What's brewing: Three Rivers Beer Week features Pittsburgh-Asheville, N.C. collaboration
A glass of craft beer is more than a drink.
The best beer takes several ingredients – grain, hops, yeast, water — and a brewing community. It can bring people together to toast an achievement, drown a sorrow, watch a favorite sports team — or to celebrate a beer week.
Three Rivers Beer Week will be brewing Tuesday through Oct. 10. It is hosted by the Pittsburgh Brewers Guild.
“To me, every week is beer week,” said Mike Tysarczyk, who works for Dancing Gnome Brewery in Sharpsburg and is executive director of Pittsburgh Brewers Guild. “We created a Pittsburgh Brewery Guide. We believe there is a thirst for people to get out and about to breweries all year long, and especially the week of Three Rivers Beer Week.”
The event kicks off Tuesday with The First Pour from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Pennsylvanian, Downtown Pittsburgh.
There will also be a beer share with local brewers. Attendees will receive a glass designed by artist Permanent Hangover. There will be music from Pittsburgh disc jockey Arie Cole and food available for purchase from the Blue Sparrow and Pittsburgh Sandwich Society food trucks.
Tickets are $50 and available here.
“I am a fan of beer,” Tysarczyk said. “I’ve done some home brewing with friends and this is my passion. It’s a vocation.”
There are a series of happenings planned at several breweries such as a pumpkin fall festival, tap takeovers, release parties and a rise and shine event.
The full schedule can be found here.
Opening night will showcase the 476 Appalachian Pale, a collaboration between Pittsburgh Brewers Guild and Asheville Brewers Alliance in North Carolina. The number comes from the distance between the two cites – 476 miles. The beer has malt from Riverbend Malt House in Asheville and CNC Malt in Butler County.
“We all work together,” said Leah Rainis, executive director of the Asheville Brewers Alliance. “A rising tide raises all ships. The Pittsburgh Brewers Guild has put lot of commitment into bringing this beer week back.”
Rainis said they reached out to her and was all for it. Brewers from Pittsburgh and Asheville have collaborated before, she said. She will be coordinating a release event for the beer.
She and other brewers made a trip to Pittsburgh to talk about the collaboration.
“We often sit around a table sharing a beverage and knowledge,” Rainis said. “It’s a wonderful way to network. New breweries bring more people to the community.
Matt McMahon, founder and head brewer of Eleventh Hour Brewing Co. in Lawrenceville — where the collaboration beer was made — said the brew is “pretty special.” They made 40 barrels for kegs and cans.
“We are excited to be part of Three Rivers Beer Week,” said McMahon. “I believe this beer will be well-received. The beer community in Pittsburgh is amazing. We all support and learn from each other.”
Brian Eaton, co-founder of Grist House Craft Brewery and chairman of Pittsburgh Brewers Guild, said what started as five breweries has grown to 42 breweries in Allegheny County in the past 10 years.
Eaton said this city supports the local beer industry. He said they’ve built a great foundation and invite more brewers to the table.
Jennifer Walzer, co-owner of Inner Groove Brewing in Verona, who handles communications and outreach for Pittsburgh Brewers Guild said there will be a mix of events throughout the week at various breweries. That way, people can create their own beer adventure, she said.
“It meant so much to be among others in the Pittsburgh beer community,” Rainis said of her visit. “We share the same passion and we shared some beers. Beyond those pints of beer is a community of people who share ideas and resources and raw materials. It’s not just liquid in a glass.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.