Craft beer scene hops in region
The craft beer industry has boomed nationwide in the past decade, and has become especially prominent in Pennsylvania. But a mere nine months ago, it was nonexistent in Washington County.
That has changed dramatically. Two microbreweries are now operating in the county, one is expected to launch soon and a fourth should open this fall. And the four facilities will be complemented by the arrival of a brewery taproom near the Meadows Racetrack & Casino and the rebranding of an old-style local favorite, Stoney’s, which a company executive insists is a retro beer.
Greene County does not have a craft brewery yet, but beer-making is finally realizing its untapped potential in this region, which is catching up to other counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania. This is a good thing for those who, of course, adhere to the catch phrase “drink responsibly.”
Craft beers are crafted on location by brewmasters, who produce a variety of selections that are fresh, distinctive and often flavorful – a break from the “standard” brands offered at many bars and restaurants. A number of breweries enhance the experience by offering a full dining menu.
A microbrewery generally draws large crowds, which obviously boosts business there, but also can energize the shopping district surrounding it and even the community as a whole. Again, responsible drinking and responsible operation of the facility are vital.
Coal Tipple Brewery started the craft movement in Washington County around Thanksgiving, when it opened in Smith Township outside Burgettstown. Seven months passed before the second facility, Rusty Gold Brewing, opened its doors on West Pike Street in Canonsburg.
The owners of Washington Brewing Co. plan to launch their endeavor by mid-September, at 28 E. Maiden St. in the city. The fourth brew pub, Four Points Barbeque and Brewing, is on tap for an autumn opening in Charleroi. It will operate in conjunction with Fourth Street Barbeque next door.
Whitehorse Brewing is not opening a microbrewery in the county, but is bringing beer to North Strabane Township. The Berlin, Somerset County-based firm has secured a 1,200-square-foot space in the Street at the Meadows development for a taproom featuring its wares, with a September-October opening planned.
Enhancing the local brew scene even more is the return of Stoney’s, an Old World-style lager introduced more than a century ago and produced in Smithton for many years. Stoney’s Brewing Co. CEO John LaCarte said, “We are positioning this as a retro beer, not a craft beer.”
This rise in local craft breweries in less than a year has been impressive, but has not reached a head, so to speak. Washington is a big county that could accommodate more, and Greene County does not have any yet.
A toast to the brew pubs that are open or en route.