PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Why would I sit through hellish weekday traffic to spend an evening on the South Side?

The devil made me do it.

It’s a no-brainer for me to hit up Carson Street Deli & Craft Beer Bar when I’m craving killer suds and a sandwich (especially since Fuel and Fuddle closed), but on Tuesdays starting at 5, they up the ante by offering flights of deviled eggs and candied bacon! Trick or treat!

Each week, employee Deanna Wanek curates hard-boiled recipes that, when paired with four short pours of local beers, can compel anyone to brave the Fort Duquesne Bermuda Triangle during evening rush hour.

If the weather’s nice, I recommend dining in the Deli’s courtyard, an urban oasis where they grow and harvest hops. The most recent batch went into Fresh Hop IPA from Williamsport’s New Trail Brewing.

On blustery days, warm up at the bar with a stout, a Hot Pastrami Mama and a soup flight.

Not a fan of the green swill bars pump out on St. Patrick’s Day? The Deli hosts a private party for friends and regulars who, over the years, have become a family bonded by good beer.

“Come in and hang out. It’s a nice place to enjoy the day and not have to worry about the chaos,” says Austin Vanasdale, the Deli’s longtime employee-turned-owner.

Before taking the job 15 years ago, the Butler native didn’t know much about beer outside of PBR. Then his boss, Mike Murphy, the deli’s third owner since its inception in the early ‘80s, poured him a Burton Baton Imperial Oak-Aged IPA from Delaware’s famed Dogfish Head.

Vanasdale was hooked.

Murphy, a passionate homebrewer, was an early supporter of the craft beer scene — when there wasn’t much to be seen. He showcased rare Belgians and microbrews from across the country before dedicating all 20 draft lines to Pennsylvania-made libations.

Vanasdale, who bought the business four years ago, is carrying on that legacy and introducing a new generation — one that, statistically, drinks much less booze than its predecessors — to the artistry of beer, including non-alcoholic brands.

Luckily, Pittsburgh is a craft beer destination that attracts imbibers from all over the world, which makes the deli a classroom of sorts. There’s a free beer sampling every Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

The deli’s draft lines are cleaned once a week and offer something to please every palette, from seasonal lagers, pilsners, pale ales and blondes to wheat ales, Fleshmish sours, meads and ciders.

The deli is one of the first places to feature Dancing Gnome beer on tap. Andrew Witchey, owner of the 9-year-old Sharpsburg business, recalls loading up his vehicle with kegs and delivering them to 1507 E. Carson St.

“It’s just a cool spot,” Witchey says. “Austin cares a lot about local beer. Years ago, there was a stigma against local beer; people were seeking out well-known breweries from across the country. He certainly helped us and other Pittsburgh producers expand our reach.”

With his handlebar mustache, Vanasdale looks like an old-timey bartender, a guy plucked from the opening credits of the sitcom “Cheers.” In 2006, he moved to the city to attend the Art Institute of Pittsburgh for TV and film production, so, in addition to waxing philosophical about beer, he’s a great pop culture conversationalist.

In fact, everyone I met at the deli that night had something interesting to say. It was a generational hodgepodge that included folks who, like me, came of age in the ‘90s, along with people who were born in the ‘90s and possibly some customers who were pushing 90.

When I wasn’t talking or sampling fest biers, I was stuffing my face with deviled eggs and the deli’s twist on a Cuban sandwich.

The Mark Cuban is a baguette loaded with grilled chicken, hot baked ham, melted Swiss, pickles and yellow mustard. Lots of yellow mustard. By the time I finished my meal, I looked like Homer Simpson.

You can choose from a menu of more than 30 featured sandwiches, weekly specials or build your own masterpiece. Vanasdale sources high-end products (including vegan-friendly items), even thought prices are high and availability is low.

An October turkey shortage does not bode well for Thanksgiving 2025, but Vanasdale takes it all in stride; he’s thankful to be part of the South Side business community.

“I think there’s so much to see and do here,” he says. “We have amazing restaurants, the riverside trail, easy access to the rest of the city. There are so many things we offer that are underutilized.”

Carson Street Deli & Craft Beer Bar is at 1507 E. Carson St., South Side. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.