The Church Brew Works, Brewpub in Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, United States
The Church Brew Works is a former Catholic church building now operating as a brewery and restaurant, preserving original stained glass windows, wooden beams, and an altar transformed into a brewing system. The brewing equipment occupies the former altar space, while the nave features tables and bars for dining and drinking.
The structure was built in 1902 as St. John the Baptist Church and served as a place of worship until 1993, when it closed as a religious institution. It reopened in 1996 as a brewery and restaurant, marking a major shift in the building's purpose while maintaining its historic character.
The space brings together religious design with contemporary brewing and eating, where visitors enjoy regional dishes like pierogi and wood-fired pizza surrounded by original architecture. The preserved windows and vaulted ceilings create an unusual setting that merges old traditions with modern craft.
The establishment operates different hours each day, opening mid-morning most days and staying late on weekends, with Sunday closing earlier than other days. The layout follows the building's original church design, so visitors should expect an unusual floor plan and be aware that sound travels differently throughout the large interior space.
The brewing tanks sit on the former altar platform, with steel and copper vessels producing beers with names like Celestial Gold and Pipe Organ Pale Ale. The latter beer's name playfully references the original organ still visible in the building.
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