Oh yeah, you read that right. This onetime Catholic church in Pittsburgh has been transformed into a restaurant and brewery, with the brewing equipment appropriately placed where the altar once stood.
The Church Brew Works caught our attention as soon as we knew we’d be relocating to Pittsburgh. Friends with connections to the area were quick to recommend it and a quick glance at the website shot it straight to the top of our must see list.
Ideally we’d be introduced to this rather unique restaurant together, but circumstances beyond our control have Zeke back in Maryland this weekend. Amanda’s good friend (and director when she was on the TV news anchor desk) Matt and his wife were kind enough to take her along for dinner.
Celestial Gold and Pious Monk Dunkel
Let’s start with the beer available on draft. Celestial Gold is described as “golden in color with a light bubbly effervescence… fine hop aroma and a light malt taste”. Pipe Organ Pale Ale is “a medium bodied dry hopped ale with a malt sweetness from the use of caramel malts”. Amanda selected the Pious Monk Dunkel, “a dark style lager was first brewed in Munich Germany over 150 years ago… wonderful clean and roasty aroma and finishes crisp and clean as a lager should.”
Yes, they offer samplers for true beer-lovers. We’ll save that for another visit.
The beer was good, the food also did not disappoint.
We started out with the traditional pierogies, a Pittsburgh staple (Maryland has crab, Pittsburgh has pierogies). For the entree, Amanda took the waiter’s recommendation and tried the chicken sausage with apple sweet potato hash. It was very flavorful; the chicken sausage’s spicy kick was balanced by the smooth apple. We even had dessert, a specialty they called Brewmisu:
Lady Fingers are dipped into a coffee-wort reduction and layered with fresh Mascarpone cheese. Dusted with Dutch cocoa and served with a bittersweet chocolate fudge sauce.
We’d include a photo, but Amanda was too busy enjoying it to bother snapping a picture. Besides, you probably shouldn’t lick your screen. Be sure to save room for this delicious dessert!
What’s better than good beer and a good meal? Great company. We’re fortunate to have friends who are eager to introduce us to the best our new home has to offer.
nokidswilltravel 