7 Food and Beverage News Bites You Should Know

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Consider yourself lucky — Riley’s Pour House is coming back to Carnegie.

On Friday, Sept. 18, the beloved Irish pub that was destroyed in a fire in November 2024 will hold a ground-breaking celebration at its original site at 215 E. Main St. Construction will start next week with a grand opening slated for March 2027.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PENN BREWERY

Penn Brewery ownership changes hands

After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year, Penn Brewery has new owners — and just days before its Oktoberfest bash.

John Graf, CEO of Priory Hospitality Group, and Eric Heinauer, Wigle Whiskey’s director of sales, are part of the team taking over the Troy Hill landmark, which was founded by the late Tom Pastorius in 1986.

Penn’s annual Oktoberfest celebration will be held Sept. 18-19 and Sept. 25-26. Hours are 5 to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, but there are VIP tickets available for purchase.

In 2022, Stefan Nitsch purchased the Vinial Street brewery from longtime owners Linda Nyman, Sandy Cindrich and Corey Little. The following year, he reallocated grant money from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation into the ongoing cave restoration project on the property.

Three buildings on the site were constructed by different breweries in the mid-1800s and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Before the invention of refrigeration, brewers used the caves to keep beer barrels cool.

Now Penn’s is the ultimate chill-out spot, open to the public for seating and available to rent for private events.

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Have a pint of Jenny Lee 

5 Generations Bakers, makers of Jenny Lee Swirl Breads, is getting into the business of liquid carbohydrates.

Spiced Apple Swirl, a cinnamon-spiced sour apple ale, will debut at Jenny Lee Breakfast Nook’s all-ages Oktoberfest celebration in Coraopolis from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sept. 26.

The Jenny Lee Swirl Brew is a collaboration between 5 Generation Bakers and Abjuration Brewing — both based in McKees Rocks — and Allegheny Mountain Malt. Loaves of Jenny Lee Apple Swirl went into the initial mash. Allegheny Mountain Malt, a project of Food21 of Pennsylvania, is made from barley that is sustainably grown in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains by Westmoreland County farmers.

“We were very excited to try the Swirl Brew idea,” says Dave Hallam, an owner/operator at Abjuration Brewing, which also operates taprooms at The Hazelwood Brew House in Hazelwood and Taps, Axes & Games in Mt. Lebanon. “We are always releasing something new and unique, and we source our ingredients for quality and a specific taste. The freshest ingredients come from your own backyard, after all, so our neighbors at 5 Generations were a perfect fit for our process.”

In addition to Spiced Apple Swirl, Oktoberfest attendees will enjoy German-themed food, Abjuration brews, soft drinks and live music from Accordions Likely and The Button Band. A $10 admission includes your first beer; $5 ticket entitles you to a soft drink.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Allegheny City Brewing turns 10

Allegheny City Brewing is celebrating a decade on the North Side.

The business, which has created 650 beers over the years, will host a party from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 at its E. Ohio Street taproom and in the Foreland Street lot behind it.

A special barrel-aged beer, an Oktoberfest beer and a cocktail will be released. Activities include a photo booth, screen printing by AIR, live music, food trucks, a cookie table and giveaways of anniversary koozies and mugs.

Allegheny City Brewing operated out of its small Foreland Street production facility before opening the larger Deutschtown taproom in 2024.

In April, it opened a second location next to Mun’s Pizzeria in Brighton Heights.

Rockaway Reopening

In June, at his doctor’s behest, Josh Sickels took a break from slinging pies at Rockaway Pizzeria. The herniated discs in his spine would require surgery if he kept up his frantic pace.

After a summer of rest and recovery, he’ll reopen the Regent Square shop — one of Pittsburgh Magazine’s Best Restaurants — at noon on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Go have an 18-inch New York round to celebrate.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GRIST HOUSE

Oktoberfest at Grist House Command

Grist House Command will hold its inaugural Oktoberfest celebration Sept. 30 through Oct. 3 at the former Nike Missile Command Center in Collier. The free event will feature activities, live music, a German-inspired menu and specials throughout the week.

Constructed in 1957 on one of the highest points in Allegheny County, the 55,000-square-foot site known as PI-62 operated from 1960 to 1972. It, along with 13 missile silos set up throughout Pittsburgh, was built to protect the Steel City from potential attacks.

It now houses a 30-barrel brewing system, a full kitchen, four bars each with 24 taps, indoor seating for 140, three decks for an additional 300 patrons and private event spaces.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COMMONPLACE COFFEE

Commonplace Coffee teams with Cafe Momentum

Commonplace Coffee is giving Cafe Momentum a caffeinated push.

The roaster partnered with Downtown’s nonprofit eatery on a collaborative donation coffee blend developed by Erin Bertuzzi, Commonplace Kitchen’s Shadyside manager.

Full Potential Blend is available through November. Commonplace Coffee will donate a portion of retail and wholesale proceeds to Café Momentum, which also serves as a training facility for justice-involved youth. The restaurant will include the blend in upcoming events such as a charity dinner at Churchview Farms on Sept. 26, a Pumpkin Brunch at Café Momentum on Oct. 25 and the Champions Brunch slated for early November.

You can learn more about the coffee and purchase a 10-ounce bag, priced at $22.50, at all Commonplace Coffee locations, online and at Cafe Momentum.