Greensburg's Craft Beer Week pairs food, fermented beverages at annual festival

Jan 11, 2024

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Cupcakes, ice cream, games and contests will be paired with locally brewed beverages during the return of Greensburg Craft Beer Week, Friday through June 17, in the city and surrounding communities.

Now in its seventh year, the schedule of more than 30 events includes Greensburg's second annual Craft Beer Festival, set for 4-8 p.m. Saturday at St. Clair Park. The ticketed festival for those 21 or older includes live music, yard games, food vendors and a showcase of 20 breweries.

"We have some new activities this year, and there are some new breweries that have opened in the past year," said Beer Week director Jessica Hickey.

That includes Johnstown-based Stone Bridge Brewing's recently opened tap room on Greensburg's East Pittsburgh Street, which will feature the release of its "smooth and salty" Gose beer 4-10 p.m. June 14and will supply beverages for a Yappy Hour 5-7 p.m. June 16 at the nearby Petagogy pet supply store.

Sobel's Obscure Brewery in Jeannette will offer pairings of six of its beers with six cupcake varieties from Mt. Pleasant's Little Slice of Heaven bakery.

"It's a pretty fun tasting experience," said brewery co-owner Jackie Sobel.

In a previous collaboration, the bakery's cinnamon roll-flavored cupcakes were paired with Sobel's Caramel Macchiato white stout, which is made with cold-brewed coffee.

"The coffee really brought out the cinnamon of the cupcake," Sobel said.

Advance registration is required for the 21-or-older event, set for 6-8 p.m. June 15, and for a Puzzle and Pints event, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. June 14 at Sobel's — where teams of up to four will race to assemble jigsaw puzzles provided by 60 Minute Missions Escape Room.

At 1 p.m. June 17, Sobel's also is hosting a tournament featuring klask, a game in which magnets are moved under a playing board to steer a ball into a goal. "It's described as a combination of air hockey and foosball," Sobel said.

That event is organized by and benefits the Veteran Bushido Brotherhood, a Greensburg-based nonprofit that connects veterans with fitness activities.

Yoga, luau activities on tap

Sobel's is one of two Beer Week venues pairing brews with yoga, both on Sunday. Greensburg's El Diablo Wood-Fired Kitchen and Brewing is collaborating with Red Brick Yoga, beginning at 10 am. Sobel's is welcoming Aubrey Worek of Fitness Envi, at 11 a.m.

The beer pairings at Greensburg's Invisible Man Brewing include: Millie's Homemade ice cream, for a Beer Ice Cream Float party, 5-8 p.m. June 14; artisan cheese from The Creamery at Pleasant Lane Farms, 5-9 p.m. June 16.

Invisible Man also is hosting its first Luau Party, 6-10 p.m. June 15. The evening will feature the release of the brewery's latest sour, Punch Drunk Love, and a pig roast served by Valley Rose Craft BBQ.

Ticket are required for the cheese pairing and the pig roast.

"I’ve been to a couple graduation parties with pig roasts," said Invisible Man owner Sean McLaughlin. "It's something I always wanted to do. It's a great summery event I know people will enjoy."

"It's fun to have these breweries and businesses collaborate," said Hickey.

Librarians will tend bar

Oliver's Pourhouse in Greensburg will host a "Pouring Over Books" event 5-8 p.m. June 15, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library.

Library staff members will see how they stack up against local school representatives as guest bartenders, competing for the most tips.

Beer from Noble Stein Brewing Co. of Indiana will be on tap, and Detention will provide musical entertainment. Live Casino Pittsburgh is providing raffle baskets.

The casino, at Westmoreland Mall, will host its own Beer Week events in its Sports & Social Steel City sports bar: a Drag Brunch, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday and a Trivia Night, 7-9 p.m. June 13.

Festival offers VIP package

Limited tickets are available for Saturday's craft beer festival.

General admission at 5 p.m. costs $40 and includes a 5-ounce souvenir glass. Tickets for an early 4 p.m. entry with light bites costs $55, including an additional coozie, or $65 for a VIP package that also adds a 20-ounce souvenir glass and a choice of beer and light food pairings.

Josh Jams and The String Theory will perform live music. Food will be available for purchase from Valley Rose Craft BBQ, Syrian Aroma, Mi Empanada and Cosita Bonita.

There will be a new array of alcoholic offerings alongside returning favorites for participants to sample during Craft Beer Week.

"We have a lot of really great beer releases this year," said Hickey. "There are some sour beers and some New England IPAs that are coming out."

The latter India Pale Ale varieties are known for tropical flavors and a sweeter aroma.

From 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Vandergrift's Allusion Brewing Co. will welcome Beer Week patrons to celebrate the release of a Cold Fusion IPA — a collaboration with Yellow Bridge Brewing, which has locations in Delmont and Greensburg.

Export-based Helltown Brewing will take over the taps Friday through Sunday at the Old Spitfire Grille in South Greensburg.

Four Seasons Brewing of Unity will serve its latest collaboration, New England IPA Smackdown No. 2, 5-10 p.m. June 15 at Marino's American Eatery in Hempfield.

Brews Cruise caps week

Four Greensburg craft breweries are participating in a joint Brews Cruise that will close out the week from 2 to 8 p.m. June 17. The venues include All Saints Brewing Co. and Invisible Man, Stone Bridge and Yellow Bridge Brewing.

"It's a free bus ride," Hickey said. "It's a great way for patrons to get safely from one brewery to another. You just hop on and off. The first pickup is at All Saints Brewing."

The bus will make a round about every half hour, ending at 7:30 p.m.

A similar service has been offered for spring and fall beer events. "Now we’re adding it to the lineup for Craft Beer Week," said Hickey.

Visit greensburgcraftbeerweek.com for a full schedule of events during the week and for links to purchase tickets for Saturday's festival and other selected activities.

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .

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