, give it your best shot!
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Otto,
Toms River, NJ
(12/10/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Good
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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 main sell on this place is the location. I enjoyed the beers, although some were not true to style. Mostly a pretty average place with regards to food and brews, but I have only been once and one really needs more than that to give a fair review.
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Scott Nichols,
Hilliard, OH
(09/22/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Great
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Good
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Good
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Great
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Great
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|
I tried the pale ale, and the 7 year porter. Both were excellent. I had not been here in a while, but the beer and food were as good as ever. Almost impossible to beat the decor.
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Jon Bernardi,
Hudson, OH
(09/09/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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|
James, forgive me for call you Scott.
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Chris,
just read below, XX
(09/05/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Forgive the double entry, but I must adress Scott from AZ. Scott, truly your opinion is probably accurate in your mind. However, in a city that grew up on IC, Fort Pitt and Duquesne beer, this place is leaps and bounds ahead of that. Perhaps one should review the beers based on what else is available in the area not on some champagne taste one may have. By the by, I was just in Seattle and stopped by the best brew pub I ever encountered. The Elysian brew pub. However, the Church brew works still is head and shoulders above anything else in Western, PA. Thank you
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Chris,
Maryland from Pittsburgh, PA
(09/05/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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|
We went early on a Saturday nite. The service was prompt and friendly. The food was good and so was the beer. I would recommend this place to anyone who loves beer, good food and a rather different dining atmosphere.
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Chris,
Gaithersburg, MD via Pittsburgh, MD
(09/05/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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So So
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Good
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N/A
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So So
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So So
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I have to admit that it has been almost a year since I last had the displeasure of trying the brews at Church Brew Works, but since I will be giving them a second try in a week I thought it would be intersting to review before and after. The beers I had at Church happen to be better than most of what I can get in Maryland (current location), but no where near what we get in Arizona (where I call home). The beers had a bit of a salty taste, and where weak to say the least. I normaly drink browns and darks, of which theirs where ok, and my wife drinks bitters which where nowhere to be found. Probably the worst of Pittsburgh's Breweries, but not the worst I have ever had. I'll give more detail in my next review.
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James,
Scottsdale, AZ
(09/02/2003) |
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|
Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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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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|
An old church makes an interesting decor for this brew pub. Only downside was that the live band was a bit loud.
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Steve,
Hopewell, NJ
(08/31/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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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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|
The beer here is the best you'll find around. Don't let the gold fool you. It's has a great malty flavor, similar to St Pauli Girl. If you favor the lighter beers, go for the Pious Monk Dunkel. It is a darker beer, maybe even darker than your typical lager, but I've noticed that most people who prefer a lighter beer love it. If you are fortunate enough to be there when they have the Tripel, it is completely awesome!!! Ok, and on a last note, the pizza's are excellent and so are the homemade chips!!! Enjoy, if you don't like it, you may need to stick with McDonalds!!!
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Ray Pader,
Avalon, PA
(08/14/2003) |
|
|
Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Awesome!
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Good
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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|
I have tried their pale ale, brown ale, American pale ale, and alt ale. All of them were very good. Their brick oven pizza is incredible. It's so good that I have never tried anything else there.
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Mike Bradburn,
Pittsburgh, PA
(08/13/2003) |
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|
Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
|
Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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Great
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|
We've wanted to visit here for so long and finally had the chance last week. The building is quite unique for a brewpub and lends so much to the fantastic beers and outstanding food. Menu is quite eclectic. This is a must-stop. Set your sights on Pittsburgh!
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Mark,
Somers Point, NJ
(08/12/2003) |
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|
Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Good
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Good
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Good
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Great
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Good
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|
The beers are okay but I don't think I was able to get a really true taste with the sampler. Food was good. But the real attraction is the building. One needs to go just to see how wonderful the setting is.
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Bob Morseburg,
Seattle, WA
(08/04/2003) |
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|
Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
|
Great
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Good
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Awesome!
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Good
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Great
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|
My wife and I planned our 6 day, 17 brewpub vacation around this place after seeing it on Al Roker's brewpub tour. I am happy to say it was worth the trip. The beers were all great, the food was fantastic, and the atmosphere was unbelievable. A truly religious experience.
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Bearded Dave,
Pine Springs, TX
(07/17/2003) |
|
|
Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
|
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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|
Well, at least this place is surviving in Pitt. Please, all of you locals out there, don't let this place go the route of The Foundry.
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Otto,
Toms River, NJ
(07/09/2003) |
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|
Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
|
Good
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Good
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Great
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Awesome!
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Great
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|
Obviously, the first thing about this place is the building itself. Always impressed by its beauty, and like the way they've "recycled" a property rather than tear down or build new. Sat down to order a sampler and Steph (bartender) was immediately slammed with a table of 11. Uh-oh. Not to worry, though. Service was great, Steph pleasant and helpful, especially with direction to South Side. Beers were OK, with the Trippel my fave along with the Brown. Quesadilla was great--always wish beers measured up to the building and the food.
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Dave,
York, PA
(06/26/2003) |
|
|
Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
|
Great
|
Great
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Great
|
Great
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Great
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|
bell towere brown was good but was a little too sweet. Hefe wheat was very good but the dunkel was excellent.Loved being in an old church drinking these beers. the food was very good but portions way too small. Kind of off the beaten path from downtown but very crowded.
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Donald,
Manalapan, NJ
(06/24/2003) |
|
|
Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
|
Great
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Great
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Awesome!
|
Awesome!
|
Awesome!
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We went to Church before a pens-flyers game a couple of months ago, march or april, can't quite remember. We had a group of about 10 people. It was late afternoon when we showed up, so it was pretty empty, but we got excellent service from the minute we walked in the door. We ordered pitchers of all of the beers, and wasn't disappointed with a single one. Everything we ate was really good as well. This is a must see brewery, and I can't wait to go back.
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Michael Scherneck,
State College, PA
(06/06/2003) |
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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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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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I was at the Church Brew Works in its opening week and was amazed the first time I saw the place (the beer was only so so then). I now live in Philadelphia and make sure to get back to the brew pub every time Im in Pittsburgh. The beer is better than ever and the selection is the best yet. The Maibock, Pale Ale and Dubbel were all well balanced and full flavored. I didnt get a chance to do dinner but had the bread pudding for dessert. It will satisfy any sweet tooth. I highly recommend this stop be on any beer geeks list of places to go.
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Vodkaking03,
Philly, PA
(05/29/2003) |
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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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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Dave In February
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Father Foamy,
pgh, pa
(05/25/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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So So
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Good
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Had the sampler. Only 1 really stuck out - the cask conditioned ale. Nut brown was quite good. Food - very tantalizing. Our waiter went out of his way to make sure we had everything we needed...and promptly.
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Mark,
Boardman, OH
(05/11/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Havent been here in a few years. This place is still the best in Pittsburg!
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Beertrekker,
Catonsville, MD
(05/07/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Good
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Great
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Awesome!
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Good
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Great
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It was about time for me to get a little religion back into my life. We came all the way from West Texas after watching the Al Roker Brewpub tour on TV (we also visited 16 other breweries on the trip). I was afraid that the place might just get by on it's unique atmosphere, but I was happy to find that the beers were great. All of the food we tried was also great.
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Bearded Dave,
Pine Springs, TX
(04/17/2003) |
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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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Awesome!
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Good
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Awesome!
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Awesome!!! Charming!!!
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Debbie,
Charlotte, NC
(03/22/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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So So
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Good
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Great
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So So
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So So
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Very disapointed in this place. Extremely popular place could do even better with good beer.
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Akron, OH
(01/28/2003) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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Good
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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 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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Good
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Good
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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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Steve Clymer,
Virginia Beach, VA
(11/19/2002) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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So So
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Good
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N/A
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So So
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Good
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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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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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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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Great
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Good
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Good
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Great
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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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So So
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Good
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N/A
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Good
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Good
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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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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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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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Beer Quality |
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Service |
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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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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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Good
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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 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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Beer Quality |
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Good
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Great
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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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Awesome!
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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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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
Overall |
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Awesome!
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Good
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So So
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Awesome!
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Good
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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Lousy
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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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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Good
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So So
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So So
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Lousy
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Lousy
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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Good
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Good
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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Great
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Good
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Great
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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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Good
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Great
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Good
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So So
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Good
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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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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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Some downright weird menu items, but a very good place.
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texjets,
Robbinsville, NJ
(03/09/2002) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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Good
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Good
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Good
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So So
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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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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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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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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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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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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 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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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Good
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Good
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Good
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Good
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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Lousy
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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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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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Good
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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 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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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Good
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Good
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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I pretty much agree with all most of the previous comments. The beer is well made and a respectable array is offered, but nothing special here. The actual brew pub in incredible. Nothing I've seen comes close to this building and set up. Now just make the beer a little more interesting and not so wimpy.
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ottersnotter,
Reston, VA
(06/18/2001) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Good
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Good
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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|
I pretty much agree with all most of the previous comments. The beer is well made and a respectable array is offered, but nothing special here. The actual brew pub in incredible. Nothing I've seen comes close to this building and set up. Now just make the beer a little more interesting and not so wimpy.
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ottersnotter,
Reston, VA
(06/18/2001) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Good
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Good
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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|
I pretty much agree with all most of the previous comments. The beer is well made and a respectable array is offered, but nothing special here. The actual brew pub in incredible. Nothing I've seen comes close to this building and set up. Now just make the beer a little more interesting and not so wimpy.
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ottersnotter,
Reston, VA
(06/18/2001) |
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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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Awesome!
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So So
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Great
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|
So I went back for more! The Pale Ale this time was good.. no aftertaste.. they had an Oatmeal Stout that seemed fairly good... Appertizers were good... Our Southwestern Pizza was fresh and spicey as always...
The waitress left a lot to be desired...
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paris lundis,
Pittsburgh, PA
(06/11/2001) |
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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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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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|
GO THERE !! It is AWESOME!!! You will be amazed !! The beer is really good AND during happy hour their pints are only $2 !!! WOW !!! The decor is breathtaking !! Best location of any brewpub I have ever been to !!!
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Randy Simmons,
Cincinnati, OH
(06/05/2001) |
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|
Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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So So
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Good
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Awesome!
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Good
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Good
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Wonderful place for a brewpub. Really enjoyed the building. Got a sampler, and didn't enjoy the beer. Not one stood out. I kept hoping for a favorite I could have a pint of, and none made the cut. Service was so-so and they didn't want to talk beer with me. (It wasn't that busy either.) We ordered one of the pizzas and the praise in other reviews is VERY TRUE. It was outstanding! I have to agree with others, see the place for how beautiful a building it is, have an excellent lunch, but don't expect too much from the brews.
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Ricochet,
Jeffersonville, IN
(05/27/2001) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Good
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So So
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Great
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Great
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Great
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|
no mass produced beers here...
they only serve what they brew... a bit short on the liquor selection for non brew crew...
surroundings are beautiful and the staff is attentative...
Beer was so so... group had a few samplers... the Pale Ale left a lot to be desired... lots of aftertaste on most of them... Average to good..
Food was taste and filling..
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Paris Lundis,
Pittsburgh, PA
(05/07/2001) |
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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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Good
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Great
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|
I've been here a half dozen times or so, and haven't been let down yet. They make a very good barleywine and weizenbock. They make a good pizza but you have to ask for the pizza menu after 5.
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G. Michael Yingling,
Canonsburg, PA
(03/29/2001) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
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Awesome!
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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I agree you can argue that the beer selection could be better, although I really like the Bell Tower Brown myself. However, this seems to be one of the very few places that serves beer at the correct temperature - that by itself should be worth a point or so on quality. The menu is one of the most varied I've seen anywhere, using the "a few good choices" approach, rather than the "list everything in the cookbook" approach.
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Norm May,
Pittsburgh, PA
(02/27/2001) |
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Good
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Good
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Great
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Good
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Good
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Beer here is nothing better than OK. Good selection,but no one brew particularly stands out.This is about the fourth time I have been there and the beer always runs consistently average at best.Food was excellent and the building is impressive overall.Would recommend stopping in just to sample the atmosphere if nothing else. Great beer can be found just down the road at Valhalla.
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matt zaccheo,
erie, PA
(02/11/2001) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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So So
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Great
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N/A
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So So
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So So
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The beer was ok but I dont think any were outstanding, Servis was slow as well, but its worth going just to have a look at the building.
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Don,
Ft. Wayne, IN
(02/04/2001) |
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Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Great
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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 atmosphere... Check out the southwestern pizza.
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pittsburgh, PA
(02/04/2001) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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An update - this remains the class act it has always been. The beers are awesome, service is great, and the atmosphere just makes you want to have another. Bryan Pearson is a first-rate brewer and individual - his consistently focussed efforts make every beer he brews a first-rate beer!
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Tim Tomlinson,
Austin, TX
(08/20/2000) |
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So So
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Good
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Good
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So So
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Good
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A very impressive looking place. Well worth a look. However... The food was good. I recommend the pizza but we had to ask for the pizza menu (they didn't provide one for us). Our server rattled off the script for the beers from memory but couldn't seem to remember what we ordered. I got the sampler but they wouldn't let me get a sample of everything, only 6 out of 7 (a pet peeve of mine at brewpubs). The beer wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. The Gold was lacking in both malt and hops flavor, the Pale Ale was really lacking in hops character (almost no aroma with too much flavor coming from the malt - too young perhaps?). The Dunkle and Brown Ale were good but the winner was the CA Common. Very good. A good place to check out but I was a bit disappointed. I'll give them another shot when I am back in the area.
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Chris Clair,
King of Prussia, PA
(07/23/2000) |
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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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The totally unique setting inside a former church is alone worth the trip. The beer selection was excellent, with an outstanding steam ale on the lone handpump. Well prepared food with an unconventional flair. Pints at the bar are a must but opt for dinner in the courtyard which featured live jazz during my Wednesday night visit. If you're ever near Pittsburgh this is an overall experience not to be missed.
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Morristown, NJ
(07/15/2000) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Just an update from the 2000 World Beer Championships, Congratulations to head brewer Bryan Pearson for taking a bronze for our Pious Monk Dunkle in the European Dark Lager category. Congratulations for taking the Bronze Medal at the Real Ale Festival for our Belgium Style limited edition Millenium Ale in the specialty ale category. The outdoor hopgarden/patio is open and the hops are 18 feet tall. Cheers - Sean Casey - President
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Father Foamy,
Pittsburgh, PA
(07/07/2000) |
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Good
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Hmmm. Where do I start? I almost didn't find the place; if not for my wife noticing the "field of kegs" behind the Pittsburgh Brewing Co. down the street, I would have been totally lost. We got ther just after noon on a Sunday, and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Service was intimate; a pleasant older lady (who cutely had to read index cards to describe the beers) was our waitress, and her grandaughter was the hostess. The buffalo burger was tasty, and I absolutely, positively loved the homemade potato chips (and homemade ice cream too). I stole sips of my daughter's birch beer while she wasn't looking (it too was outstanding). Being a Sunday, in a church, with the wife and kids, I only tried two pints: the Dunkel, which was quite good (although it fell a wee short of the hype), and a nicely balanced Pipe Organ Pale Ale. I wish that I had time to try others (a seasonal Abbey piqued my curiosity); just an excuse to go back.
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Bill Stimmel,
Waterville, OH
(03/29/2000) |
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Good
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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 first-class total awesome establishment. I have been to over 225 brewpubs and travel allot. As I speak to brewpubs owners about my web site and discuss various pubs, this brewpub always comes up in the conversation. A real favorite of mine. The food and the food menu was excellent. The beer quality and selection - fantastic. If your ever in Pittsburgh, please make this brewpub a priority! And whatever you do, please make sure you bless yourself with the Holy-Water (beer)!
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Bart Fellin,
Flemington, NJ
(02/09/2000) |
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Just up the street from the old Pittsburgh Brewing Company, this "converted" church is a great setting for a couple of brews. Of the 6 beers available, 3 were very good: Pipe Organ Pale, Bell Tavern Brown and a Raspberry Imperial Stout. The food was also very good. If you get the urge to pray before some tanks on the altar, stop by the CBW.
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Mike McKenna,
Aberdeen, MD
(01/25/2000) |
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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Great
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Beer in a church. What an idea. This place by far is the most unique brewpub that I've been to. Had samples of all the beers, 6 in all. Best was the Blast Furnace Stout. Also has some soup, pretty good. Service was great, nice friendly people. If in Pittsburgh, had you like beer,you have to go to this place.
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Dan Berger,
Philadelphia, PA
(01/25/2000) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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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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Awesome!
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In line with all the other comments; awesome, totally awesome. Easily the most fantastic brewpub I have ever visited. The stained glass is worth the trip in itself: then drink!
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Pete Bentley,
Bozeman, MT
(01/10/2000) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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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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It's been 10 days since my last confession. Wow, what a place!! Beer was fantastic, food was great, atmosphere was a little stange a first, but when I sat in my pew, I felt right at home.
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Coz,
Lititz, PA
(12/27/1999) |
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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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One of the most beautiful and innovative brewpubs anywhere. I ordered the pierogie pizza, it was fantastic! The two beers I sampled, cask-conditioned IPA and Oatmeal Stout were top-notch. The IPA was even served at the correct temperature instead of the God-awful frozen glasses so many bars are using. Service was also good (sat at the bar). While in Pittsburgh, don't forget to go to church.
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Robert Miller,
Hatfield, PA
(12/19/1999) |
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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Housed in a former catholic church this brewpub experience starts with the spectacular setting. You can sit in a former church pew and enjoy the architecture and atmosphere of this "holy" setting. And Holy Cow is the food and beer terrific! I sampled the Pale Ale (the best of the bunch) , a very good porter, a good octoberfest (which could be hoppier for my taste) and an adequate brown ale . The food was well above average - a very tasty 7 onion soup was a standout- in an upscale bistro style. How does buffalo and wild mushroow meatloaf sound? Well believe me it tastes even better! The church is not cheap by any means but you definitely get what you pay for. If I had stars to give -The Church would get 4 out of 5- certainly worth a visit.
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Glen,
toronto, ON
(11/01/1999) |
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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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Just an Update from the 1999 GABF, Congratulations to Head Brewer Bryan Pearson! The Church Brew Works took the Gold Medal for our Blast Furnace Stout and a Silver Medal for our Mad Brewer Maibock. This is in addition to the 1998 Gold Medal for our Pious Monk Dunkle. Cheers and Keep supporting your local breweries! Sean Casey - President
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S Casey,
Pgh, PA
(10/09/1999) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Great
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Great
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N/A
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N/A
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Great
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I don't understand the recent negative beer comments, unless they're coming from disappointed hopheads. I found the beers much improved over my first visit two years ago. Pious Monk is a smooth, malty classic dunkel lager. The Brown Ale is nicely hoppy (my notes: "The Tettnang hops give a very bright flavor, spicy, almost minty, quite a bit of very nice hop flavor"). The Toasted Oat Stout on push and handpump was a very impressive beer with plenty of roasted malt character (on cask it was quite lively and much richer). The Special Bitter had a huge hop nose, like walking through a hopyard at harvest time, with a biscuity malt mouthful as a reward. Like brewmaster Bryan Pearson told me: "Anyone can make an overhopped beer." The Church makes beers for people who like good beer, not people who are doing the equivalent of beer bungie-jumping. That's fine in its place, and I like extreme beers too, but the extremes pale after a while.
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Lew Pennsylvania Breweries Bryson,
Langhorne, PA
(10/05/1999) |
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So So
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Good
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N/A
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So So
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So So
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The place is great, but that's it. No one in our group liked their beer enough to order another one. The children working there need an attitude adjustment. We asked the hot hostess to join us at the Foundry where there's better beer. Still, Pittsburgh rules.
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Pat Cornils,
Dexter, MI
(08/27/1999) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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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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So Cool!!
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Joanna,
McLean, VA
(08/24/1999) |
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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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N/A
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Nick the Beer Trekker,
Baltimore, MD
(07/26/1999) |
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Good
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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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You just can't deny that this is a cool place to have a brewery. Being raised Southern Baptist--drinking beer in a church is the best! The beer however was not exceptional...Good, but not exceptional. If I lived in Pittsburgh (God help me!) I'd be a regular, but it was not worth a trip all the way from Western New York The Belltower Brown had a nice flavor but a littled watered down. The Pipe Organ Pale Ale has a nice hop flavor. You'd almost swear it was made from only hops, no malt. The Church is one of the few places that are easy to find in Pittsburgh--with FREE parking!!!! If you're in Pittsburgh, it's worth a stop.
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Bill Laubert,
Alfred, NY
(07/17/1999) |
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Great
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Good
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Awesome!
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Good
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Great
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Built in an old church, this is coolest looking bar I've been in. Beers were well crafted and the food was very good. Not a lot of bar space though, so most of the patrons are there for dinner (try the gourmet pizzas!).
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Dave Whitall,
Emerald Isle, NC
(06/30/1999) |
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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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I will leave reviews to the guests that visit. CBW has four house beers including 1998 GABF Gold Medal winner "Pious Monk Dunkle. Normally we have two rotating specialty beers on tap. We also have a rotating cask conditioned ale on tap served at cellar temperature. We have a nice outdoor patio where we grow hops and use them in a special cask conditon ale in the fall. The other pubs are close by too. Cheers, Sean Casey - President
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Sean Casey,
Pgh, PA
(04/20/1999) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Good
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Good
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Good
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Good
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Good
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This place is a definite "Must See" Brewpub. I myself have always been fascinated with ornate churches, but one you can eat and drink in while admiring the decor?? The beer was good and so was the food, but I did find the menu to be somewhat limited.
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Steve Albrecht,
Columbus, OH
(04/18/1999) |
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Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Good
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Good
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Good
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So So
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Good
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A really neat place to see. The service could be improved and the personality of the bartenders {3} were lacking. Not a fun place with the staff.
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Beth Miller,
Springfield, OH
(03/07/1999) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Great
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Good
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Awesome!
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Good
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Great
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The massive retaining tanks at the altar say it all. The 30-odd foot ceilings, the stained glass, the hardwood floor, the wide-open floor plan, and the echoing acoustics are all icing on the cake. The beer is hands down the best brewpub product I've ever tasted. The food is good too, though perhaps a little too "trendy" and a little too steep. Even if you don't like beer, it's worth paying a visit to have a sandwich and look at the masterful architecture.
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The Enemy,
Pittsburgh, PA
(01/27/1999) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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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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Good
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As former Pittsburghers who revisit frequently, we always try to fit this place into our schedule. Service is a little slow but the beer and food are great. The atmosphere itself is an experience. Haven't had a beer there that I didn't like and I've had them all.
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Jim Sutton,
Gettysburg, PA
(01/06/1999) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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It's great to tell Mom I went to Church while I was in Pittsburgh. Beers are great, particularly the German style lagers. The other reviews cover atmosphere, I'll just say that you will be blown away. Praise the Lord and pass the Weizenbock!
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Tim Tomlinson,
Austin, TX
(12/20/1998) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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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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In addition to great beer and food, the bartenders are fantastic. Kristina, and Heather are the two of the hardest working and sweetest women I've met in a long time.
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Mike Linssen,
Pittsburgh, PA
(10/31/1998) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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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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I went, I saw, and I prayed I would have more room for their beer. I tried them all but enjoyed their wheat the best. The progie pizza was different but great. It was even better the second day. From what I hear, it is standing room only. Also, free parking!!!! Very rare in the area. Well worth the trip.
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Jim Watson,
Safety Harbor, FL
(10/26/1998) |
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Beer Selection |
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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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"On the Eigth Day Man Created Beer" The place will knock you out. Had a brisket sandwich to die for. Tried the sampler and the Dunkel was great. This is a must see if you are a brewpub afficianado.Right down the street from Pitsburgh Brewing. There are also 3 BPs on the STRIP on Penn and Smallman - The Strip Brewery, Vahalla and the Foundry Ale Works.
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Dave Wiegers,
Gurnee, IL
(10/23/1998) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Good
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Good
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Good
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So So
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Good
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|
Great building worth the stop just to see it. Service can be slow and forgetful at times. The best beer is always the specials they have (some are excellent). The birch beer and ginger ale are fantastic.
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Ed McCauslin,
Harrisville, PA
(10/16/1998) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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So So
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So So
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N/A
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Good
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So So
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OK, OK, the place is physically overwhelming...but the beer leaves a lot of room for improvement. This was a must see on our visit to Pittsburgh, but it was definitely a disappointment. If you like good beer and a knowledgable staff, don't waste your time here.
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Debbie D.,
Gaithersburg, MD
(09/16/1998) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Great
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Good
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Great
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So So
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Great
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Wow, great atmosphere. I took a step back when I first opened the door to go inside. Doesn't take long to realize this place is just packed with history--which had me wondering why there weren't any tours. I bet visistors would just lap up information on the church and its conversion (pardon the pun) to a brew pub. Great food, mighty tasty beers, service wasn't spectacular, but the atmosphere definitely compensated. Go there; you won't regret it.
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Jason Prucey,
Hollidaysburg, PA
(09/08/1998) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Great
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Great
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Good
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Great
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Awesome!
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An aesthetic masterpiece, and the brew equipment only enhances the beauty of the building. Decidedly not sacrilegious since the site presumably was deconsecrated when sold; moreover, if monks can brew in monasteries, surely we can drink--reverently-- in a superannuated church. Amen.
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N. C. Jones,
Winchester, VA
(07/10/1998) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
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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Awesome!
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The building was incredible! Finally an altar that I WOULD pray at! The food was inspired, the beer was great. A wonderfully fun place to visit - I would even go here on a Sunday! This was the highlight of my trip to Pittsburgh!
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C. Morell,
Rowley, MA
(06/15/1998) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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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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Interesting to say the least. The converted church - brew pub seems sacrilegious. I noticed two nuns were having lunch the other day. The beer quality and selection is very good. The food menu is upscale and a bit pricey. A worth-while visit when in the Steel City.
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Scott Surovi,
Valley Park, MO
(04/30/1998) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Service |
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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Awesome!
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This is a very MUST SEE brewpub if you are in the Pittsburgh area. Although the beer selection and quality are not outstanding, they are still good. What makes this brewpub stand out from the rest I have been to around the country is the architecture, atmosphere and service of this establishment. It made my trip to Pittsburgh a good one and certainly your visit would not be any less.
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Mike Peters,
Harrisburg, PA
(04/18/1998) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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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 use of the altar of this very impressive old church for the brewing process was strange but cool. You felt like being serious but the great beers changed all that fast. Located in a warehouse area it is a little daunting to drive to the place, but It's worth it.
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Robert Skok,
Walnut Creek, CA
(03/31/1998) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
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Good
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Great
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|
This is the brewpub to see! Go on a Sunday afternoon and you'll understand. Good beer, great food
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Gary Frank,
Huntingdon, PA
(03/21/1998) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Good
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Great
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Good
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Awesome!
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Great
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Overall quality of the beer was good, although some beers were better than others, (the Celestial Pipe Organ Pale Ale is a favorite of mine), but overall a solidly dependable selection, and good modern pub grub, with a few surprises, (Pierogi Pizza?!)
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Norman Hendrickson,
Bowie, MD
(01/30/1998) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Great
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Good
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Great
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Good
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Great
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Beautiful conversion of a old church lends an air of appreciation to the Brewing process prominently displayed in the altar area. Best choice of beers is the Bell Tower Brown in our tastings, though non drinkers will appreciate their brewed Birch beer and Gingerale. Food is great but a tad on the pricey side.
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Rick Jarvis,
Pittsburgh, PA
(01/01/1998) |
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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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Good
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Good
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Good
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The atmosphere is great, a definite place to see when you come to Pittsburgh
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Chris Allen,
Alpharetta, GA
(11/19/1997) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Good
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Great
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Great
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Great
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Awesome!
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You've got to see this place to believe it - literally an alter to beer!
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Dan Regan,
Ewing, NJ
(11/18/1997) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Great
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Good
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Awesome!
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Great
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Great
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Stopped by several times to try the Oktoberfest which was excellent. Fantastic menu, I especially enjoyed the brick oven pizza. Great atmosphere
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Doug Krauss,
Titusville, FL
(11/17/1997) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Good
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Good
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Good
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Good
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Good
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A+++ for atmosphere. A good place to bring out-of-town guests because it is so unique. I highly recommend the beer sampler. Be sure to check out their web site, they take pains to describe their menu in detail.
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Nancy McAdams,
Pittsburgh,, PA
(09/25/1997) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
Food |
Service |
Overall |
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Good
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Good
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Good
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Good
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Good
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Beer quality varies with the style, but the sampler is a good deal. The menu is solid including the appetizers which are better most. Cigarette smoke can be a problem if you don't like it as there is no way to preserve the church atmosphere and secure a non-smoking area to boot. Parking is on the street and hard to find during peak hours. Overall a solid choice for Pittsburgh.
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Sean McLinden,
Pittsburgh, PENNSYLVANIA
(09/24/1997) |
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Beer Quality |
Beer Selection |
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Overall |
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Great
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Good
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Good
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Good
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Great
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Atmosphere is the key here. It's built in an old church. The stained glass remains, the pews make up the benches, confessionals are where waiters/waitresses come in and out, and the altar is where the brewing equipment is. VERY cool place.
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Steve Schillinger,
Chicago, IL
(09/23/1997) |
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