Mt. Lebanon residents had been walking by for months, trying to catch a glimpse of what was going on inside an empty space along Washington Road.
They don’t have to look from the outside any longer. The doors are now open to the newest taproom of East End Brewing Co.
“People were putting their hands and faces up to the window and leaving plenty of palm and nose prints,” said owner Scott Smith. “I think they were really looking forward to having the East End Brewing experience in their neighborhood.”
So was Smith, who lives just a mile away and wanted to branch out his business closer to home.
He grew up in the East End and founded the brewery with his wife, Julie, in 2004. The couple and their children, Ella and Otis, have lived in Mt. Lebanon for nearly two decades.
“We really enjoy this neighborhood. It’s a great place to live,” Smith said as he looked around a full taproom the evening of St. Patrick’s Day. “It took time, but it’s been worth it.”
Production will continue at the Larimer brewery, which released more than 50 different beers this past year, including some of the “YOU ARE HERE” brews for Pittsburgh’s 90 neighborhoods, most recently North Oakland and Homewood South.
The new location will serve a full selection of East End beer, including its flagship Big Hop American Ale, along with cider, hard seltzer, and Barmy Soda Co. soft drinks and fruited seltzer waters. There will also be Pennsylvania-based cocktails and wines.
East End Chewing, the sister pizza company of East End, will be available. The menu features thick-crust pizza in plain and pepperoni, as well as a pizza of the week. There will also be an ever-changing list of soups, sides, and beer-friendly bar snacks to go with it – including vegetarian and vegan options, Smith said.
Sitting at the bar on March 17 were friends Meaghan Miller of Washington, Elizabeth Conti of Lawrenceville, Erin Dracup of Mt. Lebanon and Aaron Palya of Brookline.
“The beer is fantastic,” Miller said.
“It is great to have a place like this to hang out,” said Conti. “It’s new and exciting.”
MT. LEBANON TAPROOM IS OPEN!
Hi friends! Wow, thanks you so much for making our soft opening weekend at the new Taproom such a blast!
As you can see, we’re open again this week in Mt. Lebanon, and for all weeks going forward. ????
1/4 pic.twitter.com/hrKwF3oeMh
— East End Brewing Company (@EastEndBrewing) March 15, 2023
The taproom was projected to open in November but construction and other issues delayed the progress, Smith said.
“I am really happy with how we landed,” said Smith. “It was a long process. There still are some little details that need finished, such as additional lighting.”
The space encompasses 2,500 square feet and has bar, booth and table seating to accommodate 79 guests. Once the weather breaks, there will be some dog-friendly sidewalk seating, too.
Smith said the area was attractive because it’s a walking neighborhood.
The location was previously MEC Modern Barbering and later Play Town Square, a children’s museum. The many windows create a lot of natural light.
There are 16 taps, most will have beer, but there will be others with cocktails and wine. One will feature another local brewery in a guest tap, starting with Hitchhiker Brewing Co., also in Mt. Lebanon.
“This is great,” said Rudy Bilich, of Mt. Lebanon who with his wife Pam having a beer at the bar. “It’s nice and it’s clean and everyone is so friendly, and the beer is really, really good. I think they are going to do well.”
East End Brewing Co.’s Mt. Lebanon taproom is located at 651 Washington Road. Hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
