Depending on who you speak with, Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week has been dead and gone for years. We say depending because the owner of the beer week has not officially come out and said the week has been canceled.
However, if you look at recent years Pittsburgh Craft Week has been non-existent. The most recent social media posts by the organizers have celebrated an “Unofficial Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week” where consumers are supposed to enjoy craft beer week in the 412 without any events actually planned. In fact when we shared the news of the week, the organizer messaged us directly about how the week is not canceled.
And behind closed doors, we can assure you that brewers in Allegheny County have not been pleased with the direction their craft beer week has headed. Not siting specific conversations, as they have been off the record, but we can assure you this claim is true.
This is why, we are of the opinion, that Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week being under brewery control is nothing but a win for the steel city.
The Pittsburgh Brewers Guild was recently awarded $75,000 by the state of Pennsylvania with the goal of updating its Pittsburgh Brewery Guide and website and re-launching Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week.
“This grant provides us with the opportunity to build on what we’ve already accomplished,” said Brian Eaton, chairman of the Pittsburgh Brewers Guild and co-founder of Grist House Craft Brewery. “Clearly, the Governor and the PLCB recognize the influence craft breweries can have on tourism and the economy. We thank them for their continued confidence in our work, and we look forward to leveraging this funding to help our member breweries make an even bigger impact in Allegheny County.”
As we have showcased in the past the Guild is comprised of 30 tightly-knit breweries in Allegheny County, meaning the newly formed beer week will be organized and developed by the breweries themselves. Which should result in a more positive experience for all guests involved.
We will continue to update as more information is made available.
