Whirl Magazine: by Steve Gifford and Darrah Resnick

Microbreweries are popping up all over Westmoreland County, and we’re taking advantage of the surge! From humble beginnings to new techniques, these breweries offer an array of beers with distinct profiles and unique flavors to suit the tastes of everyone hanging with friends in the taproom or taking a tour of the space. Some of these brews are even available at local restaurants, waiting to be paired with one of your favorite fall dishes. Tap into the great options in the Greensburg area and look into the plans these breweries have for the season ahead — they’re getting crafty!

Bloom Brew

For the adventurous beer drinker, make Bloom Brewery in West Newton a future stop. Co-owners Jeff Bloom and Steve Denk have a combined eight years of home brewing experience to create an exquisite repertoire of 24 craft beers on tap. Each one is created in small batches, using as many local ingredients as possible. Some are even grown by Bloom and Denk themselves, as the pair owns a two-acre fruit orchard, raises their own bees, and grows some of their own hops. Taste the freshness in one of the brewery’s IPAs, porters, stouts, sours, fruit beers, or classic favorites. The flavors speak for themselves!

Rivertowne Brewing

From restaurants to taprooms to breweries, Rivertowne Brewing has done it all! With  locations in Verona, North Huntington, Monroeville, and the North Shore, beer enthusiasts have plenty of options for enjoying a creative brew like the Hala Kahiki Pineapple Ale, Babbling Blonde American Blonde Ale, and Old Wylie’s IPA, to name a few. See where it all began at Rivertowne’s brewery in Export. There, you can take a tour, grab a pint in the Tap Room after, or purchase beer to take home to friends.

This holiday season, try the festive Rudolph’s Red. The imperial, red-style beer stands out with its unique hue and burst of cinnamon flavor. Our friends at Tapped Brick Oven & Pourhouse have taken it to the next level, creating pan-seared duck breast with Rivertowne Rudolph’s Red and blueberry-spiked glacé. Add a side of root vegetables and you’ve got a comforting dish to warm up to. 

Four Seasons Brewing Company

After several years of home brewing and volunteering at local breweries, Mark Pavlik was ready to take the leap and open his own brewery. Specializing in quality craft beer, he produces ales, porters, and lagers, while also offering seasonal creations for extra variety. The combined brewpub-brewery spot lets you see exactly how the pint in your hand was crafted and makes for a great happy hour spot. Enjoy one of 12 beers on tap, including the current choices of Dunkleweizen, Brown Ale, and an American-style Barleywine. Light fare is always available, and food trucks stop by every weekend for an expanded selection of eats. Or if you can’t make it out to Latrobe, you can still find Four Seasons’ best, including Kickin Kolsch, Local — American Pale Ale, and Bang Bang Double IPA, at 65 bars and restaurants in the Pittsburgh area.

Read the full list here