It’s squishy out there, and the weather’s a bit too warm and bit too cold all at once. This could mean only one thing: spring is here. And spring in Pittsburgh, as it turns out, is a very good time for beer. Time to cellar those stouts, crack open a bock and figure out how much beer I can drink before bikini season.
First things first: go grab your ticket to Beers of the Burgh. Like, now. That’s because the tickets to the second local beer blowout, happening in Lawrenceville on May 16th, are sure to sell out very soon. And if you went last year, expect even bigger and better this time around. “It’s just incredible how much has happened in the Pittsburgh beer scene in just one year,” explained co-organizer Mark Turic. “We could not be more excited about having 44 local breweries under one roof.”
In addition to the 44 (!) breweries, expect live music and great food from vendors like Pittsburgh Smokehouse and Saucy Mama’s. Plus, proceeds from the event will benefit NeighborWorks, so you can feel good about sampling a ridiculous number of beers. If you miss out on tickets, not to worry: Caliente in Bloomfield will be hosting an after party with an all-local tap takeover.
If you prefer to get your local beer fix in less concentrated doses, pick out a few choice stops during the upcoming Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week. Now in its fourth year, PCBW 2015 will run from April 17-26 all across Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. There are an insane number of events planned this year, including movie screenings, funky beer dinners and something called Fish Pong. And plenty of the events are free, so you can taste a ton without spending a ton.
Finally, the warm weather means a whole lot more outdoor drinking. Look for the gardens at Arsenal Cider and Wigle Whiskey to reopen, rooftop beers at Il Tetto downtown and every food truck/brewery combination you can dream up. Though I sure won’t condemn drinking a beer while hunkered down at home, sipping one in the sun, surrounded by friends, sounds a heck of a lot more pleasant.
In other news…
Sakari, a sushi bar and lounge in Mount Washington’s Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, is now open. The menu features a variety of small plates in addition to the nigiri, sashimi and maki.
Speaking of sushi, Roger Li (formerly of Tamari) is opening an izakaya-style restaurant called Umami. The Lawrenceville restaurant will feature Japanese street food, sushi and ramen.
Pitt Students for Justice in Palestine are holding a cultural night and fundraiser this Saturday at Oakland’s XO Café. Details and tickets here.
The folks behind the wildly popular Pierogi Night signed the lease on a permanent space. Apteka will feature vegan food inspired by the cuisines of Central and Eastern Europe. Read more about the project and help fund it here.