Hi, this is Dave DeSimone in the Beer Garden. Welcome to another half-hour edition of The Beer Garden, sponsored by Vecenie Distributing Company, Western Pennsylvania’s premier distributor of craft beers. Thanks for tuning in this evening for an encore trip to The Beer Garden on KQV Radio. Let me welcome my esteemed colleague, the certified “Beer Man” himself, Pittsburgh’s own Tony Knipling.
Tony:
I’m great! Ready to roll and talk about craft beer.
Dave:
Craft beer, indeed! Tonight, we have a special guest. Joining us in the studio—no scratchy phone call necessary—is Scott Smith from East End Brewing Company.
Dave:
Scott, thanks for being here. Tell us a bit about yourself and how East End Brewing got started.
Scott Smith:
Thanks for having me! It’s great to be here. I’ve been a listener of the show, so it’s nice to see where it all happens.
I got into beer first as a consumer and then started homebrewing while working a corporate job as an engineer. After about eight or nine years of brewing five-gallon batches on my stove, I decided to quit my job of 13 years to start East End Brewing Company. That was about eight years ago, and here we are today!
We started on Susquehanna Street in Homewood, and I named the brewery after East End Avenue, where I lived—a block from the house I grew up in. It’s always had a local focus.
Dave:
Let’s talk about the beers! You’ve got year-round offerings, seasonals, and one-offs. Tell us about some highlights.
Scott:
Sure! Our flagship beer is Big Hop IPA, the first beer we ever brewed. It’s got a definite hop presence but is designed to be repeatable—perfect with food or on its own.
Another fan favorite is Fat Gary Nut Brown, a 3.8% brown ale. It’s dark in color but light in flavor, making it a great session ale. And for stout lovers, we’ve got Black Strap Stout, brewed with blackstrap molasses and brown sugar. At 6.2%, it’s perfect for dessert or a chilly day.
Tony:
Big Hop is also on tap at places like Bridge 10, and I love how it doesn’t linger on the palate.
Tony:
What about your seasonal beers?
Scott:
Right now, we have Big Hop Harvest Ale, brewed with fresh, wet hops from upstate New York. It’s a stronger version of Big Hop and only available during the brief hop harvest season. Coming up soon is Snow Melt Winter Ale, a dark beer with hints of pine and a roasty, nutty character—perfect for the colder months.
Dave:
Big news for East End Brewing—you’re moving to a new location!
Scott:
Yes, we’ve outgrown our 4,000-square-foot space on Susquehanna Street. We’ve purchased a 17,000-square-foot building on Julius Street in Larimer, just a mile away. The new space features a 20-barrel brewing system, expanded capacity, and even a parking lot.
We’ll also have a partnership with Commonplace Coffee, who will roast beans onsite. It’s an exciting time for us!
Tony:
East End Brewing is known for its sustainability. Can you share more about that?
Scott:
Absolutely. We’ve operated as a near-zero solid waste facility since we opened in 2005. Spent grain goes to local dairy farmers, all packaging is reusable, and anything else is recycled. At the end of the day, we generate about one kitchen-sized bag of trash per month—less waste than my household!
Tony:
Let’s talk about some of your creative and interactive events, like the Reverse Keg Ride.
Scott:
Sure! The Reverse Keg Ride is the fall counterpart to our spring Pedal Pale Ale Keg Ride. For the Reverse Keg Ride, participants bike from a local taproom back to the brewery, towing empty kegs. This year, it’s happening on Saturday, October 27, with costumes encouraged.
Dave:
Scott, thanks for joining us today. It’s been great to learn more about East End Brewing.
Scott:
Thanks for having me!
Dave:
And thanks to Vecenie Distributing Company for sponsoring tonight’s show. Until we meet again in The Beer Garden, cheers!
Tony:
Cheers!