Beer Run: Visiting the South Hills Breweries

ABV is our weekly series that highlights a different beer from a local Pittsburgh brewery every week. Check out our past picks here.

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In the spirit of safely (and efficiently) navigating between Pittsburgh breweries, we thought we’d share a pro tip.

Here’s a little something we’re calling ‘Beer Run.’ If you follow our friends at the Pittsburgh Brewers Guild, it’s something they refer to as a ‘Brewery Trail.’ Their handy ‘pre-made trails’ offer a spot-on strategy for visiting a handful of breweries that exist in a proximal cluster.

ABV, Volume XCII

All things considered, we’re writing this as a convenient guide to getting the most bang for your buck from a logistical perspective. Because you’re probably not gonna criss-cross town to visit two or three local breweries (real Pittsburgh natives won’t even cross a bridge or a tunnel, I’m told).

We rounded up three breweries on the criteria that they are near one another and open (limited-service) with respect to COVID-related regulations.

Drink local. Be responsible. And kindly wear a mask.

Read on for a three-brewery jaunt you can take into the South Hills of Pittsburgh.

Stop 1: Hitchhiker Brewing

Neighborhood: Mt Lebanon

Address: 190 Castle Shannon Blvd, Pittsburgh 15228

Parking: On street. Worth noting that Hitchhiker is in a residential area – it’s good etiquette to be mindful of local residents’ parking. I’d recommend using common sense – don’t block any driveways and be patient if you need to circle around for a block or two to find a spot.

Hours of Operation: Thu + Fri (4pm to 9pm), Sat (noon to 9pm), Sun (noon to 6pm). Regulars will note that Hitchhiker’s hours have adjusted considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We Recommend: Bane of Existence (IPA) or The Shakes (Coffee Porter)

Know Before You Go: Just be sure your GPS is dialed in to Hitchhiker’s South Hills location if you’re looking to continue south and visit more breweries. That being said, their Sharpsburg location is awesome and we highly recommend visiting there too.

Stop 2: Mindful Brewing

Neighborhood: Castle Shannon

Address: 3759 Library Rd, Pittsburgh 15234

Parking: Free parking lot. Can’t miss it as you’re pulling in from Library Road.

Hours of Operation: Tue thru Thu (4pm to 10pm), Fri + Sat (11am to 11pm), Sun (11am to 9pm)

We Recommend: Straight Kolsch (Kolsch-style ale), which we conveniently wrote about here in 2019

Know Before You Go: Plenty of outdoor seating for folks looking to grab an outside beer. Their kitchen slings some hearty food too. Go hungry – both for a solid meal, and to satisfy the food requirement if you’re ordering drinks.

Stop 3: Spoonwood Brewing

Neighborhood: Bethel Park

Address: 5981 Baptist Rd, Pittsburgh 15236

Parking: Free parking lot located right in front of the brewery. Can’t miss it.

Hours of Operation: Tue thru Thu (4pm to 10pm), Fri + Sat (noon to 11pm), Sun (10am to 9pm)

We Recommend: Killer Diller (IPA) or Cold Drip City (Coffee Blonde)

Know Before You Go: Open for indoor and outdoor dining (including brunch). You can peep our 2019 story on Spoonwood here as well.