THERE’S NO FRESHER BEER THAN LOCAL BEER

Our brewing approach is a little bit different.

WHAT’S ON TAP AT THE BIG SEWICKLEY CREEK BREWERY?

Our true passion is lager beer. We’ve dedicated our lives to brewing it. Not a beer lover? (Are there such people?) That’s okay. We also offer soft drinks along with wines and spirits from local small-volume wineries and distilleries. But our hope is that our expertly crafted lager will make some converts.

What you won’t find are gimmicky names and seasonal flavors. Instead, we’re dedicating our efforts to perfecting our core recipes. After all, great local beer is about what’s in the glass, not what’s on the label.

 

CURRENTLY SERVING

(Beer list subject to change.)

SMOKEY JOE

Our signature brew that’s 25 years in the making. It’s an amber lager close to Vienna Style, malt forward and lightly smoked. A personal favorite. Can’t go wrong here at 5.2% abv.

HEFE-EL

Here is a golden Hefeweizen. 50/50 wheat malt to barley malt, fermented on the cooler end to bring out clovey/spiciness. A spritzy summer palate pleaser for sure, coming in at 5% abv.

BERTHA’S BOCK

It’s been a minute since we’ve had a traditional bock on the menu. This one is made from an “old-style” recipe, about 50/50 Pilsner malt to Munich malt, plus a long maturation. Nicely malted, just enough hops to balance out the grain. It’ll warm you up at 6.5% abv.

OCCASIONATOR

Here is our double bock. There is no mystery here. Huge malt presence from beginning to end. Just enough hops to counterbalance the bold maltiness. Slight heat on the finish from the abundant EtOH. Have an occasion to celebrate? This is your brew. 10% abv.

AMERICAN PALE

This is an American Pilsner. The grain bill makes a nice pillow of soft maltiness, a perfect base for the distinctly American El Dorado hops that show up midway and linger well into the finish. This one refreshes like no other. 5.3% abv.

AUGSBURG GOLD

Going for gold, my Bavarian-style Helles is liquid gold in a glass. This batch is made with Berke Malt, an old-fashion, long-adored barley variety. This brew is golden-hued, nicely malted, lightly hopped, eminently quaffable. 5% abv.

FRITZ

This is a first for our brewing operation, a Berliner Weisse. Our version is a moderately sour, lemony, doughy, refreshingly quaffable delight. An effective thirst quencher, coming in at a session-able 3.4% abv.

DARK MATTER

This style always surprises me. It’s dark but light, substantive but not heavy. Lots of dark malty flavor but not roasted. Neither sweet nor bitter. A beer full of contrasts, it’s a dark lager otherwise known as Schwarzbier,.5% abv.

BALTIC PORTER

Baltic Porter is back. The profile is loaded with dark flavors including licorice, raisin, dark stone fruits on a nice malty back bone. There is even a subtle smoke note due to the inclusion of oak-smoked Bamburger malt. Here is my interpretation of Bohemian Style Pilsner, the original Pilsner of Josef Groll. A big quaff coming in at 8.4% abv.

MR. BROWN

This is a Bavarian Dunkel. Expect flavors of pumpernickel bread and toasted bread crust. Full-bodied and without being rich, just enough hop presence to balance the maltiness. 5.1% abv.

LIL’ CASINO

This is our latest brew highlighting locally sourced ingredients. The barley was grown, malted, and smoked right here is western PA. The smoking wood grew in the grove behind the brewery (Prunus serotina – black cherry) and dominates with maltiness and amber flavors supporting. Full-bodied without being rich. 5.2 abv.

COSMIC PHILTER

This brew is dedicated in honor of Phil Lesh. It is a well-balanced altbier, emphasis on the malt of course, but with enough hop presence to go either way. The Dorian mode of brewing technique, if you will. 4.9% abv. Rock on Phil, R.I.P.

Unclosed tabs will be charged a 20% gratuity. No outside alcoholic beverages are permitted.

WHAT MAKES A GREAT LOCAL BEER?

Brewing is a time-intensive process – particularly traditional lager brewing.

Despite all we have scientifically learned about brewing over the centuries, there is still magic in brewing. Every batch offers potential greatness. Who doesn’t mind going to work for a chance at achieving greatness each and every day?

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The history of beer styles reveals two main branches: namely, ales and lagers. Ale brewing is much older and generally less-complicated than brewing lager. However, newer lager brewing techniques require a little extra effort.

Lager brewing is really a story about color, malt color to be specific. In 1842, Josef Groll, a Bavarian Brewer, brewed the first-ever batch of pale-colored, bottom-fermented beer in the Czechoslovakian town of Pilsen. This beer was unique, being brewed with pale-colored malt dried in an indirectly fired malt kiln. The gentle heating leaves the malt lightly colored. As does the malt, so goes the beer. Other factors conspired on this brew, including very soft water natural to the area and spicy floral hops known as Saaz. Mr. Groll started a revolution that not only created a unique beer style, but also a type of beer that, even today, reigns as the most popular beer in the world. It is the quintessential lager beer known as pilsner. Some would argue that pilsner became the role model for all subsequent lager beers. Brew Master Groll is our hero! These days lager beer has broadened into many different colors and flavors. Thanks Joe.

Lager beer is the most popular beer in the world, by far. Of course, most of this is due to the mega breweries which are remarkable for the consistency. They have come very close to eliminating any risk in the brewing process. But, therein lies the beauty of small-scale brewing: with nano and micro brewing, risk rules the day. That means we can use the techniques we feel have significance. In fact, we specifically designed our brewing system to make traditional lager beers. Our kettles are optimized for special mashing techniques and our aging cellar is chock full of lagering tanks.

Country Day

Sunday, July 19 3-6 pm

John Gall

Featuring: John Gall

FOOD TRUCK:
Ambridge Italian Villa

EVERY WEEKEND, WE HAVE FOOD TRUCKS & MUSIC

Alcoholic beverages from other establishments are prohibited.

CHECK OUR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM PAGES FOR FOOD TRUCK INFO, AND FOLLOW US FOR UPDATES.

MUSIC & TRIVIA SCHEDULE

Trivia Night is now every Thursday until further notice. Saturday music hours are generally 7-9 pm. Schedule is subject to change. Check our Facebook and Instagram pages for scheduling updates.

AS ALWAYS, MOST EVENTS WILL HAVE NO COVER CHARGE OR TICKETS. ALL ARE FREE TO ATTEND MOST EVENTS.

Alcoholic beverages from other establishments are prohibited.

JUNE SCHEDULE

Thursday 6/4
TRIVIA NIGHT
Friday 6/5
MUSIC: Straight Up
Saturday 6/6
3rd Annual Goin’ Down the Road
MUSIC: Reuben’s Painted Mandolin 7-10 pm
Sunday 6/7
MUSIC: Thunder in a Circle 3-6 pm

Thursday 6/11
TRIVIA NIGHT
Friday 6/12
MUSIC: Delta Struts
Saturday 6/13
MUSIC: Noa Jordan Band
Sunday 6/14
MUSIC: Samantha Sears 3-6 pm

Thursday 6/18
TRIVIA NIGHT
Friday 6/19
MUSIC: Davis Gray
Saturday 6/20
MUSIC: Come September 1-4 pm, Pierce Dipner Band 7-10 pm
Sunday 6/21
MUSIC: Gary Prisby 3-6

Thursday 6/25
TRIVIA NIGHT
Friday 6/26
MUSIC: John Charney
Saturday 6/27
MUSIC: The Other Bugs
Sunday 6/28
MUSIC: The Other Bugs

JULY SCHEDULE

Thursday 7/2
TRIVIA NIGHT
Friday 7/3
MUSIC: Truth & Rites
Saturday 7/4
CLOSED
Sunday 7/5
MUSIC: Shelley Duff

Thursday 7/9
TRIVIA NIGHT
Friday 7/10
MUSIC: Delta Struts
Saturday 7/11
MUSIC: Sloane Simon 7-10 pm
Sunday 7/12
MUSIC: Samantha Sears 3-6 pm

Thursday 7/16
TRIVIA NIGHT
Friday 7/17
MUSIC: Acoustic Union
Saturday 7/18
MUSIC: Soulful Femme
Sunday 7/19
MUSIC: Country Day: John Gall 3-6 pm

Thursday 7/23
TRIVIA NIGHT
Friday 7/24
MUSIC: Tobins
Saturday 7/25
MUSIC: Johnny Lit Band
Sunday 7/26
MUSIC: Art Michaud 3-6 pm

Thursday 7/23
TRIVIA NIGHT
Friday 7/24
MUSIC: Shelley Duff

Trivia Nights!!

Every Thursday, 7:00-9:00 PM

(Subject to last-minute cancellations.)

 

Tell us what you REALLY know! Test your wit and depth of useless information to win prizes!

Check our Facebook and Instagram pages for scheduling updates.

BREWHOUSE BACKSTORY

Fabled Brew Day Bock Again

I home brewed this beer once many years ago. It was sort of ad lib from leftover grains and a yeast strain I couldn’t recall. It wasn’t a complicated bill, but not carefully considered either.

Bock Again Beer with Coasters and Pretzels

BREWSERS PODCAST #131 March 14, 2024

Marc with Big Sewickley Creek Brewery

On this podcast, Brewsers speaks with the Big Sewickley Creek Brewery's very own Marc Gignac about how we got started, the Pennsylvania beer scene, and so much more.

Check it out!

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Extra parking is now available at the brewery!

Parking is available at 2040 for overflow only. Please do not to park at the convenience store.

GREAT LOCAL BEER IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK!

The Big Sewickley Creek Brewery is 30 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh located between Wexford and Ambridge. We have plenty of parking and hope to see you soon!

FIND US AT:

2030 BIG SEWICKLEY CREEK ROAD
SEWICKLEY, PA 15143

HOURS
Thursday: 4:00-9:00 PM
Friday: 4:00-10:00 PM
Saturday: 12:00-10:30 PM
Sunday: 1:00-7:00 PM

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