Hop Culture names two Pittsburgh beer makers to its list of best new breweries

Pittsburgh’s got a lot to be “hoppy” about.

Two Steel City beer companies made Hop Culture magazine’s list of 2021’s Best New Breweries.

Trace Brewing in Bloomfield and Necromancer Brewing Co. in Ross Township are among the dozen nationwide businesses featured in the roundup. Other beer-makers include Hella Coastal in Oakland, Calif. and Rescue Club Brewing in Burlington, Vt.

While Trace technically started selling to-go cans last December, its fun and funky taproom didn’t debut until March 2021, offering a rotating selection of solid brews as well as caffeinated beverages.

Necromancer lives up to its name by resurrecting forgotten beer styles such as Kentucky Common Ale and Sticke Alt. Last year, Hop Culture highlighted the business as being one of the Top 10 Breweries to Watch in 2021.

“It’s awesome to be recognized for our mission and hard work getting off the ground this year,” says Ben Butler, co-owner of Necromancer. “Also thrilled to see Pittsburgh as the only city listed twice on this list. I think that says a lot about what our city is doing for the future of beer.”

Hop Culture was launched in Pittsburgh by Kenny Gould. Last November, he sold the magazine to Next Glass, the parent company of Untappd, BeerAdvocate, Ollie and Oznr. Gould, who is now creative director at Next Glass, filmed the inaugural episode of “Next Exit” — Untappd’s new beer travel show — in the ‘burgh. You read it right here in NEXTpittsburgh.