new brewer in pittsburgh

[finlayj]

Got the Brewer's Best-Deluxe as a wonderful christmas present from my girlfriend.

Starting a batch of Dunkle tomorrow to start the new year right.

Can't wait.

 

[Jota21]

Excellent. Welcome.

What part of town?

 

[finlayj]

Just east. Forest Hills to be exact.

You?

 

[Jota21]

Northern Suburbs. Near Ross Park Mal.

 

[bnmir]

Two good clubs in pgh: TRASH and TRUB.

 

[finlayj]

Got all the stuff from South Hills Brewing Supply.

Any other good ones in the area.

What are the clubs like?

 

[JonnySax]

Hey there! I'm from Pittsburgh too! I just purchased a full kegging setup for christmas! I'm really excited to get brewing again. I did it a few times in college, but not since.

 

[chuckd27]

Just started my first brew the other day. Are the clubs in the area open to new people joining?

 

[kpr121]

Hello and welcome to a fellow yinzer! South Hills is the only place I've gone (monroeville store), although I hear there is another shop over on the North Side of town as well, cant remember the name. Maybe Country Wines?

 

[Jota21]

Yep. Country Wines. Babcock Blvd. Same company and products. Very helpful

 

[finlayj]

South Hills brewing has 3 locations. Monroeville, Greentree, and North Hills. The Monroeville one is on Mosside blvd a mile from where I work. Convenient!

Did the first batch today. Everything went great, except for when putting the airlock into the lid, the little grommet popped into the wort. Bummer...made a quick stopper out of the styrofoam from the end of the hydrometer jar and a rubber band. Worked like a charm.

Whole apartment still smells like delicious wort.

Hooked

 

[bnmir]

There's also ruffled homebrewing in Oakmont. They're the only place with Wyeast, if you have a preference.
The clubs are pretty casual, each has a monthly meeting with a few volunteers who bring homebrew.
Trash does a big competition (early March this year) and Trub is really involved in a charity event every October (brewing up a cure).
Lots of local micros, too.

 

[vlucchetti]

Also from the area, Latrobe. Enjoying my first brew (Amber Ale) and have shopped South Hills as well.

 

[JonnySax]

I live in the south hills.. I'm not a fan of the HBS down here... very overpriced! I've been ordering everything online. I got my first brew kegged and aging! I cant wait to taste it!

 

[vlucchetti]

I live in the south hills.. I'm not a fan of the HBS down here... very overpriced! I've been ordering everything online.

Unfortunately true. Now that I am out of the "must have" stage and can wait for things, online is the better way to go.

Red Ale planned for the weekend.

 

[finlayj]

From what I've seen so far my local HBS is a bit overpriced, and online is cheaper at first glance...but when I factor in the shipping costs, the HBS is generally better.

Where are you ordering from?

Also, my first experience in the Monroeville HBS was iffy at best. The kid behind the counter has no experience whatsoever in brewing and was just able to tell me what people bought the most.

Yesterday however, I chatted with a guy for awhile about some stuff that was on my mind. Way better time.

Got a jet washer for $12 - $15 with the adapter. Well worth it, amazing little toy.

 

[bagpiperjosh]

hey fellow yinzers! I grew up in the Pgh area. now I live in the Johnstown area... Windber to be exact.

 

[HeadyKilowatt]

hey fellow yinzers! I grew up in the Pgh area. now I live in the Johnstown area... Windber to be exact.

Oh, good- someone from Johnstown that I can pose this question to! Have you been to the Wine and Winemaking shop in Windber? If so, how is their selection of homebrewing stuff? My girlfriend grew up in Johnstown and we go there to visit somewhat regularly (probably this weekend, in fact), and it would be nice to know of a good homebrew shop in the area in case I need to pick something up.

 

[bagpiperjosh]

Oh, good- someone from Johnstown that I can pose this question to! Have you been to the Wine and Winemaking shop in Windber? If so, how is their selection of homebrewing stuff? My girlfriend grew up in Johnstown and we go there to visit somewhat regularly (probably this weekend, in fact), and it would be nice to know of a good homebrew shop in the area in case I need to pick something up.

I'm still very new to home brewing, so i'm not entirely sure how there inventory compares to other places. I can tell you that the store is about the size of my closet though. But the lady there is very helpful and nice.

They are only open till noon on Saturday.
Its worth checking out if you get a chance though

 

[HeadyKilowatt]

I'm still very new to home brewing, so i'm not entirely sure how there inventory compares to other places. I can tell you that the store is about the size of my closet though. But the lady there is very helpful and nice.

They are only open till noon on Saturday.
Its worth checking out if you get a chance though

Cool. In my experience, small is par for the course in a lot of small-town homebrew shops, but it doesn't always mean they don't have a decent selection of quality supplies- just depends on the local demand, I suppose. At any rate, it's nice to know that there's a shop there for when I'm in the area.

Also, in case you aren't already aware of them, the Windber Hotel in "downtown" Windber and Tulune's Southside Saloon in Johnstown are great places to get a good beer. Tulune's selection is really impressive- definitely the best in Johnstown- and the staff is pretty knowledgeable about the brews. Cheers!

 

[bagpiperjosh]

Cool. In my experience, small is par for the course in a lot of small-town homebrew shops, but it doesn't always mean they don't have a decent selection of quality supplies- just depends on the local demand, I suppose. At any rate, it's nice to know that there's a shop there for when I'm in the area.

Also, in case you aren't already aware of them, the Windber Hotel in "downtown" Windber and Tulune's Southside Saloon in Johnstown are great places to get a good beer. Tulune's selection is really impressive- definitely the best in Johnstown- and the staff is pretty knowledgeable about the brews. Cheers!

Yea I've been to both places, while the beer is very tasty, the service is usually total crap.