Church Brew Works

pezoids

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +22.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5

I have to give this place a perfect score. This could be my Mecca.
It's a place to worship and praise beer. The two times I have visited this place were very enjoyable experiences. The beer was very good and so was the food. The pierogie pizza was awesome and they had some great salads - of course covered with fries. I wish this place was in my neighborhood. I highly recommend this place to any beer enthusiast.

03-07-2003 13:09:18 | More by pezoids

Alkey

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +22.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

The Church Brew Works is a brew pub located just out from the strip district on Liberty Ave. next to the Pittsburgh Brewery.
On the night I was there they were celebrating the 10 anniversary. I ordered some special rattle snake and cactus pierogies which were fantastic and a brick oven southwestern style pizza that was also one of the best pizzas I have had the pleasure of eating. I also sampled my share of beer. Four of there beers are year round and I tried two of them. The Pious Monk Dunkel and the Blast Furnace Stout and they both were very good. ( I even liked the Blast Furnace so much I took home a growler) I also tried two of the four special brews. The Thunder Hop and a smoked porter which I found very good also. After that it was getting late and all good things must come to an end so I called it a night and got some beer to go. It was a great night and I can't wait to do it again. Some of the best beer and food I've ever had and I highly recommend you try it for yourself.

11-15-2006 07:03:16 | More by Alkey

aaronh

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +18.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5

Upon entering the Church Brew Works, words cannot describe the dichotomy of feelings I experienced. Being a religious person, it felt like I was entering a grand cathedral, with the exposed wood beams and the beautiful stained glass that was revealed upon entering throught the heavy wooden doors. Then i look to my left, a see a bar with six or seven large stainless tanks, and then straight ahead to the altar with the brewing apparatus. If there is beer in heaven, this is where it will be made.

In my opinion, the quality of the food surpasses the beer. Three of the beers I tried were acceptable, one was slightly better than average, and two were good, but none would make me drive back for a second trip. However, the food is amazing. Add that to top notch service and a waiter and hostess who actually sounded sincere when saying thank you, and my wife and I will return. Fresh beer at good prices with excellent food and great service. A tough combo to beat.

11-23-2002 19:00:47 | More by aaronh

keifffff

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +16.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4

This place is almost perfect. The first time I stepped into the cavernous interior I almost had to kneel down and say a prayer to the beer gods. It’s that impressive. Every time I sample the seasonal hand pumped old English style cast conditioned ale, it has been the greatest beer I have ever tasted. The food is good, not the greatest, but the brew selection more than makes up for it. If you ever visit Pittsburgh, this is a must visit.

05-22-2003 09:59:36 | More by keifffff

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +15.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5

I have never seen a brewpub quite like the Church Brew Works. In the shadow of the giant (and shrivelling) Pittsburgh Brewing Company, an new monument has risen! After climbing the stairs, you enter the vestibule - dark and quiet - awaiting your entrance to beer heaven. I won't go into detail about the inside decor; it's nice - stop in! But the beer and food, ah! Bryan Pearson is one hell of a brewer (can I say that?). And the food is first class as well. In fact, I always take a growler AND a pizza (or two) to go. The service is excellent! I can't really say much more. If you're in Pittsburgh, or anywhere near Pittsburgh, this is a must stop visit!

07-27-2002 20:11:07 | More by NeroFiddled

BlueHammer

Connecticut

4.7/5  rDev +15.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

This is just a cool place. Period.

I'm reviewing this on my second visit to Church Brew Works. The first time was several years ago (ahh long before my beeradvocate days).

The first time I went in, years ago, it was a very strange experience. Having grown up Catholic, when you walk into a Church there are certain things you are supposed to do. Belly up to the bar is not one of them. But here I was in what LOOKED like a Catholic Church but instead I was in a brewpub.

This being my second experience and having some idea of what to expect, it was a little easier to sit in the former church (in a "pew" at my table), order food and have a few beers.

That said, this place is awesome! The atmosphere is unique, to say the least. It's cool and dim inside the former church. A bar is to your left and many many tables are spread out throughout the rest of the space. During the summer months there is an outdoor patio, which they call the "hop garden".

The quality is excellent. The food is delicious, with a variety of options (being a vegetarian, that's very important to me!). The service was good. Our waitress was very busy with several parties so she didn't come back to check on us as often as we might have liked but she was knowledgable about the food and brews she was serving.

All in all, if you are EVER in Pittsburgh this unique place is NOT to be missed!

06-15-2008 15:45:58 | More by BlueHammer

Waltwvu

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +15.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

This is one of the coolest places i've drank in. You can see the kettles at work on the altar. The smell of an old church and fermenting grain make quite the ambiance for drinking pretty decent brews. I had their chili spiced porter and it with great with their Southwestern Pizza. My brother was drinking their Winter Seasonal which was also fantastic. Other than a small delay for our second round, I would say the service was pretty good. The hostess seated us quickly and were then greated by our waitress who was very knowlegable about the made in house brews. I can not wait until I get back there to try it again.

12-15-2010 20:22:30 | More by Waltwvu

CigarsGolf

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +14.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

A= Unique drinking in an old catholic church, with all the brewing equipment on the alter stained windows, very well done.

Q= Sampled a few different brews, each was well done.

S= I took a few vendors there, the service was excpetional.

S= Great selection of beers. Every beer we tried was very good. Even got to sample the habernero beer on tap - very interesting.

F= Great food, the people I took travel a lot and all complimented my choice for the food. I've been there before and the food has always been great this last time it was exceptional, and I've eaten in my fare share of Pittsburghs finest.

I am just glad I live just far enough away otherwise I could picture myself making this a regular stop for a beer and dinner. Which would not be good for my waistline or liver.

12-26-2008 15:13:40 | More by CigarsGolf

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +13.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

A. Cool looking place, a church brew works! My grandfather was an alter boy here. Stopped by the alter to see the brew, pretty cool.

Q. I had the beer sampler and they were all good, quality beers. The place was clean.

S. Our waitress was very nice and prompt.

S. There was alot on the menu, and a good amount of beers to try.

F. The food was good, I had wings, a kobe cheese steak and fries. I was stuffed. Good stuff from church brew works.

V. Worth a trip out and I should be returning soon. Next time I want to sit at the bar and hang out a while.

The price tag was reasonable.

UPDATE nov 2012

The beer has improved greatly, their extreme double IpA blew my mind. The food was very good, as always.

08-01-2008 17:30:07 | More by Stinkypuss

furman32

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +11.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

This place is one of the (if not THE) coolest breweries that I've been to. You really have to see it to believe it. Who would have thought that going to church would be so much fun?!?

This is a great place in Pittsburgh to catch up on local foods (try the pierogie of the day), and also offers a wide variety of food in general. I tried the brick oven pizza, and it is a smash.

The beers are all pretty good with my favorites being the Pious Monk Dunkel, the Belgian Black Ale, and the Blast Furnace Stout. All of these beers are exceptional.

This is a must stop for anyone passing through Pittsburgh, PA and is heaven for any beer lover.

07-22-2008 21:12:36 | More by furman32