Nutty coffee roast serenades robust brown ale (as thick and dark as most mocha stouts) but not at the expense of crisp water cleanness. Debittered black malts and oily dark-roast hop char increase espresso coffee midst and dark chocolate subsidy.
Not as stylishly sweet despite doughy yeast sugaring. Expectant banana-clove pairing fades quick as soapy hop phenols deplete honeyed wheat base and lemony respite.
Coppery English-style pale ale with grassy cream ale aspirations retains soft-toned peat mossing as caramelized barley sweetness, subtle chestnut-pecan conflux and wispy citrus misting reach buttery biscuit base.
Tangy pineapple zing coupled with yellow grapefruit zesting, spicy lemon spritz and salty mango-guava spot atop dry pale malts. Resinous pine tones and mild herbage stay subtle sashaying thru vivacious tropical fruiting of briskly clean NEIPA.
Clear gold light lager brings sweet corned challah breading to mild lemony herbal spicing and meager banana-plantain snips. Barren hops whimper.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
At Pittsburgh’s Strip District, HELLTOWN BREWING opened its fourth of five (as of October ’25) locations in 2020. Beginning in a Colorado mechanics garage in 2011, Helltown’s founders settled in the Iron City’s Mount Pleasant section, creating their initial brewhouse (before buying nearby Rivertowne’s Export production facility and gaining a second spot). The other two Southwest Pennsylvania Helltown outposts are in Houston and Butler.
Occupying a two-story white aluminum barnhouse-styled depot, Helltown’s 1700 Penn Avenue locale in the Strip features wood barrels, wood benches and chairs leading to the lacquered wood top bar. There are 24 draught handles serving both Helltown and Rivertowne fare. Wine, cider and cocktails are also available.
A large fenced-in benched side deck offers plenty of seating.
During my mid-afternoon Saturday stop, October ’25, bought cans of Helltown’s Bluff 78 American Lager, Grand Prix English Pale Ale, Hefeweizen, Star Breaker Hazy IPA and Mischievous Brown Ale (all reviewed in Beer Index).