District Brew Yards to Open New Facility in Pittsburgh

In Beer News by Karl

District Brew Yards
Photo courtesy of District Brew Yards.

Steel City’s getting a Chicago brewery export. More accurately — it’s getting a Chicago brewery concept.

According to multiple local press reports, District Brew Yards will open a new location in Pittsburgh’s Strip District Terminal, just north of the city’s downtown area. They’ll join the project along with an urban organic garden shop and an OnPar golf instruction center. No details have been released on what breweries are participating in the Pittsburgh location.

The five-block-long facility formerly housed Pennsylvania Fruit Auction & Sales which served as the “bustling, beating heart of the Strip District’s wholesale produce business” per NextPittsburgh. The brewery will utilize over nearly 12,000 square feet and serve to “bring independent Pittsburgh craft brewers together, collaborate and share knowledge.”

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Nearby breweries include the Cinderlands Warehouse helmed by head brewer Paul Schneider, formerly of Solemn Oath.

District Brew Yards exterior.
Photo via the author.

They’ll also feature a barbecue restaurant, though it’s unknown if it’ll be a Lillie’s Q, which moved into the Brewyards in May. While the brewery appears to be the city’s first incubator-style space, it won’t be the city’s first pour-your-own beer purveyor. The Vault Taproom earned that designation when it opened about a year ago.

Until now, only a handful of Chicago area breweries have opened additional locations outside the Chicagoland metro area. Goose Island of course has brewpubs around the globe and Forbidden Root opened its second brewpub in Columbus last year. Two Brothers also briefly operated a brewpub in Phoenix.

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District Brew Yards Good People Drink Good Beer

It’ll be interesting to see if PGH takes to the concept as fast as Chicago has. District Brew Yards quickly became a destination facility when it opened in April 2019, and not just for the curiosity factor.

Chicago Magazine (okay, it was me) named DBY one of the Best New Bars of 2019, due to its unique concept, seamless pour-your-own operation, exclusive beers and generally fun atmosphere. Hopefully they can succesfully replicate that a few states east of here. If they can, I don’t see any reason why Brew Yards can’t go even further.

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About the Author

Karl

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Karl has written about food, travel and beer for Chicago Magazine, Thrillist, Time Out Chicago, AskMen and more. His book, Beer Lovers Chicago, is now available via Amazon and other booksellers. If you're buying, he's likely having a porter or a pale ale.

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