Sunday 30th of October 2016 09:37:33 AM

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On our sojourn across country in 2016, wife Persimmon and I stayed with a good friend in Pittsburgh for a week and, thanks to her recommendations, were able to experience a few of the breweries in and around town.

East End Brewing was nearby in what's known as the Larimer neighborhood. (By the way, there are 50+ "neighborhoods" all known as Pittsburgh but have their own handle; Morningstar, Highland park, Squirrel Hill North AND South so just saying "Pittsburgh" could cause much concern for the un-initiated...like me!) -- But this was not an easy find.

Pittsburgh (see the above paragraph!) has alleys galore, side streets - most one way, but NOT the way you want to go - and they are narrow! Very narrow. If you drive down the street and meet a bird flying the other way, YOU need to back up!

After getting to the designated street, not finding the place, going around the block twice...it suddenly appeared. There was no parking on the street...no parking lot nearby....so, like other like-minced Pittsburgh-ites, we parked on the sidewalk. When in Rome....

The brewery entrance is through their "beer garden" which appears to be a re-conditioned parking lot, now with picnic tables and benches. Not many were sitting this day; a cool, cloudy late October afternoon.

Inside, three people were drinking, another three waiting at the bar for a growler fill.

The bartender (Jeff) was pleasant; the beer can only be described in similar terms. Nothing spectacular but nothing "skunky" either. Several IPA's still available (of course!) along w/a 3/7% brown, the requisite Bud rip-off, a Cream ale (which didn't taste like cream anything) and a whopping big alcoholic strong ale that was over-powering.

A barleywine was available but only in bottles or cans and since nothing on tap jumped out at us, we decided to pass. They did have the ability to fill what they call "crawlers"; a 16-oz. aluminum can that a customer can fill with any beer then sealed to take home later to "pop." The can costs $1 so easier to fill & to dispose, keeps the beer fresher than a growler; down-side, it of course must be drunk in one sitting.

The Pittsburgh Post-Dispatch has praised East End as a "force in the beer market" but all in all, we were under-impressed. Not one brew could be characterized as unique for Pittsburgh-arians but neither were they "bad." Another example I suppose to trying to please all the Pittsburgh-eans all the time.

Bigger market, more cash...but not much style.